Two Middle Age Women Hike the Adirondack High Peaks - Cascade & Porter Mountain

Signing in at the trail registry

My mid-forties crept up on me like a barn cat stalking a chipmunk. Ghostly silent, the grey hairs started intertwining into my blonde locs and my annual wellness checkups started feeling like a scavenger hunt in an old growth forest. Becoming an Adirondack 46er was something my partner Wanda and I talked about, but like many things, it was something we'd start "one day."

The Adirondack 46er challenge started in the mid 1900s by adventurers inspired by the beauty and remoteness of the Adirondack Mountains. The goal is to climb all 46 of New York's tallest mountains over 4000ft in elevation. Thousands of people have completed the challenge, some in less than a month, others taking almost a lifetime.

Like many of us, the pandemic was the kick we needed to "live" out our bucket lists. In the summer of 2021, I surprised Wanda with a trip to Lake Placid to tour the village and dip our toes into the high peaks. Our first glimpse came when we drove up the access road to the summit of Whiteface, New York's 5th tallest mountain and the only one of the 46 high peaks accessible by vehicle. I felt very exposed on the bald summit and the strong wind blew so hard, I feared we'd be blown off. I looked around at all the jagged cliffs and uneven terrain and doubted I would ever have the nerve to climb this monster. And much to my dismay, driving up to the summit of Whiteface didn't count.

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Confident or not, we were still curious and not completely scared off. We studied our High Peaks Adirondack Trail Map (Amazon Link) and set our sites on Cascade and Porter Mountain. Cascade and Porter are listed as two of the easiest of the high peaks to climb. A total distance of six miles round trip from Route 73, make these mountains a popular destination for those looking for a moderate day trip into the High Peaks Wilderness. Cascade's summit is known for it's 360-degree views and is often the first high peak for aspiring 46ers. It offers one of the best views in Adirondack Park with two-thirds of the high peaks, Lake Placid, and Lake Champlain all visible from the summit on clear days. Porter is not known for it's views but its close proximity to Cascade makes it easy to check off two peaks in one short hike.

I checked AllTrails to get more information. Many of the comments listed for Cascade and Porter described it as steep with several rock scrambles. I didn't know what rock scrambles were, but I do now. Picture lumpy and fluffy scrambled eggs. Now picture the eggs as rocks of various sizes, no fluff and no side of toast. That’s what the Adirondacks are famous for, rugged, rocky, technical terrain.

I would describe us as overprepared with supplies but underprepared for the challenge. We packed way too much for a day hike. We had a lot of water, snacks, jackets because we heard the weather on the summit could be unpredictable, and first aid supplies. Looking back at the pictures, my backpack was way too large for a day hike. I’m not sure what else I had in it, maybe a baby donkey.

We arrived at the Cascade Mountain trail around 11:45. I later regretted not getting an early start. The parking area was full which I've come to learn is a common issue with many of these trail heads. Thankfully we were able to find parking spots down the road. The temperature in the car read ninety-two degrees, an unusual scorcher for this mountainous region.

We crossed over Cascade Brook, the only water source on the trail and signed the registry at the trail head. There wasn't much of an introduction. We started gaining elevation almost immediately and by the first 1/2 mile we were out of breath. Sweat dripped from our temples as we chugged water. We hopped from one rock to another. There really seemed to be no end in sight, just a steep landslide of rocks for as far as the eye can see. After the first mile we started to feel demoralized. We sat down, wiped the sweat from our foreheads and drank some more water.

“This the easiest?" Wanda asked.

“Yeah," I stared out in-between the bends and twist of birch trees.

Without warning, a voice shook us from our sad existence. Not just any voice, nails-on-a-chalkboard kind of voice.

“Hurry up guys," a seven-year-old girl appeared from down below yelling to her family. Hands balled into a fist and clenched out in front of her, she pushed up the trail and gave us a slight nod when she passed. She looked like she could become president one day or maybe a serial killer. It was too soon to tell.

"Sophia wait for us," her mom called from below. Her brothers passed us, one by one, then her father with a toddler on his shoulders, followed by the mother. They gave us a friendly smile and commented on how hot it was. None of them were sweating. Wanda and I looked like we fell into a lake.

Looking back on that moment, I think it was the fuel that set our determination on fire.

Wanda stood up. "For shits sake, he's carrying a toddler on his back," she says. "We're not letting them beat us."

I felt the same. We got up and put our packs on. We passed the brothers, the mother, and the father carrying the toddler and then Sophia. She gave us a glance when we passed but it could have been a growl.

We really dug in. Beads of sweat drenched our foreheads. I regretted having potatoes and an omelet for breakfast. Actually I regretted everything I’ve ever put into my mouth.

I could feel Sophia breathing down my back. My skin crawled when I heard her voice again. “C’mon guys," she called again to her family.

We stepped on the same rock together then she quickly hopped ahead of me.

Her mom called, "Sophia don’t get too far ahead, sweetie."

Yeah you little brat. That’s how children go missing.

She peered down from a large boulder, like a rapture eying-up her next kill, “Ok Mom."

I passed her as she waited. I wondered if she considered tripping me.

Wanda and I caught our breath just out of sight. “Are you ok?” I asked

“I feel like I’m going to die. It’s so hot.”

“Do you want to turn around?"

"Hell no."

I was glad. I already felt like a loser and if we turned around now, I'd never forgive myself.

We continued on and arrived at the turnoff to Porter Mountain. We decided to stay straight and go to Cascade first and hoped we'd have enough energy to do Porter on the way back.

We heard Sophia again. “Let them get ahead of us,” I said to Wanda. "This is supposed to be fun, remember?"

The family trotted past us, still none of them sweating. Maybe they're aliens. Aliens probably don’t sweat.

When we arrived at the rock face slabs that formed the open summit, I was intimidated. The wind really started to howl. I felt disoriented and the sheer amount of exposure made me feel uneasy. We followed the markers and tiny stones the park service placed out to protect the alpine vegetation. Once we crested the last rock, we saw a sea of people including Sophia and her family and an infestation of several young children.

The panoramic views were impressive even on that hazy summer day.

Sophia and her brothers yelled and screeched while playing a game of tag. I feared one of them would blow off. A couple was taking selfies on the edge of a cliff. Isn’t this how people die? The wind howled, the children screamed. I couldn’t wait to get down.

Wanda felt the same. We took a few pictures and left the summit. It didn’t take long before we reached the junction to Porter Mountain again.

“How far is it to Porter?" Wanda asked.

"A little over a mile roundtrip. Do you want to do it?”

“We’re here and I doubt we will ever come back so let’s go."

We stared down the path to Porter. At least, it looked quieter and the breeze felt refreshing. I dreamed of going back to the car and driving to a local brewery. A beer would have felt good but accomplishment would have felt even better. At least that's what I told myself.

The trail was muddy but soft on the sore feet. A clearing offered our first peaceful view of the mountains in the distance. We sat down on a rock and enjoyed a protein bar. The wind blew through the trees and the smell of the balsam fir surrounded us. A hawk circled in the distance. For the first time on our journey I felt the vastness of the Adirondacks. It was beautiful and lonely. Not the type of loneliness you feel when a relationship ends or when you're home alone on a Saturday night; A loneliness that allows you to seek understanding and awareness; to turn inward and focus on the now. I could have stayed in that moment forever.

“C'mon guys," Sophia, the squasher of all things peaceful yelled from below. A little bird flew from one of the fir trees.

“This has to be a flipping joke.” Wanda said.

But it wasn’t. There she was again, hands balled into fist and arms stretched before her. We looked at each other and laughed.

As she passed us we both congratulated her. Our frustration was never about her, it was within us. This kid was truly impressive. The whole family passed us again one by one, with cheery smiles and still no sweat.

The climb to Porter was relatively easy and a bit muddy. There really wasn't much of a view but a nice rock to rest on. It was less windy, and felt more relaxing than the crowed summit of Cascade. Sophia and her family left before we arrived. I guess they didn't stay long. Several young adults joined us on the rock a few minutes upon our arrival. They were aspiring 46ers with 18 high peaks under their belt. I asked them how the journey has been thus far. “Hard," seemed to be their agreed word of choice. They asked us how many we’ve done and I laughed when we replied, " just two." They didn’t laugh but encouraged us to keep going. They said it gets addicting and once you gain some traction and confidence, you'll constantly be thinking about the next one. I can attest to that.

We left Porter feeling enlightened. Our descent was easy at first with some nice flat sections. Then we hit the rock scrambles. Every step, my toes crashed into the front of my boots. I wouldn't have been surprised if I lost a toenail.

We said very little. We were both in agony. A hiker caught up to us and asked if we had any water. He was young and in good shape but was acting strange. My immediate answer was "No." My thought was, we just carried what felt like a hundred gallons up this mountain and you couldn't think to bring at least one little bottle, and you're kind of creepy. He kindly thanked us then staggered down the rocky path and stumbled into a tree. I then realized that he wasn't being a pest, he was dangerously dehydrated. He stopped below us and asked two young women for water. They had the same reaction as us and said no too. I immediately felt bad and realized this young man could be in trouble. I forgot about my toes and hopped down the rocks toward him. I handed him my water. I didn't explain my sudden change of heart. He looked like he could cry and maybe considered hugging me.

We barely had enough water to make it back to the parking lot. We arrived feeling beat up and exhausted, but accomplished.

We enjoyed a nice dinner and beer at Forty Six, my favorite restaurant in Keene Valley.

As I sat there in the restaurant, I stared at the wallpaper, a sketched mural of the Adirondack high peaks. If you asked me then if I would ever become an Adirondack 46er, I'm certain my answer would have been, "probably not."

Looking back on that day, I can tell you, the weather played a huge role in our struggle with these two peaks. We also were not accustomed to hiking such rugged terrain and the amount of exposure on open rock was something we needed to get comfortable with.

On our journey to become Adirondack 46ers, there are a few peaks we've encountered that I can absolutely say we will never climb again. Cascade and Porter are not them. On a cooler day, with a light daypack, and better hiking boots, we'll climb these two again and give them the attention they deserve. Cascade especially is the easiest bang-for-your-buck peak with fantastic views at a relatively short distance and has very little technical terrain compared to the other higher peaks. Its also a great mountain to climb for a quick cardio workout on a visit to Lake Placid.

The summit of Cascade Mountain