kheegster - Jul 19, 2008 2:18 am Date Climbed: Feb 13, 2008
Van Hoevenberg in winter
Winter climb, at least 4 ft of snow even on the trails. Didn't have snowshoes so was a tough slog to the top. Was about -10 and 20mph winds on summit, didn't get much of a view!
Chinigo - Jun 26, 2008 10:04 am Date Climbed: Jun 21, 2008
Marcy via Van Hoevenberg
Trip report written and filed. It was a wet and muddy slog to the top and back!
jcat60 - May 26, 2008 9:23 pm Date Climbed: Feb 15, 2008
winter solo
Finally got around to posting.
I had never hiked the ADKs and never hiked in snowshoes. That said, here's my account of the hike.
I had seen a "life list" hike for Marcy in a mag. and decided to do it. Signed in at the trail head at 5am and started out. 0 and snowing. After about a mile I had to stop and strip down, way over dressed, I wore only Lifa top and bottom under snow pants and jacket for the rest of the hike. The trail was only broken about half way and that hadn't been hiked since the last snow. I was only able to take 10 steps without stopping once I got to the 3500ft mark, it was steep and deep and still snowing. Didn't get to take as many pics as I wanted to since I neglected to buy base layer gloves for under my mittens, plus it was a gray day. Close to the tree line two skiers skinned passed me and then started down(I was a little jealous because it must have been a blast). The wind was blowing between 25 and 40. Stopped to put crampons on for the rest of the way. I could see the top but not the trail although the cairns did help. Making my way up the snow got worse and visibility went to zero. I kept going till I got to the top but turned right around to GET THE HELL OUT OF THERE! Back at the spot I had put my crampons on(I found it by the orange tape I tied to a rock) there was no sign of my tracks or the trail. After 15 min. of looking I just head down. Bushwhacked for 40 min, crossed my own tracks, and decided to take the map and compass out. Found out I had gone too far to the left and ended up in a valley with a stream with the trail on top of the mountain in front of me. 2 more hrs of bushwhacking and I was on the trail with about 5 miles to go. Back at the car at 8pm. I thought I was staying the night, which would have been fine, but was glad to be back at the car. 15+ miles, 15 hrs, 40 lb pack and I can't wait to go back
Spindle - May 26, 2008 7:47 pm Date Climbed: May 24, 2008
Great day
Windy but beautiful day with great views. Just a few people at the summit including the Summit Steward who was roping off the delicate vegetation areas.
A very wet and slippery ascent up the Van Hoevenberg trail. Some snow/ice remaining.
Moose023 - May 25, 2008 9:08 pm Date Climbed: Sep 30, 2006
Crowded...
Five of us made the trek down to bag Marcy. It was two of my buddies first time in the High Peaks. Had a perfect day with great views but very crowded on top...
Sam Page - Apr 20, 2008 10:05 am Date Climbed: Jun 20, 2006
Rain
I forget the exact date. It drizzled most of the day and the visibility on the summit was about twenty feet.
Steger - Mar 27, 2008 5:59 pm Date Climbed: Dec 31, 2007
New Year's Eve
One of my favorite winter summits experiences. We were backpacking over Mt Marcy, intending to continue to Mt. Colden area. Descending by glissade to treeline on the other side of Marcy, we found impassable trails - sinking into snow up to chest deep, even with snowshoes. Facing either many miles of this slog or a return the other direction, we chose to turned around. We summited for the second time at dusk, just as the clouds cleared and the sun set. Amazing view.
SarahThompson - Mar 4, 2008 3:58 pm Date Climbed: Dec 28, 2007
Rewarding Winter Summit
I grew up in NYS and after moving to Colorado and becoming a hiker I was ashamed to admit that I had never been to the Adirondacks. Finally remedied this on my last visit home for Christmas with a climb of Mt. Marcy. It was gray all day, but the summit was actually above the clouds! Amazing. Had the summit to ourselves.
My partner and I were coming in from two different locations and got our trailheads mixed up. So by the time we finally got together, we got a late start. It was in the high 60's and cloudy when we left. We set up camp early and as the day went on and the sky cleared the temp dropped down into the 30's. We summited the next day in a snowfield. Great views though!
jimegan - Feb 7, 2008 12:11 pm Date Climbed: May 25, 2006
MT MARCY
SOLOED THE VAN HOEVENBURG TRAIL WHICH WAS ROUGH GOING FOR A DESERT DWELLER...LOTS OF MUD AND ROCK HOPPING
JonW - Jan 24, 2008 11:49 am Date Climbed: Aug 20, 2002
First Time in the Daks
We did Marcy as part of a 3 day loop in the 'Daks. Great fun.
Koba - Dec 19, 2007 2:56 pm Date Climbed: Oct 8, 2007
Love the transition to snow in the fall above 3500'
My third 46'er, from the Loj. Light snow, full overcast (of course ungodly perfect weather the day after) didn't see a single person most of the way up until I shared the summit with a crazy peak bagging couple and their baby who also had neither crampons nor stabilizers on. Round trip in a little under 8 hours. Make sure you check out Indian Falls!
I've climbed Marcy several times, and put it as the best in the ADKs because of the awesome ski trail descent. You have to be patient to catch it in good condition, but when you do, it's unbeatable.
eric-griz - Nov 9, 2007 9:01 pm Date Climbed: Jul 25, 2001
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt was hiking on Mt. Marcy when he learned of the death of William McKinley. TR would become one of the finest presidents of the US.
Climbed this one several times although the peak has turned me back more than once. In fact, it is on Marcy that I have had the roughest weather and highest winds I have ever experienced on any summit bar none. On one particular december day in 1994 it was -25 celsius and the winds were howling to about 120mph = no summit. Then again, on one fine day in August of 1998 I was able to summit Grey, Marcy, Colden and Phelps. In other words, mountains, as easy as they may be to climb on the best of days, can easily shrug you off with foul conditions. Our passage on their summits is always dependant on nature's permission and Marcy, a trivial mountain technically speaking, is no exception.
Climbed Marcy, went over and up Skylight, then back over Marcy as part of a weekend trip.
CaLculAted Risk - Oct 15, 2007 1:51 pm Date Climbed: Oct 9, 2007
Completed
Hiked via the Van Hoevenberg Trail from the ADK Campgrounds. A much harder hike than I was expecting. 11 hours round trip with approximately a 1/2 hour hiking after nightfall. Beautiful fall colors and amazing summit views. A great first mountain for me and an opportunity to stand on top of New York State for a moment in time...
buzzdainer - Oct 14, 2007 10:30 pm Date Climbed: Apr 15, 1998
Van Hoevenberg
Lots of snow. Should have brought tele-skis!
Holsti97 - Oct 12, 2007 12:18 pm Date Climbed: Oct 8, 2007
Rain, mud, and wind
Started at the Adirondack Loj on the VanHoevenberg Trail at 9:35 AM. Rainy day. Reached the summit at 2:45 PM with my wife. High winds and mist at summit. Low visibility. Hiked down on slippery rocks. Used headlamps for last mile out. Reached parking lot at 7:00 PM. HP #25.
alpspitze - Sep 25, 2007 8:58 am Date Climbed: Sep 13, 1999
Day Hike from the Garden
Great hike in September with no bugs and lots of sunshine.
kheegster - Jul 19, 2008 2:18 am Date Climbed: Feb 13, 2008
Van Hoevenberg in winterWinter climb, at least 4 ft of snow even on the trails. Didn't have snowshoes so was a tough slog to the top. Was about -10 and 20mph winds on summit, didn't get much of a view!
Chinigo - Jun 26, 2008 10:04 am Date Climbed: Jun 21, 2008
Marcy via Van HoevenbergTrip report written and filed. It was a wet and muddy slog to the top and back!
jcat60 - May 26, 2008 9:23 pm Date Climbed: Feb 15, 2008
winter soloFinally got around to posting.
I had never hiked the ADKs and never hiked in snowshoes. That said, here's my account of the hike.
I had seen a "life list" hike for Marcy in a mag. and decided to do it. Signed in at the trail head at 5am and started out. 0 and snowing. After about a mile I had to stop and strip down, way over dressed, I wore only Lifa top and bottom under snow pants and jacket for the rest of the hike. The trail was only broken about half way and that hadn't been hiked since the last snow. I was only able to take 10 steps without stopping once I got to the 3500ft mark, it was steep and deep and still snowing. Didn't get to take as many pics as I wanted to since I neglected to buy base layer gloves for under my mittens, plus it was a gray day. Close to the tree line two skiers skinned passed me and then started down(I was a little jealous because it must have been a blast). The wind was blowing between 25 and 40. Stopped to put crampons on for the rest of the way. I could see the top but not the trail although the cairns did help. Making my way up the snow got worse and visibility went to zero. I kept going till I got to the top but turned right around to GET THE HELL OUT OF THERE! Back at the spot I had put my crampons on(I found it by the orange tape I tied to a rock) there was no sign of my tracks or the trail. After 15 min. of looking I just head down. Bushwhacked for 40 min, crossed my own tracks, and decided to take the map and compass out. Found out I had gone too far to the left and ended up in a valley with a stream with the trail on top of the mountain in front of me. 2 more hrs of bushwhacking and I was on the trail with about 5 miles to go. Back at the car at 8pm. I thought I was staying the night, which would have been fine, but was glad to be back at the car. 15+ miles, 15 hrs, 40 lb pack and I can't wait to go back
Spindle - May 26, 2008 7:47 pm Date Climbed: May 24, 2008
Great dayWindy but beautiful day with great views. Just a few people at the summit including the Summit Steward who was roping off the delicate vegetation areas.
A very wet and slippery ascent up the Van Hoevenberg trail. Some snow/ice remaining.
Moose023 - May 25, 2008 9:08 pm Date Climbed: Sep 30, 2006
Crowded...Five of us made the trek down to bag Marcy. It was two of my buddies first time in the High Peaks. Had a perfect day with great views but very crowded on top...
Sam Page - Apr 20, 2008 10:05 am Date Climbed: Jun 20, 2006
RainI forget the exact date. It drizzled most of the day and the visibility on the summit was about twenty feet.
Steger - Mar 27, 2008 5:59 pm Date Climbed: Dec 31, 2007
New Year's EveOne of my favorite winter summits experiences. We were backpacking over Mt Marcy, intending to continue to Mt. Colden area. Descending by glissade to treeline on the other side of Marcy, we found impassable trails - sinking into snow up to chest deep, even with snowshoes. Facing either many miles of this slog or a return the other direction, we chose to turned around. We summited for the second time at dusk, just as the clouds cleared and the sun set. Amazing view.
SarahThompson - Mar 4, 2008 3:58 pm Date Climbed: Dec 28, 2007
Rewarding Winter SummitI grew up in NYS and after moving to Colorado and becoming a hiker I was ashamed to admit that I had never been to the Adirondacks. Finally remedied this on my last visit home for Christmas with a climb of Mt. Marcy. It was gray all day, but the summit was actually above the clouds! Amazing. Had the summit to ourselves.
Grampahawk - Feb 25, 2008 7:20 pm
I went from summer to winter in one dayMy partner and I were coming in from two different locations and got our trailheads mixed up. So by the time we finally got together, we got a late start. It was in the high 60's and cloudy when we left. We set up camp early and as the day went on and the sky cleared the temp dropped down into the 30's. We summited the next day in a snowfield. Great views though!
jimegan - Feb 7, 2008 12:11 pm Date Climbed: May 25, 2006
MT MARCYSOLOED THE VAN HOEVENBURG TRAIL WHICH WAS ROUGH GOING FOR A DESERT DWELLER...LOTS OF MUD AND ROCK HOPPING
JonW - Jan 24, 2008 11:49 am Date Climbed: Aug 20, 2002
First Time in the DaksWe did Marcy as part of a 3 day loop in the 'Daks. Great fun.
Koba - Dec 19, 2007 2:56 pm Date Climbed: Oct 8, 2007
Love the transition to snow in the fall above 3500'My third 46'er, from the Loj. Light snow, full overcast (of course ungodly perfect weather the day after) didn't see a single person most of the way up until I shared the summit with a crazy peak bagging couple and their baby who also had neither crampons nor stabilizers on. Round trip in a little under 8 hours. Make sure you check out Indian Falls!
MattGreene - Dec 1, 2007 9:55 pm
Best of the ADKI've climbed Marcy several times, and put it as the best in the ADKs because of the awesome ski trail descent. You have to be patient to catch it in good condition, but when you do, it's unbeatable.
eric-griz - Nov 9, 2007 9:01 pm Date Climbed: Jul 25, 2001
Theodore RooseveltTheodore Roosevelt was hiking on Mt. Marcy when he learned of the death of William McKinley. TR would become one of the finest presidents of the US.
MtnMagic - Oct 25, 2007 1:00 am
Climbed several timesClimbed this one several times although the peak has turned me back more than once. In fact, it is on Marcy that I have had the roughest weather and highest winds I have ever experienced on any summit bar none. On one particular december day in 1994 it was -25 celsius and the winds were howling to about 120mph = no summit. Then again, on one fine day in August of 1998 I was able to summit Grey, Marcy, Colden and Phelps. In other words, mountains, as easy as they may be to climb on the best of days, can easily shrug you off with foul conditions. Our passage on their summits is always dependant on nature's permission and Marcy, a trivial mountain technically speaking, is no exception.
EastcoastMike - Oct 17, 2007 10:32 pm
Marcy and SkylightClimbed Marcy, went over and up Skylight, then back over Marcy as part of a weekend trip.
CaLculAted Risk - Oct 15, 2007 1:51 pm Date Climbed: Oct 9, 2007
CompletedHiked via the Van Hoevenberg Trail from the ADK Campgrounds. A much harder hike than I was expecting. 11 hours round trip with approximately a 1/2 hour hiking after nightfall. Beautiful fall colors and amazing summit views. A great first mountain for me and an opportunity to stand on top of New York State for a moment in time...
buzzdainer - Oct 14, 2007 10:30 pm Date Climbed: Apr 15, 1998
Van HoevenbergLots of snow. Should have brought tele-skis!
Holsti97 - Oct 12, 2007 12:18 pm Date Climbed: Oct 8, 2007
Rain, mud, and windStarted at the Adirondack Loj on the VanHoevenberg Trail at 9:35 AM. Rainy day. Reached the summit at 2:45 PM with my wife. High winds and mist at summit. Low visibility. Hiked down on slippery rocks. Used headlamps for last mile out. Reached parking lot at 7:00 PM. HP #25.
alpspitze - Sep 25, 2007 8:58 am Date Climbed: Sep 13, 1999
Day Hike from the GardenGreat hike in September with no bugs and lots of sunshine.