Phelps Mountain in the Spring

Yesterday I hiked Phelps, the 32nd highest peak in NY, for the second time. The first time I hiked this mountain was back in January 2014 with Jona. It was cold. Yesterday’s weather was much better! The temps were perfect. There was very little ice on the trail (only at higher elevations). It was a beautiful day.

Brendan is my good friend and one of my hiking buddies. He’s working on the 46 also and we both wanted to hike this weekend. I need to get my legs in shape for summer high peaks hiking. Phelps is a short hike compared to the rest of the 46. It is about 9.5 miles round trip from the Adirondack Loj. I didn’t mind hiking it again because it has some great views. We started hiking at 10:45 am. We arrived at the junction at Marcy Dam at about 11:40. From there it was only 2.1 miles to the summit of Phelps.

The Phelps junction is about a mile from Marcy Dam.

It’s only about a mile, but it’s an “Adirondack mile”, or a mile that takes forever to hike since it is incredibly steep.

Brendan with Mount Colden in the background.

Oh hey, it’s Mount Marcy. Haystack to the left?

All together now.

It was great to sit on the summit and enjoy the sunshine. The last time I was up here, it was 40 below and my mittens froze. We arrived at the summit around 1:30.

Phelps was Brendan’s 20th peak. Almost halfway!

A man from Vermont was on the summit also. He’d just recently started hiking in the Adirondacks. “Have you been on all of these mountains?” he asked me. I could say yes! All but a few. We could see Saddleback and Basin–I’ve yet to tackle those! But all of the other surrounding peaks I’ve been on. Below is one of my favorite views. Mount Colden is on the left with Algonquin and Wright across from it on the right side. The first time I was on the summit of Phelps, I couldn’t name the peaks. Now I know them pretty well.

We started heading down around 2:00.

Spring has sprung in the High Peaks. I cannot wait for summer hiking!

We got back to Marcy Dam at 4:20.

Back at the parking lot around 5:30.

Phelps Mountain
Distance: 9.5 mi RT
Elevation: 4,161 ft
Ascent: 2,149 ft
Total time: 6 hrs, 37 minutes (including stops)

Gear used
Kelty trekking poles, Osprey Sirrus day pack, Keen Durand hiking boots, Smartwool hiking socks, tasc performance bamboo district pant, Icebreaker merino baselayer top