Winter was in full force that Saturday in November. Thankfully, our group of four women stumbled upon the mildest day of that week when we set foot on the Van Hoevenberg Trail. As we strapped our snowshoes to our packs, a mixed energy of excitement, fear, and apprehension surrounded us. Hiking a mountain was a brand new experience for half of our group. Furthermore, the Adirondacks are known for their long, strenuous hiking trails, with significant elevation gain despite their low overall elevation. As full-time mothers, wives, and employees, we are typically drained from daily stresses as we juggle the demands of modern living. I organize and guide hiking and backpacking trips under the veil of The Little Expedition Company with the goal of getting women comfortable with the outdoors. These adventures are about challenging ourselves, accomplishing something that many people wouldn’t attempt, and understanding that we have the strength and ability to conquer mountains.
Wright Peak is the 16th highest peak in the Adirondacks. It has an elevation of 4,580 feet and is part of the Macintyre Range. This range is a series of three peaks: Wright, Algonquin (the 2nd highest mountain in the Adirondacks), and Iroquois. Combining all three peaks into one mega day hike is said to be one of the most challenging hikes in the region. As many peak-baggers in the Adirondacks are searching for their 46er badge, most people attempt to complete all three peaks in one day. Reaching 46er status requires hiking all 46 of the Adirondack’s High Peaks, or peaks above 4000 feet. Although we had the summit of Algonquin in the back of our minds that day, our main focus was reaching Wright Peak.
Setting off on the Van Hoevenberg Trail, Keene Valley, NY
The trail begins at the popular hiking hub, the Adirondack Loj and follows the main trail for just over a mile before branching off to the Algonquin trail. The first short segment is relatively flat and enjoyable terrain; a nice warm-up for what is to come. After branching off at the intersection of the trail to Mt. Marcy, the path quickly turns to steep terrain and ascends 2420 feet to Wright Peak, the northernmost peak in the range. It takes anywhere from 5 to 7 hours to complete this almost 8 mile round-trip hike in normal conditions. The trails are very well marked in this section of the Adirondacks, and are maintained by the Adirondack Mountain Club (AMC). The AMC has specific rules when using their trails; notably, snowshoes are required for any winter ascent above 3500 feet. Additionally, there is no camping allowed above 4000 feet and only at designated sites above 3500 feet (more information is available adk.org).
During the first quick mile it became clear that we were all overdressed for this elevation and the warmer temperatures that day. We made a quick outfit change by shedding our outer layer and strapped on our microspikes as we were beginning the climb. There was a very good accumulation of snow and ice on the trail. Our microspikes became our best buddies on this trail, as we were able to grip and maintain a steady, confident pace with very little slipping and sliding. At this point on the trail we were all very happy to be out in the woods, enjoying the fresh air and moving at a quick pace.
“For some of the women, it was their first peak, and although they were expecting a challenge, they did not imagine it would be this difficult.”
As the trail became more difficult, our pace slowed dramatically and our energy was starting to deplete. We stopped for lunch after 2.5 hours of steady hiking. We had just passed the campsite, waterfall and ski trail which meant that we had hiked somewhere close to 3 miles and were nearing the tree line and the summit of Wright Peak. Our attitudes were still quite positive as the climb had been difficult, but the scenery was stunning. The fact that we were dry and warm, hiking in winter conditions, was an added bonus for us all. Things quickly changed after this point as the trail became very steep until the edge of the tree line.
I could see the look on some of the girls’ faces as we were climbing through the toughest sections of the hike. At one point, our pace had slowed dramatically and energy levels were dropping. As a result, frustration was rising and that urge to surrender was growing strong. Our feet were starting to slip on the icy sections and our legs were fatigued from the climb. This was the part where some people may throw in the towel. Sometimes an injury or dangerous conditions will turn you around; this is something you always have to keep in the back of your mind. Other times, giving up would mean missing out on that overwhelming pride that awaits you on the summit. Stopping for a break, grabbing a quick bite of food, or just a few moments of quiet to clear the mind and think about the reasons why you started the hike can change your entire mindset.
We reached the tree line after what seemed like most of the day trying to find it. Many hikers were starting their descent and we were able to have quick conversations with a couple of different groups. One group cautioned that going further to Iroquois was extremely difficult that day because the snow was well past their waist and very difficult to traverse. We assured them that we would be stopping with Wright and making our way back to the Loj. Another pair of hikers who had previously hiked Wright Peak told us that they were skipping the summit today, as the wind was very high and was obscuring any visibility. Wright Peak is number one in the Adirondacks for wind factor, so we knew before we started that this was very high possibility. With this in mind, we made the final ascent up the rocky slope of Wright Peak until we reached the summit.
Just above the tree line on Wright Peak
The summit of Wright Peak was very difficult to reach because of the conditions that day. The winds were so high that we had next to no visibility and were being blown around as we made our way along the trail. With only rock cairns to guide us at this point, we reached a significant plateau, congratulated each other on reaching the top and decided to turn around to start the descent. We missed out on the photo-op of the Wright Peak summit, but we traded that for safety and warmth as we headed back down the trail we had been struggling with for so long. The ascent took longer than planned for our group, so we quickly started down the mountain in a hurried fashion, thankful for the fact that we were no longer climbing in snow and instead, sliding down the mountain joyfully.
Typically, the descent is my least favourite park of hiking a mountain. It’s very hard on the joints, after anywhere between 3-5 hours of hiking upwards on a day hike, the impact on the hips, knees and feet can be intense. However, the flipside to hiking with so much snow on the trail was that we were able to literally slide down the steep pitches on our bottoms. This made the more difficult portions of the trail actually quite fun and we found ourselves laughing to tears over the way we were able fast track the steep slopes. It took us significantly less time to descend Wright Peak. By the time we reached the trail junction signalling one mile to go, we had split up into two groups. The group of us were significantly fatigued at this point, as the level of difficulty was increased by the amount of snow and ice we encountered on this steep hike. By the time we reached the parking lot of the Loj, we were very happy to have completed the hike and were ready for some food and celebration.
“Looking ahead, I am excited for more of those trying moments when someone is about to surrender, but charges on and comes to realization that they are a powerful, meaningful, strong woman.”
The journey back to our accommodation that afternoon was of quiet reflection on the day. There was a mixed energy of exhaustion, contentment, and bewilderment. For some of the women, it was their first peak, and although they were expecting a challenge, they did not imagine it would be this difficult. I was starting to wonder if it was a bit too much for some of them as they sat in reflection, until I heard “Let’s do that again!”
In fact, we are doing that again. I am currently planning another expedition to the High Peaks Wilderness Area to tackle another summit or two this spring. During the summer and fall, The Little Expedition Company will focus on backpacking adventures in Ontario, with the hopes of getting women outdoors and feeling confident and comfortable with wilderness adventure. Looking ahead, I am excited for more of those trying moments when someone is about to surrender, but charges on and comes to realization that they are a powerful, meaningful, strong woman.
Contributed by Jenna Buck
Jenna is the founder of The Little Expedition Company and has been working to empower and inspire women through adventure and fellowship. With a focus on travel and expedition planning, they specialize in expeditions and retreats for women in Ontario and the northeastern United States. Want to know more, check out their website —> https://littleexpeditiondotca.wordpress.com/
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Want to know more about this adventure?
Check out Wright Peak in Lake Placid: https://www.lakeplacid.com/do/hiking/wright-peak
How to get there from Peterborough: https://goo.gl/maps/RZH1aNrpLrv
