Winter Hike to Rooster Comb Mountain

My first hike of 2016 is in the books. On Wednesday, Jordan and I drove up to Keene Valley to hike Rooster Comb, a small mountain right off of Route 73. We were unsure of the conditions up there, so we brought along microspikes and snowshoes just in case. There was snow on the ground, but the trail was hard packed, so microspikes worked just fine.

The weather was perfect for hiking. Cold but not too cold and not much wind. The trail starts off pretty flat. It passes to the left of a pond, and then you see a bridge on the right. The trail to Rooster Comb continues left. Eventually you come to a junction.

After a few miles of gradual climbing, there is a sign pointing to an overlook ledge.

It was such a clear day! After stopping here briefly, we backtracked back to the main trail, and continued .3 miles to the summit of Rooster Comb. It got steep for about 200 feet. There are some great views of the snow-capped Giant on this trail.

Finally, the summit!

Sunday actually marks the one year anniversary our first date! <3 We had a great time hiking Rooster Comb. It was great hike, I’d highly recommend it if you are looking for a shorter hike with great views. It can easily be combined with Snow Mountain for a longer loop.

After the hike, we stopped at one of my favorite spots in the high peaks, the ADK Cafe for a delicious late lunch. Yum.

Rooster Comb Mountain
Distance 5.2 mi RT
Elevation 2,762′
Ascent 1,816′
Time 3 hours, 48 minutes including stops

Gear used Osprey Sirrus daypack, Kelty trekking poles, Katoola microspikes, EMS hiking pants, Terramar fleece baselayer tights, EMS Freescape 3 in 1 jacket, Nike baselayer thermal top, Vasque Snowblime hiking boots