Another Hike Suggestion Thread

[sciencedude288]

My friend and I are both experienced hikers who have recently moved to Syracuse. We were looking to take advantage of the long weekend to do some hiking. It would be great if we could bag a peak or two. A few options came to mind.

1.) We don't have any winter camping gear, but if we slept in the car, I figure we could do an overnight to the high peaks region and hit up two peaks. Of the high peaks, I was thinking about "easier" ones like Whiteface, Esther, Cascade, Dix, or MacComb.

2.) A day trip or two to Snowy Mt, Wakely, or Gleasons Falls. If we go about this option, the peak would need to be within about 2.5 or 3 hrs max of Syracuse.

Does anyone have any advice or other suggestions? Thanks.

[rdl]

Do you have crampons and/or snowshoes ? Or would you rent them ? That will help with identifying possible hikes.

Any hikes in the High Peaks area require snowshoes or crampons now.

[sciencedude288]

I have microspikes and can rent snowshoes...

[ILikeRocks]

You can scratch Dix off the easy hikes, Cascade (Porter is a usual easy add on for a 2 peak day) or Phelps are pretty straightforward.

Snowy is a nice hike, very similar to hiking a Cascade or Phelps in difficulty. Blue is a little easier. All of the options are well traveled.

Snowshoes and microspikes would be recommended.

[Commissionpoint]

If you choose Phelps you will be in a snowshoes required zone. Other places are not mandatory snowshoe areas, but the ethical thing to do is wear them and not crap up the trails with post holes for everyone else to suffer through for the rest of the winter. Its been pretty soft lately and its very easy to make miles of frozen swiss cheese where there once was a solid packed trail.

Cascade with the possibility to tack on Porter would be about a 3 hr drive for you. The Mountaineer in Keene can rent snowshoes to you and are located a short drive from the trailhead on the same road.

[rdl]

Conditions can vary from day to day and hour to hour, but without crampons I'd avoid any of the open rocky topped summits like Wright or Algonquin. You may hit a day when microspikes would be fine for the ascent but an hour later they're just not quite grippy enough for the descent.

That being said - for one of the High Peaks, I'd suggest Cascade, Lower Wolf Jaw from the AMR, or Phelps.

Have you considered car camping at one of the Heart Lake lean-to's ? You could bring most everything but the kitchen sink...

[chairrock]

Is it safe to do any winter hiking without overnight survival gear,shelter, food,,etc.?
I think not so plan accordingly...them are big woods out there...

[sciencedude288]

@rdl: Thanks for the suggestions and the tip about the Heart Lake lean-to. We may wind up using it depending on the temps...

@chairrock: We will be sure to bring some overnight gear (eg sleeping bag, stove etc) in the car and extra food and survival gear in our packs. However, and perhaps this is a philosophical difference, I have never seen the need to bring all my overnight gear for winter day hikes (that seems to me to be the critical difference between backpacking and day hiking). Sure, some insurance is always a good idea, but there is a line between preparation and over-preparation. It seems that we just draw it differently.

[chairrock]

@rdl: Thanks for the suggestions and the tip about the Heart Lake lean-to. We may wind up using it depending on the temps...

@chairrock: We will be sure to bring some overnight gear (eg sleeping bag, stove etc) in the car and extra food and survival gear in our packs. However, and perhaps this is a philosophical difference, I have never seen the need to bring all my overnight gear for winter day hikes (that seems to me to be the critical difference between backpacking and day hiking). Sure, some insurance is always a good idea, but there is a line between preparation and over-preparation. It seems that we just draw it differently.

As you say... be careful!

[Ishmael8]

Check the temps especially if you are gonna be camping Sunday night