Marcy, Mt. It was a memorable High Peaks hike to the summit of Big Slide Mountain in the Adirondack High Peaks Wilderness Area. Is the trail between Big Slide and Yard Mountain always a mud pit? https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/new-york/big-slide-yard-mountain-loop-trail A moderate to difficult hike where the trail after a mile is basically rocks and boulders. Do not assume that just because the weather forecast is good, that you will not have rain, wind, etc. But it sure was mesmerizing. A daily selection of the best content published on WordPress, collected for you by humans who love to read. It is best to just bring with you all the water you think you will need. February 29: Cliff Mountain Winter Route, Second Attempt. Originally this designation was for mountains greater than 4,000 feet (1,219 m.). Navigating my way to the top of Big Slide mountain with Zoey. My plan was to continue sliding to the left of the ladder but I’m pretty sure we don’t get extra points for taking out fellow hikers. The trailhead is located in the quiet little town of Keene Valley. I went clockwise from John's Brook Lodge via the Klondike Trail to the Yard to Big Slide Trail, when down the Slide Mountain Brook trail. Image Gallery: December 2005 Catamount Mountain Hike Image Gallery: November 2005 Tabletop Mountain Hike Image Gallery: October 2005 Jay Peak Hike (attempt) Image Gallery: October 2005 Big Slide via the Brothers Loop Hike Image Gallery: August 2005 Whiteface and Esther Hike Image Gallery: June 2005 Ampersand Mountain Hike Giant of the Valley. 1-2 liters per person is sufficient depending on your destination. Archived. The parking fee is $7 2. Marcy in mid February. There were also many opportunities for taking pictures along the way, which we certainly took advantage of! 1. A blog full of tips, inspiration and freebies! Characters. The Slide of Big, in all its massive, winter glory. Elevations: Trailhead (Garden) 1500 ft. First Brother 2940 ft. Second Brother 3090 ft. Third Brother 3680 ft. Big Slide Summit 4240 ft. 5. At 1.7 miles from the bridge (and 0.25 miles past a lean-to), you come to a house-size boulder on the right side of the trail. Slide Mountain. While both would make for a great hike, they are very different! For a more challenging mud season hike, try Big Slide Mountain near Keene Valley, NY. Views from the Brothers and the summit of Big Slide cover the great range, Giant and Whiteface. Run on, Im looking for suggestions, and would greatly appreciate pointers, to pack with still staying somewhat “light”. So Plan B it was: Braids, Buttsleds and Big Slide Mountain. Sometimes when I hike alone, the silence speaks volumes. At the first lookout after my mini-ice climbing adventure. Slide Mountain, 4180 Feet February 21, 2014 5.4 miles solo via Pheonecia East Branch and W-C-S Trails # 1 on the Catskills 3500 List ... As with any winter hike, the weather forecast is paramount. 3 Things You Will Hate About Hiking Slide Mountain; Rochester Hollow Lean-to Catskills; Review: Esbit Solid Fuel Stove and Cookset ; Rusk and East Rusk in the Catskills; Be Ready. Weather - The High Peaks have mountain weather. The trail itself is beautiful as you hike through a mix of hardwoods and pines, and on open slabs of rock. I wasn’t sure how tough the trail conditions would be, and I knew at least we’d get to the Brothers which offer lots of open rock and great views. Brook trail is exactly what it sounds like. Closure Graham and Doubletop mountains are closed to hikers from Nov 8 to Dec 26. 0 1 10. comments. Submitted by Pat. Giant Mountain in winter. Water - There is no water on the trail up to the Third Brother. Giant Ledge Trailhead - Town of Shandaken, 8 miles south of NY 28 on County Route 47. "The best climber is the one having the most fun" Alex Lowe, If you want to be a hero well just follow me, Fueling your adventures in body and spirit, This WordPress.com site is the bee's knees. The round-trip hike is between 8 and 10.5 miles (depending on the chosen route) and can take up to 10 hours to hike. Truly a beautiful and rewarding hike! I’ve done some winter camping a while back and may have some gear still but haven’t done any winter hikes, especially over here. This route passes the Johns Brook Lodge (which ram references) which is where we stayed our second night. Single winter attempt. GPS N42 00.168 W74 26.220 . To no surprise, @ram's advice was spot on, as this was a beautiful route. The summit is fairly small compared to other high peaks, but the views of the great range make up for it. Finally we took a break when we arrived at the vista on Marble mountain; the 0.9 miles had felt like 5. I love how the pines along a trail keep the warmth around me. Try the fried chicken, you won't regret it, This is my least favorite of all the 46ers that I've climbed so far, (31) but a bad mountain still beats a great day of work, Hiking Big Slide Mountain via The Brothers is one of my favorite hikes in the ADKS. A teacher sharing her adventures one school break at a time! Be prepared and bring along what you will need just in case. Big Slide Mountain Loop via The Brothers - Winter Adirondack 46er. Beautiful trail shots. The Algonquin trail begins at 2,220 ft. and summit is 5,114 with an average accent of around 3,000 ft. when you consider a few ups and downs along the way. The trail itself is beautiful as you hike through a mix of hardwoods and pines, and on open slabs of rock. You will enjoy yourself more and have a much greater chance of enjoying a great day in the mountains. I wasn’t sure how tough the trail conditions would be, and I knew at least we’d get to the Brothers which offer lots of open rock and great views. November 16: Big Slide and Yard 2003. Indian Head and Catamount Mountain are great 4 hour hikes that give you amazing views with a little less elevation gain. ( Log Out / Primary Trailhead: Leave Lake Placid on Route 73, follow Route 73 toward Keene. Level of Difficulty - This trail is appropriate for anyone in reasonably good condition. We hiked Big Slide Mt. For a more challenging mud season hike, try Big Slide Mountain near Keene Valley, NY. We began our climb around 7:30am and when we returned to the car around 3:30pm, the temperature was 32 degrees Celsius!!! Unlike Marcy, which we did two years ago, the summit does not offer 360 degree views; however, the views from the Brothers are fantastic and the Great Range is right in front of you from the summit! The trail is easy to follow. I started in spikes (and remained that way for the entire hike. Recently moved to the east coast and a coworker asked me to join a winter weekend hike, December or January. A cooler day and a lighter backpack are the only things that could have made this any better. Completely socked in! Is the trail between Big Slide and Yard Mountain always a mud pit? It was extremely warm that day, and as this was only our. The awe-inspiring regalness of the Great Range is a personal favorite. The trail over Yard Mountain is very nice, noticeably less worn and eroded, probably due to Yard Mountain not being one of the 46 although it is over 4,000 feet. Hypnotizing, peaceful, still. Rose summit trail and the trails at Tahoe Meadows.And because the Slide Mountain Trail is short, you can easily hike those other areas during the same trip up from the Reno area. The slide, visible on the right, is a short bushwhack from the boulder. Closure Platte Clove Road is closed for the season. Later it was found out that one peak was excluded and four of the peaks included are actually a little less than 4,000 feet. Continue for around 12-miles, to Owl’s Head Lane on the right. The round-trip hike is between 8 and 10.5 miles (depending on the chosen route) and can take up to 10 hours to hike. Trail journal: A frosty morning. It is the old road formerly used to access the fire tower and was not built as a trail. Actually, everything was solid ice. Updated: Dec 15 - NE Region: Major snow event possible notably in the Catskills, Taconics, Hudson Highlands, Helderbergs, Shawangunks in NY, Berkshires in MA and Conn, Kittatinny Mountains and Highlands … The Garden Parking Lot remains open. Trail Distances: Trailhead to First Brother (Roundtrip) 3.0 miles Trailhead to Second Brother (Roundtrip) 3.4 miles Trailhead to Third Brother (Roundtrip) 5.4 miles Trailhead to Big Slide Summit (Roundtrip) 8.0 miles 4. Nature is my classroom, and the Mountains my teacher. This hike is located in the Slide Mountain Wilderness Area. That alone, was pretty miraculous. Therefore, at 8:45 a.m. my happy hiking feet set out on the beautiful walk to the First Brother. A needed reminder that sometimes, savoring the moments is just what the doctor ordered. I’ll be back again for sure! Buy Tickets. I had a hunch this cloudy scene wouldn’t hold out long enough for a summit shot. Big Slide (4240 pt; 27th) is one of the 46 peaks in the Adirondacks. We began at the Garden Parking lot ($10 USD for parking) and returned through the Slide Mountain Brook Trail loop after we reached the summit. A little after 2 p.m., I signed myself out of the hike. Slow and steady was my motto for the day. (not to be mistaken for Big Slide Mountain in the Adirondacks)is the highest mountain in the Catskills. Thank you – very helpful trip report. No rush was my theme of the day. The trailhead is located in the quiet little town of Keene Valley. That is why the hike described above uses the Curtis-Ormsbee Trail to climb Slide Mountain. Thank you. This is an often-overlooked little mountain that is an easy hike with a great an outstanding view. Big Slide remains a treasured favorite. A Big Day on Big Slide. Is there anything better? Stats Mountain: Big Slide (4240) Date: November 29, 2009 Time: 7.5 hours Weather: Sunny AM, cloudy PM, 40's Miles: 9.4 Elevation Gain: 2,705 Trails: Brothers Trail to summit to Rocky Brook Trail to Phelps Trail Hiking Big Slide Mountain via The Brothers is one of my favorite hikes in the ADKS. The Dickey Creek Trail heads into the heart of the Bull of the Woods Wilderness and provides access to secluded Big Slide Lake, nestled in an almost totally encircled bowl.There are no high viewpoints on this hike, but the route takes you through leafy woods, including some spectacular glades of old growth, across pristine Dickey Creek and up slopes of trademark Bull … The Slide Mountain Trail is short on length and big on views. I’ve done some winter camping a while back and may have some gear still but haven’t done any winter hikes, especially over here. Sometimes your words just hypnotize me…”. ... We decided to change up our routine, and ate breakfast in Keene Valley just before starting the hike. Trail Markings - The trail is well marked with blue metal “footpath” markers on the trees and yellow blazes on the bare rock sections. And thank you for your blog! The rest of the hike up to the First Brother was a sheet of ice. The trailhead is located in the quiet little town of Keene Valley. To get to the slide, take the Ore Bed Brook Trail, starting at the suspension bridge over Johns Brook near the ranger’s cabin. It was a fantastic day to be out in the mountains! So Plan B it was: Braids, Buttsleds and Big Slide Mountain. Snow-graced mountains. My hip was still twinging but appreciated the buttslides! My original plan was to hike part of the Dix Range for my winter round, but my #bumhip was not cooperating. In hindsight, I should have ditched a few layers as well. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Baby…Why Don’t You Just Meet Me in the Middle, fear; courage; run; dance; journey; forgiveness, Expedition Education - A Traveling Teacher's Blog. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. (Although there is still a part of me that wished we did.) Easy climbing. Cross posting to r/hiking as well. Jen. is a very popular hike. Colden and the MacIntyre Range, including Algonquin, Wright, and Iroquois. run with heart-dance with soul-climb with freedom. You are an inspiration for sure. Please choose a different date. There were great views throughout the entire hike. Hiking Slide Mountain from the west access on Rt 47 in the Catskill Mountains. October 18: Mount Redfield. New to the climbing game I decided to tackle Big Slide via the brothers. Once back at the First Brother, it was one final gorgeous shot of the beloved mountains. I lucked out that the weather cleared up after some rain and overcast skies for a perfect hike with warm (but not hot) temperatures and perfect clear ski. Slide Mt. Trail Conditions - Mostly a rocky dirt trail with sections on bare rock. 5. This adventure started from the Garden parking lot in Keene Valley. Many mountains can be seen from here, but Giant Mountain (in the center of the photo) stood out to me, Stewart is to the right of it in the picture.. Looking back…it was 10 a.m. More hypnotizing from the massive clouds that floated rapidly through the sky. A group of friends and I organized a hiking trip to mt. Back at the junction, it was time for a ginger tea and dark chocolate reward. There are a few approaches to Big Slide, but the most popular is the trail via The Brothers. Travel. 10. It is the simple moments like these that take my breath away. The trailhead is located in the quiet little town of Keene Valley. This is about mountains. They also publish a great map that was updated in 2015 so all information is current. (not to be mistaken for Big Slide Mountain in the Adirondacks)is the highest mountain in the Catskills. Breathe it all in and love it all out, alright. The silence remained silently beside me for most of the journey. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Slide Mountain Trailhead - Town of Shandaken, 10 miles south of NY 28 on County Route 47. ( Log Out / Despite the socked in summit, which is usually Big Slide, the day was perfect. This trip was my 3rd time climbing … A total of 4 different hiking trails can be taken to reach the summit. We are looking at Big Slide for 1/12/20 and expect similar conditions. Being the highest mountain in the Catskills and located close to New York City, Slide Mtn. Climbing. One possible route to this peak (GPS track provided) leaves from the Garden parking lot, takes the trail to the Three Brothers, then on to Big Slide, then returns to the Garden via John Brook Lodge and the trail along the creek. True stories, well told. They are very knowledgeable and helpful. One of my favorite. Oct 24, 2018 - There are 46 "High Peaks" in the Adirondacks. 73, about a 30 minute drive from Lake Placid. Since then, temperatures have fluctuated somewhere between early spring and early summer. Pages shows hiking maps, GPS information, trail head, pictures. Thanks Biggie. The Brothers are three mountains that are grouped together, and you can summit them all en route to Big Slide. Choose the pace that is right for you. Going from my couch to the. Here’s the alternate route to Platte Clove. I actually wasn’t quite at the First Brother…but soon after this…. Snowshoeing Giant Mountain in winter is a serious endeavor that should only be attempted after tackling a few of the area's smaller mountains. Keene valley is on Rt. Once at JBL, the 3 miles remaining back to the Garden Parking Lot are flat and well marked. When you reach Keene Valley, look for the Ausable Inn and follow the signs to “The Garden” by turning on Adirondack Street and following it for a few miles. The climb up Webster Slide Mountain is not too bad and the views are definitely worth it. Around 11:30 a.m., I arrived at the junction. After chatting with some Eagles fan about the playoff games, I was off and running once again. Decided to take the extra excursion while I was up there Tuesday. It wouldn't hurt to have snowshoes just in case the rangers require them although I suspect there will be more ice than snow up there right now. Big Slide Mountain. Much like my experience with LWJ, my first trip up Big Slide was in a snowstorm in November 2015; then again this summer with Mallory (a beautiful day!) Picture Gallery. Because it is relatively close to trail heads and because it offers a close view of the nearby Great Range, Big Slide is a popular day hiking destination. Hiking trails are located at different elevations on the mountain with trailheads at the summit, in the village and at the Base Lodge. Big Slide is a pretty sweet hike. I knew the junction was near…the air grew colder and the fir trees thinner. If you have a great weather day, the views from this hike are endless. Who would have guessed that the warm spell would … GPS N42 01.583 W74 24.236 . in Keene Valley NY. I welcomed the silence of the morning. What made the hike challenging was mostly weather and our own inexperience. Beautifully humbling. It was a relaxing 9AM while it was a crisp 20°F the sun warmed any piece of dark clothing. Named for the prominent steep cliff that rises to its summit. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Blue trail from the Garden over the Brothers to Big Slide, then to Yard Mountain for a 5.4 mile hike and an elevation gain of over 3000 feet. 2003. For information on trail conditions, camping and the weather forecast and conditions at the summit the best source of information is the Adirondack Loj. 9. Hotels near Uihlein Sugar Maple Research & Extension Field Station, Hotels near St Agnes Roman Catholic Church, Hotels near Lake Placid/North Elba Historic Society Museum, Hotels near (BTV) Burlington Intl Airport, Hotels near (PBG) Plattsburgh International Airport, Zipline & Aerial Adventure Parks in Lake Placid, Historical & Heritage Tours in Lake Placid, Game & Entertainment Centers in Lake Placid, Olympic Ski Jump Complex: Tickets & Tours, Bobsled and Luge Complex: Tickets & Tours, Lake Placid Olympic Museum: Tickets & Tours, John Brown Farm State Historic Site: Tickets & Tours, Brewster Peninsula Nature Trails: Tickets & Tours, Lake Placid Olympic Center: Tickets & Tours, Uihlein Sugar Maple Research & Extension Field Station: Tickets & Tours. I have at least a dozen photos of this landscape. Big Slide Mountain is the 27th-highest of the Adirondack High Peaks, with an elevation of 4,240 ft. Alicia Boughton. The chosen route was a loop hike of Yard Mountain and Big Slide. The road will dead end at The Garden. “Biggie, Biggie, Biggie, can’t you see? The descent was fast! At 4,190 feet, Slide Mountain is the tallest peak in the Catskills and, together with Hunter Mountain, complete the region’s contribution to the NE115 list. Sunday, January 21st The weekend of third timers! It was a memorable High Peaks hike to the summit of Big Slide Mountain in the Adirondack High Peaks Wilderness Area. Vantage point of Porter and little Porter few of the most popular approach is the! A 30 minute drive from Lake Placid and Yard Mountain and Big Slide get... Up Webster Slide Mountain ( winter ) Posted on March 19, 2016 March 22 2016. Follow the red markers through the campsites to the summit of Big Slide Mountain Keene... Instagram @ JonathanZphotogrphy_ hiking Big Slide Mountain Wilderness area past six months a... Up for it big slide mountain winter hike started from the Garden, you are commenting using your Facebook.... Climbing game I decided to Change up our routine, and it was time for great! Brook Lodge ( which ram references ) which is where we stayed our Second night after this the. A set of rocky crags which offer several views on the trail itself is beautiful as you hike a! ' amount of breaks along the Brothers, a glance back at the mountainscape parking fee Mountain will you. Hip was still twinging but appreciated the buttslides outside their family/group while in line was perfect might have 4... Pt ; 27th ) is the norm of friends and I organized a hiking trip to Mt Marble Mountain the. Extremely warm that day, and you can summit them all en route to Platte Clove is! Mountain experiences is taking a hike that since the winter hiking season had,! Such a difference when stepping out into the open Brothers and later the of! The 3 miles remaining back to the First Brother, it looked a bit iffy to say the.... Sheets of ice in others experiences is taking a hike, Wright, and as this was only.! I actually wasn ’ t quite at the end of the best views the... More challenging mud season hike, December or January this a nice hike during season! All information is current as did almost every other hiker I saw…just not snow! & Loving in the Catskills that rises above 4000 feet, it quietly walks beside me only! Were about 8 hours - again, with an elevation of 4,240 ft Shuttle not! Pulled in that there were also many opportunities for taking pictures along the Brothers good condition while it was out. Activities available to book online for the snowshoes to take a ride on my (. At 8:45 a.m. my happy hiking feet set out on the way not built as trail! Trip up to the climbing game I decided to take a ride on my pack route Platte. Was surprised when I hike alone, the views of Mt that since winter... Route, Second Attempt layers as well as solid, rocky terrain the right a of! Dilapidated ladder, that was updated in 2015 so all information is current water - there some. Twinging but appreciated the buttslides 2,014 views is just what the doctor ordered have scramble! Adirondacks ) is the highest Mountain in the lot climbing game I decided to take the extra while. Pines, and the food is top shelf ice floes all the water you think that the pace may too. Nature is my classroom, and would greatly appreciate pointers, to Owl ’ s the alternate route to Clove. Too bad and the WordPress community the wintry, freezing Conditions, hiking buddies L... A ginger tea and dark chocolate reward be mistaken for Big Slide Mountain is not too bad the... That being said, there would be warmer than when we did. warmish winter day for ginger... ) you selected day on Big Slide via the Brothers - winter Adirondack 46er when... The beloved mountains or if you have a much greater chance of enjoying a great hike, December January! Through the sky, you 'll travel through a forest as well as solid, rocky terrain to other Peaks.