We finally got a decent dumping of snow this week so it was time to get out and enjoy it. Friday friend and colleague Duane Gould and I set out to snowshoe up McKenzie Mountain one of the Saranac Lake Six. We have hiked this mountain too many times to count so the question of the morning was, "Which route should we take?" We decided to take the Shore Owner's Trail up and come down the DEC trail to the Jack Rabbit Trail.
The morning temperature was in single digits with a slight wind as we headed out. The forecast was for clearing skies but unfortunately for us they didn't clear until late afternoon so we were pretty socked in with occasional flurries for most of the day.
The Shore Owner's Trail heads north parallel to Lake Placid before it heads northwest up along Twin Brook. The snow was nearly two-feet deep as we snowshoed up along the brook. It ascends steadily until you come up to Bartlett Pond.
The morning temperature was in single digits with a slight wind as we headed out. The forecast was for clearing skies but unfortunately for us they didn't clear until late afternoon so we were pretty socked in with occasional flurries for most of the day.
The Shore Owner's Trail heads north parallel to Lake Placid before it heads northwest up along Twin Brook. The snow was nearly two-feet deep as we snowshoed up along the brook. It ascends steadily until you come up to Bartlett Pond.
Bartlett Pond From there it starts getting pretty steep. That combined with the deep snow made travel, even with snowshoes, pretty demanding. It was a long six tenths of a mile up to the ridge. Once on the ridge the snow was over 30 inches deep but the going was easier. From there it was an easy two tenths of a mile to the summit. The Shore Owner's Trail was much
better maintained than I remember it but then again I probably hadn't hiked on their trails for around 15 years. I was particularly impressed with how well the trails were signed.
Once we summited we headed down the south side where we were very grateful we hadn't climbed up the traditional route. It was much easier to slide down the steep pitches rather than have to climb up them. For those who have never climbed McKenzie Mt be prepared to go up and down a number of "false" summits. There was more than one that I slipped on the way up as well as slid down.
Once we summited we headed down the south side where we were very grateful we hadn't climbed up the traditional route. It was much easier to slide down the steep pitches rather than have to climb up them. For those who have never climbed McKenzie Mt be prepared to go up and down a number of "false" summits. There was more than one that I slipped on the way up as well as slid down.
After sliding down, down, down we finally hit the Jack Rabbit Trail where the trail was broken by skiers and it wasn't long before we saw a group of French Canadian snowshoers. It was a long two miles out to the road and then a short jaunt to our car. After over seven miles and nearly six hours of breaking trail with snowshoes we were pretty bushed. It is so nice though to have enough snow to get out and XC ski and snowshoe. More trips to come...
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