Allen Mt (big nasty) #4

So, unless you've actually done this hike and or take someone who's done it before word, it really doesn't seem like that big of a deal. It's not the tallest or the most intimidating skyline, and most of the actually distance is quite easy. But, after having done it, I can certainly agree with its nickname "big nasty". The over all mileage is huge, 18 round trip. It is 8 miles to the base, over I think 5 river crossings, and although most of it is relatively flat and easy it still is time consuming and energy spent. Then you get the the fun part. Once you finally see the waterfall you know the real work is about to begin. The last mile is definitely up up and away! From the hikes I've done so far, very possibly the steepest in stretches, with Dix Mt being my reference; but the steepness is just part of the fun. Even though the trail is hiked and reasonably clear, it is still an unmaintained trail and very ruff and rugged. Then there is the red/brown algae... That is what this hike is infamous for. You spend pretty much most of the last mile going up very steeply, through a stream, over ice-like algae, after you have already hiked 8 miles! Oh, and when my friend Rob and I were doing it we had the pleasure of doing it in the rain. :D Well, we did make it to the top and through the rain clouds were able to get some nice views of Marcy, Skylight, Haystack, and Gothics. We had left the Upper works parking lot around 9am, and with a hour plus detour thrown in we reached the summit around 4:45pm. Knowing this we pushed ourselves as much as we could to get off the mountain itself and the trailess section of the hike before darkness hit. We actually managed to make it all the way to the last stream crossing before we had to use our headlamps to finish the trek out. By the time we reached the parking lot it was 10:45pm and 14 hours and 20 miles after we started. I'm so glad to have this one done!! I will say though that the trail up to the base of the mountain might be my favorite trail so far. It's a beautiful stroll through the woods and the trailess part is absolutely beautiful in its solitude!
6/7/09