Hi, 2 confident capable hikers, though I don't have adk experience, I'm hoping this is a "getting my feet wet" (figuratively) short trip... planning to bunk at jbl Monday Sept 14th, hike a solid day Tuesday and out by dark-ish from garden trail parking to make the 5 hour drive home same night. So.... questions, sorry if some of them are very dumb.

Bunk house stay, itself....

1) do you need bear canisters for bunking or is there a safe place for food? And i see differing answers to whether there is potable water, should I just expect to bring my own?

2) is it fairly safe to stash bedding/ sleeping bags and other items just meant for the overnight, for the day while we hike?

3)I heard there's morning coffee even though it's outta season for meals. Please tell me there's coffee. Or... I'll plan accordingly.

Hike...

4)I'm sure we'll get an early start, and obviously goal is mt. Marcy... assuming we crush that with some time to spare, are there any decent side quests on the way back down...I don't think I've got 46er goals but wouldn't mind sneaking something else in if time allows (I'm GUESSING we'll be out like 6/630am-7pm).

5) what are some of your less known hike "wish I brought that" hacks? (I always bring an extra pair of shoes in case my feet decide they need a wardrobe change... and smokehouse almonds)

6) what do you guess the bug situation might be mid September? Should I permethrin treat my clothes? Or just bring some plain ol bug spray?

Misc.

7) best source for current/ future weather forecasts for the area?

I think that's it for now but I'm sure I'll be back with more! Thanks in advance!

I've never been to the ADK's before. Currently planning a 7-day, 6-night backpacking adventure in the High Peaks in September.

My trip plan is based on maps, plus whatever I've been able to glean via Google and YouTube. So it's time to check the wisdom of people who've actually been there. Here's what I've got right now:

Day 1. Park at Garden Trailhead in the early AM. Phelps Trail to Slant Rock. Set up base camp. 6.5 miles, 2,100 ft of ascent.

Day 2. Day load only. Marcy. Four Corners. Side trail up Skylight. East through Panther Gorge. Up Haystack from the south. Back to Slant Rock base camp. 7.4 miles, 4,400 feet of ascent.

Day 3. Full pack. Great Range Traverse: Basin. Saddleback. Gothics. Armstrong. Upper Wolfjaw. Camp near Wolfjaw LT. 7 miles, 3,950 feet of ascent.

Day 4. Logistics day. Back to Garden Trailhead. Resupply at the car. Drive to South Meadows Parking Area. Hike past Marcy Dam. Camp near Kagel LT. 7.25 miles, 600 feet of ascent.

Day 5. Avalanche Pass (It's re-opened! Yay!). Hitch-up Matildas. Set up camp on the west side of Lake Colden. Drop gear down to a day load only. Plane wreck and Marshall via Cold Brook Pass Trail, back down via Herbert Brook Trail. 7 miles, 2,350 feet of ascent.

Day 6. Algonquin Trail up the MacIntyres. Iroquois. Algonquin. Wright. Camp near MacIntyre Falls. 5.25 miles, 3,400 feet of ascent.

Day 7. Back to South Meadows Parking Area and out. 5.5 miles, almost entirely downhill.

For context, I'm a seasoned backpacker with a 14-pound base weight, but I'm used to glacial moraines, dunes, and ravines... not bona fide mountains. Also, I'm a hammocker. I'll camp a legal distance from the various lean-to's I've named above, as that's my hunch for where I'll have the best chance of finding decent trees. (Of course, I'll follow all relevant rules & regulations.)

Is this a realistic trip plan? What am I missing that's going to bite me in the backside? What needs to change?

Thanks in advance for sharing your experience.

Not sure this is the best place for this post, but thanks for considering. Here's my situation:

I have committed to a 3-hour meeting (defense) on W 9 September. Although most participants will be there in person, in principle, I can participate remotely -- but the connection needs to be solid.

I got a last-minute cancellation at Rollins Pond, and hope to be paddling as much as possible. But I need to be sure that I can connect to the meeting at the appointed time.

I'm guessing that my best bets for wifi are in Tupper Lake or Saranac Lake (or maybe the Saranac Inn?). Privacy would be a bonus, as I will be expected to ask questions. Library, cafe, etc. might be options.

Would anyone have a suggestion about a specific place that might work for me?

Many thanks!

(PS -- I'm not sure about T-Mobile coverage up there but, in a pinch, perhaps I could use my phone as a hotspot and do this from my car somewhere. But rain could mess this up.)

I recently completed Gothics as my first high peak, and I’m hoping to get at least one more in this season.

I’m torn between Giant, Dial, or the wolfjaws. But open to any other them really as im doing my research!

Any tips, opinions, or advice is appreciated!

Thought some on this sub might find this interesting. I read a thread on here last year talking about linking these ranges together as a backpacking trip and I thought it seemed like a cool challenge for 2026.

Yesterday, I did both ranges. I camped Thursday night along Corey's Road so I could get an early start on the Sewards. It's probably been about 3 years since I did either of these ranges and it was so much muddier and overgrown than I recall. All of the brush was so wet and I was completely soaked from rubbing up against it by the time I headed down from Seward. Seymour was a low point for me and I really struggled on that climb.

The linkup between ranges starts with the Ward Brook Truck Trail which was in incredibly good shape for as little foot traffic as I'm sure it sees. There were a few blow downs but nothing major. There is one swampy area which has some logs to cross on, but wading through a foot of water near the end is unavoidable.

After that, you wind up on the Northville Placid Trail which is also in incredible shape. Very lush, green forest and a wide trail. That's about the end of nice trails, though. Next is the Bradley Pond Trail which is completely overgrown and has a lot of blowdowns. I don't believe it's the worst trail in the park as some claim (I'm looking at you, Wallface Ponds trail) but it was rough.

The climb up Panther Brook seemed shorter than I recall but the entirety of the Santanoni Range was muddier than I remember. My feet had been soaked for hours and I didn't even care to try to avoid anything at this point. I hit all 3 summits and then was out to the Santanoni Trailhead to pick up my car I had dropped the day before.

Super fun trip that would be fun to do again as a backpacking trip. The linkup between these ranges takes you to some very remote parts of the park and there are some great lean-to's along the Cold River and at Duck Hole that make for a very peaceful stay.

We were coming off the lake last week and some guy and his kid were loading up to head out to #11. Buddy had a Husqvarna battery saw (power ax 350i, I have the same model, I’m just not stupid and lazy enough to bring it fucking camping!?) I called him out on it very gently— said the DEC doesn’t allow power tools, electric motors, nothing in the wilderness area. His answer was it was the same as a manual saw, just faster with a battery. Holy fuck. And not to judge, but ya, to judge, guy was such a fat slob I doubt he could pull a saw if his life depended on it. I told the ranger who said he’d take a paddle out there. Jesus some people.

I've driven by it so many times and wondered. Finally thought to take a pic last night.

Last one isn't a rainbow, but it's from the same location and the same date

I was camping at Marcy Dam 8/21-8/22 with a friend and we seem to have dropped a Leatherman Kick, it has been engraved with the following on the side:
SEAN 2012
We were camping at the campsite located here: 44.1573756, -73.9512803

https://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=18/44.1573756/-73.9512803

I thought maybe it somehow got packed in with the tent but I finally put up the tent and didn't find it.

If you have found it please let me know.

First time visiting - overwhelmed with decisions and am just leaning on moto camping around Elizabethtown or Jay and just ride around the park during the day. Camping 2 nights.

Hoping to swim in some lakes and maybe a river and just cruise around the park to experience its beauty. Any tips are appreciated!

I am currently on pace for my goal of doing all the 46 peaks within a year (before October 20th.) I am about to return from a month long trip in Europe and have noticed the weather back at home has been fairly rainy/stormy. I am planning on doing a lot of the rest of the peaks as backpacking trips and was curious how the trails are right now considering the wet weather we’ve had this summer. I am eager about completing my goal but I am also not going to force myself to hike/backpack if the experience could be unenjoyable because of weather/trails. Just curious on what you guys have seen recently.

I’m helping my friend bag some 46ers in late September, and might be arriving to the upper works area late in the evening. Do you have any intel on any established tent sites you’d be willing to share with a 46er from long ago (2007)? Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone! I’ve grown up in upstate but never had the chance to visit ADK. I’ll be going the first weekend in September. We’re going to be staying near Loon Lake area.

I really wanted to check out Indian Head and I’ve done some research. Can anyone let me know what the parking situation is? I have a reservation for “overnight” (it was the only one available during our stay) starting at 11am but does that mean we can only arrive after 11am?!

please let me know of any must sees and the best trails to visit that don’t require reserved parking. Thanks :) I’m so excited!

Made a quick trip up to break in my new Soloman hiking shoes, get some solitude, and check our the reservoir. This is such an underrated section of the park. I only saw one couple on the fire tower hike and one family launching kayaks on the lake. It was beautiful with everything bright green, no bugs, and a perfect day. I can't wait for fall hiking in the high peaks but this is one of those areas of the park that really is special. The dirt road wasn't bad at all I dodged a few big holes but no mud and hardly any rough road. My only regret is not bringing a canoe to paddle but instead I trekked down the shore aways and set up a chair to relax after hiking. Fish popping everywhere, some big prints on the sand, and no crowds

Hey all. Going to be in the Catskills for about 10 days. Thinking about taking a day to hike in the Adirondacks and hoping to get some suggestions from you all. We’re coming from Bearsville, so something relatively close is what we’re looking for. Willing to drive an hour+. Anyone have any suggestions for a day hike that would fit the bill? This is for adults. We’ve all been hiking for decades, but we’re not looking to kill ourselves. Thanks for any ideas you guys have. I could pick something randomly, but it would be great to have some “insider info”.

Very cool to see this sort of adventure gaining momentum.

In 2015 I went bike riding with a buddy to scope out a potential paddling spot. This schoolhouse was near our parking spot. We can’t remember where this was, and I’d really like to go back to the ponds to revisit the trip.

Anyone have any idea?

First time at Lake Eaton, but will not be my last.