Giant to New Russia traverse

This is an awesome Adirondack hike with plenty of above treeline terrain that is a great choice for viewing the fall colors. From west to east it goes over Giant and Rocky Peak Ridge before descending via Rocky Peak, Bald mountain and Blueberry Cobble to a trailhead on rte 9 in New Russia. Hiking from west to east makes for less ascending and for better sunlight for photos earlier in the day from Giant and RPR. Ken and I enlisted our friend Bryan to join us for his first two Adirondack high peaks.

Bryan and I met up with Ken at the NR trailhead, arriving somewhat later that anticipated. Excuses and apologies were provided and then we were off to the Giant trailhead on rte 73 (in my car). One might think the trails would be empty on a Thursday in early October but there were five groups signed in ahead of us and on our way up Giant we were passed by two groups of high schoolers from Lake Placid. On the summit of RPR we met another high school group doing the our traverse in the opposite direction.

We were moving slowly and took 3.5 hours to summit Giant. The remaining distance and hours of daylight left meant that we had to keep moving but we still had time to stop at RPR for more photos and stop to snack on Rocky Peak and Bald Peak. Some of the best views of the day were looking back at the peaks that now were bathed in bright afternoon sun. I easier going downhill at this point and there was only the occasional up (and thankfully the trail went round one of the peaks rather than over it!). Still the light was fading when we hit the flat part of the trail and it was dark when I made it to the car.

This was a great choice for my last ADK hike of the season and one I highly recommend!