Adirondack High Peaks Winter Adventure, New York

The Trip

This is a classic winter trip exploring the cross-country ski and snowshoe opportunities in the High Peaks area of the Adirondack Park and includes a day exploring the Olympic venues and training sites in and around the quaint village of Lake Placid, NY. At six+ million acres, the Adirondack Park in northern New York State is the largest park in the Lower 48 and the Northeast’s last great wilderness. The combined acreage of Yellowstone (2.2 million acres), Yosemite (0.76 million acres), Glacier (1 million acres), Grand Canyon (1.2 million acres), and Great Smokies (0.5 million acres) National Parks fit together inside the Adirondack Park.

This area, originally used by the Mohawk and Algonquin Native American tribes, was established as a state forest preserve in 1885, and Adirondack Park in 1892. A mix of private and state owned land provides for economic activity in numerous towns, farms, and working forests, as well as protecting one of only two constitutionally protected areas in the world. The “forever wild” forest preserve contains over one million acres of wilderness in addition to 1.3 million acres of Wild Forest. The park boasts more than 2,000 lakes and ponds, over 1200 miles of rivers, and some of the highest mountains in the eastern United States. 

Our base is Adirondack Loj, built in 1927, located on scenic Heart Lake and at the base of Mt Jo. We’ll enjoy hearty home cooked meals here as we explore cross country skiing at their newly acquired Cascade Ski Center, a short drive away, and snowshoeing in the forest preserve right from the Loj.

Day 1: (Sunday) We meet at the Adirondack Loj between 3:00-4:00 p.m. to settle in. Early arrivals may do a short snowshoe around Heart Lake (1.75 miles roundtrip, 100 feet elevation gain/loss). At 4:00 p.m. we will assemble and introduce ourselves, describe the trip, and answer questions. At 6:00 p.m. we will enjoy dinner as a group at the Loj, including homemade breads, soups, and desserts, served family style. After dinner we will finish the orientation, describe in detail the following day’s plan, and check everyone’s gear. Quiet hours will begin at 9:30 pm so we’re well-rested for our first hike the next day.

Day 2: (Monday) We enjoy breakfast at the Loj at 7:00 a.m. After breakfast we will carpool 6.2 miles to cross country ski at the Cascades Cross Country Ski Center exploring their groomed trail network as a group. We will enjoy our packed lunches from the loj in their warm and inviting lodge. After a full day of skiing we will return to the Adirondack Loj to enjoy dinner and rest by the stone fireplace in the comfortable living room, followed by a group assessment and discussion of the next day’s plan. After sunset we will gaze up into the dark sky to view the stars and planets overhead.

Day 3: (Tuesday) After breakfast we meet our guide to explore the area on snowshoes. We hike from the loj to the top of Mt Van Hoevenberg (4.3 miles 892’ elevation gain) exploring the forest preserve in the throes of winter and enjoy beautiful views at the summit along with our lunch provided by the loj. While the trail starts on the level it is a steep climb to the summit. After returning to the loj participants will be able to relax, read in the living room, or go with the leaders on an easy 2 mile walk in the vicinity of the loj. After dinner we will have a discussion of the next day’s plan.

Day 4: (Wednesday) Today is a cross country skiing day at the Mt Van Hoevenberg Cross-Country Ski Center. The Olympic Cross Country trails opened for the 1980 Olympic Games. We will carpool the 8 miles to the center to explore the many expertly groomed trails that hosted and are used for training many Olympic athletes. Bring the Olympian out in you! Trail options are suitable for all levels and we will explore the network in groups by ability. We will enjoy our packed lunches from the loj in the ski center. After a full day of skiing we will return to the loj to relax and enjoy dinner. After dinner we will listen to a presentation on conservation from an Adirondack Mountain Club guide, followed by a discussion of the next day’s plan.

Day 5: (Thursday) We continue our exploration of the Olympic venues, carpooling to several sites, based on the interest of the group. Each venue offers something different and each has an additional cost not included in the trip price. Note, prices subject to change. After breakfast we will have the option to experience the Bobsled ($125) by taking a thrilling ride in one of the few places this is available. Ride requirements must be met and a waiver is required for this activity. It is also weather dependent. Then we visit the Olympic Jumping Complex ($20), taking the Skyride Gondola to the base of the ski jumping towers where we take the glass elevator to the top of the 128 meter ski jump to enjoy a 360 degree view of Lake Placid. Afterward we carpool to the village of Lake Placid to visit the Olympic museum ($15) to learn more about the Olympic movement and Lake Placid’s winter sports history. Afterward we walk around the quaint village of Lake Placid visiting many of it’s shops. Optionally we can walk the paved path around Mirror Lake (2.6 miles 55 feet elevation gain/loss) at the heart of the village with a stop at the shore of the actual Lake Placid. Along the way we can identify the 46 high peak markers along the route while enjoying the beautiful scenery and homes along the lake shore. We will return to the loj for dinner and a discussion of the next day’s plan.. After dinner we carpool to Lake Placid to skate on the 1932 Olympic oval ($15 entrance, rentals available at an extra cost) located in the heart of the village.

Day 6: (Friday) After a hearty breakfast we take our loj provided lunch and say goodbye to our new friends. For those interested we can take a last snowshoe up Mt Jo from the loj (3 miles 698’ elevation gain). Note checkout time is 11:00 a.m.

The area has a lot of great places to explore and experience, so please consider visiting some other interesting places before returning home.

The itinerary may be adjusted to provide for the safest and most enjoyable experience relative to all the factors that are present at the time of the trip.

Getting There

Please do not make non-refundable travel arrangements until notified to do so by the trip leader.

If you are flying in, the Adirondack Regional Airport is the closest airport to Adirondack Loj (40 minutes, 24 miles) though it has limited commercial flights. Rental cars, driver services, Uber and Lyft are available in the area. Local road directions to the Lodge are easily found online. Plattsburgh International Airport is a longer drive (1 hour 15 minutes, 56 miles) as well as Albany International Airport (2 hours 15 minutes, 133 miles) and there will be more options for flights and car rentals.

Amtrak’s Adirondack line with service from Montreal to New York City has several stops along the way. Please check the schedule of stops and rental options available before booking. Albany may have the best options for ground transportation from the station. 

Bus service is available to Lake Placid on Trailways. The dropoff location is 21 minutes, 11 miles from the loj. Uber and Lyft are available in the area.

Accommodations and Food

The Adirondack Loj was built in 1927 and has space for 38 guests. We will be the only group located on the second floor in the co-ed shared loft which sleeps 12 comfortably in single beds. Sheets and towels are provided. Men’s bathrooms are located on the second floor while the women’s room is located on the first. These accommodations provide us a comfortable, group-centric environment. The loj is also set in a convenient location with beautiful surroundings. 

Please disclose your dietary needs and preferences when completing your trip form. We will be eating all meals at the Adirondack Loj where breakfast is served buffet-style and dinner is served family style. Lunch will be provided to each participant based on their selections the day prior. 

Trip Difficulty

While the skiing on this trip will be mostly on groomed trails, participant ski and snowshoe ability should be Intermediate and participants should be in physical shape to ski independently. As there are no lessons provided on this trip, participants should be comfortable with basic cross-country techniques including: kick and glide, navigating hills, and recovering from falls.

Participants should be prepared and comfortable in winter conditions in the mountains. Cold temperatures, clouds, strong winds, dense fog, and rapid changes in conditions can be experienced in this region. We cannot control the weather, but we must be prepared for it.

Needless to say, the leaders will be prepared for a safe, challenging, but enjoyable trip, and will carefully monitor the weather reports and adjust plans accordingly. Each evening everyone on our trip shall meet after dinner for an assessment and discuss the plans for the next day. Routes may be adjusted for the group’s safety and well-being. 

Leaders shall contact registered participants by phone or video to discuss the trip in detail, answer questions, and help determine whether this outing is the right one for them. 

Equipment and Clothing

The trip leader will send a recommended packing list to confirmed participants in advance of the trip. 

You may use your own equipment or rent snowshoes at the Heart Lake Program Center, skis at the Cascade Welcome Center, ice skates at the Olympic Oval Ice Skating rink. Several outdoor stores in Lake Placid also rent equipment.

The trip price does not include equipment rentals (ski, snowshoe or ice skates (cost varies)), nor the cost of the Olympic venues (Bobsled Experience $125, Olympic Jumping Complex $20, Olympic Museum $15, Olympic Oval Ice Skating $15). 

All prices are subject to change.

The trip price includes lodging, all meals, parking at Adirondack Loj, guides, speakers, skiing at Cascades Ski Center and passes for skiing at Mt Van Hoevenberg.

References

Schneider, Paul, The Adirondacks: A History of America's First Wilderness

Adirondack Mountain Club: https://adk.org/

Mt Van Hoevenberg: https://mtvanhoevenberg.com/

Olympic Sites: https://lakeplacidlegacysites.com/

Visit The Adirondacks: https://visitadirondacks.com/about/adirondack-park 

Zero Waste: A beginner’s guide: https://learn.eartheasy.com/guides/zero-waste-a-beginners-guide/

Conservation

We will learn about the conservation history and current issues in the Adirondack Park region and explore how this extensive area is managed through its public and private partnership. We will also discuss the organizations working to protect the area and preserve its ecological riches.