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Adirondack High Peaks

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The Name High Peak

The Adirondack High Peaks is the name given to 46 mountain peaks in the Adirondack Mountains of New York, United States that were originally believed to comprise all of the Adirondack peaks higher than 4,000 feet (1,219 m).[1] However, later surveying showed that four of the peaks in the group are actually under this elevation, and one additional peak that is close to this elevation had been overlooked. Due to tradition, no mountains were removed from or added to the group as a result of the revised elevation estimates.

Location

All except four are located in central and northern Essex County, primarily south of Lake Placid and Keene Valley. The others are just to the west in Franklin County. All the summits are on land owned by New York State as part of its Forest Preserve. Forty-two are in a vast tract of nearly 300,000 acres (1,200 km2) known as the High Peaks Wilderness Area, subdivided into central (26 peaks) and outer (16 peaks) zones. Nine of the peaks in the outer zone are in an area formerly known as the Dix Mountain Wilderness Area that was added to the High Peaks Wilderness in 2018.[2] Giant Mountain and Rocky Peak Ridge are in the adjacent Giant Mountain Wilderness Area. Whiteface Mountain, which has a downhill ski area and a toll road to its summit, and Esther Mountain are set slightly to the north, in Wilmington.

Protection of Fragile Ecosystems

Atop the highest peaks, above the tree line, there is a total of 87 acres (35 ha) of extraordinarily fragile alpine ecosystem; the amount of this ecosystem is constantly changing due to variation in the climate from year to year. Since this ecosystem above the treeline is extraordinarily fragile, it is extremely important to protect it. This is because, due to its elevation, this ecosystem may not be able to recover from any sort of harm.

The region contains many alpine lakes and meadows, wetlands, streams, and forests. The Eastern High Peaks Wilderness area is the most regulated area. Fires are not permitted; dogs must be leashed; overnight groups are limited to eight people and day groups to 15; and bear-resistant food canisters are required from April through November.

If you are traveling through this ecosystem, make sure to stay on the designated trail to prevent trampling vegetation and creating new routes. [3] Camping is prohibited above any elevation greater than 4,000 ft on any of the Adirondack High Peaks.[4] For more information on how to protect the fragile ecosystems of the Adirondack High Peak Region you can visit https://www.dec.ny.gov/index.html.

How to Reach the Summit of The High Peaks

Climbing neither Mount Marcy nor Algonquin Peak, the two highest of the High Peaks, requires technical skills, but Algonquin Peak is regarded as the more challenging climb. Twenty of the peaks have no official trail to the top, although rough informal routes, commonly referred to as "herd paths," have developed over the years. No true bushwhacking is required on any of the peaks, although some trails are still quite primitive.[5]

If you are looking to get the great view of the Adirondack Region without the hike, there is a road that will lead you right to the summit of Whiteface Mountain. The road is called the Veterans' Memorial Highway. [6]

Mountain Ranges

There are many Mountain Ranges within the High Peaks. The Dix Range includes five out of the forty-six High Peaks: Macomb, Grace Peak, South Dix, Hough, and Dix Mountain. The Great Range includes seven out of the forty-six High Peaks: Lower Wolfjaw, Upper Wolfjaw, Armstrong, Gothics, Saddleback, Basin, and Haystack. The Seward Range includes four out of the forty-six High Peaks: Seward, Donaldson, Emmons, and Seymour Mountain.[7] The MacIntyre Range includes four out of the forty-six High Peaks: Mount Marshall, Wright, Algonquin and Iroquois.[8] The Santanoni Range includes three out of the forty-six High Peaks: Santanoni Peak, Panther Peak, and Couchsachraga.

Interesting Facts

Mount Marcy, the High Peak with the greatest height, is the tallest Mountain in New York.

Those who have climbed all 46 High Peaks are eligible to join the Adirondack Forty-Sixers club.[9]

View from Algonquin Peak: (left to right) Pitchoff, Cascade, Porter, Big Slide, Yard, Phelps, Tabletop, Giant, Lower Wolfjaw, Upper Wolfjaw, Armstrong, Gothics, Saddleback, Basin, Nippletop and Dix, Hough, Marcy, Gray, Skylight, and Colden (foreground)

The High Peaks

Mount Marcy from Mount Haystack
Giant Mountain seen from Noonmark Mountain
Big Slide Mountain from Cascade Mountain
Mount Emmons and Mount Donaldson from Seward
Mountain Height (ft / m) Prominence (ft) Rank
Mount Marcy 5,344 / 1,629 4,914 1
Algonquin Peak 5,114 / 1,559 2,100 2
Mount Haystack 4,960 / 1,512 840 3
Mount Skylight 4,926 / 1,501 578 4
Whiteface Mountain 4,867 / 1,483 3,110 5
Dix Mountain 4,857 / 1,480 2,830 6
Gray Peak 4,840 / 1,475 102 7
Iroquois Peak 4,840 / 1,475 151 8
Basin Mountain 4,827 / 1,471 725 9
Gothics 4,736 / 1,444 699 10
Mount Colden 4,714 / 1,437 876 11
Giant Mountain 4,627 / 1,410 2,953 12
Nippletop 4,620 / 1,408 1,380 13
Santanoni Peak 4,607 / 1,404 2,430 14
Mount Redfield 4,606 / 1,404 242 15
Wright Peak 4,580 / 1,396 270 16
Saddleback Mountain 4,515 / 1,376 380 17
Panther Peak 4,442 / 1,354 275  18
Table Top Mountain 4,427 / 1,349 430 19
Rocky Peak Ridge 4,420 / 1,347 640 20
Macomb Mountain 4,405 / 1,343 584 21
Armstrong Mountain 4,400 / 1,341 98 22
Hough Peak 4,400 / 1,341 374 23
Seward Mountain 4,361 / 1,329 2,030 24
Mount Marshall 4,360 / 1,329 493 25
Allen Mountain 4,340 / 1,323 640 26
Big Slide Mountain 4,240 / 1,292 1,049 27
Esther Mountain 4,240 / 1,292 302 28
Upper Wolfjaw Mountain 4,185 / 1,276 280 29
Lower Wolfjaw Mountain 4,175 / 1,273 663 30
Street Mountain 4,166 / 1,270 1,280 31
Phelps Mountain 4,161 / 1,268 200 32
Donaldson Mountain 4,140 / 1,262 138 33
Seymour Mountain 4,120 / 1,256 1,020 34
Sawteeth 4,100 / 1,250 490 35
Cascade Mountain 4,098 / 1,249 1,180 36
South Dix 4,060 / 1,237 164 37
Porter Mountain 4,059 / 1,237 330 38
Mount Colvin 4,057 / 1,236 750 39
Mount Emmons 4,040 / 1,231 102 40
Dial Mountain 4,020 / 1,225 164 41
Grace Peak 4,012 / 1,223 319 42
Blake Peak 3,960 / 1,207 558 43
Cliff Mountain 3,960 / 1,207 466 44
Nye Mountain 3,895 / 1,187 130 45
Couchsachraga Peak 3,820 / 1,164 250 46

Some surveys list MacNaughton Mountain at 4,000 feet (1,219 m), and some argue that it should be included in the High Peaks. However, more recent surveys list the mountain at 3,983 feet (1,214 m).[10]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Hiking Challenges: The Adirondack 46ers". Adirondack.net. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  2. ^ "High Peaks Wilderness Area Unit Management Plan". New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  3. ^ "The Alpine: Protecting a Fragile Ecosystem". Adventure Pro Magazine. 2020-08-06. Retrieved 2020-11-10.
  4. ^ "Primitive Camping - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation". www.dec.ny.gov. Retrieved 2020-11-10.
  5. ^ "46 High Peaks". lakeplacid.com. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  6. ^ "Take a trip up the Whiteface Veterans' Memorial Highway". Whiteface Region. 2018-06-12. Retrieved 2020-11-10.
  7. ^ "Seward Range : Climbing, Hiking & Mountaineering : SummitPost". www.summitpost.org. Retrieved 2020-11-10.
  8. ^ "The MacIntyre Range Hike". Outdoor Project. Retrieved 2020-11-10.
  9. ^ "How to Join". ADk 46ers. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
  10. ^ "MacNaughton Mountain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2012-12-20.
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