Lucas Gashi

The hike does offer several different terrains and an elevation gain of 3170 feet, which can make you feel like it's going to be a long day. There are four routes for summiting Mount Marcy. This is the most popular route and leaves from the Adirondak Loj. Once you hit the trail, you will head up toward Marcy Dam, which if you're not camping at the Loj, makes for a good place to set up a base ca...

This short hike offers exceptional views, perfect for late night sunsets and early morning sunrises. Take a lunch date to the summit and enjoy overlooking Heart Lake and New York's highest peak, Mt. Marcy. The trail to Mt. Jo trailhead is located at the entrance station near the parking lot at the end of the Adirondack Loj Rd., just off of Rt. 73. Follow the trail next to Heart Lake for less th...

NOTE: There is a new permit system in place: Under the new no-cost permit system, visitors to the Blue Hole are required to obtain a permit on weekends and holidays from May 15 through October 15 every year. DEC will issue up to 40 permits per day and each permit allows entry for up to six individuals, including children, allowing for a maximum of 240 people to access the Blue Hole each day. Pe...

One of my favorite hikes in West Virginia, since the whole ridge is full of views.  Backpacking the North Fork Mountain Trail is about 24.7 miles in total and a challenging hike but with relentless views. In my opinion, the best West Virginia has to offer. Summertime backpacking the whole the NFMT is hard, with no water on the trail so either you spot water ahead of time or you have to carry e...

Seneca Rocks is probably one of the best known landmarks in West Virginia. This iconic formation sits 900 feet above the North Fork River. I highly recommend anyone interested in taking a trip to West Virginia take some time to visit Seneca Rocks. These rock formations are really an amazing site. The hike from the parking lot is 3 miles out-and-back with a lot of switchbacks and stair cases. T...

Although this is a super short hike, it is definitely a tough one! The quick, steep climb is totally worth it once you reach the 260 foot cascade and pool at the end. Hike along the trail, hugging Spruce Creek all the way to the falls. If you hike in the spring, the creek and the falls will be raging but you can't go wrong all year. There's great ice climbing in the winter and the fall leaves a...

At 9.7-miles long, this lengthy, but easy loop takes you to two ADK lower peaks. The views from Indian Head and Fish Hawk Cliffs will blow your mind away. I love stopping here every time I make my way to ADK. The colors are absolutely gorgeous in the fall.  From the parking lot, take the lake road 3.3 miles. Once you reach the sign for Indian head and Fish Hawk cliffs, it is only a short climb...

The the easiest and the fastest access of any New York waterfalls Split Rock Falls, is within 10 feet of the parking lot and as soon as you open the car door you hear the water gushing down the Boquet River. The clear, cold waters of Split Rock Falls cascade through groves of hemlock and spruce, lope down natural steps of granite and slate, the falls are separate drops with the upper two separa...

Cascade 4,098ft and Porter 4,084ft are two easy peaks which are usually hiked together. The trail starts on Rt 73 and you starts climbing up slowly but not challenging at all. Is 2.4 mIles to summit of cascade, the last 0.2 miles is a open rock scrambling but I'm the winter when the weather is bad a can get really nasty so be prepared for the conditions. ones you summit you'll have 360° views....

One of my favorite walks to a spectacular falls. The trail is easy to follow and one mile from NY parking lot and 0.5 from the parking lot. The apparent place to swim. There are several very nice, family safe swimmable pools in the creek above and after the falls. There are signs at the top of the falls warning you not to approach too near the top. Be sure to swim upstream or downstream of the...

Although a bit strenuous this loop climb up the MacIntyre Range is one of the most beautiful climbs in all the High Peaks. I suggest that you travel past Marcy Dam to Avalanche Lake and ascend the range in that direction as the trail from Lake Colden up to the ridge is very steep and best climbed rather than descended. You will be amazed at the trail built around Avalanche Lake and really enjoy...

The Breakneck Ridge to Sugar Loaf Loop gives rise to various bypasses that offer hikers moderate to advanced terrain and multiple rock scrambles. The loop entails a total elevation gain of 1,670 feet and a total distance of 5.5 miles. The start of the trail begins at the (white blazes) at the north side of the tunnel on route 9D. Follow the Breakneck Ridge Trail (white blazes) up a 1.5 mile ro...