OTHER Trip Report 04/22/2014

Report Type	Full
Peak(s)	Mount Esther - 4270 Mount Colvin - 4057 Nippletop - 4620
Date Posted	04/22/2014
Modified	05/29/2016
Date Climbed	04/18/2014
Author	nyker

Spring in the Adirondacks Revisited
After turning around on one peak earlier this month, I needed to get back and redeem myself with some successful summits! Below is a regal shot of Whiteface Mountain from the marshes where apparently some Moose have been seen, though not by me. Note water is still frozen across. Conditions Update: (High Peaks Region) For anyone going up here soon: Ice and snow has melted out down on the lower sections of approaches, but after climbing +500-1000 vertical feet on most trails you will find plenty of both. Double check snow-bridges. Some sort of traction is still needed. Either microspikes, crampons or snowshoes with a full crampon will work, with each having their pros and cons, depending on the route. The only group I saw on Colvin had spikes and were complaining that they didn't bite in the ice deep enough on the steeper sections. Snowshoes without cleats were more dangerous than bare boots, since they became like small toboggans on your feet on the ice. Poles are very helpful, especially in the afternoon when the snow softens and the inevitable posthole fest begins. Axe - depends on the route. Ascending the longer slides you'll still need it, though for the shorter steep ice sections, a small technical tool works better actually. Temps: The first night got down to 18F, but warmed each successive night to be in the mid 20s. When the wind was mild, it was comfortable climbing in 2 layers. The Peaks* For this trip, I chose Mount Colvin, Nippletop and Mount Esther. Day 1. Mount Colvin, 4,057ft Nippletop, 4,620ft Indian Head Lookout Total mileage: 18 miles Net Vertical Gain: 4,997ft I started at St. Huberts parking area/trailhead across the street from the dirt road. As soon as you leave the road up the Gill Brook route you can see the ice is melting and the rivers are flowing again. The current state of the melt is pretty cool looking. Most of the trail still has ice underlying the snow or just pure ice with the snow having melted off in the last two weeks. Traction is mandatory if you don't want to fall on your face. The route is pretty tight to the evergreens most of the way and the below shot is a typical view most of the way: snow coverage is still 100% higher up. The last remaining section to get to the summit is a steep mixed rock and ice climb up about 75 feet that is a no-fall section and made a bit more tricky when egg-shelled in thick ice. There is a summit marker somewhere here, but assumed it was buried under the snow or ice, so I settled for the shot of the anchor on the summit rock. On summit of Mount Colvin with Basin, Saddleback, Gothics and Sawteeth in the background In every direction from the summit, you're surrounded by peaks. Great energy up here! After enjoying my Summit Snickers, I descended back to the Colvin/Nippletop junction. The junction is 4.9 miles from the second parking lot; Nippletop was 1.9 miles from this point. The route up to Nippletop was easier than the climb up to Colvin. It was steeper and 600 feet higher, but the snow was more consistent and there was less ice. Snow was uniformly "thick" There were however a few streams and ponds over which to cross, some of which were melting out fast. Watch out for snow bridges, they're getting thin. After the streams, the route climbs steadily and only lets up near a false summit/junction with the path to Dial Mountain. The snow is deeper up this mountain also, with postholing occurring every few steps. After an initial steep ascent you swear you're at the summit, but its only the junction: Now you turn right for a LONG 0.2 mile in deep snow. Note axe up to its head by sign. The snow was more firm earlier, then soft coming down. Climbing the Nipple: Trudging through the stunted fir, blowdown and deep snow, I wonder where the summit is...around a turn, the remaining route comes into view. This is the "nipple" Finally on top! Clouds are moving in and its forecast to rain/snow by late afternoon, so I enjoy the summit for a couple of photos and begin to hike down. Aside from the occasional posthole, descending back down to the junction was not too bad. Once at the junction, the route starts to see more ice, which makes foot placement a more tedious process. Before returning back via the Lake Road, I stopped off at the Indian Head lookout, which is a stunning overlook of the lower Ausable Lake, gorge and surrounding peaks. Peregrine falcons nest in the cliffs here. Lake still frozen across. One note to add: I attempted hiking back from Indian to shortcut it back to the road, but the trail there disappeared into a mess of blowdown and snowdrifts. After 20 minutes of fruitlessly searching for the way, I backtracked and just went back the way I hiked in, which cost another hour of hiking. Indian Head viewpoint: Day 2. Mount Esther, 4,270ft Starting at Wilmington Trailhead (an alternative start for Whiteface Mountain also): Total mileage: 9.4 miles Net Vertical Gain: 3,455ft While this is one of those peaks with allegedly no maintained trail to the summit, it is not that hard to follow a route of sorts to the top. There are two key turns of three you must make though, but not really stressful to route find. Climbing this today (April 19) was like hiking up through a half dozen climates. It was raining when I started at the trailhead, soon turned to sleet, then to snow at 2,000ft elevation. As the elevation increased and the trees grew smaller, the exposure to the wind picked up and a whiteout ensued, further dropping the temperature, requiring a wind layer and warmer gloves. After what seemed like three-four false summits, the top appeared and as soon as I started my descent, the weather turned. The clouds lifted, wind stopped and blue skies started to appear when about halfway down. Starting out in four layers and finishing in a T-shirt. Go figure. Nonetheless, this was a great hike. The route was in a nice wooded area down lower then as soon as you turn off from the alternative way to Whiteface, turned into solid snow. The snow was perfect snowshoe terrain and as such climbed the remainder of the way in snowshoes. The hike is pretty uniformly steep the whole way once out of the lower deciduous forest and into the fir and spruce. As the newly fallen snow stuck to the needles, it made for a holiday-like of walking through a forest of Christmas Trees. I had the urge to start singing Jingle Bells This mountain has a really believable false summit before finally reaching the top. The fact that it was a whiteout on the false summit also made it more convincing. Socked in: Feeling it was too short to get to the top, I kept going and after what seemed like an eternity particularly once the wind really kicked up, made the real summit. The peak was named after Esther McComb who made the first recorded ascent in 1839 at the age of 15. Coming down from the summit, the weather abruptly turned for the better and soon was blue skies Ice was melting fast. Driving back to town when leaving, I saw Whiteface was still "in" and much of the mountain was still open for skiing! Of course, bluebird skies always come in when you're done climbing In summary, this was a great trip to get a last shot at some solid snow climbing before it all turns to mud in the next month! Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Spring in the Adirondacks Revisited

After turning around on one peak earlier this month, I needed to get back and redeem myself with some successful summits!

Below is a regal shot of Whiteface Mountain from the marshes where apparently some Moose have been seen, though not by me. Note water is still frozen across.

Conditions Update: (High Peaks Region) For anyone going up here soon:
Ice and snow has melted out down on the lower sections of approaches, but after climbing +500-1000 vertical feet on most trails you will find plenty of both. Double check snow-bridges.

Some sort of traction is still needed. Either microspikes, crampons or snowshoes with a full crampon will work, with each having their pros and cons, depending on the route. The only group I saw on Colvin had spikes and were complaining that they didn't bite in the ice deep enough on the steeper sections. Snowshoes without cleats were more dangerous than bare boots, since they became like small toboggans on your feet on the ice.

Poles are very helpful, especially in the afternoon when the snow softens and the inevitable posthole fest begins.

Axe - depends on the route. Ascending the longer slides you'll still need it, though for the shorter steep ice sections, a small technical tool works better actually.

Temps: The first night got down to 18*F, but warmed each successive night to be in the mid 20s. When the wind was mild, it was comfortable climbing in 2 layers.

The Peaks

For this trip, I chose Mount Colvin, Nippletop and Mount Esther.

Day 1.
Mount Colvin, 4,057ft
Nippletop, 4,620ft
Indian Head Lookout

Total mileage: 18 miles
Net Vertical Gain: 4,997ft

I started at St. Huberts parking area/trailhead across the street from the dirt road.

As soon as you leave the road up the Gill Brook route you can see the ice is melting and the rivers are flowing again. The current state of the melt is pretty cool looking.

Most of the trail still has ice underlying the snow or just pure ice with the snow having melted off in the last two weeks. Traction is mandatory if you don't want to fall on your face.

The route is pretty tight to the evergreens most of the way and the below shot is a typical view most of the way: snow coverage is still 100% higher up.

The last remaining section to get to the summit is a steep mixed rock and ice climb up about 75 feet that is a no-fall section and made a bit more tricky when egg-shelled in thick ice.

There is a summit marker somewhere here, but assumed it was buried under the snow or ice, so I settled for the shot of the anchor on the summit rock.

On summit of Mount Colvin with Basin, Saddleback, Gothics and Sawteeth in the background

In every direction from the summit, you're surrounded by peaks. Great energy up here!

After enjoying my Summit Snickers, I descended back to the Colvin/Nippletop junction. The junction is 4.9 miles from the second parking lot; Nippletop was 1.9 miles from this point.
The route up to Nippletop was easier than the climb up to Colvin. It was steeper and 600 feet higher, but the snow was more consistent and there was less ice.

Snow was uniformly "thick"

There were however a few streams and ponds over which to cross, some of which were melting out fast.

Watch out for snow bridges, they're getting thin.

After the streams, the route climbs steadily and only lets up near a false summit/junction with the path to Dial Mountain.

The snow is deeper up this mountain also, with postholing occurring every few steps.

After an initial steep ascent you swear you're at the summit, but its only the junction: Now you turn right for a LONG 0.2 mile in deep snow.
Note axe up to its head by sign. The snow was more firm earlier, then soft coming down.

Climbing the Nipple: Trudging through the stunted fir, blowdown and deep snow, I wonder where the summit is...around a turn, the remaining route comes into view. This is the "nipple"

Finally on top! Clouds are moving in and its forecast to rain/snow by late afternoon, so I enjoy the summit for a couple of photos and begin to hike down.

Aside from the occasional posthole, descending back down to the junction was not too bad. Once at the junction, the route starts to see more ice, which makes foot placement a more tedious process.

Before returning back via the Lake Road, I stopped off at the Indian Head lookout, which is a stunning overlook of the lower Ausable Lake, gorge and surrounding peaks. Peregrine falcons nest in the cliffs here. Lake still frozen across.

One note to add: I attempted hiking back from Indian to shortcut it back to the road, but the trail there disappeared into a mess of blowdown and snowdrifts. After 20 minutes of fruitlessly searching for the way, I backtracked and just went back the way I hiked in, which cost another hour of hiking.

Indian Head viewpoint:

Day 2.

Mount Esther, 4,270ft
Starting at Wilmington Trailhead (an alternative start for Whiteface Mountain also):
Total mileage: 9.4 miles
Net Vertical Gain: 3,455ft

While this is one of those peaks with allegedly no maintained trail to the summit, it is not that hard to follow a route of sorts to the top. There are two key turns of three you must make though, but not really stressful to route find.

Climbing this today (April 19) was like hiking up through a half dozen climates. It was raining when I started at the trailhead, soon turned to sleet, then to snow at 2,000ft elevation. As the elevation increased and the trees grew smaller, the exposure to the wind picked up and a whiteout ensued, further dropping the temperature, requiring a wind layer and warmer gloves.
After what seemed like three-four false summits, the top appeared and as soon as I started my descent, the weather turned. The clouds lifted, wind stopped and blue skies started to appear
when about halfway down. Starting out in four layers and finishing in a T-shirt. Go figure.

Nonetheless, this was a great hike. The route was in a nice wooded area down lower then as soon as you turn off from the alternative way to Whiteface, turned into solid snow. The snow was
perfect snowshoe terrain and as such climbed the remainder of the way in snowshoes.

The hike is pretty uniformly steep the whole way once out of the lower deciduous forest and into the fir and spruce.

As the newly fallen snow stuck to the needles, it made for a holiday-like of walking through a forest of Christmas Trees.

I had the urge to start singing Jingle Bells

This mountain has a really believable false summit before finally reaching the top. The fact that it was a whiteout on the false summit also made it more convincing.

Socked in:

Feeling it was too short to get to the top, I kept going and after what seemed like an eternity particularly once the wind really kicked up, made the real summit.

The peak was named after Esther McComb who made the first recorded ascent in 1839 at the age of 15.

Coming down from the summit, the weather abruptly turned for the better and soon was blue skies

Ice was melting fast.

Driving back to town when leaving, I saw Whiteface was still "in" and much of the mountain was still open for skiing! Of course, bluebird skies always come in when you're done climbing

In summary, this was a great trip to get a last shot at some solid snow climbing before it all turns to mud in the next month!

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Comments or Questions

BenfromtheEast

Good stuff!
4/23/2014 4:54pm

Thanks for posting these!

Caution: The information contained in this report may not be accurate and should not be the only resource used in preparation for your climb. Failure to have the necessary experience, physical conditioning, supplies or equipment can result in injury or death. 14ers.com and the author(s) of this report provide no warranties, either express or implied, that the information provided is accurate or reliable. By using the information provided, you agree to indemnify and hold harmless 14ers.com and the report author(s) with respect to any claims and demands against them, including any attorney fees and expenses. Please read the 14ers.com Safety and Disclaimer pages for more information.

Please respect private property: 14ers.com supports the rights of private landowners to determine how and by whom their land will be used. In Colorado, it is your responsibility to determine if land is private and to obtain the appropriate permission before entering the property.

14ers.com

Social

Mobile App