Ampersand Mountain is a great hike for the family, however, I suggest, children that are hiking, be at least, 10 years old or older. This is … Just shy of the summit, the trail becomes open rock and is marked by yellow paint on the rocks. A moderate fall of snow, heaviest on Sat afternoonTemperatures will be below freezing (max -1°C on Sun night, min -20°C on Mon night)Winds increasing (fresh winds from the SW on Sun morning, gales from the SSW by Sun night). You'll also have a few rock scrambles and some amazing views of rock ledges hanging over the trail. Winds increasing (light winds from the W on Fri afternoon, near gales from the WSW by Sun afternoon). Protect the Catskill Park’s Bluestone Wild Forest, High Peaks Strategic Planning Advisory Group, Marie L. Haberl School Outreach Program: Three Seasons at Heart Lake, For a complete description of the trail, please see please see the guide, Kinzua Dam and Allegheny Reservoir Master Plan, Adirondack Mountain Club High Peaks Trails. The full hike to the summit of Ampersand Mountain, near Saranac and Lake Placid New York. Design: ADA ACCESSIBILITY: If you are vision-impaired or have some other impairment covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act or a similar law, and you require assistance using this website, please contact us at 1-800-395-8080 or for assistance with lodging, programs, trails information, call 518-523-3441. Trails to McKenzie, Ampersand and Baker were also found to be in need of maintenance. As far as views go, this is one of the best in the area and should not be missed. Becoming colder with a light covering of snow, mostly falling on Thu nightFreeze-thaw conditions (max 9°C on Thu night, min -10°C on Tue night)Winds increasing (light winds from the NW on Wed morning, extremely windy from the SSE by Thu afternoon). Ampersand Mountain has a moderately strenuous trail to the summit, but it’s well worth it for the 360-degree view that awaits you at the top. On the way up I passed two couples and later I found out that one of them had bailed because of the steepness. Gain: 1775' A light covering of new snow mostly falling on Wed night. Because the mountain sits apart from others of a similar elevation, it has a wide-sweeping view of the Saranac Lakes, the St. Regis Ponds, and the High Peaks off in … Depending on the time of year, we recommend microspikes/crampons. This table gives the weather forecast for Ampersand Mountain at the specific elevation of 1022 m. However, again, I suggest not bringing really small dogs, because of the steep parts. Ampersand Mountain Trail is a 4.9 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Saranac Lake, New York that features beautiful wild flowers and is only recommended for very experienced adventurers. The program will start at 9 am at the Ampersand Mountain trailhead located … The quality of the trail conditions, combined with the light gradations (given the enormous Eastern elevations) and the many, many, many excellent vistas, and the idea that Leconte is one of the must go-to destinations for Smokies hihers really would have made this think unhikeable up in the ADKs. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from June until March. Trail Conditions: Mix of wet, muddy, leaf strewn (Haystack, McKenzie, higher areas on Scarface and Saint Regis), dry (Baker, Ampersand, approach to Scarface and Saint Regis) Background: The Saranac Lake 6er holds a lot of meaning to me. If you use these pools use a filter to avoid giardia. You'll also have a few rock scrambles and some amazing views of rock ledges hanging over the trail. At just under 0.2 miles (0.3 kilometres) we crossed over a small stream on a sturdy, four-plank footbridge. State: NY. Trailhead parking is on Route 3, about 8 miles west of the Town of Saranac Lake. For a wider overview of the weather, consult the Weather Map of New-York. Just shy of the summit, the trail becomes open rock and is marked by yellow paint on the rocks. All in all, I cannot wait to redo this mountain, optimally in the fall, because I really don’t think it’s a hard climb (under the right conditions >.<) and the views are better even than those of St. Regis, since Ampersand is so much closer to the high peaks. Ampersand Mountain Path NY ... TrailsNH has just about every hiking trip report, trail advisory, and forest road closing in the Northeast. A moderate fall of snow, heaviest on Sat afternoon. at Start: 1577' Elev. Hikers are advised to only use trails at lower elevations as they usually dry soon after snowmelt and traverse deeper, less erosive soils DEC suggests the following alternative trails for hiking, subject to weather conditions: High Peaks Wilderness: Ampersand Mountain; Owls Head; Mt. Our advanced weather models allow us to provide distinct weather forecasts for several elevations of Wilderness: Giant’s Washbowl Freeze-thaw conditions (max 3°C on Thu morning, min -19°C on Tue afternoon). I say this, because their are some fairly steep parts of this hike. Temperatures will dip down a couple of degrees below zero at the summit, so be prepared to bundle up against the arctic air, but know it will be well worth it: conditions on the hill will be bright and brisk. This is an easy summit hike that is great for kids, and kids at heart. Keep your eyes peeled for yellow paint blazes and trail markers. ADA ACCESSIBILITY: If you are vision-impaired or have some other impairment covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act or a similar law, and you require assistance using this website, please contact us at 1-800-395-8080 or for assistance with lodging, programs, trails information, call 518-523-3441. The weather forecast for Ampersand Mountain is: Heavy rain (total 54mm), heaviest during Thu night. Becoming milder with light rain (total 6mm) on Thu morningFreeze-thaw conditions (max 3°C on Thu morning, min -19°C on Tue afternoon)Winds increasing (calm on Wed afternoon, gales from the SW by Wed night). But you pay for it because the trail climbs almost 1800 feet to the top compared to … To see the weather forecasts for the other elevations, use the tab navigation above the ... Saint Regis Mountain Adirondacks (Full Trail to the Summit) - Duration: 24:50. Elevation: 3352 ft Temperatures will be below freezing (max -1°C on Sun night, min -20°C on Mon night). A light covering of new snow mostly falling on Wed night. We stopped at the register to sign in, and then we were on our way. A DEC sign marks the beginning of the trail which travels gradually through the forest for about a mile and then climbs sharply. Be sure to follow the markers to avoid erosion. Elevation: 3353. The hike up Ampersand Mountain is about half that of Mt. Later becoming colder with a dusting of snow on Fri afternoonFreeze-thaw conditions (max 9°C on Thu night, min -12°C on Fri night)Winds increasing (moderate winds from the SSW on Wed afternoon, extremely windy from the SSE by Thu night). I climbed Ampersand Mountain in September 2004 with my wife and 3 year old son. The trail quickly thinned out, with lots of brush and trees creating a corridor of sorts. Winds increasing (moderate winds from the SSW on Wed afternoon, extremely windy from the SSE by Thu night). 3 Things to Know about Winter Hiking Above Tree Line, Adirondack 46ers Support Crucial High Peaks Stewardship Programs. This hike is not one of the 46's but at 3352', Ampersand is a fun and challenging hike with great views from the top. The first 1.7 miles of the hike is a tranquil, idyllic “walk in the woods.” The trail is basically flat, going over various streams and through deep beautiful forest. © Adirondack mountain club. I got loaded my pack with lots of liquid, in anticipation of climbing the Sewards, and I forgot to unload it prior to Ampersand, so I was carrying lots of unnecessary weight. There is some steep, tough areas with rocky faces and some bouldering but it is well worth it. The actual trail finished by topping out along beautiful and fun open rock as a side herd-path went left into the woods and essentially becoming eroded as well, with muck and steep steps. Group size is limited to 12 people. The assessment found damaged trails on Giant Mountain, Marcy, and in the Dix and Seward mountain ranges, among other places. Heavy rain (total 54mm), heaviest during Thu night. Continue on the trail a short ways before connecting with a small creek. DEC has cleared blow down in most areas accessed from the Corey’s Road, although not along the Northville-Placid Trail. Headlight firmly affixed and ready to take off layers (it was quite mild for late October), I headed off along the mostly-flat first part of the Ampersand Mountain trail. Regis Mountain- A 6.8 Mile Hike Near Saranac Lake, NY About a third of the way up, the trail levels for a spell, then steepens again after surmounting a short rock wall. * NOTE: not all weather observatories update at the same frequency which is the reason why some locations may show data from stations that are further away than known closer ones. Northwest winds will be most prevalent throughout the morning but should subside before noon. Giant Mountain Weather (Days 0-3): The weather forecast for Giant Mountain is: Heavy rain (total 34mm), heaviest during Thu nightFreeze-thaw conditions (max 7°C on Thu night, min -11°C on Tue afternoon)Winds increasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Wed … The forest changes from hardwoods to evergreens. Later becoming colder with a dusting of snow on Fri afternoon. Winds increasing (fresh winds from the SW on Sun morning, gales from the SSW by Sun night). Ascent: 1775 ft LAKE PLACID — The Adirondack Council released a preliminary report on the condition of trails in the High Peaks Wilderness Area and found that well over 100 miles of trail “need major work.” Camping NEW YORK STATE (* Indicates sites are on water) STATE CAMPGROUNDS: Sleep under the stars and enjoy our fresh mountain air, bring your tent or RV, or sleep in one of our unique Adirondack Lean-tos. Round-Trip Distance: 5.2 miles Dogs are also able to use this trail. Temperatures will be below freezing (max -2°C on Sun morning, min -9°C on Sat afternoon). The start of the trail to (up?) Hiking Ampersand Mountain, Saranac NY Adirondacks ... Sign in to report inappropriate content. Indian Pass to Rocky Falls trail details: 4.8 miles roundtrip. The last mile is a totally different experience, as you need to ascend 1300 ft. As you reach the 3352 foot summit, you will be directed through huge glacial erratics and fissures in the summit. Dogs are also able to use this trail. More Ampersand Mountain Trail is a 4.8 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Saranac Lake, New York that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as difficult. CRiedel2 - Jun 5, 2006 11:57 pm Date Climbed: Sep 14, 2004 Nice Family Hike . Ampersand Mountain NY. Ampersand Mountain was wide and flat. Elev. St. Regis Mountain was the third peak we hiked as part of the “Saranac 6er” challenge. The latter three are all part of the Saranac 6ers, a … Ampersand Mountain Trail: There is heavy blowdown on the Ampersand Mountain Trail as far as the old caretakers cabin – approximately 1.7 miles in. At 2.0 miles, you'll begin climbing a very steep set of rock stairs all of the way to the summit. We started towards the summit around 9 AM on a gorgeous weather day, sunny, mid 70's. table. Winds increasing (calm on Wed afternoon, gales from the SW by Wed night). The trail is 2.7 miles long and sometimes there are pools of water in th rocks. The waters of Tupper Lake can be seen to the north as well and the wooded hills of the Horseshoe Lake Wild Forest to the west. Ampersand Mountain. Ampersand Mountain. Freeze-thaw conditions (max 9°C on Thu night, min -12°C on Fri night). A dusting of new snow. The trail is so thickly cushioned with pine needles that you'll wonder if anyone else has been on the trail for some time. The trail begins on the south side of NY 3, about 14 miles east of Tupper Lake. This program is free and open to the public however registration is requested. VanHoevenberg; Mt. Ampersand Mountain is a classic day hike of moderate difficulty in the Adirondacks High Peaks region. We completed Baker first, and then Ampersand. The trail generally heads SE towards the summit. Nearing the summit, you traverse bedrock slabs with views of mountains, lakes, and, directly below, the village of Saranac Lake. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from June until March. Ampersand gets continually steeper as you climb and stone steps have been placed on most of the upper half of the trail to prevent the steep trail from eroding away. Becoming milder with light rain (total 6mm) on Thu morning. Upload a Ampersand Mountain photo | Upload for another mountain, View from Ampersand Mountain, Adirondacks. Still, when we got to the really steep bits -- a climb up the shady north slopes of Ampersand itself -- it was a bit of an eye-opener for some of the new hikers in the group. Location: Off Route 3 between Tupper Lake and Saranac Lake The 3353 foot summit of Ampersand Mountain features a bare summit with spectacular views. After walking 500 yards in I realized I forgot a few things in the car, and had to drop my pack and run back to get them, further delaying my climb. Fortunately, conditions were near optimal, with the fresh snow providing some extra bite for our climbing snowshoes and with the underlying base being not all that icy. For a complete description of the trail, please see please see the guide Adirondack Mountain Club High Peaks Trails and the accompanying Trails of the Adirondacks High Peaks Map. Ampersand Mountain in Saranac Lake is a great hike. Finding the trail may be difficult after fresh snows. at Summit: 3352' Elev. The trail was literally 20-feet wide in some areas and then near the top, it split. The first 1.6 miles are through a thick, moss-covered woods. Marcy, but there's significant elevation and so pretty steep as far as hikes go. St. Regis IS a nice, long hike (when you’re doing it with a… Read More »St. At 2.0 miles, you'll begin climbing a very steep set of rock stairs all of the way to the summit. Region: Lake Placid/High Peaks. Category: peaks. The Ampersand Mountain trail, at only 2.8 miles one way, is a shorter climb than St Regis (see previous blog post) and it starts out with a long, fairly level teaser of a walk. County: Franklin. Jo; Giant Mt. Because of its length, we had thought St. Regis might be more challenging than Ampersand- but we were wrong. Participants should be prepared to hike off-trail over rough terrain. All rights reserved. Once you break out onto the bald summit you will be amazed at openess of the views. At 1.6 miles, the trail takes a sharp, well-marked left. 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