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trap dike in winter

PostPosted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 5:06 pm
by kylenicolls
Hey, so can anyone give me a ballpark figure as to about when there is a solid foundation of ice (typically) up in the Adirondacks? Planning on going up there but would like to spare myself the drive if there will be thaw at the base. Seems the temps are getting more consistently below 32 F at this point. SUppose to be below for the next 10 days at Lake Placid, so seems promising.

THanks.

Re: trap dike in winter

PostPosted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 3:09 pm
by divnamite
kylenicolls wrote:Hey, so can anyone give me a ballpark figure as to about when there is a solid foundation of ice (typically) up in the Adirondacks? Planning on going up there but would like to spare myself the drive if there will be thaw at the base. Seems the temps are getting more consistently below 32 F at this point. SUppose to be below for the next 10 days at Lake Placid, so seems promising.

THanks.


"Sun. 12-8 The dike is in fantastic condition right now with good ice top to bottom and little snow. The slab above is in good condition with 1/2 to 2 inches of ice and easier neve on the margins. Avalanche Lake safe to cross. Slop N' Sweat, Adirondike and Avalanche Mt. Gully are also in."

Re: trap dike in winter

PostPosted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 7:07 pm
by Autoxfil
The Dike is at much higher elevation than the valley climbs, and is extremely sheltered from sunlight. It's usually in from some point in November until mid-April.

In February or March it's mostly a snow slog, with some short ice steps. Now is my favorite time to do it - it'll be pretty much all ice from lake to summit. Much more committing and serious, but much more enjoyable, in my opinion.

Re: trap dike in winter

PostPosted: Wed Dec 11, 2013 3:55 pm
by Autoxfil
That's PERFECT.

Re: trap dike in winter

PostPosted: Wed Dec 11, 2013 4:09 pm
by Luc
Catamount wrote:I guess everyone has a different definition of what constitutes "good" conditions. Here is a TR from Sunday on another site.

http://forums.adkhighpeaks.com/showthread.php?t=23380


That looks amazing!

Re: trap dike in winter

PostPosted: Sat Dec 14, 2013 9:20 pm
by kylenicolls
Much appreciated! I'll have to plan this by the end of the month on a good day.

Re: trap dike in winter

PostPosted: Sat Dec 28, 2013 3:13 pm
by kylenicolls
This was Christmas Eve. Day was good, could have been more ice, though. Forecast said single digits. The lake was frozen over still, despite the recent warm-spell that I narrowly avoided. I didn't cross where the runoff spills in, ice looked thin on the east side. I went a little farther down to cross and seemed A-ok.

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