Adirondack Hiking in early spring can be one of the most rewarding times of year. The beauty of snowcapped mountains, flowing waterfalls coupled with longer days and warmer weather are in part what makes the complete experience. Hiking in early spring is also top notch especially because you can travel though several seasons in the course of a day. On a recent trip to Gothics Mountain from the Ausable Club we encountered just such conditions.
From Schroon to Gothics
We started out from the Schroon Lake and after a quick drive we made it to the trailhead parking lot around 9AM. The first portion of the hike is along the road on private property to the gate near the trail register. Once we signed in for our destination we set off down Lake Road. The temperature was in the low 40s and most of the ground was still frozen from the night before and very icy. We wore micro spikes for this section up to the turnoff for Gothics via Beaver Meadow Falls.
Starting out at lower elevations in the morning, trails may be frozen over and still icy requiring the use of micro spikes to maintain your footing on the trail. Micro spikes can prevent slipping and sliding down the trail and work very well in mixed conditions of ice, snow and even some frozen mud.
Seasonal Shift
There may be little to no snow on the trail when you start out as on Lake Road but as you start to gain elevation or change trails more snowpack will start to appear. From the turnoff of lake road at Beaver Meadow Falls we noticed after a few steps we were punching though the snow very easily. At this point we donned our snowshoes to avoid “post holing” (sinking up to you knees or even higher in the snow). Early in the morning the snow may be able to support your weight without snowshoes but as the day goes on and it gets warmer the snowpack will start to soften up. May hikers do not think to carry snowshoes in the spring and it ends up being a mistake as they reach higher elevations as it can be very difficult to make any progress through the snow. Not wearing snowshoes when appropriate is also a ticketable offense when in the High Peaks Region of the Adirondacks. On top of that it is good trail etiquette to wear your snowshoes. Not wearing them can lead to postholes though out the trail and cause issues for other groups traveling in the area.
Once we had our snowshoes on we had plenty of traction and stability on the snowpack. We made our way to the beautiful Beaver Meadow Falls.
The Warm Up
Once past the falls the trail starts to climb. It was about 10:30am when we left the falls and the temperature was about 54 degrees. It was very warm out and we had to remove our jackets to keep from overheating. Dressing for spring hiking can be difficult even on beautiful days. The start of the hike we were cold enough that we had our jackets on and I was even wearing gloves to keep my hands warm. However at this point an hour and a half in I was down to a single base layer top and was even warm then. As we progressed further up the mountain we started to come out of the woods and into some open areas. Here the temperature would go up even more from the reflection of the sun on the snow.
When we made it above the tree line it felt like a summer day with the warmth from the sun reflected off the snow and little to no wind. However as we approached the summit the wind began to pick up. Here we stopped to put on our jackets and gloves to prepare for colder weather. As we went over the crest to the summit the wind was strong enough to almost knock us over. In a manner of less than five minutes we went from summer like conditions to winter like freezing conditions with a very strong winds.
After spending a few minutes on the summit we pressed on out of the wind. Weather forecasts may seem mild for the surrounding areas but winter can maintain a grip on the summits well into the spring. We moved on from the summit and down into the col between Gothics and the next peak Pyramid (Pyramid is not counted as a 4000 footer due to it’s lack of prominence from Gothics). Here we were out of the wind and the temperature shot back up again. Off came our excess layers yet again in order to maintain our cool.
Views and Tips
We spent several minutes on the summit of Pyramid, which is one of my favorite views in all of the Adirondacks. From this vantage point you can see the massive slides of the upper Great Range.
After leaving the summit on our trip down we crossed several small streams that were still frozen over. There was snow over them and it held up quite well even during the warm day. We got lucky this day; this can be a major hazard of spring hiking that you should be prepared for. Warm weather will lead to the snow melting and flowing into streams and rivers. On particularly warm days and after rain these small streams can become raging rivers as the day goes on, making crossing difficult if not impassable in the worst cases. Be sure to carry a map and be aware of spots that can be difficult and plan alternate routes to avoid the dangers.
Another thing to be aware of during the spring thaw is the infamous Adirondack mud. The trails can become a soupy mess from snowmelt and rain on top of that. This can lead to some messy conditions. It is best to avoid the trails that can be particularly muddy. If you do find yourself in these conditions the proper course of action is to stay on the trail and walk through the mud and not around it. Walking around the area causes further erosion and over time can lead to mud pits in the trail instead of smaller muddy areas.
We did not run into much mud on our way down but another week later and the trails would most likely be a muddy mess. As we descended we passed by Rainbow Falls on the way down.
After the falls it was a short walk back to Ausable Lake where we followed Lake Road back out to the car for a very enjoyable day in the mountains. The drive to Schroon Lake is again a welcomed time to relax and with all of the available dining options we were able to refule after a day in the mountains. Schroon makes for an excellent jump off point for anyone looking to hit trails in the Adirondacks. Since our hike the snow melt has occured and with the very little rain late spring hiking in the Adirondacks will be prime conditions.
