Planning the Next Big Backpack Trip - One of Many Steps
I have started planning the next big trip for 2012. My primary choice is the Northville-Placid Trail in the Adirondacks. If you are not familiar with it, the trail is 122 miles (non-road parts that is) long running through the Adirondacks, but not over any of the High Peaks.I have done 2 overnights on pieces of it. It has fewer people than the High Peaks area (part of my reason for hiking is to get away from the crowds and the High Peaks region just doesn't have that). A little side story - five years ago I did an overnight to Marcy in the Adirondacks mid-week (September) I ended up sharing the lean-to at Panther Gorge with 4 other guys (complete strangers). Not exactly the crowd free situation I was hoping for.
Anyway, the Northville-Placid trail is a little less popular although I understand some parts of the trail and certain lean-tos attract hikers, and boaters, etc. My main worry right now is the effect of Irene on the trail. I understand from Tom Wemett's great web site ( actually met Tom on one of my overnighters on the N-P trail, he had many stories to tell about fellow hikers) is that many trees went down on the trail and some bridges got washed away. So I am trying to keep an eye on trail conditions and if they aren't promising will switch to another hike (I will discuss that possibility in my next post).
I have now 2 guidebooks for the N-P Trail (the last 2 editions) so I have a reasonably up--to-date set of info, plus of course the info from Tom Wemett's site (Thanks Tom!). I am now considering logistics- how to get myself to the trailhead and home without parking a car, whether to use mail drops or buy supplies along the way, for example. I will be discussing those options in upcoming posts. Stay tuned.