AVALANCHE PASS & FLOWED LANDS xc ski

 

Feb 8, 2023 (Wed) - FLOWED LANDS & LAKE COLDEN ski via the Calamity Brook Trail from Upper Works. Snow depth 15-30", wet powder with a hint of iciness off-trail. Temp ~30F. Route was broken out (mostly by snowshoers) the whole way. There was a half inch of very wet snow that had fallen overnight which became more powdery with elevation gain. A gain of 260' in the first 2 miles - this was very fast & fun on the way back. A gain of 640' in the next 2 miles - 2 (out of 5) of us put on climbing skins when it started to get steep. I side-stepped 4 or 5 steep spots on the way down (I like to keep my body parts in working order) - there were some nice stretches too, but also quite a few rocks showing. 180' gain in the next mile to Flowed Lands - there were some downhills in this section - nice skiing on way back. A short spur to the Henderson Monument at 4.5 miles - David Henderson was accidentally shot & killed here (hence, the calamity). Stopped for lunch at a lean-to on the R just before Flowed Lands (Calamity #1). The caretaker of Lake Colden Outpost stopped for a quick chat - the only other person we saw today. Skiing on Flowed Lands, the Opalescent River & Lake Colden was nice & views were excellent - Mt Marshall, Mt Colden, Avalanche Mtn; the top of Algonquin Peak was in clouds however. In open areas, out of tracks, the snow was somewhat crusty. 12.3 miles, 7 hours. Mostly heavenly, but near hellish in a few spots!

Feb 28, 2019 -  CALAMITY BROOK TRAIL & HENDERSON LAKE ski, from Upper Works.  Wanted to do MacIntyre West but parking area had not been plowed for a while – seems like the road into Tahawus & Upper Works gets regular plowing but parking areas do not.  6” powder on deep crunchy base.  Went 1.8 miles (skied a bit on the brook) to junction with connector trail then back down & onto Henderson Lake for the views & ice.  6.5 miles.

Apr 2, 2017 - AVALANCHE PASS ski.  Started on South Meadow Lane.  Fair to very good skiing - 34F when we started so tracked areas were a bit icy, warmed into the 40s by afternoon & skiing was better.  Out of tracks there was a couple of inches of wet snow on hard base.  3' of snow in Avalanche Camp area.  Marcy Dam Truck Trail to Marcy Dam where there are nice mountain views.  Spruce/fir woods going up to the pass - snow melting off trees rained down onto my head.    Could have used more powder on the steeps below the pass, a bit hairy but I survived.  Lunch & awesome views at Avalanche Lake.  Downhill from Av Camp to Marcy Dam was sweet.  Brought skins but did not need.  Did put the cables on the Voile 3-pin bindings for the downhill.  Elevations 2,100'-3,000'+.  13.4 miles, 6.2 hours.

Feb 16, 2014 - AVALANCHE PASS thru trip from South Meadow  to Upper Works.  18" at lower elevations, more higher - excellent skiing despite a few rocks showing.  Trails all broken out.  Meadow Lane to Marcy Dam, Avalanche Lake, Lake Colden, Flowed Lands.  Outstanding mountain views - Algonquin & Colden stood out.  Run out along Calamity Brook Trail was a blast - loss of 1,000' from Flowed Land to Upper Works.  13.7 miles, 5.8 hours.

 

Mar 9, 2008 - LAKE COLDEN via AVALANCHE PASS.  1"-2" powder on top of deep icy hardpack - fair to good skiing.  Started out on the Old Marcy Dam trail from Heart Lake, easy except for the hill just before joining the regular hiking trail to Marcy Dam.  Stopped for lunch at the new relocated Avalanche Camps leanto - nice spot farther off the trail.  Used climbing skins to get up to the pass (never used skins here on previous trips).  At the pass, impressed by the slide created by the avalanche of 1999.  Narrow trail passes by ice-covered rock walls.  Avalanche Lake as scenic as ever with its steep rocky mountainsides & the trap dyke.  One of our group members went thru the ice on Avalanche Lake just before the outlet on the W side (stay to the E side).  4' of snow on bridge before Lake Colden.  Skiing down from the Pass was hairy in these conditions.  From Av. Camps to Marcy Dam was a nice run.  From MD to Old MD trail was fun.  Took the hiking trail back, missed the ski by-pass & had another hairy drop then climb back up to the trailhead at the HPIC.  AC to AP advanced; rest intermediate in good conditions.  10 miles, 5.6 hours.

Feb 29, 2004 - LAKE COLDEN ski via AVALANCHE PASS . Average of 3' of snow in woods; packed trail; a bit icy on S facing slopes but better on N facing. Started from the HPIC (parking charge $7; $3 ADK members) & took the hiking trail to Marcy Dam - some exposed roots & rocks - most skiers start from South Meadow & take the truck road (bit longer but easier skiing) - Nehasane was celebrating the 25th anniversary of breaking his leg doing this trip & wanted to take the exact same route as back then (except for the snowmobile from Marcy Dam to S Meadow & the ambulance to Lake Placid hospital). From Marcy Dam (nice views of Mt Colden, Avalanche Mt & the slides on Wright Mt) climbed gently to Avalanche Camps leanto after which the climbing gets fairly steep for over half a mile to the pass (skins not necessary) - over 900' elevation gain from start. In 1999, an avalanche created a new slide on Mt. Colden & trees are still piled up in the pass - an awesome sight. Trail makes some narrow turns at the bottom of a cliff before dropping to Avalanche Lake. Walled in by the steep sides of Mts Avalanche & Colden, I rubberneck while crossing. Another drop thru the woods to Lake Colden (go straight at the register on unmarked trail) - snow depth here is about 3.5'. We ski to the E side & lunch while gazing at Mts Algonquin, Boundary & Iroquois which rise well over 2,000' from the lake. Ski back down from the pass was tricky (expert, rest of trip is intermediate) & you better have a damn good snowplow (or tele skis) - I didn't look or feel too graceful at times but I made the whole trip without falling. Most skiers I saw were on wider bc skis, some tele skis, very few touring skis - years ago, most folks were doing this trip on touring skis (& breaking legs, too). 11+ miles, 6.5 hrs. Got some intermediate rolling terrain, some flat lake crossings, a longish steep section, some "must make" turns, temps both below & above freezing, a mostly packed trail - sounds like a job for Karhu Pyxis skis, Rottefella Super Tele bindings with risers, leather Garmont Tour boots . The leather boots are super comfortable for tours on moderate terrain but on the steeps I felt I could have had noticeably better control with plastic boots.

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