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Northville-Placid Trail Thru-Hike

Saturday, September 14, 2024 - Sunday, September 29, 2024 -- $2275 ★★★


It's a 133 mile thru-hike!


Although the Adirondacks are best known for their high peaks, a less visited and less crowded trail winds its way through the lowlands of the region. We plan to thru-hike the 133 mile long The Northville-Placid Trail as the Fall Foliage begins to emerge. The Northville-Placid Trail was finished in 1924 and was meant to link train stations in both Northville, NY and Lake Placid, NY so maybe a participant or two would like to arrive or depart by rail.


You can expect New England quality foliage, cooler temperatures and low humidity on our September thru-hike. Common wildlife we may see include Whitetail Deer, Black Bear, Raccoon, Osprey, Grey Squirrel, Beaver, Moose, Coyote and maybe even a River Otter.


As the trail traverses lowlands and avoids high peaks, much of the terrain will be flat(ish). But don't confuse elevation gain and loss with easy terrain. There may be rocks, roots, mud and blown-down trees that slow us down. Still, the mileage is attainable and we have options to stop earlier (or later) than planned.



Topographical Map of Proposed Route

See CalTopo map


Weather

Weather is always an important concern when hiking. Historical September weather averages 60s and 70s during the day and 40s and 50s at night, perfect for backpacking. However we might experience blazing heat or rain during the day or cold nights. Obviously, we never know until the week of the trip and even then things can change suddenly. Bring cold and rain protection as well as water containers that add up to 4 liters of capacity (although water should be largely ubiquitous)



Probable Trip Leaders

Guide(s) TBD

Difficulty


This is a 133 mile thru-hike. We will be hiking almost all day, every day in order to get to the next campsite and must average about 10 miles per day. While we feel this is attainable given the not-so-steep terrain and good trail condition, we only built in one 'near-o' day. A "near-o" means near zero. We will hike 3.5 miles to a road, shuttle to a nearby motel, stay the night and shuttle back to the trail the next morning having spent the day resting and eating restaurant/store food.


Still, we feel this is readily attainable for those who can stay mentally positive and will be an experience you'll always treasure. Be ready to stray from the proposed itinerary depending upon weather, trail conditions and even the presence of other hikers who may have already set up their tents at the campsite or lean-to we had planned to stay in.



Cost

$2275 per person double occupancy. Here, double occupancy means that you will share a room with another participant during the hotel nights in Albany and near the trail. You will also be responsible for transportation to and from Albany, NY (ALB), personal equipment, restaurant meals eaten off the trail and any gratuities for guides.


Covered expenses include 2 hotel nights, 2 frontcountry campgrounds, 13 days of trail meals, ground transportation to/from the trail, permits, campground fees and awesome guides.


Tipping: In order to keep our prices competitive with (and hopefully favorable to) other outfitters, we shamefully can’t pay our guides as much as we think they deserve. Like most other guiding services, we rely on the generosity of our participants to make up this shortfall by tipping the guides. While tips are not required or expected, if your guides have served you well, please consider a gratuity so they can continue living their extravagant lifestyles of eating powdered meals, sleeping in the dirt and pooping in smelly outhouses and small holes they've dug.



Important Notes


We expect to cache food ahead of time in 3 different places making pack weight tolerable.


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Itinerary
Weather
Guides for this trip
Cost
Important Note
Difficulty (Please Read)
Map
 
 

Itinerary


Saturday, September 14, 2024

Fly or drive into Albany, NY (ALB). The best time to arrive is between 9AM-2PM, but since the airport is small, flights and arrival times are limited. If your pre-trip virtual shakedown was thorough, and you are "ready to go" by 5PM, you may arrive later.

Call for a free airport shuttle that will take you to our local hotel

We will assemble at: Tru by Hilton Albany Airport NY, 798 Albany Shaker Road, Latham, NY, 12211, (518) 801-0600.

Although you have already had the online equipment shakedown. We will ask questions about your gear and try to economize the weight while making sure you are outfitted properly and prepared for the elements.

Make Your Own Trail mix bar from our selection of nuts, fruits and sweets (as well as jerky and trail bars)

We will place all your off-trail stuff in storage at the hotel or in a storage unit for two weeks. Please keep this to a small amount

Buy common last minute and forgotten items at Eastern Mountain Sports, 1475 Western Ave, Albany, NY, (518) 482-0088 (open until 7PM)

At around 3PM, shuttle to campsite: Northampton Beach Campground, 328 Houseman St, Mayfield, NY 12117. Site(s): 37 & 39 Elevation: 770'

Shuttling will take about 1 hours

Guides prepare dinner in camp. On some trips with longer shuttle times, we may opt to go out for an opening dinner at a local restaurant. (Cost of restaurant dinner not included in trip price)

Camp at Northampton Beach Campground, 328 Houseman St, Mayfield, NY 12117. Site(s): 37 & 39 Elevation: 770'


Sunday, September 15, 2024

Start hiking in Northville where North Main becomes South Main, elevation 800'

Hike 3.5 road miles to the Northville-Placid Trailhead, elevation 885'

Hike 5.2 miles to the West Stony Creek Lean-To, elevation 975'

Camp at the West Stony Creek Lean-To, elevation 975'

Mileage Today: 8.7. Total mileage: 8.7

Possible bailout: Northville


Monday, September 16, 2024

Hike 10.9 miles to the West Stony Creek Campsite #2, elevation 1500'

Camp at West Stony Creek Campsite #2, elevation 1500'

Mileage Today: 10.9. Total mileage: 19.6

Possible bailout: CR-6


Tuesday, September 17, 2024

Hike 11.1 miles to the Mud Lake Lean-To, elevation 1730'

Camp at Mud Lake Lean-To, elevation 1730'

Mileage Today: 11.1. Total mileage: 30.7

Possible bailout: 1 day away


Wednesday, September 18, 2024

Hike 7.9 miles to Buckhorn Creek, elevation 1790'

Dispersed camp at Buckhorn Creek practicing Leave No Trace Practices, elevation 1790'

Mileage Today: 7.9. Total mileage: 38.6

Possible bailout: Piseco


Thursday, September 19, 2024

Hike 1.2 miles to NY 8, elevation 1725'

Pick up cached food here

Hike 9.7 miles (much of it road miles) to Jessup River Campsite, elevation 2065'

Camp at Jessup River Campsite, elevation 2065'

Mileage Today: 10.9. Total mileage: 49.5

Possible bailout: Piseco


Friday, September 20, 2024

Hike 12.4 miles to Third Cedar Lake Campsite, elevation 2450'

Camp at Third Cedar Lake Campsite, elevation 2450'

Mileage Today: 12.4. Total mileage: 61.9

Possible bailout: 1 day away


Saturday, September 21, 2024

Hike 9.9 miles to Cedar River Flow Campsite, elevation 2115'

Camp at Cedar River Flow Campsite, elevation 2115'

Mileage Today: 9.9. Total mileage: 71.8

Possible bailout: Wakely


Sunday, September 22, 2024

Hike 3.4 miles to Cedar River Rd, elevation 2110'

We will spend a few hours shuttling vehicles before heading to our mid-point lodging. Possibly a hassle, but we won't be able to check in very early anyway.

Check into local lodging where we can shower, resupply and do laundry: North Creek Lodge at Gore Mountain , 2999 NY 8, North Creek, NY, 12853, (518) 251-9937.

Go out for dinner locally (cost of dinner not included in trip cost)

Mileage Today: 3.4. Total mileage: 75.2

Possible bailout: Blue Mountain Lake


Monday, September 23, 2024

Shuttle back to Wakely Trailhead

Hike 11.2 miles to Lake Durant Frontcountry Campground, elevation 1800'

Camp at Lake Durant Frontcountry Campground, site(s) TBD, elevation 1800'

Mileage Today: 11.2. Total mileage: 86.4

Possible bailout: Lake Durant


Tuesday, September 24, 2024

Hike 12.6 miles to a dispersed campsite near Sandy Creek, elevation 2000'

Dispersed camp near Sandy Creek practicing Leave No Trace Ethic, elevation 2000'

Mileage Today: 12.6. Total mileage: 99.0

Possible bailout: 1 day away


Wednesday, September 25, 2024

Hike about 2.3 miles to NY 28N, elevation 1775'

Pick up final cached food

Hike 8.6 miles along Long Lake to Long Lake Lean-To, elevation 1640'

Camp at Long Lake Lean-To, elevation 1640'

Mileage Today: 10.9. Total mileage: 109.9

Possible bailout: NY-28N.


Thursday, September 26, 2024

Hike 10.1 miles to Ouluska Lean-To, elevation 1870'

Camp at Ouluska Lean-To, elevation 1870'

Mileage Today: 10.1. Total mileage: 120.0

Possible bailout: 1 day away


Friday, September 27, 2024

Hike 10.9 miles to Wanika Falls Campsite, elevation 2310'

Camp at Wanika Falls Campsite, elevation 2310'

Mileage Today: 10.9. Total mileage: 130.9

Possible bailout: 1 day away


Saturday, September 28, 2024

Hike 8.3 miles to the Lake Placid Train Station, elevation 1740'

End of hiking. Congratulations, you have just thru-hiked the Northville-Placid Trail!

Mileage Today: 8.3. Total mileage: 139.2

Possible bailout: Lake Placid

Shuttle back to Albany

Shuttle back to local hotel: Tru by Hilton Albany Airport NY, 798 Albany Shaker Road, Latham, NY, 12211, (518) 801-0600.

Gather your off-trail items from storage

Dinner and awards ceremony at a local restaurant (Dinner cost not included in trip price)

Stay in our local hotel (included in trip cost)

This is the official end of the trip. You are welcome to spend the night at the hotel, however if you drove and would like to get on the road or if you flew and would like to schedule a late flight (or a red-eye if this is a West Coast trip) you can definitely do so.


Sunday, September 29, 2024

Take Free Airport Shuttle or we will drop you at the airport or we will pay for a shared cab/Uber


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