DAY AWAY: Easing into hiking season

By RICHARD FROST
A Day Away

June 15, 2008 04:54 am

— Maybe you've been sitting around indoors all winter. Or perhaps you've done your fair share of skiing but haven't exercised muscles that propel you uphill. Of course, you might be someone who has been meaning to try some hiking for years but has never quite decided to start.
Regardless of how you've arrived at this point, consider it time to do some limbering up, sort of a spring-training equivalent of sampling the Adirondacks. Here's a good sequence of hikes to get you back into the spirit.
WICKHAM MARSH
My wife, Marty, and I began our season with a leisurely walk in Wickham Marsh, just outside Port Kent, where there are two trailheads. This time, we followed Route 9 southward, turned left on Route 373, then drove until we saw the brown and yellow State Department of Environmental Conservation sign on the left-hand side of the road. A few yards down the access road, there's room for three or four cars to park.
It's an easy beginning through a mixed forest until you reach the crest of a hill. From there, switchbacks led us down to a quiet brook, suitable for our dog Ripken's first water experience of the afternoon. A log bridge, or at least what's left of it, crosses high over the stream. Since our dog didn't want to use it, we followed him to water level and leaped to the other bank.
Scrambling up the opposite side to level ground, we soon reached an intersection with another trail. To our left was posted land, so we took a right. The usual DEC trail markers now were replaced with yellow paint blazes, but the way would be quite easy to follow even without them.
Next, we followed a ridge with views over wetlands and even a glimpse of Lake Champlain. Closer at hand, we noted plenty of recent excavations by woodpeckers. Pines reign as the lords of the forest, but we saw plenty of other species, too.
A small murky area served as our turnaround point. The return was a gradual but steady uphill walk, never difficult, but enough to use a few muscles that had been idle for a while.
All told, we probably hiked a leisurely two or three miles.
Back home, I looked at maps of the 862-acre preserve -- it's clear that we still have some exploring left to do.
PACK FOREST
For another easy walk, try Charles Lathrop Pack Demonstration Forest. Just north of Warrensburg on Route 9, the site is named for Pack, who donated the nucleus of what has become 2,500 acres managed by the State University of New York's College of Environmental Science and Forestry.
The route is a gentle meandering mile or so on a broad, well-surfaced trail accessible to wheelchairs for much of its course. There's occasional small stretches of boardwalk, plus plenty of strategically situated benches for relaxing. Though a trail guide is supposed to be available, we've never managed to find one.
The trail traverses a hemlock and pine forest, with especially tall and majestic examples of both species. Little imagination is required to appreciate why white pines were valued for ships' masts.
For a period, the way borders a shallow stream then briefly abuts a pond and wetland.
There are some impressive blowdowns within the light, airy forest, and we enjoyed studying some complex root structures. The delicate violet of asters added a touch of color.
Our trip ultimately brought us to Pack Forest's celebrity, the Grandmother Pine, leaning a bit but nonetheless quite imposing. Statistics claim it's over 175 feet tall and a good three centuries old. Crenellations at the bottom of its thick trunk made us think of banyan trees we've seen elsewhere.
ROCKY FALLS
Now, with muscles warmed up a bit, it was time for the hike to Rocky Falls. Though a five-mile round trip, this is another relatively easy hike.
The trailhead is located near Adirondack Loj, off curving Route 73 just outside of Lake Placid. Approach it from Elizabethtown on Route 9N. (The descent down Spruce Hill offers my favorite view of the Adirondacks.) Route 9N ends at a T-intersection with Route 73. Take a right, go past the Cascade Lakes, and eventually take a left onto Adirondack Loj Road. The trailhead is across the road from the Adirondack Loj parking area.
This is actually the historic trail that goes through Indian Pass, with its remarkable vista of the 1,000-foot cliffs at Wallface Mountain, but we didn't go that far. Setting out, we followed a well-groomed trail along Heart Lake. A sign points out the trail up Mount Jo, always a worthwhile destination in itself. We continued on, signed in at the register and were on our way.
The trail is easily followed, but one must keep an eye on the rock-strewn surface. Gleaming birches highlight the forest, while mountain contours are just visible through partially bare trees. There is the usual assortment of forest oddities, including a few root structures twisting their convoluted way over boulders.
We crossed several brooks, most on sturdy plank bridges; on a couple of occasions, we depended on opportunistically sited rocks. At 2.1 miles, a spur brought us to Rocky Falls. The twin cascades plummeting into a pool on Indian Pass Brook make a splendid destination. This looks like a good place to swim, too, but not until the days warm up!
PEAKS NEXT
Well, that's it. A three-part series of hikes to get your season started. First, a couple of leisurely walks through a wildlife management area and a demonstration forest, ideal for stretching some unused muscles. Then add some distance, plus the lure of a scenic destination. Later this year, I'll write a column suggesting a few gentle peaks to climb. Here's hoping your season in the Adirondacks will be a satisfying one.
rbforiole@aol.com

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