July 22, 2017
5343'
Day Hike
Photographs by Jake Reynolds.
Towering above the Adirondacks’ High Peaks region looms Mount Marcy, New York State’s highpoint. We climbed on a warm summer day, kicking our day off at 6AM to beat both the immense summer crowds and heat. Although Mt. Marcy is a thousand feet shorter than other highpoints in the region, its isolation and relatively long hike made it a formidable and fun peak to tackle.
Like much of the region, this hike starts off wet and muddy, and included a large trail section bypass due to erosion when we hiked in the summer of 2017. The Van Hoevenberg Trail provides out-and-back access to Mt. Marcy in roughly eight miles each way.
After six miles of gradual incline through the boreal forest, the trail breaks through the treeline, presenting fantastic views of the entire High Peaks region while winding its way up the barren rock summit of Marcy.