ku # 533 ~ the Adirondack mountains

A view of some High Peaks • click
to embiggenOne area that my ku has been a bit light on is the rugged high peaks interior of the Adirondacks. By "area" I mean both geographic and genre.

The primary reason for this has been my emphasis on water-based wilderness travels over mountain ventures. This preference is dictated in large part by my aversion to the crowds one encounters in the mountain backcountry during the Summer. On wilderness canoe trips, it is virtually unheard of to have to share a wilderness campsite. In fact, it is rare that wilderness waterway campsites are closer than 1/4 mile or more to each other. Most often the separation is measured in miles.

In the high peaks, shared / multi-party campsites are more often the rule. For me, wilderness is about isolation and solitude, not social interaction. Consequently, I have limited much of my high peaks backpacking activity to the Winter months. 30 years ago, when I started Winter backpacking, I and my hiking companion rarely encountered anyone during a 3-4 day trip into the mountain wilderness - the occasional NYSDEC Ranger being the exception.

Today, that is not the case, although once you get beyond the day-hike destinations, the crowds do thin out and an isolated campsite can be had. The chances of such are improved immeasurably by the fact that wilderness camping is allowed in many more places during the Winter than during the Summer.

Thar said, I'm going to encourage the wife to join me on a couple 3 day trips into the mountains this Autumn - after the leaves are on the ground and the leaf peepers have gone. There really is much to see, appreciate, and picture in the Adirondack high country.