This video includes a collection of my photography from around the Adirondack Mountains in Northern New York State. What do you think? Do you recognize any of these views? What’s your favorite season in the Adirondacks? Please leave your comments.
LTW Photo of the Day
View from the summit of Ampersand Mountain. The Middle Saranac Lake is in the distance beyond that big puddle. Photo taken in Mid-April 2010.
Ampersand Mountain
Elevation: 3,352 feet
Located about 8 miles outside of Saranac Lake, NY in the northeastern Adirondacks is the trailhead to Ampersand Mountain. It’s a popular day hike with extensive views from the rocky summit of the Adirondack High Peaks and the Saranac Lakes. The video above is from a recent spring hike up Ampersand. It was a beautiful clear, sunny day.
8th Wonder of the World?
New Zealand is a beautiful small country in the South Pacific Ocean. The country is divided into two islands called the North Island and the South Island. To those unfamiliar with New Zealand, the country is made up of a vast landscape. In a short vehicles drive, one can surf at the beach, then hike up the Frans Josef Glacier. On one road you will also see the largest amount of sheep in your entire life.
Speaking of roads, the Milford Road in Southwest part of the South Island, runs through Fiordland National Park. On one section of the road, drivers must go through a 4,118 foot tunnel to pass a section of mountains. It can be a violent environment in the Winter time, so it’s suggested that you visit in another season. 
The 75 mile road ends at Milford Sound, a fjord that connects to the Tasman Sea. Mitre Peak dominates the landscape, rising 5,551 feet and at 532 feet Lady Bowen Falls gets honorable mention. It’s difficult for the human eye to put the sight of this natural wonder into words. The pictures are great to look at, but this is truly a place you need to visit to get the full experience of the fresh air, towering waterfalls, and wildlife in its environment.
To get to Milford Sound, many travelers rent vehicles or take a tour bus from Queenstown, a resort town about 4-5 hours drive from Milford Sound. As a recommendation, it’s a good idea to rent your own vehicle so you can make your own stops along the way.
There are many beautiful sights to see between the lakes, rivers, mountains, and forests.
There are many beautiful sights to see between the lakes, rivers, mountains, and forests.To get a closer look at the Milford Sound area, boat tours are offered that pass right by the peaks and waterfalls. If you’ve got some extra cash you can even take a scenic flight to capture the view from above Milford Sound.
As a reminder, don’t forget your CAMERA and bring a raincoat if you have one. Fiordland has an average annual rainfall of about 250 inches.
This blog post is also featured on OneTravel.com
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The Adirondacks: The Newest Place on your Traveling “to-do” List
Looking for a getaway? Perhaps you should consider visiting the Adirondack Park in New York State. Not many people know this, but the Adirondack Park is the largest state park in the United States. Located just a few hours north of New York City, the Adirondack wilderness is comprised of about 6.1 million acres, which is almost equivalent to the size of Vermont.
With breathtaking mountains, beautiful lakes, and year-round activities, the Adirondack State Park offers an escape to nature for all ages. If hiking is your thing, take a trip up to New York’s highest point, Mt. Marcy. This is a moderate hike, that usually takes a full day to complete, and includes a 360 degree summit view of the surrounding High Peaks. With over 2,000 miles of hiking trails, there are plenty adventures to be had. If you’re looking for a challenge you can become an “Adirondack Forty-Sixer” if you climb the 46 mountains that have an elevation above 4,000 feet.
Let’s not forget about the “Miracle on Ice”, which took place in Lake Placid, NY. As a host of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympic Games, Lake Placid is a small Olympic village with a lot to offer. In the winter, visitors have the opportunity to ski the greatest vertical drop in the east at 3,340 feet. Whiteface Mountain is located just 15 minutes from Lake Placid in the small town of Wilmington, NY.
In all seasons, the Lake Placid/High Peaks Region has something to offer. Whether it be shopping at unique Adirondack stores, checking out the Olympic venues such as the bobsled track, or taking advantage of the numerous outdoor activities.
If you’re looking for a good thrill, then you should visit the Six Flags Great Escape in Lake George, NY. Summer activities in Lake George are a major draw to area, so if you like whitewater rafting, boating, swimming, golf, or hiking, then it’s time you plan a trip to the southeastern region of the Adirondacks. The Lake George area is also the host of Americade, the world’s largest multi-brand motorcycle touring rally.
Let’s not forget about camping. Whether you prefer RV camping or sleeping under the stars, all of the campgrounds in the Adirondacks offer a remarkable and breathtaking getaway experience! The Adirondack Lakes Region is a popular destination for camping in areas such as Old Forge, which is home to New York’s largest water theme park, Water Safari.
This is just the beginning of things you can do in the Adirondack Park.
The Official Guide to the Adirondacks: VisitAdirondacks.com
Phelps Mt. Sunrise
It was a Thursday night at Clarkson University and I had no Friday classes. I wanted to go on an adventure, so I checked the weather. The forecast called for clear blue skies, so I thought it would be a great opportunity to catch a sunrise from the top of one of the Adirondack Peaks. It was almost midnight in mid-October and instead of going bed, my friend Garth and I decided to gather our belongings, get in the car, and drive to the Adirondack Park. After a 2 hour drive, we parked at the Adirondack Loj and began our trek up Phelps Mountain with the light of our headlamps. It was a cool night, nearly 20 degrees, but everything was still and silent. All that could be heard were our footsteps as we made are ascent to the summit. Our timing was perfect as we reached the Phelps summit at 6am. We captured it all on camera, so check out the video above if you’d like to take a glance at what we saw. The sight was breathtaking… Enjoy! -EW
Giant Mountain – 12th Highest Peak
It was another beautiful sunny day in the Adirondack Park. Autumn was approaching, and my friend and I decided to drive up from Clarkson University to get out on a nice day hike. We then made a decision to ascend up Giant Mountain near Keene Valley, NY. Giant is the 12th highest peak in the Adirondack Park with an elevation of 4,626 feet. The summit views were spectacular that day, so we spent quite a bit of time up there having lunch, taking in the views, and snapping some photos. -EW
Hiking Catamount Mountain in the ADKs
Catamount Mountain – A trail for the rock-scrambling enthusiast ( adk.org )
It was an amazing day in November 2009. The sun was shining, there was a light warm breeze, and temps were in the 50s. My dad and I decided to make our way up Catamount Mountain (Elevation: 3169 feet) in the Adirondacks for the afternoon. Catamount has beautiful views from a couple lookout points and an amazing summit view, which includes Whiteface Mt. in the distance, off to the south.
“If you have adventure in your heart, this is a great peak on a clear, sunny day.”
Adirondack Adventures
This slideshow includes a collection of pictures from my trips around the Adirondack Park with some friends. There are beautiful mountains and lakes everywhere you go. If you have any questions or comments regarding the Adirondacks, drop a line. Enjoy the video! -EW
