Phelps Mountain 2015

Kathy and I were in Lake Placid for our first Spring Meeting of the Adirondack 46ers, so we wanted some short hiking to celebrate.

Our first time up Phelps, we climbed the north side of the mountain to a socked-in and windy summit. This time, we took the marked trail from Marcy Dam and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky.

Our pace was relaxed (as was our 9am starting time) and we even found a quiet ledge to lay down and soak in the sun. After the short, steep climb, it was a perfect Adirondack moment.

The trail wasn’t without new challenges, as the previous night was below freezing and there was even a dusting of snow. Much of the upper portion of the trail was iced over, making the open slabs tricky to navigate without traction aids. It was a short hike with a little vertical gain, perfect for easing into ADK hiking again.