Mount Marcy is the tallest mountain in the state of New York, sitting at 5,343 ft. elevation. It is located in the Eastern High Peaks Region of the Adirondack Wilderness, and is a part of The Great Range. It is one of the 46 peaks required to become an Adirondack 46er. Though it is a popular destination year round, the mountain gets a lot of traffic in the summer when weather conditions are less of a concern. The peak itself is a largely Bald Summit and offers 360 degree views of the surrounding High Peaks region. It is also one of the few peaks in North America with over 100 km of topographic isolation.
Routes and Trails
The mountain can be climbed as a Day Hike, overnight Backpacking trip, via a Base Camp, or as part of an Endurance Challenge. There are a total of two trailed approaches to the summit, both of which can be accessed by many different starting points, but is typically climbed from the north Via the Van Hoevenberg Trail, beginning at the Adirondack Loj Parking Lot. This is considered the easiest route up and down as a Day Hike, though can still be challenging for some at 16.2 miles round-trip with 3,585 ft. of elevation gains.
Other optional routes are:
- Via Avalanche Pass & Lake Colden
- A Loop including Skylight and Gray
- Via Great Range Traverse
- Via Phelps Trail (from the Garden)
- Via AMR and Panther Gorge
Safety
The summit requires basic Class 1-2 scrambles from the North and South, and is a slightly steeper grade when approached from the south over Schofield Cobble. The long, gradual slabs of stone require footwear with decent grip, and can be made more complicated by ice, rain, or melting snow. As the nearest parking lot is about 8 miles away, injuries often require rescue by ranger assistance or helicopter extract. Because it is a popular tourist destination, Marcy attracts many inexperienced and ambitious hikers who are unfamiliar with the conditions and terrain of the area. Dehydration, exhaustion, hypothermia, injuries of the ankle and knee, and navigation issues due to lack of illumination are among the most common causes for rescue. As one of the largest bald summits in the region, this peak offers a minorly elevated risk to lightning as the tree line is about 0.5 miles away from the true summit.
Name
The mountain is named for former Governor of New York William L. Marcy who was responsible for approving the survey that led to the exploration of the surrounding region. The mountain has other names such as Tewawe'éstha, meaning “it pierces" in Mohawk and Tahawus, meaning “cloud-splitter" in Algonquin, however, there is some debate about the origin of the name Tahawus. According to Adirondack Historian Erik Schlimmer, the name Tahawus was given to the mountain by white settlers as a way to honor native culture, and was not commonly referred to as such by the natives themselves. The subject of Native peoples and their engagement with the High Peaks of the Adirondacks remains a sharply contested subject by locals, recreators, and historians.
First Ascent
The first recorded ascent was by Ebenezer Emmons on August 5, 1837, who was looking for the source of the Hudson River, which is located nearby at the Lake Tear of the Clouds.
Views
The views on the summit are considered to be some of the best in the Adirondack Park, giving a high vantage point view in 360 degrees of some of the biggest and most visually striking mountains in the area. The eastern view offers a close look at Haystack and the Great Range, and to the west Colden is visible in the foreground with the Macintyre Range visible beyond it. To the South Skylight’s rounded summit is visible with Allen and the Boreas ponds visible further south. As with other peaks in the area, the summit is often blanketed in clouds, offering no for hikers.
Weather and Seasonal Considerations
The rocky, mostly treeless summit that is exposed on all sides is often hit with strong winds. Due to this wind and the increased elevation, often times the summit will be colder than the trailhead by 20 degrees or more.
In summer, extreme heat and dry conditions can make the hike hazardous due to exposure to the sun, lack of water near the summit, and physically demanding terrain. Biting black flies are common during the early summer, so a bug net may be considered.
In fall, conditions can be wildly unpredictable and ice and snow are common even if it is warm at the trailhead. Decreasing daylight hours should be accounted for before setting out.
In winter, mountaineering crampons, microspikes, snow-shoes, or a mountaineering axe may be required to summit. Windchills can get dangerously low.
In spring, the snowmelt from from the long winters create what’s called “mud season” in the Adirondacks, and while technically still allowed, local organizations and hiking activists strongly discourage hiking the high peaks from late April until June for sustainability purposes.
Water
The northern approach via Van Hoevenberg Trail offers many opportunities to refill water, including Macyntire Brook, Marcy Brook, Phelps Brook, and Indian Falls. To the south, water can be found near Lake Tear of the Clouds and the Feldspar Brook.
Camping
Many opt to hike this mountain as part of an overnight or multi-night hiking trip to alleviate the difficulty of doing it in one day. On the northern approach via Van Hoevenberg Trail, campsites and shelters are available at Marcy Dam, and near the Phelps Brook. If opting for an alternate route, camping options open up greatly. Via the Avalanche Pass and Lake Colden route, base camps can be made at Avalanche Camp, Avalanche Pass, Lake Colden, the Uphill Lean-To or the Feldspar Lean-To. If approaching from the Garden, camping is available at the Bushnell Falls Lean-to, Slant Rock Lean-to, or the Snobird campsite. Off-trail camping is legal in the area except above 3,500 ft., or within 100 ft. of a trail, shelter, or water source, unless otherwise designated.
Points of Interest
There are many popular destinations either on the way or nearby which can be added to make a more robust and fulfilling hike. Most commonly, Skylight and Gray will be added to create a 3 peak, somewhat rigorous hike, in order for efficiency of peakbagging the 46 high peaks. Skylight offers grand views of Marcy and an open, bald summit while Gray is a challenging Trailless peak with a decent Herd Path, though muddy and often steep. These two mountains would require a lot of redundant miles which is why they often get added on to Marcy. Other high peaks that could be added along the trek include Phelps, Tabletop, Colden, Haystack, Basin, Saddleback, Cliff, Redfield, or any combination of the aforementioned.
On the way up via Van Hoevenberg Trail, hikers will find a number of notable landmarks including Marcy Dam and Indian Falls lookout. Avalanche Lake, Avalanche Pass, Lake Colden, Lake Arnold, The Floating Logs, Lake Tear of the Clouds, Four Corners, Panther Gorge, Slant Rock, and John’s Brook Lodge are all common points of interest when coming from alternate routes.
History
Famously, then Governor Teddy Roosevelt had just completed a hike of this mountain when a messenger sought him out in the backcountry to tell him that then President William McKinley had been shot. The messenger reached him and delivered the telegram at Lake Tear of the Clouds. From there, he traveled straight to Buffalo to be sworn in as President of the United States.
