Adirondacks and the Whites

Post 23

In a lot of ways this summer and specifically this long road trip we are on is just an overview of the country. It’s just a sample or tease of what this diverse beautiful country has to offer. Through the window of a Subaru we will explore all four corners of this vast country of ours and everything in-between. The downside is that we don’t have enough time to truly experience the areas we pass through. A day here, maybe two days there isn’t remotely enough time to explore an area, especially some of the incredible places we’ve passed through this week.

After our show outside of Albany NY we headed North into the Adirondack Mountains. These attractive mountains lie within the largest state park in the nation. Adirondack State Park encompasses over six million acres, which is roughly the same size as it’s neighbor to the East, the state of Vermont. In this range there are close to 46 peaks that reach over 4000ft above sea level. I know 4000ft doesn’t sound high if you’re from the West like we are but many of these mountains dominate the skyline and are in fact high in relation to the valleys below. 

After our show outside of Albany NY we headed North into the Adirondack Mountains. These attractive mountains lie within the largest state park in the nation. Adirondack State Park encompasses over six million acres, which is roughly the same size as it’s neighbor to the East, the state of Vermont. In this range there are close to 46 peaks that reach over 4000ft above sea level. I know 4000ft doesn’t sound high if you’re from the West like we are but many of these mountains dominate the skyline and are in fact high in relation to the valleys below. 

We spent the limited time we had here walking the streets of the touristy but charming town of Lake Placid and ascending to the top of Whiteface Mountain by car. The rocky lichen covered summit of Whiteface is one of the most scenic vistas we’ve experienced in the Eastern mountains. Unlike so many of its counterparts to the South along the Appalachian spine that are obstructed by lush deciduous forest, Whiteface provides a 360 degree view of the surrounding countryside. The air also appears crisper and cleaner allowing for seeming endless visibility as far as the eye can see.

The next day a compact boat ferried us across Lake Champlain and into Vermont. Here in the outdoors funky town of Burlington we inspired people to Get Out More before moving further East into the imposing White Mountains. The plan was simple, drive up Mt Washington that first night and then climb up its neighbor Mt Adams the following day. The weather unfortunately did not cooperate. The night we arrived in the Whites rain and fog persuaded us to save the trip up Mt Washington for another day. The following morning severe thunderstorms ultimately forced us to also scrap our hike up Mt Adams. Despite being disappointed we knew that we had made the right decision. Rain and fog is one thing, but you really shouldn’t hike in a thunder storm.

We did however take the epic auto road up to the summit of Mt. Washington. A steep 12% grade winds us up the narrow mountain road. We quickly progressed first through a thick deciduous forest and then into the stunted pine trees before arriving above the tree line and rocky talus slopes of the upper mountain. Visibility went from clear to non existent as a white abyss encircled us. During the last two miles of the eight mile journey to the top we crept along at five miles an hour barely able to see the road ten feet in front of the car and not at all able to see over the edge of the mountain. The scarcely visible ghostly outlines of massive jagged boulders on the upslope of the mountain penned us in against the void of the downslope side of the road and mountain. Arriving at the top we were greeted by a traffic jam. Multiple motorists had stopped in the middle of the road blocking our way. Visibility was so poor that even thought the road had flattened out and the parking area and summit were off to the right, no one knew where to continue or where to park their car. So they just stopped…

Outside the car the defining wind howled and the crisp chilly air made our eyes water. We leaned into this current of rushing air attempting to let it hold our body weight. It was an challenge in itself simply trying to figure out which way to venture. With absolutely no visibility and therefore no orientation as to where any of the structures were on top of the mountain we blindly walked away from our car in the direction that seemed right. A wooden stairway came into view and we followed it up to a small building and on to the visitor center and observation deck.

As great as it would have been to experience a clear day atop Mt Washington and a picturesque view of the surrounding White Mountains, what we experienced was equally exciting. It was a unique alpine adventure and example of the extremes that face the summit of Mt Washington.