ADK BC (Wright Ski Trail)

Looking for some info on Wright Ski Trail, a map or an article on the approach/descent, what routes to use, etc, as I have been thinking of trying to ski this each year and never really make it happen.  I don't do much BC skiing in general, and figured this well known route would be a good spot to get into it, rather then trying to get into something more remote.  I'm a strong skier, so not worried about difficulty of the ski down...more concerned with knowing the correct route, not breaking any BC etiquette, how to approach and descend etc.  I've done some hiking out of the ADK Loj parking lot, which I believe is how you access this trail.  Can anyone point me to some info on skiing trail routes etc?

Is it an acceptable method to access via snowshoe instead of skin up?  I'm just asking because I don't own any touring gear (yet), and was thinking snowshoes may be the cheapest way to access some stuff, even though it may be more work.  Or is that just not going to work out correctly.

Thanks

http://nyskiblog.com/wright-ski-trail-adirondack-asphalt/

Harvey wrote

http://nyskiblog.com/wright-ski-trail-adirondack-asphalt/

This assumes your looking to ski it fresh after a storm and leaving the trail head at 1st light. Otherwise what's the point. I wouldn't be following the approach Harv linked putting in snowshoe tracks on what you want to come down. That would plain suck. Take the hiking trail up

ADmiKe wrote

Looking for some info on Wright Ski Trail, a map or an article on the approach/descent, what routes to use, etc,

Adk Loj trailhead, Algonquin trail.  At about 1 mile from the Loj, the Marcy Trail dam bears left.  Take the right (straight ahead) for Algonquin.  In another half mile or so you'll see the Whales Tale Ski Trail on your left, don't take it, continue straight ahead on the Algonquin trail.  After another .75 mile or so (so around 2.25 mi from the Loj), you'll see the Wright Peak Ski Trail on your left.  It's marked and pretty obvious.  If you're familiar with the Algonquin trail, it's not far below that waterfall that you pass.  If you get to the waterfall, double back.

An alternative approach (better IMO) is the "Old Marcy Dam" trail that leaves the campground area at the Loj and intersects the Algonquin trail at the point where the trail to Marcy Dam splits off.  The Old Marcy Dam trail is marked as a ski touring trail I believe.  The ADK has maps of the various ski touring trails around the Loj available in the High Peaks Information Center at Adk Loj trailhead, or you can just ask inside.

I'd ascend via the ski trail rather than the Wright Peak hiking trail.  The problem with ascending via the hiking trail is that it can be difficult to find the start of the ski trail from the summit.  From the summit of Wright, you would go down the north slope of the peak towards treeline, looking for an opening in the trees heading to the north and east.  It can be very windy with significant snowdrifts in that area.  If you ascend via the ski trail, you should definitely go all the way to the summit, just pay attention so you can find your way back to the ski trail.  

If you're going to snowshoe up, just don't trample the skin track.  The skin track generally hugs the climber's right of the ski trail.  If you can stay between the skin track and the trees, great, but just use common sense to not trample the skin track or disrupt the downhill skiing lines.  The ski down is a ton of fun, there are some nice steepish pitches and the turns have been widened out.

The Whales Tail trail I mentioned is a nice alternate approach to Marcy Dam / Avalanche Pass for another outing.  You would take the Old Marcy Dam trail -> Algonquin Trail -> Whales Tail Ski Trail -> Marcy Dam -> Avy Pass. That route avoids the post-hole mess of the standard Marcy Dam trail and avoids the flat boredom of the Marcy Dam truck trail from South Meadow.

Take pics and post a TR.

Here's a map that shows the Wright Peak ski trail and approaches (but doesn't show the Old Marcy Dam trail).

Here's a map showing the ski touring trails around the Loj, including the Old Marcy Dam trail (but not the Wright Peak ski trail).

Great - thanks for the info guys.

Is it common to use snowshoes to get up there to ski it, or is that not really something you see often out there?  Is it going to make the way up miserable?  Basically is this a good idea or not haha

It's the adirondacks, if you're not suffering then you're not doing it right.

and yes, take the hiking trail to the summit of Wright, then find the ski trail.

I snowshoed up and carried skis and boots for a year before I bought an AT setup. It is doable but very clunky and awkward, especially if your skis are heavy and your boots don't have a walk mode. That year I probably did 4-5 tours in the Catskills and by the end of the season I made up my mind to get AT gear for next year.

I think the mountaineer in Keene Valley rents AT gear, might be something worth checking out.

You know when this trail was built people just skied to up and down with things that looked like this:



I hate to discourage anyone but if you don't feel comfortable skiing with something that resembles a xc ski, then maybe it isn't for you.

Maybe I'm an idiot but there was a time when expert meant something.

Should we trade our cars in for horse and buggy

skimore wrote

Should we trade our cars in for horse and buggy

Nah... but to continue with that analogy would you push your car up the hill so you can coast down?

I'm just wondering if you started off skiing black diamonds?  If not, might make sense to get some BC touring gear and work your way up to something like that.  Might actually be fun.  You might appreciate the challenge that trail used to be.

My point was just because you are an expert at the ski area doesn't mean you are in woods.  Might take some different skills or preparations.

This whole thread reminds me of all the people I see dragging canoes and kayaks full of pointless crap on the portage trails in the summer...

Back country skiing is for people who enjoy a reward after working hard for it. You may only get two, one or no runs in for a lot of effort. I have hiked in climbed up only to find the conditions were unsafe or unpleasurable. But I always enjoy the climb. If I am not having fun on the climb I turn around there. I agree that an AT setup is really good, but sometimes shoes work better, particularly when you are having problem with your skins. Get a pack with a good carry system and can carry the layers you shed on the way up but will desperately need when you summit. Take an Avi 1 course, they don't just occur on the slides.

I know ski alpinism doesn't always involve the skis on your feet, but I guess I'm still thinking the Wright trail wasn't really designed with that in mind.

The way I see it's an expert xc ski and maybe an easy to moderate Tele/AT ski.  And when it was designed, it was just skiing for experts.

My comment about the boats being dragged with extraneous crap is that personally I think those people should stick to car camping.  I kind of feel that way about lugging resort gear up what is kind of an easy trail for that level of stuff.  But I know my insensitive comments won't stop people from doing it.  I just feel like it detracts something from the wilderness experience.

I think a better place to get into backcountry skiing is Mt. Greylock.   The problem with Wright is that there is a very long hike until you event get to the bottom of the ski trail.  There are ups and downs which makes it challenging for AT equipment because you have to keep taking the skins on and off.  At Graylock, its pretty much up the whole way, there is a building at the summit where you have some shelter from the  elements to reorganize yourself for the descent on the Thunderbolt, then its a 2200 foot vertical ski trail that ends at the car.  You can do this on snowhshoes if you you don't want to invest in AT equipment which is $$$.

I'm on board with the skip the use of snowshoes, it sucks and is just an awkward head ache. Get the AT gear ASAP

It's more about wanting to get into some off-resort skiing without the investment in a touring setup.  If $$$ was no object I'd already own the touring setup.  Just don't know if it's in my ski budget for this year.

I've done plenty of off-trail skiing/sidecountry access gates from various resorts on east and west coast - so skills wise it should not be an issue.  Obviously there are new things to learn, but not anticipating a steep learning curve.

To get started you can just get some bindings and skins and use em on an old pair of skis or the ones you use now. I have used Marker Dukes, 193 Shiros, and my alpine boots for years in and out of bounds. Are they ideal? Oh hell no and if I could afford a light weight set up to compliment my big boy set up I would be all over it.

They are clunky and heavy but on the down you are locked in when you lock in. I won't ever go without having big skis, they are just too much fun in the alpine when there is good snow.

Basically if you search online you could probably find a cheap way to get an AT set up and maybe even at the same cost as some snow shoes but you can't be as picky.

man, lugging gear up wright peak in slow shoes would be self inflicted torture...  do what RA said.  find some used skins and a pair of fritishi freerides and slap em on your lightest alpine boards.  sell off your alpine bindings to help the cause and use the freerides as your resort and AT bindings.  when you can afford it go to the tech binding and a tech compatible AT boot  

MikeK....you seem to be suggesting that if one can't access Wright on XC gear they don't belong there?  Interesting take.  

Personally, if I hit up Wright, which I'd do with my AT setup, it will (conditions and safety permitting) include a lap in the Angel Slides, and that ain't happening on no XC setup, no matter how expert you are.

Evergreen....Appreciate the comments about the up and down on the approach to Wright, and the challenge that presents when using skins.  How do most deal with that challenge?

After doing some research, reading and looking around, while I'd use my AT setup to hit up Wright, I think I'll throw my snow shoes on the pack, sounds like they could come in handy in a pinch.

Wright seems like a great option.  You get some touring in, with the Angel Slides being the Grail.  However, as the Angel Slides are pretty avy-prone for the ADK BC, with documented avalanches in 2000 (fatal), 2010 and 2012 (and surely a number of undocumented), if conditions render Angel a no-go you have an honest to goodness old time Ski Trail to fall back on.

JTG - I wasn't suggesting that at all.  Read my other posts.  I just get a little discouraged with how overused the HPW has become and that's why I busted out the 10th mtn photo.

But really, shouldn't fixed heel skiers be hucking off million foot cliffs and skiing down 89.9 deg slopes?

A trail like that is a still challenging with free heels and leather boots... and in a technical sort of way, not a physical way.