LOCALadk Magazine

Winter 2015 LOCALadk Magazine 47 LOCALadk tunities in the winter. In a lean snow year, mountains in the central and west central Adirondacks often have the most snow, so climbs like Bald Mountain and Rocky Mount in the Old Forge / Inlet area, and Blue Mountain and Goodnow Mountain near Long Lake and Newcomb may have some great snowshoeing. Heading further north, Coney Mountain near Tupper Lake, and Ampersand, Saint Regis, and Baker Moun- tain in the Saranac Lake region are fun snowshoe climbs. Climbing in the High Peaks requires being pre- pared for the potential conditions, and having plenty of safety gear along; including enough layers, extra food, water, headlamp, map, compass (a GPS is only as good as its battery and signal strength), stove, over- night bag, and being with a group for safety. There are lots of fun snowshoeing opportunities all through the High Peaks, but understand your limits, and turn around if conditions get too challenging. Hurricane, Round, and Noonmark Mountains are great smaller peak options within the High Peaks re- gion, and Catamount, Silver Lake Mountain, and Lyon Mountain are fun destinations further north. In the eastern Adirondacks, Coon Mountain near Westport, Moxham Mountain near Minerva, and Severance Hill and Pharaoh Mountain near Schroon Lake are good climbs. Cat and Thomas Mountains near Bolton Land- ing and Buck Mountain near Pilot Knob are fun desti- nations in the Lake George area. In the southern and south central Adirondacks, there's Hadley Mountain overlooking the Sacandaga Reservoir, Kane Mountain near Caroga Lake, and Snowy Mountain and Watch Hill along Indian Lake. These suggestions cover a wide variety of snowshoe- ing terrain. If you have trails you enjoy hiking in the summer, try them with snowshoes on in the winter! The Adirondack Mountain Club is continually updat- ing their trail guides for the park. Plus the park wide Trails Illustrated maps from National Geographic are a good way to get an overview of the region and choose a snowshoeing destination. Once the snowshoe bug has bitten, just choose a trail guide for your favorite region, pick a trail, and go!!

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