LOCALadk Magazine
Issue link: https://localadkmagazine.uberflip.com/i/609681
Winter 2015 LOCALadk Magazine 51 LOCALadk Had we elected to close our door, we would have simply placed blocks of snow inside the shelter's entrance and walled off the opening once we were inside. It is important to note that, after closing the door, snow shelters should be ventilated to facilitate proper air exchange with the outdoors. A small hole, roughly two inches in diameter, is sufficient. To maximize snow's insulating properties, a shelter's walls should be at least one foot thick. (Most shelters will maintain a core temperature of forty degrees Fahrenheit if properly constructed.) Using my pulk (a Nordic toboggan) as a mattress, I burrowed into my sleeping bag. As tired as I was following a rigorous day of hiking and shel- ter building, sleep eluded me. Muska, of course, dozed off in a matter of minutes. When bedding down without the benefit of a sleeping bag and camping mat, I will use forest materials (boughs, grasses, and sedges) to insulate and shield my body from the elements. On this night, however, it would have simply been an added luxury. At 5,344 feet, Mount Marcy is the highest peak, not only in Adirondack Park, but in all of New York State. The weather at such elevations, par- ticularly during the winter months, can be dangerous and unpredictable. And although it is not a punishing hike, with an ascent of more than 3,000 feet it will test even the most seasoned backpacker's resolve. The atmosphere the next day was ideal—the temperature was mild and the visibility was strong. But as an experienced survivalist who has scaled many peaks, I knew that first impressions can be deceiving. We followed the primary trail, passing Phelps Brook on our way to Indian Falls. Using a downed limb as a battering ram, Muska broke through the ice sheathing the stream and replenished his water in preparation for our final ascent. Conditions abruptly changed the moment we approached timberline. Without warning, we were soon enveloped in a dense fog and a strong wind blew snow over the now-indiscernible trail. As our visibility dimin- ished, Muska and I became increasingly vigilant. The concluding leg of our journey was characterized by steep, open gran- ite and fresh, windswept drifts. As we approached the summit, each step became more and more deliberate. Exhilarated, I leaned against a cairn as ice formed around the corners of my mouth. This was Muska's maiden expedition up the celebrated peak, and it remains one of my more mem- orable hikes. Dave Muska Dave Hall lays the frame for a shelter