The Hike 2018 - approximately 45 miles

The Long Lake to Cold River leg begins with a dense coniferous canopy with the occasional hardwood. The deep forest at the beginning of the northern section of the Northville-Placid Trail in the Adirondacks is a tunnel of green . This is where we’ll start this years ADK Hike for Hope. We'll be passing through the wild and remote area known as the Cold River where the famous Adirondack Hermit Noah John Rondeau lived. It is one of my favorite places on Earth to visit, quiet and remote. This section traverses through the Seward Mountain Range of the High Peaks.

From there we hike up to Duck Hole and then head southeast along the eastern part of Preston Ponds and Henderson Lake heading towards to the great Macintyre Range where the great iron ore deposits were discovered back in the 1800’s and consists of one of the noblest group of peaks in the Adirondacks. The range includes Iroquois, Mount Marshall, Wright, and Algonquin, the second highest peak in the state. The range extends about 8  miles. A day trip up Indian Pass is planned.

Once  we reach Henderson Lake lean-to we’ll head Northeast on Calamity Brook trail towards Flowed Lands a part of the Opalescent River which flows into the headwaters of the Hudson River.

From this point we head Southwest along the Opalescent River towards Hanging Spear Falls, a 75’  high hour glass shaped waterfall on the Opalescent River. If weather permits an ascent of Mt. Adams will happen and from there we continue to our  final destination of the Upper Works in Tahawus. This year my wife Kristina will be joining me on the hike.

The Northville - Placid trail - 133 miles 

The Northville - Placid Trail, also known as NPT, is a lightly traveled foot trail that runs 133 miles (214 km ) bisecting the 6 million acre Adirondack Park from south to north, bypassing the parks highest summits, trading big views for solitude. The NPT goes through arguably some of the wildest and most remote areas in the Adirondacks. It was laid out by the Adirondack Mountain Club in 1922.

“Why Northville to Lake Placid? It was a matter of trailhead transportation and convenience. When the trail was visualized the automobile was not yet a staple and Northville and Lake Placid had regular train service. "

South to north it traverses:

• Silver Lake Wilderness Area

• Jessup River Wild Forest

• West Canada Lake Wilderness Area

• Moose River Plains Wild Forest

• Blue Ridge Wilderness Area

• Blue Mountain Wild Forest

I chose this hike because of the solitude and the challenge as a cancer patient finishing the longest through hike in the Adirondack Mountains. I basically grew up in the Adirondacks. My Dad “Bello“ Snyder owned and operated Camp Eagle Cove in Inlet, NY in the Western part of the park for close to fifty years. Bello was also a pro basket ball player in the 1930’s and a firm believer in the benefits of exercise all his life.

The NPT also meanders through some of the most beautiful sections of the “Dacks“. It passes through the areas where the legendary Adirondack hermits Noah Rondeau and French Louis called their home.