INDIAN FALLS xc ski, High Peaks Wilderness, Adirondack Park

 


Apr 5, 2015 - INDIAN FALLS from Adirondak Loj Rd. After Friday's rain, 1-5" of snow fell in the Lake Placid area on Saturday morning & 1-2" more on this Sunday morning. Temp 25-35F & sunny; 2-6" powder on firmly packed base - very good skiing. High Peaks Wilderness. Along unplowed Meadow Rd then up Marcy Dam Truck trail. Always awesome mountain views from Marcy Dam area. VanHoevenberg Trail (the most popular route up Mt Marcy) to the top of the frozen falls where there is an excellent framed view of Algonquin Peak & the rest of the MacIntyre Range. Interesting seeing usnea (old man's beard, a lichen) & snow on some trees. Intermediate to the bridge over Phelps Brook then advanced (mostly on designated ski trail) to the falls - David Goodman in Backcountry Skiing Adventures: "a mile-long 6- to 8-foot-wide pipeline that charges relentlessly downhill" - it wasn't pretty going down this section. From the bridge to Marcy Dam, it was fast skiing on a sometimes narrow trail. Took another break at Marcy Dam to take in the views. Lowest elevation 2,060', highest elevation 3,660'. 11.6 miles, 5.4 hours. Spent the night at Adirondak Loj on Heart Lake.

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