February 20, 2013

I never get bored of this hike, it always seems as though I can find something new and interesting about this traverse each time I visit – which just so happens to be a couple times a year. However I don't tend to get up there as much in the winter, not sure exactly why, but this week, I had the perfect opportunity. The day wasn't much like winter at all, almost reaching 40 degrees by mid-day, but the snow reminded us, it in fact was still winter.

The day started off a bit questionable, with rain possible in the forecast, I am pleased that the meteorologist got it wrong in the right direction for once. The snow was very sticky and creating softballs under our feet as we walked through on our micro-spikes. We found ourselves kicking tree trunks and boulders every few hundred feet to clear out stride. Even though the conditions didn't really warrant snowshoes, we had to put them on to alleviate the balling up effect.

We quickly approached the 1st and then the 2nd rocky outcrop along the lower ridge which gave us decent views out over the lakes. We could see threatening clouds moving our way over Marcy and the MacIntyre Range. As we approached the valley between the lower ridge and the Balanced Boulders we prepared ourselves for a bit more of a climb. It was a touch icy in spots and for those with shorter legs; they needed to get "running start" to get up over the tall steps.

Snowshoeing along the ridge

Arriving at the spur trail for the Balanced Boulders we decided we couldn't miss out on the opportunity to hit the "Wind Tunnel" in winter. The "Wind Tunnel" is a narrow cleft in the mountain located between the Balanced Boulders. Once we got to the entrance we climbed down it about 8-feet and traversed through. A small boulder clogs the route a bit, making it hard for bigger people like myself to get through, giving this cleft a second appropriate name, "The Lemon Squeezer." Once through this area we were met with a snow drift that was roughly 10 feet deep. Luckily it was so wind packed that it acted like a slide down to the other end. We exited under the natural rock roof, took in a few pictures and continue to exit out the other side and back up around the mountain to the Balanced Boulders.

We returned to the main trail and started our climb up to the summit of Pitchoff, which came rather quickly. We passed by the next couple views only long enough to take in a few pictures, we were looking for a less windy destination for lunch. Once we found it, I broke out my Jetboil stove system and prepared some piping hot balsam tea, I only wish I had remembered to bring some dried cranberries to toss in as well.

A narrow section of trail along the ridge

After a nice half-hour break we stretched out our knees and moved along the ridge to find some outstanding butt-sliding opportunities. We were quite surprised at how little traffic the ridge had received along the middle portion, hardly a sign of humans existed. In fact, there were more bobcat tracks than human tracks for over 1-mile. The snow drifts, in certain areas were so wide spread, that the trail became almost indiscernible.

Once atop the final rocky summit, along the ridge, we started the long and very steep descent back to the valley floor. For snowshoe wearing trekkers this descent in times of low snow volume is very awkward and slow going, kind of like my blog entries, but we managed and reached our soccer mom van in just over 5.5 hours. Now off to a Lake Placid spa for a deep tissue massage.

For more information about Pitchoff Mountain or the Adirondack 100 Highest, pick up a copy of The Other 54 by Spencer Morrissey at a local gear shop, the Lake Placid Visitors Center or locally-owned bookstore.

Spencer Morrissey is a local guide through High Peaks Mountain Guides and Rock and River Guides. For a guided trip be sure visit one of Lake Placid's local guide shops for details.

Pitchoff Traverse Map
Snowshoeing along the ridge
A narrow section of trail along the ridge
Pitchoff Traverse Map

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