Mt Marcy and Great Adirondack

[Woolybear]

Mt. Marcy and Great Adirondack brewpub
July 17th 2010 ,Woolybear (Paul) and Woodzy (Mike)


Got to the lodj at 6:40 am and we were ready for a long day. Lot still wasn’t crowed which is always a good thing. It was going to get hot as the day went by but the temp as we were getting ready was great for hiking. Had a amusing pre hike moment. As Mike was availing himself of the facilities and I was locking up the car a chipmunk tried to stealthily work his way into my pack. He wasn’t able to thwart the role top but it was fun to watch him try. Lodj to Marcy Dam was quick and easy (as always). Trail over to Phelps was also in good shape. The newer high water bridge looked good. This was Mike’s for ADK high peak so this was all new to him. We didn’t see to many people from the dam to Indian Falls. After Indian Falls with its nice view the volume of people increased fairly quickly (not a surprise since we were taking our time going up). The trail also became very wet and muddy after Indian Falls and that was it the rest of the way up to Marcy, people and mud. Marcy had some nice views heading up the ridge but the peak itself was windy and mostly clouded over with occasional breaks. There were somewhere around 100 people on the summit. According to the steward this was about averaged (crowded by my standards). Not to be mean but the people all lounging around on the summit rocks were reminiscent of beached seals.
Trip down and off Marcy was uneventful though truth be told by the last .9 miles we were pretty beat and happy to get back to the car.
Post hike we went back to the RV to wash off the mud then back over to Lake Placid to hit Great Adirondack for beer and food. Now in all honesty I have never been a fan of Lake Placid and today did not help. Parking was what it always is in a tourist trap. We parked on at the southern end of town and walked up to Great Adirondack. The town was overrun with young, loud, and unruly 20 something’s. It resembled a fraternity and sorority convention and the behavior of the crowds was certainly not flattering to the town. No surprise to us was that Great Adirondack was VERY crowed with a wait of 40+ minutes. Thankfully we managed to get seats at the bar after 20 minutes. Had the Abbey Ale (they were out of red) and found it to be very good. The food was also very good. Those were the positives. The negatives were that Great Adirondack was very crowed (and I imagine it is always very busy), the food was overpriced (but Lake Placid is a tourist trap so no surprise there), and though the staff were attentive they were not totally on the ball. Though we loved the beer I don’t think either of us will be going back. Its just seems like to much of a hassle with the town being what it is. If I see there beer elsewhere though I will be happy to partake of it.

http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/578199619iRtgpj

Pics are here

[Tom]

It's usually crowded, but like you said, it's Lake Placid!

In any case, another notch in the belt!

[Woolybear]

Its a shame their food and beer were good just the location doesn't work for me.

[Laurie]

I know what you mean about the parking.......we have found one secret spot to park that we can usually get into, but if possible, I would prefer LPPB when it comes to parking as well as beer. The food at Adirondack is superb, but not really worth all of the other hassle.

Same with Marcy, a superb place to be, but quite a parking lot. The only way I have ever managed to avoid some of that over crowded feel is with a very early morning start.

Sounds like a pretty good trip, another VNB done and it sure beats sitting on the couch in front of the AC!

[Woolybear]

LPBP is next on the list (I think ). Was planning on doing it Sunday with Big Slide but the Marcy hike just took to much out of me. Perhaps this coming weekend. With luck Nuckedrocket will be joining me. He's a Ubu fan.

[Tom]

Same with Marcy, a superb place to be, but quite a parking lot. The only way I have ever managed to avoid some of that over crowded feel is with a very early morning start.

Even in Winter, there was a steady trickle of hikers, skiers and dogs...

[PA Ridgerunner]

We probably just missed you on the trail that day. On our way back from an aborted attempt at Gray/Skylight, Muddybottom and I took a detour over Indian Falls and took the Van Ho trail back to the Loj parking area. Got to Indian Falls around 9am or so, then hung out for a while before heading down. You guys were probably already above the falls by that time. I concur with respect to the restaurant...good food, but overpriced. We occasionally will stop in just to have a sampler and pint, then fill a growler and split. Would be nice if they just had a little bar menu. LPPB is a little better, both on beer and pricing, although I've noticed that the service there leaves something to be desired.

[Tom]

We probably just missed you on the trail that day. On our way back from an aborted attempt at Gray/Skylight, Muddybottom and I took a detour over Indian Falls and took the Van Ho trail back to the Loj parking area. Got to Indian Falls around 9am or so, then hung out for a while before heading down. You guys were probably already above the falls by that time. I concur with respect to the restaurant...good food, but overpriced. We occasionally will stop in just to have a sampler and pint, then fill a growler and split. Would be nice if they just had a little bar menu. LPPB is a little better, both on beer and pricing, although I've noticed that the service there leaves something to be desired.

Looks like your avatar is AWOL. Did you delete the source of it?

[PA Ridgerunner]

I don't think I ever loaded an avatar here...going incognito.