Hiking and Backpacking Marcy Summit

In the Adirondack High Peaks

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Perhaps the best way to enjoy the natural beauty of the Adirondack Park is to get outdoors: hiking, backpacking, paddling and climbing are favorite activities for thousands of park visitors. But before any hiking or backpacking trip, it is important to plan ahead and prepare. This makes for a trip that is both respectful of wildlife and natural resources, and enjoyable for the woodsperson. The following information is provided to help visitors safely and responsibly enjoy recreating in the Adirondacks.

This text focuses on the High Peaks region of the Adirondack Park, as both ADK's Heart Lake Program Center and Johns Brook Lodge are located in this area, and it receives the most recreational use of any region of the Adirondacks. However, many of the subjects covered are relevant to hiking and camping anywhere in the Adirondack Park. Look for additional links to more extensive information.

Adirondack Alpine Zone High Use Times
Avalanches Hiking with Dogs
Bears Hunting Season - High Peaks
Blackfly Season LEAVE NO TRACE
Camping Lightning Safety
Campfires Mud Season
Giardia DEC Regulations
Group Size Trailhead Parking

 

For information and current trail conditions in the High Peaks region, call the High Peaks Information Center at 518-523-3441, or the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Region 5 Forest Ranger headquarters at 518-897-1300.

The DEC also provides general trail information on their Web site:

 


LEAVE NO TRACE

Round PondThe best way to camp and hike responsibly is to follow Leave No Trace principles (LNT). LNT was developed to stem the environmental damage caused by the backpacking and hiking boom. This was accomplished by creating a new ethic of minimum impact outdoor recreation.

There are seven basic principles:

  1. Plan ahead and prepare
  2. Travel and camp on durable surfaces
  3. Dispose of waste properly
  4. Leave what you find
  5. Minimize campfire impacts
  6. Respect wildlife
  7. Be considerate of other visitors
 

© LNT, Inc./NOLS

 

Click here for detailed information from the Leave No Trace Web site. Click here to purchase an LNT Handbook to the Northeast Mountains.

REGULATIONS

 
 

Different regions of the Adirondack Park have differing regulations tailored to their specific concerns. Research the regulations for the area you are planning to visit before you go. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) provides this information on their Web site.

 
    • Click here for general rules for camping in the Adirondacks and Catskills.
    • Click here for regional DEC Phone Numbers.
 

If you are planning to hike or camp in the Adirondack High Peaks Wilderness Area (HPWA), be aware that this area is the most heavily used and regulated region of the Park.  

 

The HPWA is further split into Eastern and Western Zones, with the Eastern High Peaks being the more strictly regulated of the two. The Eastern High Peaks Zone is where the ADK's Heart Lake Program Center and Johns Brook Lodge are located, and carries several special regulations that visitors need to be aware of.

 

Major Regulations for the Adirondack High Peaks Wilderness Area

 

These regulations are needed to protect the wilderness resource from further decline and to ensure that conditions in the High Peaks Wilderness comply with the Wilderness Guidelines identified in the Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan. A brief synopsis of the regulations is listed below.

 

    Group Size

    • Overnight group size is limited to a maximum of eight people in the Eastern and Western High Peaks Wilderness.
    • Day use group size is limited to a maximum of fifteen people.
    • Affiliated groups must maintain a separation distance of at least 1 mile (1.6 km) at all times.

    Camping

    • No camping above 4000 feet at any time of the year.
    • Camping between 3500 and 4000 feet is limited to designated sites only.
    • Below 3500 feet, camping is allowed at designated sites or at locations at least 150 feet (46 m) from any road, trail or water source.
    • In the Eastern High Peaks, campers must acquire a self-issuing visitor use permit from the trail register, and keep the permit during the duration of their stay.

    Campfires

    • No campfires in the Eastern High Peaks Zone.
    • In the Western High Peaks Zone, campfires are allowed only at designated sites or at locations at least 150 feet (46 m.) from any road, trail, or water source.

    Miscellaneous

    • Pets must be leashed at all times.
    • Proper food and garbage storage must be observed.
    • No soap or detergents in any water body.
    • No disposal of food in any water body.
    • No use of any motorized equipment.
    • Skis or snowshoes must be used when the terrain is covered with 8 or more inches (20 cm) of snow.
    • Use existing outhouses or deposit human waste in catholes dug 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 cm) deep and at least 150 feet (46 m) from any water body.
    • Quiet hours must be observed from 10:00 p.m. until 7:00 a.m.
    • Possession of glass containers is prohibited.
 

Additional regulations may apply.
Please review regulations at the trailhead before starting your trip.

 

The above information is provided as a public service of the Adirondack Mountain Club. For further information, contact the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, Region 5 Office, Route 86, Ray Brook, NY, 12977, 518-897-1200.

 

Regulations help protect the natural resources that we all use when we hike, camp, paddle, and climb by mandating environmentally and socially responsible behavior. While they may be restrictive at times, be aware that many regulations are in response to past overuse and abuse. The best way to prevent more regulations is to recreate responsibly!

 
 
 

THE ADIRONDACK ALPINE ZONE

 

Picture yourself hanging from a ledge dangling only from your very fingertips, frozen by cold and buffeted by wind. Now include an unknowing hiker stepping on your fingertips. This is life as an alpine plant in the Adirondacks.

 

Arctic-Alpine vegetation covers a very small area of the Adirondack Park. Only eighty-five acres are classified as being above treeline, and only forty-two of those acres are actually vegetated, and the majority of them are within the High Peaks Wilderness. This small acreage is home to a wide variety of endangered and rare species of plants, moss, and lichens. Some of these alpine species may look very similar to common plants found in the lower elevations but are extremely rare and fragile. For example, Deer's Hair Sedge looks very similar to common grasses and is often mistaken for such by hikers, who then incorrectly assume it is okay to walk or sit on it.

 

    Deer's Hair Sedge

 

Deer's hair sledge
(R. Harvey © 2005)

 

    Alpine Etiquette

 

This fragile ecosystem is extremely vulnerable to trampling and disturbance. Cairns, scree walls, and paint blazes mark the trails above treeline and are designed to protect the alpine resource.

 

    When traveling above treeline:

 
    • Stay on the trail and walk only on rocks.
    • Avoid exposed soils: they may become re-vegetated if left untrodden.
    • Keep dogs leashed.
    • In the winter be conscious of where you place your crampons and/or snowshoes.
 

In the High Peaks Wilderness Area, regulations instituted to protect this resource prohibit camping above 4000 feet and limit camping between 3500 to 4000 feet to designated sites only, year-round.

 

Follow these guidelines when enjoying the beauty of the alpine zone, and, just as importantly, pass this information along to fellow mountaineers.  We all share the stewardship of this unique ecosystem.

 

    Alpine Zone atop Gothics

 

(R. Harvey © 2005)
 
 
 

The Adirondack Summit Steward Program is a partnership between the Adirondack Mountain Club, the Nature Conservancy, and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The program's purpose is to conserve the alpine ecosystem through education. Uniformed stewards are stationed atop Mt. Marcy and Algonquin every day throughout the summer, and also rotate among various other alpine peaks. Summit stewards educate backcountry visitors on alpine vegetation and stewardship, and perform above-treeline trail maintenance designed to protect existing alpine plants and re-vegetate eroded areas.

 
     
 

SEASONAL CONCERNS

 

    Bears in the Eastern High Peaks Wilderness

    Bear Canisters Required

 

When you camp in the Adirondacks, you are in black bear country. The wilderness we visit is the bears' year round home, and it is important to be mindful of our behavior in the backcountry as it directly influences the health and well-being of black bears and other wildlife.   Improper food storage by campers in the Eastern High Peaks Wilderness Area and other parts of the Adirondacks has resulted in black bears that rely primarily on poaching human food rather than on their ability to forage. This is unhealthy and potentially dangerous for the bears while placing campers' property and persons at risk.   Local bears are accustomed to bear-bag methods and are adept at acquiring food stored in this manner, limiting the effectiveness of this traditional strategy.   If you will be camping in the High Peaks or elsewhere in the Adirondacks this summer, please use a bear-resistant food canister.

 

From April 1-November 30 it is mandatory for campers in the Eastern High Peaks to use bear-resistant canisters to store all food, food containers, garbage and toiletries.   Be advised the DEC has removed the ‘bear cables.'

Read about a real life experience with bears.


For the DEC Regulations on Bear-Resistant Canisters click here.
Canisters are available to purchase and rent at ADK's High Peaks Information Center, for sale at ADK's Lake George Member Services Center and for sale and rent at several other local retailers. There is a limited supply of rental canisters; call ahead to reserve (518-523-3441).

 

Rental rates at ADK's High Peaks Information Center:

 

1-2 nights $5
3-4 nights $10
5-6 nights $15
7-8 nights $20

 

Canisters may be purchased from this Web site.

 

 
 

GUIDELINES FOR USE OF A BEAR-RESISTANT CANISTER

 
    1. Store all food, toiletries, garbage, and other scented items in the canister (including bug repellant, candles, and pet food).
    2. Place the canister and your food preparation area at least 100 ft (30 m) away from your campsite.
      • Take the carrying case off ot the canister.
      • Leave the canister loose on the ground; do not hang it.
      • Store the canister away from the water.
    3. Plan your menu ahead of time to minimize bulk. Use dehydrated, calorie-dense foods, and repackage to reduce volume.
    4. At mealtime, take out only the foods you plan to eat. Store food immediately if a bear enters your cooking area.
    5. Cook and clean up before dusk.
 

COMMENT SE SERVIR D'UN CONTENANT ANTI-OURS

 
    1. Ranger dans le contenant toute nourriture, articles de toilette,
      déchets et tout autre objet odorant (y compris produits anti-insectes,
      bougies et nourriture pour chiens etc.)
    2. Le contenant et l'endroit où vous préparez votre repas doivent se
      situer à au moins 30m (100 pieds) de votre campement.
      * Enlever la housse de transport.
      * Déposer le contenant par terre; ne pas le suspendre.
      * Ranger le contenant loin de l'eau.
    3. Planifier correctement votre menu afin de minimiser la quantité de
      nourriture. Apporter de la nourriture déshydratée, à haute teneur
      énergétique, et la sortir de son emballage d'origine pour en réduire le
      volume.
    4. Au moment de préparer un repas, ne sortir du contenant que ce dont
      vous aurez besoin. Et dans le cas où un ours arrive, ranger
      immédiatement les aliments.
    5. Faire les repas et nettoyer avant le couché du soleil.
 

Spring and Fall Mud Seasons

 

During spring mud season, trails are particularly vulnerable to erosion. The spring thaw creates mud that penetrates much deeper into the soil than the surface mud created by summer rains, and trails are thus more easily damaged by hikers' boots. Alpine vegetation, which is fragile and endangered to begin with, is also particularly vulnerable at this time. It is therefore best to stay off higher elevation trails during early spring.

 

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation institutes a voluntary trail closure in the Eastern High Peaks during this time of year that asks hikers to refrain from traveling above 3000 feet. This is done to protect alpine vegetation and prevent trail erosion. 

More information on trail conditions in the Adirondacks can be found on the DEC Web site or by contacting the DEC Forest Rangers at 518-897-1200.

 

Closure typically runs from May through early to mid-June. If you are planning a trip to the High Peaks during this period, please call the ADK High Peaks Information Center at 518-523-3441 or DEC Region 5 headquarters to learn about trail conditions and whether the voluntary closure is in effect.

 

In the fall, it is again especially important to be mindful of muddy trails and alpine vegetation, as early winter rains and snow in October and November often leave trails muddy at lower elevations and icy on summits. Crampons are typically necessary for high elevation travel, and it is very important to remain on the trails instead of skirting icy patches. Going off trail above treeline destroys alpine vegetation, and below treeline it erodes the sides of trails and uproots the trees that hikers use to haul themselves up the trail.

 

    High-Use Times of Year

 

The summer months are the busiest time of year for hiking in the High Peaks Wilderness Area, with use peaking in late August.   On busy weekends it is not unheard of to have up to a hundred people on the summit of Mt. Marcy or Algonquin at one time.   If you would like to hike in the Eastern High Peaks this time of year, a good option is to hike midweek instead of on the weekends.

 

Peak weekends are Victoria Day (Canada), Memorial Day, July Fourth, Labor Day, and Columbus Day/Canadian Thanksgiving weekends.   If you plan to backpack at these times, be aware that all designated sites in the Eastern High Peaks Wilderness usually fill by early Saturday afternoon.   Tent sites and lean-tos at the most popular camping areas, such as Marcy Dam and Lake Colden, fill much earlier. To guarantee a site it is best to arrive early on the preceding Friday. Although tenting 150 feet (46 meters) from trail or stream is allowed, it is strongly discouraged. The Eastern High Peaks is a very high use region and staying in designated sites confines campers' environmental impact to specific areas. Also be aware that parking is an issue on weekends and holidays.

 

Both to reduce environmental impact and to find solitude in the wilderness, summer is also a good time to consider hiking elsewhere in the Adirondack Park. There are many areas of the park that receive less attention than the High Peaks but which are just as beautiful and rewarding to visit.   The ADK produces a series of regional guidebooks to the Adirondack Park that are excellent references.   The Northern and West-Central regions in particular are beautiful, yet receive comparatively few visitors.   Also check out the DEC Web page Hiking Trails Outside the High Peaks Area or call the High Peaks Information Center at (518) 523-3441 or the Region 5 DEC headquarters at (518) 897-1300 for suggestions and information.  

 

    Blackfly Season

 

The blackfly is a biting insect whose saliva causes a painful, itchy welt. They are most prevalent in the Adirondacks from mid-May through June.  Blackflies bite during the day and are worst early and late, and in threatening weather such as before thunderstorms. If you plan to hike in late spring/early summer, bring the bug repellant of your choice and wear a long sleeved shirt and long pants in light colors. Tuck in or cinch shut hems. Also consider wearing a headnet.

 

    Giardia

 

All water obtained from backcountry sources must be treated or filtered to remove the intestinal parasite giardia. If you drink untreated water, monitor your health and go to the doctor if you develop gastro-intestinal problems. Giardia is treatable with medication. Remember that in case of emergency, it is better to drink untreated water and take a chance at becoming ill in a couple of weeks than it is to become severely dehydrated in the backcountry.

 

    Avalanches in the Adirondacks

 

Many believe avalanches are solely a western phenomenon, but they do happen in the mountainous east.  Avalanches have and do occur in the High Peaks on exposed snow slopes and slabs.

 

If you are planning to hike or ski avalanche terrain, be prepared with an avalanche probe, beacon, and shovel, and the knowledge and training to assess snow conditions and use these tools appropriately.  

 

For avalanche education