On the Trails
On a typical good weather weekend you’ll see plenty of hikers at the popular trailheads such as the Giant Mountain Roaring Brook Trailhead. When we arrived at the trailhead after a short drive from where we were staying in Schroon Lake, we parked on the side of the road since the parking lot was full of other hikers.
Here we met up with a few friends to take one of the less frequented routes up to the summit of Giant Mountain. We wouldn’t see another hiker the rest of the day on one of the most popular mountains in the Adirondacks.
Our plan, which would take us off the beaten path, was the climb the Bottle Slide. A slide is a term used to describe an area where a landslide occurred and stripped the mountain clear of vegetation. Slides usually occur during periods of intense rain. The Bottle Slide was formed during a downpour in June of 1963. Giant is known for its slides, which cover much of the face of the mountain and give it a distinct appearance. Slide climbing is a close cousin of rock climbing and a much more dangerous and difficult activity than hiking but can be very rewarding.
The Bottle Slide is a 1300-foot long section of open rock at an approximate angle of 30 degrees. The approach to the Bottle Slide starts at the Roaring Brook Trailhead on Route 73. After about 1 ¾ of a mile on the trail there is a small cairn on the left side of the trail. There is a very faint path that leads off from there. After a few minutes though the forest you will come to the drainage for Roaring Brook.
The drainage while open can be difficult to navigate due to all of the debris that has washed though from the slides. It is littered with boulders, trees and vegetation.
As you progress up the drainage it clears out and there are numerous sections that involve scrambling over small boulders and rock ledges. The drainage splits shortly in and the path to the Bottle Slide is the left most choice. While the navigation may be a bit more challenging than the typical trail the views of the surrounding area can be amazing due to the openness.
Progressing upwards the base of the slide is reached around 3500 feet. The rock on the slide provides plenty of traction and you can make your way up with good footing avoiding the wet areas that may be slippery. Sticky rock climbing shoes or approach shoes are not required but will give you much better grip on the rock inspiring more confidence.
The views of the surrounding valley and peaks are breathtaking from this seldom seen vantage point.
There are some areas that require climbing using both hands but the rock provides great traction.
Near the top of the slide approaching the cliffs of the summit there are some more rock climbing like sections but they can be navigated safely for a climber with some experience.
One at the top of the slide you are faced with an 80-foot cliff that will take you up to the trail and then the summit. A rock climber with the appropriate gear can climb the cliff easily but we chose to traverse parallel to the cliffs for an easier approach to the summit. After a bit of bushwhacking and a few challenging scrambles using a short length of rope to assist the less experienced climbers in our group we reached the summit.
Schroon Lake is close to amazing trails and is easy to get to. Learn more about Schroon Lake.
