Some of our guests climbed Ampersand over Columbus Weekend and shared this photo. Ampersand boasts a 3,352 foot bald summit with incredible 360* views including many lakes as well as the High Peaks. The 5.6 mile round trip hike takes about four hours. The first part of the trail is a mile long flat stretch through the forest which is followed by a steep ascent to the top, including some hand over hand bits. Great views in all directions make this a popular hike. Grab some sandwiches from the Lakeview Deli (just minutes from Harbor Hill & Ampersand) and dine at the summit (leaving nothing behind of course!).
Trust us - working up a little sweat hiking through the trees with your friends and family is a fond memory for many visitors and a true Adirondack vacation experience.
The trail head is 8 miles West of Saranac Lake on NY-3.
For more information on hiking Ampersand, check out: The Adirondack Mountain Club's guide to Ampersand
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
A Great Hike - Ampersand
Fall & Winter in the Same Day...
As NYSEF (New York Ski Education Foundation) racers do a training skate up the Whiteface Memorial Highway, the season changes the higher they climb.
Photos by Pat Casey and Pete Vordenberg
Monday, June 25, 2007
Summer Hike: Pitchoff
My nephew and his friends came to visit recently, and they hiked Pitchoff. The summit sits at 3,497 ft and actually features several summits with views of the Cascade Lakes, Cascade Range Marcy, Colden & Algonquin as well as the Sentinel Range and Whiteface. On a clear summer day you can see Vermont's Green Mountains to the East. The trial is popular, although there will always be fewer people on this trail versus the nearby bald summit of Cascade. Some rock scrambling is involved in this otherwise moderate hike. Some rock portions can be slippery without appropriate footwear.
The trail head sits in between Keene and Saranac Lake on NY-73.
