Date Hiked: 11-24-07

Conditions: The trail up to Marbel Mtn was difficult. The trees had a 1/2 inch of ice on them and were leaning over the trail. I felt like a bull in a china shop plowing through it! Trail to Esther was not broken out very well (but it is now)and it looked like folks had been turning back on the first bump. Trail from the Esther junction to Whiteface was a bunch of frozen postholes in between open water. Deep snow on the side of the retaining wall near the road.

Special Required Equipment: I traveled in yak-trax all day. Carried crampons but didn't need them. Needed extra layers, temps ranged from 12-16 degrees F.

Comments: I could see Whiteface clear and open all day. When I got there it was socked in! Lost a water bottle inside an insulator somewhere between the Esther junction and the science center. I think it probably got grabbed out of my pack when I was plowing through the ice covered trees. If anyone is hiking out there in the next few days and comes across it, please pm me!

Submitted by: Tmax