Adirondack Back Country Skiing 2/18/2011

Our back country adventure to Phelps Mt. and Pelky Basin
 started here at the South Meadow parking lot.  3.8 miles to Marcy Dam.

This is Dave our "token" snow shoer with his
alpine gear on his back trekking in via the Truck Trail.
 The rest of us are skinning in with our tele gear.

Sign-in.  2.3 miles til Marcy Dam
                 
Franz at Marcy Dam.

We skinned/snow shoed another mile to the trailhead of Phelps Mt.
 Then made the final 1 mile ascent to the top of Phelps Mt.

This is the view of Mt Colden from the top of Phelps.

"skiing" down the North side of the mountain into Pelky Basin.



The trip started out as a beautiful sunny day.  The trek into Marcy Dam was perfect and the trek up Phelps, although steep in spots, was awesome.  We enjoyed a leisurely lunch at the top of Phelps basking in the sunshine.  Then the second part of our adventure started to unfold.  The skies became dark and it started to rain.  We should have taken this as a forewarning of what was to come.  But, we decided to try to find the ski trail and dropped over the north side of the mountain into some wet powder and tight trees.  We proceeded cautiously hoping we would soon come out into the "good" skiing.  We did eventually find the area where the trees opened up.  But the ski gods were not with us today.  The snow was so wet that it was actually sticking to the bottom of our skis and making it nearly impossible to turn.  We floundered about in the woods for at least two hours before finding our way back to the truck trail.  It was close to an eight hour round trip.  I am sure it would have been better with fresh, light powder but I don't think I will be skiing that one again any time soon.
 On to the next adventure!!!

Wow GREAT report.

I know I've been in some tough spots in the woods few times. You do learn from it.

How much vert is gained in the last mile to the top of Phelps?

Very cool and thank you.

Yeah agree with Harvey. Glad you made it out OK. Been in similar situations, always tough when you're stuck, but for some strange reason, I always get a lot of pleasure out of them.

Great report - sorry the snow wasn't better!

that can be a great ski been there. pelkey basin is a really nice gladed area and it dumps right back to the truck road.wet powder = cement been there too.prolly was kinda like fun only different.