Whiteface & Esther Snowstorm in June?

 

"Don't Expect things to happen, it is better to be surprised than to be disappointed."

This was Laura and I's first trip to the Adirondacks with no pups! It was so weird. We met up in Vermont and car pooled our way over to NY. We stopped at a few stops in Burlington to obviously taste some good beer, eat charcuterie that had liver pate and tasted like donkeys ass, and shop at Sierra Trading Post.

OH & I can not forget the warm cookies!

We made it to camp early enough to set up and lounge. We both brought our hammocks where we double deckered them. 

Our plans for this trip was to get Esther and Whiteface, then we would grab Street and Nye before heading out of town on Sunday. We are true weekend warriors sometimes. We arrived in shorts and tank tops, but well prepared for mid June snow! 

We woke somewhat early to pack and eat breakfast to start our day hiking. We had no idea the weather forecast would lie to us for that day. Luckily we were prepared.

The forecast called for some rain showers and sunshine and cold temps. We packed for all of it. As we drove to the trailhead it was sprinkling with a little bit of sunshine off and on. With a gorgeous view of a rainbow! We were in for an exciting day in the mountains.

We had also heard rumors of Esther being quite the mud pit of a herd path. So we brought extra socks, because the last time we attempted the Great Range Traverse, it ate our souls and 2 pairs of sneakers!

The trail was fairly steep to start off and then it flattened out a bit toward the junction for Esther. On our way up it started snow storming pretty good. We had no views at the viewpoints as the snow was making everything look like a winter wonderland. The temps were certainly in the low 30's. 

We arrived at the junction of Esther and were glad to get this section out of the way. The mud pits were spot on as expected. Trying to avoid then, walk through them, was sort of a pain in the ass and with the cold temps the hats and gloves went on at this point. Finally arriving at this summit, we took quick photos and continued back to the junction to continue towards Whiteface.

Whiteface is also a ski area in the Winter months, as well as in the summer has an auto road to access the summit. The road was not open due to COVID, so we figured we would have what typically was a busy summit, to ourselves.

The hike to get to Whiteface almost seemed easy at first and then never ending towards the end. The snow continued to fall on us and rime ice covered the trees up high. Leaving a gorgeous sight to see. We made it to the summit, took a little break to eat and soon headed back down to our warm car.

Esther, I will never come back again for your- Whiteface, you were cool, but not sure I would come back either- Well maybe on a nicer day with views!