I am looking to Start my High peak experience, my first peak was east Dix about 2 years ago but i haven't been on one since then, though ive done a bunch of kattskill peaks last year(2009), addition to hurricane mt near Giant, so i am wondering what is best to train on (keeping in mind its about 5 hours for me to get to the high peaks)? maybe the devils path in the kattskills?
and what can any of you tell me about the condition and dificulty of tabletop mountian, as i plan a 4 day backpacking trip to to ADK's in july base camping at lake arnold. planning to hit atlease tabletop, colden, phelps, T.R. mountian, and hopfuly picking up skylight grey and marcy, maybe grabing cliff and redfeild. (and is this doable while not pushing to fast?)

Tabletop is a very straightforward hike as far as unmaintained paths go. You could definitely hit all those peaks if you're in decent shape. Sounds fun, enjoy!

ya i am in fairly good shape, have one badish knee, but it dont slow me down, is tabletop, T.R., and Phelps easly doable in one day, from lake arnold? (about 1.2 miles from the table herd path)

What is T.R.?

teddy rosevelt mountian, aslo called unnamed Indian falls, its a highest 100 ADK peak

Very nice area, TR has a herdpath now. Nice views, and feels a bit more bushwacky than other summits in the area.

Where does it begin?

basicly the same spot as the tabletop unmarked trail

If you want to try a more off trail experience try for tabletop east...Staying at lake arnold, you could also summit colden up the 1990 SE slide path, very nice open route.

that slide would be right off of the trail from lake Arnold to the trail that comes fromflowed lands and goes to the 4 cornors right? the slide is supost to end on the trail from what i hear

and yes defently am doing tabletop, i want to do the 46 in time

-Grey to marcy directly, is this any easyer then climbing from the 4 corners?
and what is the conditon of lake arnold now? is their fish?

If you're at lake arnold, just keep heading towards uphill brook--the slide is to your right, and it's hard to miss. Technically comes right to the trail, but has grown in a touch. As far as fish, I would think lake Arnold has none. I have never heard of anyone fishing there. I've done grey to Marcy in the summer, and Marcy-grey-Marcy in winter. I hear that it is frowned upon now because of the damage to the vegetation, but it is a cool route with neat cliff bands and incredible views of the above treeline sections of Marcy.

defently will have to try the slide, and maybe the marcey route