Algonquin Peak
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Algonquin Peak | |
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 Algonquin Peak seen from road to Adirondak Loj |
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| Elevation | 5,115 feet (1,559 metres) |
| Location | New York |
| Range | MacIntyre Mountains |
| Prominence | 2,100 ft (640 m) [1] |
| Coordinates | Coordinates: |
| Topo map | USGS Keene Valley |
| First ascent | 1837 by Ebenzer Emmons and party |
| Easiest route | hike from the Adirondak Loj |
| Listing | #2 Adirondack High Peaks |
Algonquin Peak is in the MacIntyre Range in the town of North Hudson, in Essex County, New York. It is the second highest mountain in New York, and one of the 46 Adirondack High Peaks in Adirondack Park. Its name comes from its reputedly being on the Algonquin side of a nearby informal boundary between the Algonquin and their Iroquois neighbors.
Algonquin is popular with hikers, who almost always start at the popular Adirondak Loj trailhead near Heart Lake outside of Lake Placid for a day trip that, while shorter than that to nearby Mount Marcy, is steeper, requiring almost as much vertical ascent in a considerably shorter distance. Ambitious ones, particularly those aspiring to join the Adirondack 46ers, add Wright Peak to the itinerary as a side trip and sometimes even continue on to Iroquois Peak, both also High Peaks in their own right.
The usual route for this adventure is to follow the blue-blazed Van Hoevenberg Trail 0.9 miles (1.4 km) to its junction with the yellow-blazed MacIntyre Range Trail and follow that the remaining 3.1 miles (5.0 km) to the summit, during which the route gets progressively steeper and rockier.
Even those who just hike Algonquin find the experience rewarding. The mountain's summit is an alpine zone above tree line, and thus stunning views are available in all directions. However, the large numbers of hikers on the summit have in the past caused damage to the fragile plant life that calls this area home, and strict regulations have been put in place both at the trailhead and on the summit (all hikers must sign in; no dogs are allowed without a leash) to protect it. On busy days a Summit Steward both reminds hikers of these rules and educates them about the ecosystem.
Less frequently, the mountain is approached from the southeast via the steep, narrow, 2.1-mile (3.4 km) Boundary Trail to Lake Colden.
[edit] Notes
[edit] Gallery
 Waterfall on the trail to Algonquin Peak |
 Algonquin Peak viewed from Wright Peak |
[edit] External links
- USGS GNIS: Algonquin Peak
- Algonquin Peak, New York. Peakbagger.com (2004-11-01). Retrieved on 2008-04-23.
- Algonquin Peak. Summitpost.org (Feb 7, 2005). Retrieved on 2008-04-23.
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