#algonquin mountain

[vintagecamping]

Backpackers descending the summit of Algonquin Mountain in the high peaks region of the Adirondack Forest Preserve

June 1973

[equatorjournal]

Woodswoman, 1978

[averyrosyyear]

Algonquin (5/46) & Iroquois (6/46)

On Tuesday, September 23, 2025 Joyce and I hiked the Algonquin and Iroquois high peaks in the Adirondacks. The day before, we knew it was going to be raining at least in the morning. I was definitely very very nervous about walking on the rocks in the rain. Nervous that they would be slippery and nervous that it would be generally miserable. It was generally miserable, but Joyce and I were not miserable at all. We were in pretty high spirits most of the day and felt physically pretty good.

We set off at about 830 from the parking lot of the infamous LOJ! Infamous to us at least, since the spelling is ridiculous and we've been pronouncing it "LOOHHHJ" since last year. It was raining and we chatted with the guy in the High Peaks Welcome Center, and no one seemed to think we were particularly crazy for hiking this route, which was reassuring. I always have some imposter syndrome where I'm afraid some "real" hiker is going to look at me and be like YEAH RIGHT can't wait to airlift you off the top of a mountain **eyeroll** To date, that has never happened but it's good to know that my anxiety continues to tell unrealistic stories. The first couple miles were a really nice walk through the woods, then the next couple miles were those giant rock creek beds that we saw on Rocky Peak Ridge. We were nice and slow to be sure we didn't slip on the wet rocks. By this point we were completely soaking wet down to our underwear and gave up on any possibility of drying off. The final miles were on the sheer rock face above the alpine line of the Algonquin, Boundary and Iroquois summits. There were so many times we would turn a corner just look straight up at some 50 degree sheer rock climbing adventure and just go, what the fuck??? Then we'd shrug and find one step, then another, then another.

There were really neat little areas between the summits, mini forests that smelled so sweetly of balsam fir. It was like the best yankee candle you ever smelled in your life, but fresh and beautiful and like you were inside a dream. The summits were amazing, even though we could not see one single thing besides low clouds sweeping lazily across the peaks.

On the whole hike we only ran into two groups and 2 individual people. One person was a trail steward and one was a shirtless ex-marine who was just rucking up the mountain for funsies. The other groups were a dad with 3 teenage boys and a rando group of dudes at the summit of Algonquin who took our picture for us. When we started to pick our way down the mountain, I think that's when things slowed down dramatically. I can't speak for Joyce, but I think we were both very very aware of our feet and not getting injured. The 10 mile hike took us nearly 10 hours, which is absurd. We didn't eat enough food because it never felt very nice to stop and have lunch. When we finally got off the mountain, we called in a take out order and picked up on the way home through Schroon Lake and then took our nice hot showers.

This was a hell of a hike. Borderline dangerous and foolish but also a sincere accomplishment. If I didn't feel like a "true" hiker before, I really do now.

High Peaks 5 & 6/46.