Adirondack Loop - Day 1



Whiteface Mtn.



With one week left before going back to work, I had decided to do a long ride while there was still time.  In addition to Bicycle Times , my reading list included - Cycling The Great Divide . From there I found The Adventure Cycling Association's route information for The Adirondack Loop. Six million acres, big hills, and only two and a half hours away by car. My destination was no longer in question. I aim to circumnavigate the park, approximately 600k, and in the spirit of the GDMBR ride solo and self supported. Think I will have to bring an IPOD and some cashews.











It's midweek, the last week of August. My equipment is ready, my body is as ready as it can be, and the weather forecast for The Adirondack Park is looking great. I have my passport, my smartdevice, and some american cash. Time to hit the road.

There was no queue, and I had all my answers lined up, so the Canada to US border crossing went smoothly even with no Nexus card. I was driving south in New York state, letting my TomTom guide me to Highway #68, #56, and then #3.   I don't know if it's because this is Shaker country or not, but for the most part, these roads had a relatively wide paved shoulder. This route is rideable.
I arrived in the village of Tupper Lake around 10:00am, a lttle later than I had hoped for. My destination today was Ticonderoga and it is feasible that, with a wrong turn, or two, I could be cycling a good ten hours or more.  I didn't want to be riding in the dark so I quickly pigged out at McDonalds, and found a place to leave the truck overnite, the route 30 boat launch. After a difficult decision to leave my toque behind I started cycling NE on #3 and within 10 kilometers my flip flops were gone. I didn't like the way they were packed anyway.

 

I rode north and west, circling around the high peaks on the ACA Adirondack Loop route going in a clockwise direction. There were many spectacular views and three big climbs. Make sure your brakes are in good working order for descending The Whiteface Memorial Highway into Wilmington. There are pulloffs for cooling your brakes but if your bike is loaded, disc brakes would be pretty nice for descending a seriously fast stretch like this with a stop sign at the bottom. My lunch stop was the general store in Wilmington, and totally to my surprize I found these great dirt jumps and a large pump track behind the store. I wanted to try out the pump track, and nobody was there, but decided it would not be wise to pummel the touring rig at this point in the ride. I made sure to have enough water and granola bars for the aptly named Giant Mtn. pass on route 73 just east of Keene valley. On this climb I was very glad to have put on my 34 tooth chainwheel. The climb came late in the day after many hills. I Rolled into Ticonderoga just as the sun was dipping below the horizon, found the Super8, and noticed there was a McDonald's a stones throw from my room. Sweet!