Late September High peaks hike adivce

[Mike P.]

Sounds pretty ambitious considering all of the gain & loss of elevation. I know some people who could do it so it's possible if you start early or are pretty quick

[una_dogger]

Howdy
I'm a pretty strong hiker and I did this route with a day pack :
Heart Lake to Algonquin to Iriqouis to Lake Colden and back to Heart Lake via Avalanche. I took maybe a half hour break on the top and another by a set of falls on the way down to Colden. I did the hike in early June, started at 8am and finished at just about 5pm.

I think that adding Colden Mt to this would make it an overnighter, especially since it will be dark by about 6:30pm or so by the end of September.

Have a great hike! Please post your trip report for us and pics if you can!

Sabrina

Edited to say that my intro to the Daks was an eight day backpack in the High Peaks in 2003, and WOW! Was I impressed by how long it takes to get around in there!

[Npage148]

Yeah, Im thinking about cutting out colden just for the sake of time. If i did that, it would give me some more time to relax and hang out and enjoy the surrondings. Im not really sure which direction to hike.

Should I go to through avalanche lake first or on teh way out?

There will def be a trip report and hopefully pictures if they come out decent.

[una_dogger]

I chose Algonquin first because I wanted to summit before any afternoon clouds may have formed.

Its a really nice hike !

[Mike P.]

Did you go yet?

If not I'd agree with Algonquin first & then down to the Lakes

[Npage148]

Actually, the trip is this weekend. And like everything in my life, what started into a nice simple day hike, has ballooned into something with a life of its own. My stepdad has talked me into doing an overnight trip with camping at lake colden or the feldspar lean-to(backside of mt colden). So now im pumped for an over night trip. I already got a bear can from a friend and im all set to go. As of now, saturday, im hiking past aval lake, to lake colden over mt colden and to lake arnold and go south/east back lake colden, but i will probabaly be lazy and crash at the lean-to. Sunday morning, ill hike back to lake colden and over algonquin and out. Time dependent, i might go to the 4 corners b/w skylight and marcy to check it out. There will be plenty of pics taken so a trip report should be big and suck up the bandwidth. Any other final comments on route are great and a hiking buddy would be appreciated too.

[una_dogger]

I'll just have to live vicariously through your trip report (hint hint).

I haven't been hiking since gas topped three bucks a gallon....I'm feelin' mightly low.....

[cbcbd]

Originally Posted by una_dogger

I haven't been hiking since gas topped three bucks a gallon....I'm feelin' mightly low.....

Tell me about it, I have quite a drive to get anywhere up there...

But I am spending 4 days in the High Peaks next week

Npage, too bad our time there won't coincide and we could've met up... You can just leave me a note on Algonquin and I'll pick it up Thursday when I'm there

[Mike P.]

July was my first trip to 4 Corners, first trip up Skylight & Marcy from 4-Corners.

Similar to view of Marcy from Haystack, Marcy from this side IMO is more impressive than from the other side. I started from Heart Lake past Lake Arnold, beyond between Lake Arnold & Marcy Trail, the trail is not as well defined. Not getting lost undefined not defined, but slower going with rougher footing than some more popular trails.

[Npage148]

Ok, i got the pictures up adn i will get them titled and a trip report written when i have some more time. I hope you like the pictures and feel free to comment

Pictures