This weekend we were planning on making a run for the Sewards, but instead decided to try for something a little more local for us: The Griffin Brook Slide. This would be our first slide climb, and our favorite.
Bushwhack to Slide
We had heard rumors of a herdpath leading through the erratic zone, north of the marsh, and to the, and after signing in at the register at 10am, we headed along the road to find it. About .4 miles later, we saw an obvious herdpath in the area we assumed to find it, next to a mile marker. We promptly followed it, being careful to avoid the numerous miniature toads along the path. It was very well defined, with evidence of cuts and a small makeshift bridge over a small brook; we assumed hunters may use it as well (we turned out to be wrong). About fifteen minutes into the herdpath, it split into two, both paths leading towards several large boulders, about the size of a lean-to (a lean-to is a good unit of measurement, better than Slugs at least). The left seemed more traveled, and lead to some more boulders before it seemed to end. Upon inspecting the area, we suddenely realized that this was a destination for bouldering, as evidenced by chalk, boulder-pad vegetation stunting and a ladder leading up one of the boulders we checked out.
There was no distinguishable herdpath leading out.
We in the end shouldered it out on the ridgeline south of the slide, northwest of the marshes, which led us directly to the exact point where the forest ends, and the slide run-off begins.
The Slide
We then made it up a slab on the right at the top of the run-off, then made for the left edge of the slide. From there, the slide is as described- of comfortable pitch, with several minor flat-ish areas where we could enjoy the views.
Looking over the ridgeline, with Dix and Giant visible in the distance.
Looking up at the slide, about midway.
Looking downward, about midway.
Incredible panorama featuring Indian Lake.
Overall, I found the slide to be very fun. The views and occasional rest made it all the better. As a side-note, I was good going all the way up with my deteriorating-but-grippy Salomon XR Mission trail runners.
The Ridgeline Bushwhack
Navigationally, the bushwhack was easy. Physically, it was rather demanding. Not because it was steep or muddy or such, but it was thick with blowdown and spruce. We were pulling it out of our clothes and folds of our skin long after the climb. The blowdown and cliffs were navigable but occasionally tedious.
Along the ridgeline, it was a rather fun one with some occasional lookouts, with the best of it being before the final ascent. We were treated to an incredible view of Snowy and its fire tower, cliff, and pair of wide slides (its the perspective that makes them seem skinny: http://ift.tt/1qtMHVx).
One last look at Snowy's cliffs before climbing...
We reached the trail only about five minutes away from the summit. It was quite refreshing, actually, albeit steep.
Summit to end.
We were on the summit of Snowy in March of 2013, and enjoyed it again, this time in the summer. Stretched out, fed up, and headed up to the fire tower. I was able to distinguish Blue Mountain, Santanoni, Indian Pass, the MacIntyres, Avalanche Pass, Colden, the Great Range, Dix and Giant from the fire tower. Oh, and Indian Lake. Other than that, my geographic skills where lacking.
Blue Mtn, and the High Peaks from the tower above looking north; looking in the other cardinal directions below.
The climb took about five hours to the summit. We were down the trail in about an hour and forty minutes.
Overall, the climb was fun and one of my favorites, and I would definitely look forward to doing this again someday.
Bushwhack to Slide
We had heard rumors of a herdpath leading through the erratic zone, north of the marsh, and to the, and after signing in at the register at 10am, we headed along the road to find it. About .4 miles later, we saw an obvious herdpath in the area we assumed to find it, next to a mile marker. We promptly followed it, being careful to avoid the numerous miniature toads along the path. It was very well defined, with evidence of cuts and a small makeshift bridge over a small brook; we assumed hunters may use it as well (we turned out to be wrong). About fifteen minutes into the herdpath, it split into two, both paths leading towards several large boulders, about the size of a lean-to (a lean-to is a good unit of measurement, better than Slugs at least). The left seemed more traveled, and lead to some more boulders before it seemed to end. Upon inspecting the area, we suddenely realized that this was a destination for bouldering, as evidenced by chalk, boulder-pad vegetation stunting and a ladder leading up one of the boulders we checked out.
There was no distinguishable herdpath leading out.
We in the end shouldered it out on the ridgeline south of the slide, northwest of the marshes, which led us directly to the exact point where the forest ends, and the slide run-off begins.
The Slide
We then made it up a slab on the right at the top of the run-off, then made for the left edge of the slide. From there, the slide is as described- of comfortable pitch, with several minor flat-ish areas where we could enjoy the views.
Looking over the ridgeline, with Dix and Giant visible in the distance.
Looking up at the slide, about midway.
Looking downward, about midway.
Incredible panorama featuring Indian Lake.
Overall, I found the slide to be very fun. The views and occasional rest made it all the better. As a side-note, I was good going all the way up with my deteriorating-but-grippy Salomon XR Mission trail runners.
The Ridgeline Bushwhack
Navigationally, the bushwhack was easy. Physically, it was rather demanding. Not because it was steep or muddy or such, but it was thick with blowdown and spruce. We were pulling it out of our clothes and folds of our skin long after the climb. The blowdown and cliffs were navigable but occasionally tedious.
Along the ridgeline, it was a rather fun one with some occasional lookouts, with the best of it being before the final ascent. We were treated to an incredible view of Snowy and its fire tower, cliff, and pair of wide slides (its the perspective that makes them seem skinny: http://ift.tt/1qtMHVx).
One last look at Snowy's cliffs before climbing...
We reached the trail only about five minutes away from the summit. It was quite refreshing, actually, albeit steep.
Summit to end.
We were on the summit of Snowy in March of 2013, and enjoyed it again, this time in the summer. Stretched out, fed up, and headed up to the fire tower. I was able to distinguish Blue Mountain, Santanoni, Indian Pass, the MacIntyres, Avalanche Pass, Colden, the Great Range, Dix and Giant from the fire tower. Oh, and Indian Lake. Other than that, my geographic skills where lacking.
Blue Mtn, and the High Peaks from the tower above looking north; looking in the other cardinal directions below.
The climb took about five hours to the summit. We were down the trail in about an hour and forty minutes.
Overall, the climb was fun and one of my favorites, and I would definitely look forward to doing this again someday.
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