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Friday around 4PM, I met Little Rickie in the Loj parking lot to start our next ,of many future, hiking education outings. It’s never just a hike, because we’re always learning.
I think we loaded up and hit the trail around 4:30 PM, heading for Rocky Falls L/ T. I had checked the trail register within the last hour and there was a good chance we’d have it all to ourselves.
It’s a gentle 2 miles along the Indian Pass Trail to the 1st end of the loop that takes you to the L/T.
There are some trail signs here and an obvious split in the trail with one trail heading towards the water. We went in this way out of ignorance and eventually found the L/T which is across the brook. Had we gone another ¼ mile we’d have hit the second end of the loop. If you are going there, take the second end of the loop, it’s easier to get to the L/T. There is a USGS marker on a boulder in the middle of the trail and a sign that says “Lean-To” at the second end of the loop.
After spotting the L/T we crossed the Brook and began to set up camp. It’s a great setting for a L/T if you like the sound of pounding water, as opposed to gentler tones and lapping of a babbling brook. Annoyed the heck out of me, plus, being a bear-chicken, I couldn’t hear what was going on around me !
So, I left my lantern on very low as a “night-light” and we hit the sack by 8PM . By 6AM we were up and getting ready for the arrival of Kevin and Val who would join us for a hike to Marshall and possibly Iroquois if things went smoothly. Shortly after 8, Kevin and Val arrived and by 9ish we were on our way. It was a good morning to be on the trail with kindred spirits.
It was such a nice morning we took a lot of breaks and chatted. There’s a nice L/T about .3 mi before Scott’s Clearing where 3 people had left their gear. This is a really nice setting for a L/T.
We took a good look around Scott’s Clearing and marveled at the beaver “handy-work” on the local trees. There are remnants of a dam constructed of boulders and some old metal junk lying around. I’d love to have seen one of these old work sites when it was “up and running”.
Continuing along the trail another mile (?) or so we came to the Cold Brook Pass Trail which would take us up to the col between Iroquois and Marshal. This is a neat place to be. It has a real rugged/wild feel to it and it’s good, old fashioned, hard work to make it to the junction of the path to Marshall. There is a small cairn marking the spot.
I dropped my pack here and we proceeded up this tight and windy path. There was a little ice here and there but nothing terrible and you will hit a false summit coming in this way. Coming down the false summit , heading towards the real summit , is some of the tightest trail I’ve ever walked. I was thankful there was no precipitation on the branches that were clawing and scratching us every inch of the way.
I think it was around 3PM by the time we saw the little yellow marker with “Marshall” written on it.
I am always thankful to see the summit sign. Not just because I add another peak to the list but because I feel so lucky to be capable of getting there and having the experience. I am thankful that I get so much incredible enjoyment from doing such a simple thing. I am lucky this way. It is a blessing.
Then, a big bonus ! Kevin showed us a “lookout spot”, fairly close to the summit, where we could get great views towards Colden, Marcy, Cliff, Redfield, Skylight and a whole bunch of others. I’m sure he’ll have some photo’s done in his masterful way.
By 4:30 we were back in the pass where I had dropped my pack. We realized that it would be a return trip partially in the dark. I made the error of not bringing a headlamp so I bolted ahead trying to get as much of the return trip done before dark.
It was a long day and even longer for Kevin and Val who carried all there gear in that morning.
As always ,after a hard day, dry clothes , hot food, and a warm sleeping bag makes you wonder if you’re already in heaven.
I think we loaded up and hit the trail around 4:30 PM, heading for Rocky Falls L/ T. I had checked the trail register within the last hour and there was a good chance we’d have it all to ourselves.
It’s a gentle 2 miles along the Indian Pass Trail to the 1st end of the loop that takes you to the L/T.
There are some trail signs here and an obvious split in the trail with one trail heading towards the water. We went in this way out of ignorance and eventually found the L/T which is across the brook. Had we gone another ¼ mile we’d have hit the second end of the loop. If you are going there, take the second end of the loop, it’s easier to get to the L/T. There is a USGS marker on a boulder in the middle of the trail and a sign that says “Lean-To” at the second end of the loop.
After spotting the L/T we crossed the Brook and began to set up camp. It’s a great setting for a L/T if you like the sound of pounding water, as opposed to gentler tones and lapping of a babbling brook. Annoyed the heck out of me, plus, being a bear-chicken, I couldn’t hear what was going on around me !
So, I left my lantern on very low as a “night-light” and we hit the sack by 8PM . By 6AM we were up and getting ready for the arrival of Kevin and Val who would join us for a hike to Marshall and possibly Iroquois if things went smoothly. Shortly after 8, Kevin and Val arrived and by 9ish we were on our way. It was a good morning to be on the trail with kindred spirits.
It was such a nice morning we took a lot of breaks and chatted. There’s a nice L/T about .3 mi before Scott’s Clearing where 3 people had left their gear. This is a really nice setting for a L/T.
We took a good look around Scott’s Clearing and marveled at the beaver “handy-work” on the local trees. There are remnants of a dam constructed of boulders and some old metal junk lying around. I’d love to have seen one of these old work sites when it was “up and running”.
Continuing along the trail another mile (?) or so we came to the Cold Brook Pass Trail which would take us up to the col between Iroquois and Marshal. This is a neat place to be. It has a real rugged/wild feel to it and it’s good, old fashioned, hard work to make it to the junction of the path to Marshall. There is a small cairn marking the spot.
I dropped my pack here and we proceeded up this tight and windy path. There was a little ice here and there but nothing terrible and you will hit a false summit coming in this way. Coming down the false summit , heading towards the real summit , is some of the tightest trail I’ve ever walked. I was thankful there was no precipitation on the branches that were clawing and scratching us every inch of the way.
I think it was around 3PM by the time we saw the little yellow marker with “Marshall” written on it.
I am always thankful to see the summit sign. Not just because I add another peak to the list but because I feel so lucky to be capable of getting there and having the experience. I am thankful that I get so much incredible enjoyment from doing such a simple thing. I am lucky this way. It is a blessing.
Then, a big bonus ! Kevin showed us a “lookout spot”, fairly close to the summit, where we could get great views towards Colden, Marcy, Cliff, Redfield, Skylight and a whole bunch of others. I’m sure he’ll have some photo’s done in his masterful way.
By 4:30 we were back in the pass where I had dropped my pack. We realized that it would be a return trip partially in the dark. I made the error of not bringing a headlamp so I bolted ahead trying to get as much of the return trip done before dark.
It was a long day and even longer for Kevin and Val who carried all there gear in that morning.
As always ,after a hard day, dry clothes , hot food, and a warm sleeping bag makes you wonder if you’re already in heaven.
Great trip report. Sounds like a good time!
You forgot a headlamp???!
. The path from the pass to Marshall's summit was one of the tightest, roughest herd paths I've ever been on. On the other hand, it was very wild and I felt like I was getting the benefit of a bushwhack without having to do all the hard work that goes into pushing through stands of thick, flesh eating spruce.
Oh...
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