Hiked up from the Loj, took the Lake Arnold trail up and across to the other side. Then up to Gray Peak, then Mt Skylight and finished with Mt Marcy. I have to say, Mt Marcy was the best summit and definitely a good climb after the other two. Wish it wasn't so crowded at the summit, but at least it's spread out. Headed back to the Loj via the Vanhovenburg trail. 11 hrs, 19 miles loop...I slept very well this night when I got home!
My girlfriend and I summited this today. The weather was fantastic, and pretty windy on the summit. This was one of the most exhausting highpoints I've done yet. The hike up wasn't too bad, it was the return trip that was killer. The length of the VH trail was the hardest part.
This was my girlfriend's 5th highpoint and my 35th.
Ajeeth Ibrahim - Jul 12, 2016 6:45 pm Date Climbed: Dec 21, 2015
First Time summiting Marcy
Great time -- though pretty icy above the tree-line.
Second time trying Mt. Marcy -- got turned around on an earlier attempt because of ice & deteriorating conditions.
larvitar - Jun 25, 2016 10:50 am Date Climbed: Jun 12, 2016
Larvitour Stop #22
Started around 6:45 from the South Meadow trailhead, then joined the Van Hoevenberg route at Marcy Dam. I crossed paths with a couple of trail runners at the Dam and wound up following them most of the way up--the terrain was rougher and steeper than they'd expected, so they couldn't do much running. No snow on the ground, but the trail alternated between a mud wallow (on the flatter stretches) and a creek (on the rocky bits), so I bet it had only just melted. The weather up top was abysmal--cold and rain/snow/hailing with 40 mph wind gusts and next to no visibility--so I didn't stick around for long. I made it back to the trailhead in a little under eight hours... not bad for a 15+ mile round trip, but definitely the limit of what I can hike in a day.
My 37th HP. Hurricane Nicole followed me everywhere. Hiked to the summit via the Van Hoevenberg Trail, the shortest and most frequently traveled route to the Empire State's highest parcel of real estate. It's 7.4 miles from the trailhead to the summit. The views at Marcy Dam and the beautiful fall foliage made this all worthwhile. Encountered one other individual on the summit.
We made the summit in a full-on whiteout... couldn't see more than 5 feet in front of me. On the way down, I tore my hamstring and still had another 6 miles out... Good times!!!
themickfromjerz - Sep 22, 2015 11:56 am Date Climbed: Jun 10, 2013
Winter Hiking
I did a hike in June a few years ago I am interested in doing a winter ascent of Mount Marcy. Two or three friends and I would be looking to do this anywhere from December to March.
What do you think would be the best time do this? What Equipment is necessary? Crampons, snowshoes, beacons or radios?
We would be intermediate experienced backpackers and outdoorsmen.
Anyone have any suggestions?
Bobboll - Sep 16, 2015 5:32 pm Date Climbed: Jun 20, 2015
Hp#2
Great hike we started out from the parking lot at about 6:30 am a little chilly 35* the vanhoevenburg trail easy until you get past Marcy dam than rocky and wet up not to bad made it to the top a little after noon time had a nice lunch than started down this was the most challenging part by the time we reached the dam our legs were burning the last 2 miles of relatively flat trail seemed to never end but it did and we made it back to the car by 6:30 pm it took 3 more days for our legs to feel better it was awesome give me more!!!!!
JRaphaelson - Sep 6, 2015 11:42 am Date Climbed: Sep 5, 2015
Great Range Traverse
Brutal hike. But well worth the effort.
Jenniferzivic - Jul 21, 2015 12:54 am Date Climbed: Jun 15, 2010
Adventure Travel Gal
Not sure when I did this one but it must have been somewhere in 2010. I am from New York and climbed a lot of those in the Adirondacks and Catskills. Just decided to do the 50 peaks so figured I should log this. It would have been my first I think.
Thought that starting at 6:00am I would beat the crowds ... boy was I wrong - definately a favorite route (Van H. from the Loj) and a favorite summer climb in the area. The summit steward estimated there would be easily several hundred to summit by afternoon. Didn't spend a lot of time on top but the views were amazing. A few idiots on the trail, especially the party of four that ran out of water about 0.1 mile from the summit so they all stopped, took off all their gear and sat in the middle of the trail and were pumping/filtering from the muddy, algae-ridden trickle that was running down the middle of the trail - UGH!
islandborn11 - Jul 12, 2015 12:17 am Date Climbed: Jul 6, 2015
First on the trail that day
Set off at 6am from the Loj. Long, strenuous hike that never got totally oppressive but tests your constitution throughout. A little light scrambling but mostly upright. Really enjoyed talking to the steward at the top. Knowledgeable and friendly. Fantastic views but I was on a time limit. Total hike took just under nine hours.
mnatureson - May 3, 2015 4:47 pm Date Climbed: May 2, 2015
Springtime Climb
Half the trail was covered in 2-2.5 ft of snow. The center of the trail was mostly well-packed but severe postholing on either side the entire way up. We climbed in only hiking boots but snowshoes would have helped a ton. Great spring weather!
Hiker4life - Feb 28, 2015 10:26 pm Date Climbed: Sep 21, 2009
2nd attempt
After my 1st attempt was thwarted by stormy weather, I came back a year later to finish the job. Weather was ideal this time with great views of the fall colors from the peak.
siekkid - Jan 7, 2015 1:54 pm Date Climbed: Aug 7, 2012
State HP #10
Solo hike. Beautiful weather... hiked in from the South Meadow trailhead. I met a group of very nice University of Mount Union students at the top.
Brads79 - Dec 23, 2014 11:00 am Date Climbed: Mar 22, 2014
Hike from Loj to Marcy Without Summiting
The snowshoe ascent was uneventful despite the weather being ugly. Snow fell most of the day. I estimate we were approximately 300 meters from the summit with 3 to 6 meters of visibility. Whiteout conditions above tree-line. We "rescued" a hiker who had been stumbling around near the summit for 45-minutes. My buddy and I decided to turn back rather than risk getting lost. Overall, a nice but cold weekend in the Adirondacks.
mdou - Dec 15, 2014 4:23 pm Date Climbed: Jan 9, 2012
Winter Adirondacks
Very nice hike. The wind was a bit mean on top! No snowshoes required on the trails, but summit somewhat icy.
VtownStrider - Oct 7, 2014 7:27 pm Date Climbed: Oct 6, 2014
High point (18)
Great climb with my buddy Supertramp with me. Hiked into Marcy dam and camped for the night. Temps got down into the high 20's, good way to start. Took about 4 hours to summit but we stopped at Indian falls for a bit. Great weather but wanted to see a bear. Oh well!
nannerbots - Aug 29, 2016 12:39 pm Date Climbed: Sep 21, 2015
HP #8Out and back from South Meadow. Strong winds at the top and perfect weather.
CRiedel2 - Jul 31, 2016 12:55 pm Date Climbed: Jul 30, 2016
Gray, Skylight, MarcyHiked up from the Loj, took the Lake Arnold trail up and across to the other side. Then up to Gray Peak, then Mt Skylight and finished with Mt Marcy. I have to say, Mt Marcy was the best summit and definitely a good climb after the other two. Wish it wasn't so crowded at the summit, but at least it's spread out. Headed back to the Loj via the Vanhovenburg trail. 11 hrs, 19 miles loop...I slept very well this night when I got home!
skinnywhitecomic - Jul 26, 2016 9:00 pm Date Climbed: Jul 26, 2016
HP #35My girlfriend and I summited this today. The weather was fantastic, and pretty windy on the summit. This was one of the most exhausting highpoints I've done yet. The hike up wasn't too bad, it was the return trip that was killer. The length of the VH trail was the hardest part.
This was my girlfriend's 5th highpoint and my 35th.
Ajeeth Ibrahim - Jul 12, 2016 6:45 pm Date Climbed: Dec 21, 2015
First Time summiting MarcyGreat time -- though pretty icy above the tree-line.
Second time trying Mt. Marcy -- got turned around on an earlier attempt because of ice & deteriorating conditions.
larvitar - Jun 25, 2016 10:50 am Date Climbed: Jun 12, 2016
Larvitour Stop #22Started around 6:45 from the South Meadow trailhead, then joined the Van Hoevenberg route at Marcy Dam. I crossed paths with a couple of trail runners at the Dam and wound up following them most of the way up--the terrain was rougher and steeper than they'd expected, so they couldn't do much running. No snow on the ground, but the trail alternated between a mud wallow (on the flatter stretches) and a creek (on the rocky bits), so I bet it had only just melted. The weather up top was abysmal--cold and rain/snow/hailing with 40 mph wind gusts and next to no visibility--so I didn't stick around for long. I made it back to the trailhead in a little under eight hours... not bad for a 15+ mile round trip, but definitely the limit of what I can hike in a day.
Tim_Kroeze - Feb 17, 2016 10:35 am
Long But Worth ItTotal Hike time was just under 9 hours. 360˚ view worth the time and effort!
Marlin - Feb 1, 2016 6:40 pm
HP #37My 37th HP. Hurricane Nicole followed me everywhere. Hiked to the summit via the Van Hoevenberg Trail, the shortest and most frequently traveled route to the Empire State's highest parcel of real estate. It's 7.4 miles from the trailhead to the summit. The views at Marcy Dam and the beautiful fall foliage made this all worthwhile. Encountered one other individual on the summit.
TheWolfIsLoose - Oct 30, 2015 10:49 pm
First ADK Peak.We made the summit in a full-on whiteout... couldn't see more than 5 feet in front of me. On the way down, I tore my hamstring and still had another 6 miles out... Good times!!!
themickfromjerz - Sep 22, 2015 11:56 am Date Climbed: Jun 10, 2013
Winter HikingI did a hike in June a few years ago I am interested in doing a winter ascent of Mount Marcy. Two or three friends and I would be looking to do this anywhere from December to March.
What do you think would be the best time do this? What Equipment is necessary? Crampons, snowshoes, beacons or radios?
We would be intermediate experienced backpackers and outdoorsmen.
Anyone have any suggestions?
Bobboll - Sep 16, 2015 5:32 pm Date Climbed: Jun 20, 2015
Hp#2Great hike we started out from the parking lot at about 6:30 am a little chilly 35* the vanhoevenburg trail easy until you get past Marcy dam than rocky and wet up not to bad made it to the top a little after noon time had a nice lunch than started down this was the most challenging part by the time we reached the dam our legs were burning the last 2 miles of relatively flat trail seemed to never end but it did and we made it back to the car by 6:30 pm it took 3 more days for our legs to feel better it was awesome give me more!!!!!
JRaphaelson - Sep 6, 2015 11:42 am Date Climbed: Sep 5, 2015
Great Range TraverseBrutal hike. But well worth the effort.
Jenniferzivic - Jul 21, 2015 12:54 am Date Climbed: Jun 15, 2010
Adventure Travel GalNot sure when I did this one but it must have been somewhere in 2010. I am from New York and climbed a lot of those in the Adirondacks and Catskills. Just decided to do the 50 peaks so figured I should log this. It would have been my first I think.
punchline - Jul 14, 2015 5:21 pm Date Climbed: Jul 11, 2015
HP #31Thought that starting at 6:00am I would beat the crowds ... boy was I wrong - definately a favorite route (Van H. from the Loj) and a favorite summer climb in the area. The summit steward estimated there would be easily several hundred to summit by afternoon. Didn't spend a lot of time on top but the views were amazing. A few idiots on the trail, especially the party of four that ran out of water about 0.1 mile from the summit so they all stopped, took off all their gear and sat in the middle of the trail and were pumping/filtering from the muddy, algae-ridden trickle that was running down the middle of the trail - UGH!
islandborn11 - Jul 12, 2015 12:17 am Date Climbed: Jul 6, 2015
First on the trail that daySet off at 6am from the Loj. Long, strenuous hike that never got totally oppressive but tests your constitution throughout. A little light scrambling but mostly upright. Really enjoyed talking to the steward at the top. Knowledgeable and friendly. Fantastic views but I was on a time limit. Total hike took just under nine hours.
mnatureson - May 3, 2015 4:47 pm Date Climbed: May 2, 2015
Springtime ClimbHalf the trail was covered in 2-2.5 ft of snow. The center of the trail was mostly well-packed but severe postholing on either side the entire way up. We climbed in only hiking boots but snowshoes would have helped a ton. Great spring weather!
Hiker4life - Feb 28, 2015 10:26 pm Date Climbed: Sep 21, 2009
2nd attemptAfter my 1st attempt was thwarted by stormy weather, I came back a year later to finish the job. Weather was ideal this time with great views of the fall colors from the peak.
siekkid - Jan 7, 2015 1:54 pm Date Climbed: Aug 7, 2012
State HP #10Solo hike. Beautiful weather... hiked in from the South Meadow trailhead. I met a group of very nice University of Mount Union students at the top.
Brads79 - Dec 23, 2014 11:00 am Date Climbed: Mar 22, 2014
Hike from Loj to Marcy Without SummitingThe snowshoe ascent was uneventful despite the weather being ugly. Snow fell most of the day. I estimate we were approximately 300 meters from the summit with 3 to 6 meters of visibility. Whiteout conditions above tree-line. We "rescued" a hiker who had been stumbling around near the summit for 45-minutes. My buddy and I decided to turn back rather than risk getting lost. Overall, a nice but cold weekend in the Adirondacks.
mdou - Dec 15, 2014 4:23 pm Date Climbed: Jan 9, 2012
Winter AdirondacksVery nice hike. The wind was a bit mean on top! No snowshoes required on the trails, but summit somewhat icy.
VtownStrider - Oct 7, 2014 7:27 pm Date Climbed: Oct 6, 2014
High point (18)Great climb with my buddy Supertramp with me. Hiked into Marcy dam and camped for the night. Temps got down into the high 20's, good way to start. Took about 4 hours to summit but we stopped at Indian falls for a bit. Great weather but wanted to see a bear. Oh well!