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Ascent of Mount Marcy on 1998-08-28

Climber: Alan Bangel

Others in Party:

alone

Date:

Friday, August 28, 1998

Ascent Type:

Successful Summit Attained

Motorized Transport to Trailhead:

Car

Peak:

Mount Marcy

Location:

USA-New York

Elevation:

5344 ft / 1628 m

Ascent Trip Report

This has been a super summer for me. Often my plans are peppered with problems but for some unknown reason this summer has progressed without any major or even minor setbacks. On August 27th. as planned I was headed back to the Adirondacks for a five day last fling of the summer. With hurricane Bonnie hitting the coast I was concerned about having good weather into the weekend so my firstconcern was to climb Marcy in the best possible weather. We, my girlfriend, Chris and I arrived at Indian Lake at around 5:30PM. After dinner and conversation I set out for the Adirondack Loj parking lot, leaving around 8:40, and arriving at about 11:10. I slept in the van and had set my alarm for 5:30AM. At 6:27 I had finished my morning preparations and signed in. I started the hike from the sign that read 7.4 miles to Marcy summit. At 7:10 I reached Marcy Dam and took my first break.
The weather this day was sunny and clear and I got some good pictures at the Dam. At 8:20 I reached Indian Falls, took a short break and at 9:12 I reached the Phelps Trail Junction, 1.2 miles from the summit. I was hoping to make the summit before 10:00 but unfortunately I had to take a "cat hole break" and was never able to make up the lost time. At 10:03AM, 8-28-98 I reached the summit of Marcy. The view was SPECTACULAR. I was on the peak for 42 minutes before another climber joined me. I ate, I drank, I rested, I took pictures, Iwas so glad that I had left the big guy for last. People may give Haystack a higher view rating but this day Marcy was by far the best. My girlfriend had prepared a hat and shirt for me to celebrate the achievement but I felt very self-consious about wearing anything that would bring attention to myself, for three years now most of my climbing had been done alone. I did put the shirt on for one brief picture just at the end of my stay on the summit. At 12:15 I started off the peak.
The climb down went quickly. I stopped at Indian Falls to pump some water and to talk to several hikers that I had first met on the peak. At 3:47 I was back at the Adirondack Loj parking lot. (Marcy, #46)

Summary Total Data

Route Conditions:

Maintained Trail

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