Cascade Mountain Trail (Sep 2024)

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 A ~5.5 mile hike to the summit sounded enticing as doable on a good sunny day with comfortable temperatures and humidity. We did read about it as being a rocky terrain with boulders in many places. We were at the trail head by around 9:30 AM after a couple of hours driving from home. We could find a parking spot not far from the trail head comfortably and saw many trying to find the trail head as the name had worn out fully on the marker. We buckled up, stretched, registered our name in the notebook there and started walking. It started pretty rocky within few hundred yards and after crossing a small brook, the path started trending steep and rocky.

The rocky boulders continued for the rest of the way uphill. What we thought as an early start wasn’t really early enough when we say people along the way hiking down already! They must have gone up in darkness to capture the sunrise.



Great weather made the hike up all the way a relatively easy task. When we approached the summit, the breeze felt a bit chilly. The 360-degree view from atop was a treat to the eyes. We relaxed there a bit like the many hikers there, when our tummies reminded us of the sandwiches that we had packed from Panera. Sandwiches disappeared immediately! The panoramic views were a delight that kept us captivated there for a while.

On the trek back down when we reached the fork for Porter Mountain, I got tempted to check that out. But my wife reminded me the task ahead already and this Porter Mountain would add another mile and a half of rocky climb up and down. Somewhat reluctantly, skipped the Porter and started our climb down. While I hoped that gravity could make the descent faster, it was nothing but that! Due to the rocky nature and steep drops in many places, we had to take our time. By the time we reached the trail head, knees were begging to rest more than the calf muscles! Knee braces would have helped overall - something to remember for the next time.

That was our first of the 46 peaks in Adirondacks though we had been living in the area for more than 16 years! And, doubt that we would be able to scale another 46er ever as every other one is supposed to be longer and more strenuous.





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