Mountain Series: Hiking and Whitewater Rafting the Adirondacks

Departing New York City Friday morning, we will head into the heart of the Adirondack Mountains, the largest wilderness area in New York. Along the way, we will stop for lunch and bathroom breaks. By mid-afternoon we will be in a completely different world with crisp, clean air and stunning mountains. After a short hike to explore our home for the weekend, a delicious campfire dinner will be served by your guides. Tonight, rest well, for Saturday is a big day!

Adirondack State Park

A thin blue line on the map separates the Adirondacks from the world of madcap development. The park covers six million acres—an area larger than the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and Yosemite combined. It is roughly the same size as the state of Vermont to the east. Adirondack State Park covers a fifth of New York State. Two thousand peaks lie within its folds, and a hundred are taller than 3,000 feet. Two peaks, Marcy and Algonquin, stand higher than 5,000 feet. Nearly half of the park is forest preserve, land set aside to remain in its natural state.

• Elevation 5,344 feet
• Location New York, USA
• Range Adirondack Mountains
• Prominence 4,912 feet
• First Ascent 1837 by Ebenezer Emmons and party

After enjoying our peaceful mountain sleep we will get a jump on a day of challenging hiking—15 miles of rugged terrain. Starting at the trailhead of the beautiful Adirondack Loj, we will climb over 3,000 feet in elevation to summit Mount Marcy. Along the trail we will negotiate streams, bridges, rocks, trees and roots. As we begin the final ascent to the top we will push above tree line to enjoy a cool breeze and a 360 degree view from the top of New York State.

Mount Marcy, at 5,344 feet, is the highest mountain in the Adirondack Mountain Range and the highest point in New York State. It is a popular destination for hikers due to its stature and great views. The majority of the mountain is forested, although the final few hundred feet is above tree line. The peak is dominated by rocky outcrops, lichens, and alpine shrubs.

The mountain is named after former governor William L. Marcy, who authorized the environmental survey that explored the area. Mt. Marcy is sometimes called Tahawus—an Indian name that means “the cloud splitter”; however, the local Indians, who were few in number, had no name for the mountain. The first recorded ascent of Mount Marcy was in 1837 by a large party led by Ebenezer Emmons. Today the ascent is easier due to existing trails that require no technical skills, allowing ascent and descent to be made in a day.

After lunch, we will begin our eventful descent. First, we will hike past tiny Lake Tear-of-the-Clouds, the headwaters of the mighty Hudson River. Climbing ladders and crossing logs from the summit, we will traverse around the lake, past Marcy Dam and back to our trailhead and campsite.

Theodore Roosevelt was camped at Lake Tear-of-the-Clouds on September 14, 1901, after summiting Marcy when he got word that William McKinley, who had been shot a week earlier, had taken a serious turn for the worse. Roosevelt and his party hiked ten miles down the southwest face of the mountain to Long Lake, New York, where he hired a stage coach and took a legendary midnight ride through forty miles of precipitous Adirondack roads to the closest train station at North Creek, New York. When he arrived he found out McKinley had died and that he was President. He took the train to Buffalo, New York, where McKinley had been shot, and he was sworn in there. The route from Long Lake to North Creek has been designated the Roosevelt-Marcy Trail.

Rise to the sounds of birds chirping and your guides cooking breakfast. After stretching our legs from yesterday’s trek, we head south through Adirondack Mountains where whitewater rapids await.

A whitewater rafting trip through the Hudson River Gorge means western-style whitewater adventure right here in the central Adirondacks of New York. The Hudson River Gorge is rated one of the top ten whitewater rafting runs in America. And no wonder! This is the Hudson River as she used to be ... crystal clear, clean, alive and powerful, as her unbridled whitewater thunders alongside 500-foot granite cliffs, and through amazing rapids like Givneys’ Rift, the Narrows, Little Nasty and Greyhound Bus Stopper.

After fifteen miles of class IV rapids, we’ll relax and talk about our great weekend over a well-deserved cookout. Relaxed and renewed, we will head back to New York arriving in the early evening.

We offer adventures for everyone, no matter what your skill level. This guide will help you decide which trip is right for you.

• Activity

  How long (in hours) you may be active every day during the trip.

• Distances

  You should feel confident that you would be able to complete these distances every day of your trip.

• Surfaces

  What types of terrain you may encounter and should be prepared for on your trip.

• Elevation Change

  The largest elevation change you may encounter on your trip.

• Altitude

  The highest elevation you may reach on your trip.

Welcome to the outdoors! These trips are designed to introduce you to new challenges and new adventurers. Take in the scenery, tackle moderate elevation, experience some local flavor, and enjoy your day out of the office.

• Activity

  You can expect to be active for one to three hours. Take a long walk around Central Park to make sure you’re comfortable being outdoors and active for at least a two-hour period.

• Distances

  For our Level 1 trips, you’ll be walking or hiking less than three miles. Think about this distance in terms of the width of Manhattan. Walking from the Hudson to the East River via 14th street is just under two miles.

• Surfaces

  You’ll be walking on flat terrain. This means there will be limited rocks and a few tree roots.

• Elevation Change

  There will be little or no elevation change on this trip. To simulate the change in elevation, trying walking three flights of stairs and back.

• Altitude

  Less than 3,000 feet.

Level 2 trips will give you a taste of what hiking is all about. Test yourself on intermediate terrain, including light rock scrambles and ascending multiple peaks. The trips will invigorate you and inspire you to continue strengthening your hiking skills.

• Activity

  You can expect to be active for four to six hours. Prepare for the trip by jogging three miles around Central Park.

• Distances

  Plan on getting starter miles under your belt. You’ll be doing up to six miles on this trip. You can imagine this distance in terms of the full Central Park loop, which is 6.1 miles.

• Surfaces

  You’ll be hiking on rolling terrain. You can expect rock surfaces, steeps, roots and small boulders.

• Elevation Change

  There could be up to an accumulative 1,500 feet per day.

• Altitude

  From sea level to 6,000 feet.

Level three hikes will challenge you with a faster pace and longer distances. This hard work allows you to see more terrain and higher vistas. You should expect to be tired and fulfilled on the van ride home.

• Activity

  We’ll be out on the trails for five to eight hours. Prepare for this trip by maintaining your daily fitness regime that includes both cardio and strength.

• Distances

  Be ready to cover some serious distance. We may hike up to ten miles today before heading back to the city. This is the distance between Battery Park and Washington Heights in Manhattan.

• Surfaces

  We’ll be walking on rolling or mountainous terrain. This will require navigating various rock faces and trail conditions including steep inclines and uneven ground.

• Elevation Change

  There could be up to 2,000 feet per day.

• Altitude

  From sea level to 10,000 feet.

Deep inside you is a desire to push past your limit. On these hikes you’ll be challenged by some of the steepest elevations and technical terrain available. These trips are for endurance athletes and those who wish to push their physical abilities.

• Activity

  You can expect to be active for six to nine hours. You can best prepare for a Level 4 trip by maintaining your intense fitness regiment, trying to get your mile time below 7 minutes, and hiking consistently on the weekends.

• Distances

  Level 4 hikes can be up to 16 miles. This is the distance between Wall Street and Yonkers.

• Surfaces

  These trails will be mountainous with exposed terrain, uneven trails and steep ascents/descents. Most hikes will require not only hiking boots but also additional gear like hiking poles and headlamps.

• Elevation Change

  There could be elevation change of up to 3,000 feet per day and possible altitude.

• Altitude

  From sea level to 14,000 feet.

Prepare yourself for the ultimate outdoor experience. If you yearn to touch the sky and think the rewards outweigh the risks and extreme conditions, this is what you’re looking for. Over the course of multiple days you will be called upon to prove you belong among the best.

• Activity

  You should be ready for at least ten hours a day of pain, challenge, and constant small victories.

• Distances

  You should expect to be hiking for at least twelve miles a day. Prepare for this by racing in triathlons, training for a marathon and up keeping your hiking skills.

• Surfaces

  On Level 5 trips you will be trekking in remote mountains with exposed terrain and loose features.

• Elevation Change

  There could be elevation change of 5,000 feet per day.

• Altitude

  Altitude change could also reach up to 14,000 feet.