Quick trip to the Adirondacks. Had to keep things flexible as the good weather forecast I’d watched all week did a last minute 180 to rain. I wound up calling an audible on the planned two-day loop, instead day hiking out of a lean-to at Heart Lake. On the upside, the rain justified spending a couple hours in town the first morning walking around The Mountaineer ogling the more exotic gear. Then I woke up from a long nap to a beautiful afternoon, with just enough time for a quick hike up Mt Jo for a fulfilling view of the major peaks before sunset. Facing time constraints on getting back to Philly and more rain & “wintry mix” on the forecast, the second day I started out a couple hours before dawn toward Algonquin Peak hoping to beat the weather and get home early. Conditions the first couple miles were ideal—calm skies and frozen snow making for a quick pace in microspikes. But approaching the alpine zone for the last stretch the snow was too soft and deep, necessitating a switch to snowshoes. Then the rain and sleet came on with the dawn. A summit cone encased in rock hard ice then required another switch to crampons, sheltering in the lee of a rock amid mounting winds. By the very top the winds were strong enough to warrant care walking, and even to blow me around in the gusts. Eventually back down at the bottom though that seemed a world away, the wind and sleet giving way to light spring sprinkles under sunny blue skies…
Downside of that thaw at the bottom, the #AllMountainPrius finally went somewhere it should not have gone! Amid the rain and warming temperatures the thick ice covering the dirt parking lots has started to crack dramatically with the onset of spring and mud season. Fortunately a friendly guy was super stoked to show off his new 4WD by pulling us out. #MostMountainPrius