Topographic map courtesy of the Adirondack Mountain Club.

The view from Algonquin eastward over Mt. Colden showing the 5 peaks.

REDFIELD

Mt. Marcy

Gray Peak

Mt. Skylight

Mt. Redfield

Cliff Mountain

CLIFF

SKYLIGHT

MARCY

GRAY

(Mt. Colden)

Friday — Peak hike day #1 — 5 miles

Cliff Mountain & Mt. Redfield

Thursday — The hike in — 7.5 miles

Passing the dead totem pole tree

The cairn and note, marking the trail to Cliff and Redfield.

At the Upper Works trailhead parking lot, from left to right: Chris, me, Pete, Andy, Tanner, Jim and Jonathan

A few tenths of a mile up the Calamity Brook trail

We take a moment to splash some cool water on our faces at the dam. Avalanche pass is in the distance behind Pete’s blue shirt.

Crossing the Opalescent River on a very bouncy suspension bridge.

The rain started just after dark the night before, and continued most of the day Friday.

The guys on the trail, donning their rain gear.

The trail meanders along the Uphill Brook. We notice that the water has risen. A lot...

We take a brief break at the cairn between the two peaks for some food and water.

Standing in the driving rain atop Redfield’s summit. Again, no views to be had today...

The line between what is the trail, and what is the stream is blurred.

About 0.5 miles east of the Uphill Brook lean-to, we take the yellow trail up towards Lake Tear of the Clouds and the 3 peaks we’ll be hiking.

I congratulate Andy on his awesome accomplishment.

Sunday — The hike back to the car — 7.5 miles

Once again, I have to thank Tanner Gjersvig, who provided many of the images seen here on this page. He hikes with a big DSLR in his hand most of the time, and somehow never drops it or smashes it on a rock. Thanks for your help, Tanner! Same goes for Jonathan Fitch. He also supplied a few photos to this page.

The end.

Jim crosses the Lake Colden Dam, with 4 beers in hand. (Too bad he loses most of those later in the angry and flooded Uphill brook)

The Lake Colden Dam

Climbing a slippery log staircase as we hike along the Opalescent River.

After arriving at the Uphill lean-to, we immediately go filter water in the Uphill Brook nearby.

Jonathan and Pete prepare to chill their beer in the calm, cool creek water.

After filtering water, we head back to our lean-to, and eat some rehydrated dinners from ziplock pouches.

The trailhead to both Cliff and Redfield leaves the main trail right near the Uphill lean-to, so it’s a perfect place to stay if you want to hike those two peaks. The trail is marked with a cairn and sometimes, a small sign in a ziplock bag, if you’re lucky.

Andy at the cairn which marks the split between Cliff, (to the right), and Redfield, (to the left).

A steep section of the trail up Cliff.

Atop the tree-covered summit of Cliff Mountain. There were no views, thanks to the clouds all around us, sadly.

Heading back to the cairn,
I stepped up to my upper thigh into thick chocolate pudding-like mud. How my boot stayed on my foot
is a mystery!

Jim halfway up a boulder-filled trail as the water from Uphill Brook flows past, (and through) the rocks.

Tanner poses next to a tumultuous waterfall.

On the way back down Redfield, Jim shows an open wound from his encounter with a boulder. The rock won.

The rocks are very slippery!

Saturday — Peak hike day #2 — 7.5 miles

Gray Peak, Mt. Skylight and Mt. Marcy

Maneuvering around the rocks up the trail, while breaking a sweat.

Taking a break for some energy-rich food and electrolyte-infused water.

At the turnoff for Gray Peak, we cross over the outlet of Lake Tear of the Clouds, which seemed aptly-named this day.

Andy crosses over to the trail that leads to Gray Peak, which will be his final, 46th peak.

Andy knocks off his 46th high peak! Congratulations Andy!

Through the clouds, you can make out the village of Lake Placid.

Taking a much-needed break for food, before heading back down Gray Peak.

Leaving the Col between Gray and Lake Tear of the Clouds, Andy climbs up using a headwall crack.

I pose with Tanner by the sign post at the clearing known as “Four Corners”.

We’re heading to the right, up the red trail to Mt. Skylight next...

On the way up Skylight, we get a view behind us, of massive Mt. Marcy, which reaches up into the clouds.

After seeing how high Mt. Marcy is, doubt begins to creep across my face, as I ascend Mt. Skylight.

I flex confidently at the very top of Mt. Skylight’s rubble pile. 45 peaks down, just one to go!

The trail, after it emerges from the treeline, out into the alpine zone. The summit is that pile of rubble in the center.

The other guys take their turns at their silly poses on the summit.

Once we were finished with Mt. Skylight, we forged up the backside of Mt. Marcy. Here, Jim and Chris emerge from the treeline, out into the alpine zone of Mt. Marcy.

We pause for a bit of energy food, before ascending the slippery bare granite of Mt. Marcy’s alpine zone.

Looking up the bare rock, towards the summit. Notice the dark, triangular rock cairns that help mark the path in the fog and clouds.

I lead the train up the slippery rock face, chugging like the slow, but methodical diesel engine that could...

The summit slowly gets a bit closer with each step.

Finally, I reach the summit first, and breathe a sigh of great relief.

After donning all the layers I had in my pack, (because it was windy, raining and cold up there), I happily pose next to the plaque.

We do our typical foot-in photo near the summit marker. Why is Jonathan’s foot without shoes. It’s because he wore some of those newfangled minimalist running shoes during the hike, and though this would be amusing...

My cousin Jim and I celebrate together.

The guys from work take a moment to claim the mountain.

I happily celebrate with a tasty, frothy India Pale Ale. A beer has never tasted so satisfying...

Time to head back down the mountain.

The trail heading down towards Schofield Cobble, a large hump on the backside of Mt. Marcy. Off in the distance is Mt. Skylight, obscured by clouds.

The guys stop and wait for me to catch up.

The alpine zone ends soon at the treeline. Mt. Skylight on the left.

Off in the distance, on the right side, is Lake Tear of the Clouds.

Over to the right, (to the west), Gray Peak is visible. Note the rain drops hitting the lens of the camera!

Off to the left, (to the east), Mt. Haystack is obscured by clouds. Little Haystack is the tiny pyramid-shaped
mini-peak on the left side. Down to the right is Panther Gorge.

I happily pose by a now clear Lake Tear of the Clouds, as we head back down towards our lean-to.

After filtering water and cleaning up, we get into dry clothes and settle into the lean-to for the night. Tanner and I consult a map using our headlamps.

Jim blows some smoke rings with his celebratory cigar. Gandalf has nothing on Jim!

The view out of the lean-to, as we watch the rain fall. We’re happy to be dry under the shelter!

Andy, Pete and I are the last ones to leave the lean-to.

Andy waits at the bottom of a very slippery old log ladder, probably to see whether or not I slip and break my arm
or something.

Some small waterfalls on the Opalescent River.

A view down the Opalescent, westward. The obscured-by-a-tree peak on the left is Mt. Marshall. The peak on the right side is Iroquois Peak. The tiny hump going down the left side of that peak is called the Shepard’s Tooth.

Another waterfall.

The beautiful view up Lake Colden from the Lake Colden Dam. The small peak on the left is Avalanche Mountain. The large peak on the right is Mt. Colden. In the middle is Avalanche Pass.

Andy climbs the ladder as we head south towards the Flowed Lands.

A red newt on the trail.

Andy and I negotiate the rocks of the Calamity Brook trail.

The trail emerges from the woods, onto a soft dirt path. Only a couple miles to go!

A group of butterflies either eating something or having a crazy party or something...

Upon returning to the parking lot, Tanner bestows upon me an incredible wooden plaque that he made for me. Andy also received one as well. It was an incredible surprise, and a very thoughtful gift. Thanks so much, Tanner!

Andy and I celebrate our finishing the 46 with a fitting bottle of Saranac High Peaks Ale.