Allen Mt. - July 7-8, 2018
So normally I never hike in the summer, as much as I would like to be in the mountains every chance I get, I just do not enjoy the heat, humidity and the swarms of blood sucking insects. However, when the weekend weather forecast is calling for lows in the 40's and highs in the 70's with low humidity, it's hard to say no. So when Brian planned Allen last minute and invited me, it was an easy decision. We both needed it as part of our 46er quest as well.
The Mountain Goat was on the left coast at a wedding so sadly he could not make it, which only means I will be climbing Allen Mt. again at some point.
We made plans to meet at the Mt. Adams Fire Tower trail-head at 7:45 ish Saturday morning.
Packed and ready at 7:30 waiting for BrianBrian was right on time and before 8am we were on our way along the East River Trail toward a wilderness camp location to be determined when we saw it.
Here's Brian crossing the mighty Hudson River which at this point in it's journey toward the Atlantic Ocean is more like a clear mountain fed trout stream. Definitely looks a little different here than it does down by NYC
The weather was picture perfect this morning, the bugs were just about non-existent much to my surprise (and pleasure) and the trail was in great shape. The East River Trail meanders through and around a few small lakes and wet areas before heading toward a junction with the Allen Mt. trail roughly 5 1/2 miles in. It also joins with some of the old mining roads that made up the landscape in this area many years ago.
The trail goes around the north end of Lake Jimmy where there is what
appears to be the remains of an old floating bridge.A little while later as we skirt around some more wetlands, we get our first glimpses of our destination for the day.
Looks like Moose country
Cliff and Redfield on the left and Allen straight ahead
Soon enough the trail runs close to the crystal clear Opalescent River and follows it for quite some time.
I think Brian is day dreaming about big brook trout on a fly rod at this
point.Eventually we would have to cross it and start our gradual ascent toward the junction with the Allen Mt. Trail
I want to personally thank those who built this beautiful bridge over the Opalescent, it wasn't that long ago that a pair of water shoes was needed for this hike.
The trail still remained very gradual and went through some nice open glades with a mix of conifers and softwood trees.
It was near here somewhere that I experienced one of the highlights of the trip, we saw a Spruce Grouse hen with her small brood close by.
About 5 1/2 miles in just before the Allen trail junction we found a suitable spot for a wilderness camp, you should have seen the deer fly swarms that were just outside the cover of the forest in the sun. I wish I got a photo of all of them around Brian's head but I was too busy with my own swarm. If there was a hundred, there was a million! As soon as we stepped under the forest canopy however they were virtually non-existent, so we set up camp and hoped that by the time we returned in the evening to cook supper, we would be able to venture out of the cover without being carried away or eaten.
My two man tent just about fit perfectly in the entrance of an old
overgrown road.
Once we had our camp setup, our packs lightened and our bear canisters stashed, we headed toward the base of the summit. We decided that when we crossed the Lower Twin Brook for a second time we would stop for lunch and to fill our water bottles.
The brook is barely running on top of the bare rock but it is just right for filling your water and taking a break.
The trail is still very moderate at this point as you head toward the Skylight Brook and the beginning of the real ascent.
Here the climbing started in earnest, as the trail follows along and at times is in the Allen Brook.
Allen Mt. trail is considered "minimally maintained" as well so there are plenty of obstacles to navigate around or over along with the steepness, but soon enough we were rewarded with views behind us as we gained altitude.
Cliff and Redfield come into view as we get higher.
But it is the evil red slime that this trail is known for and you must be cautious of it or you will find yourself horizontal rather quickly. The rock faces along the entirety of the upper sections of the trail are covered with it, and believe me when I tell you that you do not want to step on it at all if it can be helped. I registered only one official fall because of it, but it made me very wary the rest of the hike. Luckily for us, the recent heat wave had dried some of the trail so for the most part we could find bare rock to walk on if we were careful enough.
So Allen Mt. definitely lived up to it's reputation as being a tough hike even though it's only at 4340'. The distance from the closest trail head as well as the ruggedness of the final ascent make it a worthy climb.
Soon enough we were on the summit however and it was all worth it.
While Allen is a wooded summit for the most part, there is a lookout to the north that is just awesome, from here you can see much of the great range and beyond but Marcy, Haystack and Skylight are very close. It certainly helped that we had a September like day in July, the air was clear and the views were breathtaking. The top banner for this page was a Pano I took with my phone camera from this lookout.
We spent a short time on the summit, which we had to ourselves. We saw quite a few hikers doing Allen that day but they were all day-tripping so by the time we had peaked, we passed them all on their way down. After giving our feet a break and replenishing our water and calories, it was time to head back to camp before the sun got too far down.
Back at the Lower Twin Brook crossing, we take one more break and fill our water bottles for supper and breakfast.
Tired but satisfied after about a 14 mile day, it's time for the Camp
Cook to go to work.And after some good reconstituted freeze dried chicken teriyaki, it was time to clean up, stash the food and hit the sack.
8:47 PM, I'm settled in and I'm pretty sure Brian is already asleep!6:13 AM, Brian's turn to cook breakfast before packing up and heading toward the trailhead
Just crossed the new bridge over the Opalescent again, one last break before the final push. I can honestly say that although it was a tough hike, I wouldn't call the trek out a "death march" this time. I think our camp location choice was perfect for both days hikes.
One last glimpse of our conquest and my next adventure, Cliff and Redfield, #44 and #45.
I'll be back soon enough
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