To Do: NPT Part 2
I'd really, really like to go back (ideally pain-free).
UPDATE: DONE
Returning to the NPT: Out and back overnight to Cedar Lake from Sled Harbor with Jenn, Elena, and Paul
French Louie Loop: ~20 mile backpacking loop (which follows a portion of the NPT in the West Canada Lakes Wilderness) with Greg
Cold River Loop: A ~30 mile backpacking loop (which follows a portion of the Cold River section of the NPT)... but we did it in a single day for a Fastest Known Time! I hiked this loop with Paul and Lachlan
In August 2019, I thru-hiked the Northville-Placid Trail. The NPT took me through beautiful, remote regions of the Adirondacks that I never would have otherwise explored.
It's also where my tendinitis began. ☹
I'd really, really like to go back (ideally pain-free). I'm going to take things a lot slower and (hopefully) lighter than last time.
I've cut 14+ miles by starting at Benson Road (instead of the Northville Arch) and ending at the Averyville Road Trailhead (instead of the Lake Placid Train Station). Cutting out these miles (which mostly contain road walking anyway) gives me more time to slow down in the wilderness sections. Last summer I also did the full trail in ~9 days, but this time I'm looking to take about 12.
GEAR LIST:
MAP–
- National Geographic NPT Map
- Adirondack Mountain Club's 5th Edition Guidebook
- Compass
BACKPACK–
- Osprey Aura AG XS
- Pack cover
- Osprey Ultralight DrySack 3L
HAMMOCK–
- Winner Outfitters
HEADLAMP–
- Petzl - TIKKINA Headlamp, 150 Lumens
- Extra batteries
HIKING POLES–
- Cascade Mountain Tech Aluminum Adjustable Trekking Poles
SLEEPING BAG–
- Nemo Azura 35
SLEEPING PAD–
- Nemo Switchback
WATER FILTER–
- Sawyer Squeeze
FOOD STORAGE–
- Ursack AllMitey
- 2x Opsak Odor-Proof Bags
KITCHEN–
- MSR Whisperlite Stove
- White gas
- Lighter
- Pot
- Bowl (if not hiking alone)
- Spork
- Nalgene
MEDICAL–
- Bandanna
- Pocket knife
- Tweezers
- Moleskin
- KT Tape
HYGIENE–
- Toothpaste
- Floss
- Toothbrush
- Hand sanitizer
- Toilet paper
- Feminine products
- Bug spray
- Garbage bag
CLOTHING–
- 2 synthetic shirts
- 1 pair of synthetic shorts
- 1 pair of synthetic leggings
- 2 pairs of synthetic underwear
- 2 sports bras
- 2 pairs of Darn Tough hiking socks
- Baseball cap
- Outdoor Research Women's Ascendant Hoodie
- adidas Women's Terrex Tracerocker Trail Runners
- Chaco Women's ZX2 Classic Athletic Sandal
CAMERA–
- NIKON D3500 + lightweight camera bag + SD card
PERSONAL–
- Phone
- Car key
- Wallet
- Entertainment (cards, journal/pen, etc.)
NPT PART 2 TRIP PLAN 1:
Trip Length: 124.31 miles (Benson Road to Lake Placid Averyville Road Trailhead)
DAY 1: 12.81 miles
- Begin at Benson Road Trailhead
- End at Silver Lake Lean-to
DAY 2: 11.26 miles
- End at Hamilton Lake Stream Lean-to
DAY 3: 16.55 miles
RESUPPLY at the Piseco Post Office
- End at Spruce Lake Lean-to #3
-- *This is the longest day because it’s 16.5 miles between lean-tos. Could be made shorter (and increase the next day’s mileage) by hammock camping somewhere in the woods on the way.
DAY 4: 5.03 miles
- End at West Lake Lean-t0 #1
DAY 5: 11.58 miles
- End at Carry Lean-to
Day 6: 13.66 miles
- End at Stephens Pond Lean-to
Day 7: 7.44 miles
- End at Tirrell Pond Lean-to
Day 8: 14.57 miles
RESUPPLY at the Stewarts in Long Lake
- End at one of the Catlin Bay Lean-tos
****Add 3 miles to walk into Stewarts in Long Lake and resupply (1.5 miles each way).... daily total will be 14.57 miles as a result.
Day 9: 11.32 miles
- End at Cold River Lean-to #3 or #4
Day 10: 3.24 miles
- End at Seward Lean-to
Day 11: 11.81 miles
- End at Moose Pond Lean-to
Day 12: 8.04 miles
- End at Averyville Road Trailhead!
With these resupplies planned, I should only have to carry about 2 days worth of food until I resupply in Piseco. I will have to carry 5 days worth of food from Piseco to Long Lake and from Long Lake to Lake Placid. This beats carrying 10 days worth of food like we did in August 2019.
Plan 2 would cut out the first 2 days, instead starting from Piseco but keeping a reasonable pace...
NPT PART 2 TRIP PLAN 2:
Trip Length: 93.61 miles (Piseco to Lake Placid Averyville Rd Trailhead)
DAY 1: 9.92 miles
End at Spruce Lake Lean-to #3
DAY 2: 5.03 miles
End at West Lake #1
DAY 3: 11.58 miles
End at Carry Lean-to
Day 4: 13.66 miles
End at Stephens Pond Lean-to
Day 5: 7.44 miles
End at Tirrell Pond Lean-to
Day 6: 14.57 miles
End at one of the Catlin Bay Lean-tos
****Adds 3 miles to walk into Stewarts and resupply (1.5 miles each way).... daily total would be 14.57 miles
Day 7: 11.32 miles
End at Cold River Lean-to #3 or #4
Day 8: 3.24 miles
End at Seward Lean-to
Day 9: 11.81 miles
End at Moose Pond Lean-to
Day 10: 8.04 miles
End at Averyville Trailhead!
My third plan would be a little bit of a yo-yo. I centered around this hike around Long Lake because West Canada Lakes and the Cold River area are my favorite sections. While the mileage isn't much shorter than a full thru-hike of the wilderness sections, it would cut out the logistics of needing to stage a car or hire an expensive shuttle.
NPT PART 2 TRIP PLAN 3:
Trip Length: 115.65 miles (Long Lake to West Canada Lakes to Seward Lean-to and back to Long Lake)
DAY 1: 9.73 miles
Begin in Long Lake
End at Tirrell Pond
DAY 2: 7.72 miles
End at Stephen’s Pond
DAY 3: 13.66 miles
End at Carry Lean-to
Day 4: 11.58 miles
End at West Canada Lakes #2
Day 5: 13.66 miles
End at Carry Lean-to
DAY 6: 7.72 miles
End at Stephen’s Pond
DAY 7: 9.73 miles
End at Tirrell Pond
Day 8: 11.57 miles
RESUPPLY in Long Lake
End at Catlin Bay Lean-tos
Day 9: 11.32 miles
End at Cold River Lean-to #3 or #4
Day 10: 3.24 miles
End at Seward Lean-to
Day 11: 3.24 miles
End at Cold River Lean-to #3 or #4
Day 12: 7.09 miles
Rodney Point LT #1
Day 13: 5.39 miles
Done! Back at Long Lake.
Plan 4 is my shortest NPT-centered plan. It would be an out and back from Long Lake through the Cold River area to Seward Lean-to.
NPT PART 2 TRIP PLAN 4:
Trip Length: 31.44 miles (Long Lake to Seward Lean-to and back to Long Lake)
Day 1: 5.57 miles
Starting from Tarbell Road trailhead in Long Lake...
End at Rodney Point LT #2
Day 2: 6.91 miles
End at Cold River Lean-to #3 or #4
Day 3: 3.24 miles
End at Seward Lean-to
Day 4: 10.33 miles
Rodney Point LT #1
Day 5: 5.39 miles
Done! Back at Long Lake.
Tempting...
To maximize fun and minimize chance of injury, I might plan to embark on Plan 4 and a French Louie Loop (separately). The French Louie Loop is a 20+ mile hike around the West Canada Lake Wilderness.
