LOCALadk Magazine

"As a climber, it's a fun challenge. People might wonder why anyone would run up a mountain when you can walk. Because it's a challenge. It's the same thing," PROBLEM 1. About 0.3 miles from the register, soon aer passing an old quarry, look for a small cliff band in the forest le of the trail. A little cairn several feet off the trail indicates where to turn into the woods. Bushwhack a few hundred feet to the cliff and look for a vertical crack that starts eight feet up. Using a small hold for the le foot, step up, jam your right fist into the crack, and pull yourself to a good stance in a horizontal crack. Follow the vertical crack to the top. is is the hardest of the six problems. PROBLEM 2. Unlike the first, the second problem requires no pathfinding or bushwhacking. It lies just off the right side of the trail, about 0.6 miles from the road. While passing through an open stand of red pine, look for a le-leaning finger crack. Find a good handhold in the crack about six feet up. Top out on a flat slab. is is the easiest, shortest, and safest of the problems. PROBLEM 3. Leaving the second problem, you soon arrive at the second split in the hiking trail. Bear right and continue about 200 feet to a small cliff on the le that extends almost to the trail. Follow the base of the cliff 25 feet to a prominent vertical crack. Step onto a small mossy ledge a foot off the ground and jam your hand into the crack. Pull up onto good footholds about five feet off the ground. Follow the crack to its end, topping out near a pine branch. PROBLEM 4. At 0.75 miles the hiking trail crosses open bedrock with a view of McKenzie Pond and the High Peaks and then turns le for the final push to the summit. Instead of turning, walk straight about 10 paces, passing a lichen-encrusted wall, and scramble down a short rock slot. Turn right to find another vertical crack. Using good foot jams and handholds, climb up 15 feet, exiting beneath a low-hanging branch. is is one of the easier problems. PROBLEM 5. e fih problem is on the lichen-encrusted wall you passed moments earlier. Begin at a scooped ledge that's about four feet off the ground. A few feet higher is a small sloping ledge with a jug (or big handhold) on its right edge. Grab the jug to pull yourself onto the scooped ledge. Now move up to the second ledge, using the ledge for leverage. is is the hardest move and requires good balance. Next step to the right and reach for hidden handholds. Pull yourself to the top of the wall. PROBLEM 6. Aer completing the previous problem, you are only a tenth of a mile from Baker's summit. Continue hiking upward, but just before the top, veer right onto a herd path and descend a rock slot to the base of a cliff. Turn right and follow the cliff 30 paces to a vertical crack that's joined by a horizontal crack about 12 feet up. Using solid holds and jams, climb to the horizontal crack (good stance) and find a jug above. On the final move, smear your sticky rubber on the adjoining slab. Once you've finished the last problem, walk to the summit and enjoy a gorgeous view over McKenzie Pond of mountains near and far. You will have earned it. TRAILHEAD: From NY 86 in Saranac Lake, turn east onto Brandy Brook Avenue (where NY 86 makes a 90-degree turn). Drive 0.1 miles to the end of Brandy Brook Avenue and turn le onto Pine Street. Go 0.4 miles to Forest Hill Avenue. Turn right and go 0.5 miles to the trailhead on the le. Problem 1. Problem 2. Problem 3. LOCALadk 38

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