After lunch and a quick summit foot-selfie, we began our descent - back down the beautiful open rock, past the ridge crags, and down the steep and eroded part of the trail. Once past that, it was an easy stroll of perhaps another forty minutes back to the car, just four hours after we set out.
The afternoon was still early. For an easy encore, we decided to head across the road and down the short trail that led to the shore of Middle Saranac Lake - one of several interconnected and navigable lakes in the less mountainous landscape sitting just to the west of the Adirondack High Peaks.
Trail to Middle Saranac Lake
Ten or perhaps fifteen minutes of walking brought us to the shore of the lake. Fairly large, at perhaps two miles across by a mile-and-a-half wide, it is dotted with several small islands that hold canoe campsites.
The eastern shore of the lake - the shore we were on - has a decent strip of sandy beach. The sand extends a fair way out under the water, making for a good spot for bathing and swimming - which was precisely what several groups of families were doing when we arrived.
Middle Saranac Lake
Pu, Nancy and Sophie decided to kick off the boots and wade in up to their knees. The rest of us, however, watched from the shore. It was only a day after the end of spring, after all, and 2014 had seen a late snowmelt. The water wasn't exactly what you would call warm.
Cooling the feet
After a few minutes at the shoreline, and we turned to head back, returning to the cars shortly after 2:30pm.
All in all, an easy but quite enjoyable day on the western fringes of the High Peaks. Although I've hiked up Ampersand many times now (about five or six), it is always nice to return. Thanks, Pu.
Interactive trackmap with photo points - Ampersand Mtn - click map to view
Ampersand Mountain - Hike Data
Start Time:
9:55a.m.
End Time:
2:05p.m.
Duration:
4h10m
Distance:
8.26 km
(5.13 mi)
Average Speed:
2.0 km/hr
(1.2 mph)
Start Elevation:
1563ft
(476m)
*
Max Elevation:
3389ft
(1033m)
*
Min Elevation:
1563ft
(476m)
*
End Elevation:
1606ft
(489m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Total Elevation Gain:
1788ft
(545m)
*
Total Elevation Loss:
1775ft
(541m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Elevation Graph
