Hurricane Mountain

This was our third trip to the Adirondacks in the winter.  We've been hiking only small mountains so far, to test our gear, stamina, and enjoyment.  After successful winter hikes of Baxter, Big Crow, Mt. Jo, Cobble Hill, and Cathedral Rock, we decided we were ready for something a little bigger this time.  When we hiked Big Crow back in 2019, we talked to some other hikers who had summited both Big Crow and Hurricane that same day from Crow Clearing.  They told us that the approach to Hurricane is longer, of course, but that terrain-wise, it was easier than Big Crow -- not as steep.  So we felt confident that it would be within our abilities.  Plus, it was the last peak we needed to complete the Lake Placid 9er Challenge as a family.  Win-win!

FLT/NCT: Two M17 Roadwalks

 

Since acknowledging to myself that I seem to be section hiking the Finger Lakes Trail (FLT), I have been hiking many of the shorter roadwalks along the way when hiking the adjacent sections of trail.  However, I have still been orphaning longer roadwalks, with the intent to come back for them during hunting season.  I still go in the woods during bow season, but once rifle season starts, I steer clear.  Unfortunately, I never made it out to my saved mop-up sections this year.  So even though hunting season is over now and I should rightfully be back in the woods, I fell asleep on the couch last night very early, before I was able to plan a suitable destination for today.  Leery of the questionable conditions I'd find on the seasonal roads in the area of my last FLT hikes, but still wanting to get some FLT miles, I decided to knock out two roadwalks.  They would not provide the same joy as being in the woods, but I would get the satisfaction of completing Map M17.