In August of 2022 my buddy Paul and I returned to the ADK’s to climb Allen Mountain.
Mt. Allen is renowned for two things. It’s remoteness and its slick slabs. At about 9+ miles out and 9+ back from the Mt Adams Fire Tower trailhead on Upper Works Road, it’s the most remote High Peak of the 46.
The plan was to hike to within a mile of the summit and camp so we didn’t have to head out at the crack of dawn for a change. We arrived at the trailhead before noon and headed out. The hike was blessedly flat and smooth most of the way in with some up and downs only as we got near the base of the mountain.
The first half of the hike is along a marked trail that is a combination of wilderness trail and old logging roads. Eventually you cross the Opalescent River at a spot where a foot bridge used to be. It was washed out in a storm a number of years ago and hasn’t been replaced. During high water times you may have to wade across but in Mid August we were able to rock hop across easily. Another mile or so down the trail follow the cairns right to the herd path that is the remainder of the way up. The path is pretty well worn and easy to follow.
There are no official camping areas on this hike, but people who camp typically do so near the crossing of Skylight Book. That’s what we did. More or less the 150′ from the trail and the brook we pitched our hammocks. After dinner we hit the rack with the intention of summiting in the morning.
The following morning dawned bright and clear and we headed up. The start wasn’t any steeper than any other high peak till we hit the slab sections.
On the “red slime”. It is there. It is slick. It wasn’t much of a problem on the way up. The way down though…but that’s for later. You keep going up sections of slab followed with trail sections till you hit THE slab:
Don’t do what we did (go right) you should stay left…I guess there’s a cairn we missed. We made it to the top of this slide and went into heavy cover where the trail died. We had to bushwack left till we found the trail again. After a short section of steep trail you hit the summit ridge and follow it to the summit marker. There are two spots off the peak with some great views.
After taking in the views we started back. Here’s where the slime got me. I took two good falls on the way down, whacking my left elbow good on the first one.
We returned to camp and after a wash-up and a nap decided that instead of waking up early and hiking out that we would hike out under headlamps. So that’s what we did. It was the first lengthy night hike I’ve done in the ADK’s.
When we eventually found the car we unloaded and started the drive home. That’s when I noticed my left elbow feeing a bit stiff. When I felt it I found it had swelled to a good 4-5X its size. I probably burst the bursa sack on it. I kept it elevated over my head for a solid 1.5-2 hours till we found the first open gas station near Verona and I got some NSAID into me. It did the trick, by the time I got home it was pretty much back to normal size (but I still have a slight “Popeye” look to that elbow).
With Allen done I have 3 peaks left on my quest for the 46.
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