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for at least one of the following peaks
4 Climbing log entries Found.


Aug. 17, 2013 (Sat.)
Elevations: 4840 feet, 5114 feet, 4580 feet; Order of Height: 8, 2, 16
Participants: Andrew Lavigne, Jennifer Innes, Julie Moran, Ty
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A re-visit to the little-visited Shepherd's Tooth, on the flanks of Iroquois Peak, at the request of Julie.

After seeing my 2009 report on the Shepherd's Tooth, Julie expressed interest. So, this summer I suggested that we retrace our steps. We approached from the Indian Pass side, hiked up to Cold Brook Pass, then did the thick bushwhack up to the Tooth.

We followed the same track I recorded for the winter ascent, although in retrospect, I think the route could be tweaked to be a little easier. No matter, the bushwhack was still successful and I can report that the top of the Shepherd's Tooth is as pretty and enjoyable in the summer as in the winter. We completed the day with a triple ascent of Iroquois, Algonquin and Wright before finishing up the loop back to the Loj. See full trip report by following report link below.

Trip Reports, Image Galleries or Other References:
 Image Gallery: August 2013 Shepherd's Tooth Loop


Feb. 15, 2009 (Sun.)
Elevations: 4840 feet, 5114 feet; Order of Height: 8, 2
Participants: Andrew Lavigne, Jennifer Innes, Ewart Tempest
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Today, something new: a visit to the little rocky crag on Iroquois Peak's south slopes called the Shepherd's Tooth.

The Shepherd's Tooth is an attractive little sub-summit that I've noticed for some time now, and today, we finally decided to do it. We did it as a loop hike, starting at the high peaks info center, hiking through Avalanche Pass, up to Cold Brook Pass, then bushwhacked up from there to the Tooth. We then continued upwards, traversing over the summits of Iroquois, Boundary and Algonquin and descending via the main trail back to the parking lot.

As it turned out, the bushwhacking up from the pass was not too bad, although I believe we chose a good route that avoided the worst of the cliff bands that exist above the pass. More information and lots of pictures available in the main report (link below).

Trip Reports, Image Galleries or Other References:
 Image Gallery: February 2009 Shepherd's Tooth Loop


Feb. 6, 2005 (Sun.)
Elevations: 5114 feet, 4840 feet; Order of Height: 2, 8
Participants: Andrew Lavigne, Jennifer Innes, Pu Chen, Brian Connell
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The first hike after coming back from climbing Kilimanjaro. It was an extremely warm Febuary day. Clear, almost hazy, and warm. The plan was to do the classic and beautiful loop hike from Adirondak Loj, through Avalanche Pass and Lake, up the backside of Algonquin, and bag both Iroquois and Algonquin. Along for the hike were Jenn, myself, Caroline, and Brian.

The trail from Adirondak Loj was quite hard-packed, so we bare-booted it all the way to Marcy Dam. It was a bit crisp starting off, but by the time we made it to the dam, it was quite warm. The sky was crystal clear and suprisingly, there were few to no people around. (I remembered later that this was Superbowl Sunday!). Avalanche Pass and Lake were beautiful, as usual. Avalanche Lake had beautiful stretches of clear, dark ice, in which many fascinating and interesting patterns could be seen.

The way up the backside of Algonquin steep and extremely warm. I couldn't believe how spring-like it felt. It was definitely well above zero. The snow was firm enough, though, that crampons were all that we wore. We did not posthole at all. After a long and tiring and very steep 2000-foot ascent, we gained the main ridgeline.

Although cooler up here near 5000 feet, it was still very warm for an early Feburary day. Caroline decided to skip Boundary/Iroquois, and headed up to Algonquin to await us. Crampons were very useful on the hard, crusty and icy bits going up and down over Boundary and Iroquois. Iroquois' summit was magnificent, with superb views everywhere.

We reached the top of Algonquin late afternoon. Things started to get breezier and cooler on the summit. We therefore did not stay too long on top. It was much icier heading down the northwest side of Algonquin - crampons were very useful here. We then slipped and slid our way down the steep snowy trail, taking only a short 90 minutes to reach the main trail to Adirondack Loj. It was deep dusk by the time we made it back to the ADK parking lot. What a magnificent and warm winter hike! Two more for the winter 46er list!

Trip Reports, Image Galleries or Other References:
 Image Gallery: February 2005 Algonquin - Iroquois Hike


Jun. 1, 1996 (Sat.)
Elevations: 5114 feet, 4840 feet; Order of Height: 2, 8
Participants: Andrew Lavigne, Luc Alary, Ewart Tempest, Gilbert Benoit, Andree Plouffe, Martin ?
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A trip up the 'backside' of Algonquin, as it is called. Strange that this ended up being the first way up Algonquin for me. The guidebook describes this as the longest continuous ascent in the Adirdondacks (from Lake Colden up to Algonquin's peak). As always, the hike past Marcy Dam and through Avalanche Pass and Lake was very scenic. The hike upwards from Lake Colden was quite nice, with some nice mini-waterfalls and ever-increasing views back towards Colden, where the Trap Dike was especially prominent. Day was nice but warm and hazy. Up on the ridge, we took a side detour to visit Boundary, and then Iroquois, both nice peaks (Boundary not official being a peak, of course) with open summit areas. A fair bit of muck in some of the low points separating these two, though. Good view of Wallface from the summit of Iroquois. One final burn up the nice open alpine area on Algonquin and we were on top. The usual crowd was here, as was a summit steward, as I recall. From here we returned via the north side of Algonquin and down back to Adirondak Loj.

Trip Reports, Image Galleries or Other References:
 Image Gallery: Algonquin and Iroquois, June 1996


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