The Ultimate Multiday Hiking Trip in the Adirondacks
The Adirondack region in northern New York is part of the largest state park in the nation, and the High Peaks region, the site of two Winter Olympics, is where we will concentrate our trip. Rounded mountains, babbling brooks, narrow chasms and inviting lakes all beckon as we explore the only mountains in the eastern U.S. that aren’t geologically Appalachian. These mountains are continuing to be uplifted, perhaps by a hotspot in the earth’s crust, and although they were partially glacially carved, the mountains are rugged, steep and nearly impenetrable. It should be noted that although the mileage on this tour is not as high as other challenging tours, the terrain is very rugged with rocky, technical paths, slopes requiring hand holds, ladders and slippery rocks, so travel is slow. This makes the rewarding views and sense of accomplishment that much sweeter.
The area is steeped in history, from the hunting escapades of the Native American tribes of Iroquois and Algonquin, to the names of the first explorers like Henry Van Hoevenberg, Old Man Phelps and Verplanck Colvin, to the architecture and furnishings of the Great Camps and the rustic lodges that still take visitors today, to the centers for summer and winter recreation that have been luring visitors for many decades. Be sure to ask your guides for more information about the Great Camps, backcountry lodges, backpacking in the area, the 1932 and 1980 Olympics, the Adirondack chair and much, much more!