Incredibly long. The traverse between Giant Mountain and Rocky Peak Ridge ranks among the nicest hikes in the Adirondacks. The parking areas for Giant Mountain often fill quickly, especially in the summer, and it is illegal to park along Route 73. Giant and Rocky Ridge stand as the 12th and 20th highest peaks in the Adirondacks. 16 miles and almost 7,000 feet of elevation gained later I was in love with the Rocky Peak Ridge and couldn't wait to get back. We passed on hiking Rocky Peak Ridge from New Russia a few weeks ago. 9 in New Russia, NY, and follows the East Trail up to the summits of Rocky and Giant. Giant Mountain - Rocky Ridge Peak - Mary Louise Pond - Bald Peak - Blueberry Cobbles. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. Incredibly strenuous. We got off to a slightly later start that we had hoped, but it was still early enough to get parking. If you have any questions please contact me at, Total Miles: 11.4 miles (4,565 feet elevation gained). Bald Peak Œ Rocky Peak Œ Giant Traverse, Adirondacks Introduction The Bald Peak Œ Rocky Peak Œ Giant Traverse is an interresting and somehow challenging day hike. When he arrived we both took a bunch of pictures and refueled before starting the mostly 6.5 mile descent back to the Jeep at the New Russia trailhead. It's an excessively steep descent made worse by the beyond awful footing. An early fall backpacking trip on a beautiful Saturday evening and Sunday morning in September. Our last one was on a perfect fall weekend in October 2011. On that trip, we started at New Russia and did Bald, RPR, Giant and Hopkins. Jim C. and Nancy finished their 46 together on Giant! With Rocky Peak achieved, it was time to turn our attention to the next objective: Giant Mountain, now looming less than a mile way to the northwest of us. You are more than welcome to link back to my blog, use in articles, email, social media, etc. All content, pictures, and text are property of Chris Dailey unless otherwise noted. We hiked down the back side of Giant and across the ridge before starting the ascent to Rocky Peak Ridge. New comments cannot be … From the summit of Rocky Peak Ridge you can take in the views of the scarred wall of Giant Mountain to the west (top). Giant Mountain and Rocky Peak Ridge Trail is a 9.2 mile moderately trafficked point-to-point trail located near New Russia, New York that features a lake and is only recommended for very experienced adventurers. Giant and Rocky Peak Ridge. ADK 46: Giant Mountain and Rocky Peak Ridge. Rocky from my perspective: ... pile into the other car and park at the Roaring Brook trailhead to Giant Mountain and Rocky Peak Ridge on Route 73. Uneroded path. Diaz navigating the steep descent down the East Trail into the Giant / Rocky Peak Ridge col. A few nice sections of the trail between summits! Looking back up at Rocky Peak Ridge and Giant Mountain (top). On January 1, 2019 By Taylor In ADK 46, Trip Reports. Rocky Peak Ridge stands as the high point on the ridge extending east from Giant. While the climbing makes for a challenging run, there is a great deal of open ridge running on this route, and the views are early, often, and expansive in both directions. Good thing. It's one of the most grueling descents off of a 4,000 foot peak in the Adirondacks. The predicted heat made such an exposed hike unappealing. There is one steep descent with bad footing coming down from Rocky Peak but other than that the footing is pretty good. And, as I figured, Ashley (who turned 9 on May 13), was the best hiker in the group. ... Trip Log List of all Rocky hikes List of all Giant hikes Rocky information page Giant information page GPS Data. Join us as we hike this trail and watch Brian and Brittney achieve their 46th high peak!SUBSCRIBE TO THE ADVENTURE!Brian's Instagram - @Brian_Hikes_All_DayBrittney's Instagram - @Brittney_Hikes_All_DayMy Instagram - @JonathanZphotographyWebsite - www.jonathanzphotography.comSo much more amazing content to come! Finally, after 3.2 hours of hiking, I reached the wiiiindy summit. Sun-dappled trail. The climb goes over various peaks: Blueberry Cobbles, Bald Peak, Rocky Peak, Rocky Peak Ridge and Giant. Rubber knees and pounding quads. On July 5th, 2008, Koira and I left for a day traverse of Giant Mountain and Rocky Peak Ridge in the Adirondack High Peaks. The best view of course is from the summit itself where we took a nice long break in the early morning mild temperatures. It's a really beautiful hike over ledges with moss and shrubs off the trail. Congratulations to Jim & Nancy. Giant and Rocky Peak Ridge Traverse. -  From the summit of Rocky Peak Ridge we descended to Mary Louise Pond and over to Rocky Peak's summit. and Giant Mountain on Saturday, November 19th with Jim & Dave. To get to Rocky Peak you will have to backtrack 0.1 miles to an intersection where there is a marked trail to the mountain. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Towards the top, I passed a junction sign for Rocky Ridge Peak, saying the peak of Giant was 0.3 miles away. Either way, you'll arrive just 0.2 mile from the top of Giant before descending steeply to a col between the two peaks, after which it climbs to the summit of Rocky Peak Ridge. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from April until November. Looking east there is a great view down to Rocky Peak (bottom), Looking down on Rocky Peak from Rocky Peak Ridge, Heading to Marie Louise Pond and Rocky Peak. For the most part the clouds blocked the view from the top but for a minute we were able to see Lake Champlain. Colors were vibrant, foliage was peak at lower elevations by Blueberry Cobbles. It was a big trip with around 6000 vertical. Rocky Peak Ridge Traverse to Route 9 Order in ranking, number 20. ... My second visit to Rocky Ridge Peak, and who knows how many for Ewart. It’s also a grueling one because the elevation gain is substantial compared to its relatively short mileage; the total elevation gain for this hike checks in at a healthy 5,300 feet. Rocky Ridge Traverse Start. report. The back side of Giant is somewhat steep, be careful. Very un-Adirondack Trail. #boysnight. Extraordinary! Just be sure to bring lots of water and lots of stamina. The New Russia Traverse is a gorgeous 11.2 mile traverse in the Eastern High Peaks Region of the Adirondacks. Incredibly beautiful. - The hike between Giant and Rocky Peak Ridge is known for being one of the steepest and most tiring hikes between 4,000 foot peaks in the Adirondacks. We collected enough black fly bites in the 30 minutes at the top of Giant to annoy both of us, so we took off after enjoying some bologna sandwiches and a thermos full of iced-coffee. Eagle Slide on Giant is a classic and challenging slide route up the west face of the peak. The Ridge Trail to Giant Summit: 3 miles (3050' ascent)3 hours Round trip traverse to Rocky Peak Ridge: 2.6 miles (1400' ascent) 2 hours. Rocky Peak Ridge features a 4000' high ridge that extends eastwards for about a mile. Just wondering if anyone has been up that way recently and has any idea of the status of the few water sources along the traverse. It is located in the Adirondack, New York state, USA. Giant and Rocky Peak Ridge Traverse 2012-07-14 Last summer (July 2011), I enjoyed hiking from the New Russia trailhead, over Blueberry Cobbles, Bald Peak, Rocky Peak Ridge and Giant, to the Chapel Pond trailhead. Luckily for me I had a car spot this time as my friend Diaz was up for the weekend working on his 46 High Peaks list. It’s true I almost blew off the summit like Toto, but still!! It is a alternative route to Rocky Peak Ridge instead of going over Giant first. Rocky Peak Ridge via Giant Mountain. genevieve.pfeiffer11 1 year, 3 months ago Bald, Rocky & Giant (Dacks) Andrew 1 year, 4 months ago New Russia Parking Area, Elizabethtown to Chapel Pond Car Parking, Keene, NY, USA. Leesa and I had been kicking around doing another Rocky Peak Ridge traverse. Water Sources on the Rocky Peak Ridge/Giant Traverse? Rocky Peak Ridge Traverse Date of Hike: 6/27/15. The traverse from W to E is about 11 miles and over 4,000 feet of vertical climb. Giant/Rocky Peak Ridge Traverse. The 10 mile trail over Rocky Peak Ridge and Giant includes 5300' of climbing, and 9500' for the 20 mile round trip. hide. They sit separated from the mass of the Adirondack High Peaks by Route 73. Let me know what you want to see next. We definitely made some rookie mistakes. As its name says, this is a traverse, that begins and ends at different locations, so it It is by no means an easy day hike, but I thought well within our collective comfort level. - A few years back I wanted to do a Rocky Peak Ridge Traverse, my car spot bailed on me so I did a long out and back from the trailhead in New Russia all the way to Giant Mountain where I turned around and hiked all the way back to my car. The trail from Rocky Peak Ridge back to New Russia is mostly downhill as it passes through Dickerson, Hedgehog, and Mason Notch. The route begins at Rt. Total trip: 8.6 miles (4650' ascent) 8 hours. Forecast was 80mph winds and partial clouds. If you've never hiked this trail move it up to the top of your list and save it for a clear day. It only took us about 35 minutes to travel the 1.2 miles down giant and up Rocky. I headed down from the summit of Giant and quickly arrived at the fork to Rocky Peak Ridge. I was very familiar having descended into this col on three previous occasions so I knew what to expect. Few who have climbed Rocky Peak Ridge and Giant from New Russia would dispute that it's one of the best hikes in the Adirondacks. with my permission. We had a nice group of hikers on this trip. A clear, not-too-hot day, plenty of cheer and heavily laden with water. Heading up the rough and rugged lower section of the Zander Scott Trail. Whatever it is, it sure is a nice spot! - From Giant Mountain we headed over to Rocky Peak Ridge's summit. It's definitely an easier hike heading east towards New Russia than the long steady uphill in the direction of Keene Valley. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. 1 comment. I motored on up to the summit where I relaxed and waited for Diaz. Heading up the rough and rugged lower section of the Zander Scott Trail, As the trail makes its way by the first outlook, the Great Range starts to rise above Keene Valley to the north, Heading up through the woods and over the ledges to the summit of Giant Mountain. share. On Sunday I hiked the Rocky Peak Ridge to Giant traverse from New Russia. Hikers can begin at the Roaring Brook or Chapel Pond trailheads to begin this hike. - We got an early start to be on the safe side as a monster of a rain storm was supposedly fast approaching. The trail travels over many open ledges with incredible views to the west. Consider choosing a less popular, and less crowded, trail. From the summit of Giant there are many four thousand footers in view! The Giant-Dix Traverse is a 25-mile point-to-point link up of six Adirondack high peaks: Rocky Peak Ridge, Giant, Dix, Hough, South Dix, and Macomb, as well as numerous smaller peaks. As the trail makes its way by the first outlook, the Great Range starts to rise above Keene Valley to … Content cannot be used, copied or distributed without my consent. On the other hand this was all new to Diaz and a few times I caught him shaking his head at the rough trail but he did well and enjoyed the drop down into the Giant / RPR col.  From the col the trail up to Rocky Peak Ridge is still a grind but much more forgiving than the east side of Giant. Posted on July 30, 2014 by mcfarljo1975. Once on this ridge, it is a delightful walk among stunted conifers, cripplebrush, birches, mosses and other alpine vegetation. save. Almost all the elevation gain would be accounted for over the first 4.5 miles of the hike as the Zander Scott Trail ascends steadily up to the summit of Giant Mountain. 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