Itching to get out to the Adirondacks after our week-long odyssey in south central Utah (which you can read about
here, if you like), Jenn and I organize a day hike to something she hasn't yet done: Mount Marshall. I'd done this peak two years before from heart lake, and so this time I figured it might be nice to climb up from Upper Works, and, as a bonus, do it as a loop, ascending the standard route via Herbert Brook and returning via Indian Pass (which I had never seen before). Plus, Jenn and Brian needed to cross this peak off of their 46er list.
The weather was looking absolutely perfect, and we hoped the trail conditions would be as well. Spring can be a hit-or-miss time with trail conditions!
The upper works trailhead had only patches of snow here and there. However, there was likely to be significant and continuous snow at higher elevations. We packed full winter gear, including snowshoes and crampons. Our direction for our loop was counter-clockwise; that is, we would ascend via the Calamity Brook trail to Flowed Lands, then along to Herbert Brook, then up the Herbert Brook ascent route, then bushwack over to Iroquois Pass and then down and over Indian Pass and back to the trailhead.
The hike in along the Calamity Brook trail was very scenic and pleasant. It wasn't long before the trail was completely covered in snow, but it was very firm, very solid from the previous' night's low temperatures. Travel along the trail, then, was very good - even better than in the summer!
Mid-morning arrived as we reached the monument at Calamity Pond. There was lots of snow at this elevation (although again, it was very firm).
