Adirondacks - Allen Mtn Trip Report

“My intention was to post this trip report at Views From The Top, and make a hyperlink to it here. But their New York page seems to not be working and I have no idea when it'll be back.

If you wanna just skip to the pictures, here's the link...
Allen Mtn Trip Pix

The trip report that follows is probably a bit too detailed for this venue; nevertheless, here it is for anyone who cares to read...

Allen Mtn Trip Report (Aug 17-19, 2003)

Day 1: Hiked in with full pack from Upper Works Road to set up base camp near Skylight Brook. The yellow trail to Lower/Upper Twin Brooks was easy walking along a combination of well-maintained private roads, old woods roads and clear pathways. The last mile or so before reaching the former Twin Brooks lean-to site crossed through a large flat of post-Floyd logged areas, with views of the surrounding mountains (Adams, Calamity, Cliff, Redfield, Allen, North River -- forming a huge bowl effect). The so-called "herdpath" to Allen starting at the former lean-to site piggybacked a few old woods roads, and was in as good shape as any well-maintained trail I’ve been on ...cleared and brushed, with yellow plastic circles all the way to the edge of private property at height of land approx. halfway between the crossings at Lower Twin and Skylight brooks. From there on, the trail had some blowdown here and there to maneuver over/under/around, but not difficult, and still easy to follow (all the way to Allen).

Day 2: Day hike to Allen Mtn. Skylight Brook crossing to Allen Brook was an easy, moderate uphill walk. Became much steeper immediately after meeting Allen Brook at the waterfall. Soon the climb became moderately steep, and not long after that the path got much more strenuous, with numerous slippery spots, slides and scrambles as the trail hugged the gradually-diminishing water flow in Allen Brook. Along the upper reaches of the climb there are some very nice open views back down and across to Mt. Redfield. Allen’s summit has no views, but a short trail dropping about 20 feet to the east opens up to excellent vistas in that direction. Back to the summit sign, there’s a herdpath leading north about 20 feet to an opening above a small blowdown-strewn flat. About 15 feet down into the flat, a faint path is scratched along the east edge of the debris to a fabulous west-to-northeast panorama. There is also an orange-flagged, tightly-winding herdpath starting in the saddle between Allen’s true summit and a lower rise to the west; it pushes through about 50 yards of thick mountaintop Spruce to reach excellent views to the northwest.

Day 3: Broke camp and hiked back the same way I came in.

Weather: Very nice, except for about an hour of rain that rolled across the eastern High Peaks, just as I started back down from the top, requiring rain gear, surer footing, and extra caution. Partly sunny skies re-established afterwards.

Trail Conditions: Except for the rainy descent along Allen Brook, all trails were mostly dry, other than the usual wet spots filled with that deep rich black, boot-sucking Adirondack mud pudding.

Bugs: mosquitoes were ever-present, with an intermittent black fly and deer fly ...but nothing that an occasional application of effective repellent couldn’t handle.

Other hikers/backpackers: Several small groups coming from/going to Allen, Flowed Land, or Mt. Adams all three days of my trip.”

“Welcome back MSilver. Glad that you had good weather and favorable hiking conditions. RichB and I went blueberry picking near where we snowshoed last March. I brought my daughter and her friend and Rich had one of his friends with him. Great blueberry spot, definitely going back again next year. Rich showed me a whole bunch of homemade gear again. His silnylon waders with waterproof oxford footies for durability were awesome and lightweight. They go right on over boots. I am going to make some too. We will be so ready for winter this year with snowshoes and waders.”

“Great report, and beautiful pics MSilver! Wow, you are so close to bagging all 46. That's a fantastic achievement. Good for you man, hope to hike with you again soon! :-)”

“Great Trip Report!

It wasn't too much to read at all.

I'll have to look at the pictures later...time for me to watch a movie with the Mrs. (Chicago)”

“Great detailed trip report a long with very nice pictures. Did they remove the dead trees at the gray areas below Redfield or is that areas of blowdowns that are still there? It looks like a lot of damage from the hurricane.

Lyndy, blueberry picking will definitely be on my list as an annual event.”

“Nice report and pics Mister M. I especially liked your last pic, the telephoto pic from Allen.

39 down, eh? I've only got 13. Wait for me, will ya?”

“Thanks for the nice comments, folks.

Rich... Blowdown from Hurricane Floyd was extensive across the High Peaks region. Besides the damage in the some of the flats, I guess that a number of hollows and valleys between the peaks funnelled and accelerated the high winds, and the damage was real bad in some of those places. Blowdown has been removed - but only in those areas accessible to loggers via remote hunting camp roads. That area on the SW side of Redfield apparently got hit very hard, and since it's so steep and isolated in there, it'll probably just sit there for a couple of generations until natural processes recylce it.

Lyndy... Yeah, Rich showed me those waders ...excellent! He's quite the indusrious lad, ain't he? I keep telling him to open a gear store. You and Rich keep me in mind for next summer's "Blueberry Pickers II" trip, okay?

Pennsy... At the rate you're bagging the 46ers, I figure you'll reach and overtake me around this time next year.”