Lake Tear-of-the-Clouds on the shores of Gray Peak. Mt Marcy in the distance.

Numbers in parentheses, such as (ADK #123, McM #456) on these and all other pages of Adirondack Journey, refer to trail numbers assigned by the McMartin and ADK guidebooks.

Trip In A Nutshell:
We used the Upper Works trailhead because it seemed to us to be the easiest route to the Uphill Brook lean-to located at the junction of the Opalescent River and Uphill Brook. From there we climbed 5 peaks: Cliff and Redfield on one day; then Gray, Skylight, and Marcy on another. Counting the trip in from Upper Works and the trip back out as 2 days, and allowing for 1 day of rest at the lean-to in the middle of our climbs, we spent 5 days in the woods and 4 nights at the lean-to. A lot of hikers might read this and say we could have or should have done it in less time. In our case, the weather was terrific and there was nowhere we would have rather been.

We climbed Gray via Feldspar Brook, a stiff climb to Lake Tear-of-the-Clouds, the highest lake in New York State. The summit trail to Gray must be the very shortest summit trail of the 46 as it couldn't have taken us 20 minutes to hike it from end to end. We would advise anyone to not limit their planning to just Gray. It is fairly inconsequential and since you're in the immediate vicinity of both Marcy and Skylight, one or both should also be climbed. The ascent of all 3 from our lean-to required about 9 hours allowing lots of time at the summits.

Difficulty:
If you are coming in all the way from one of the main trailheads to climb Gray or one of the other peaks in this locale, and then be back to your car by sundown, then that is a very strenuous day.

If you come in on, say, Friday, camp at the Uphill Brook Lean-to, climb Skylight, Marcy, and Gray on Saturday, and then hike back to the trailhead on Sunday, that would be about perfect and it would rate as a moderate-to-strenuous hike.

To be perfectly clear, you should only plan on one peak if planning a day hike. An overnight could expand your climbing to two or maybe three peaks, assuming you rise early and hike late. A three day trip gives you the possibility of climbing as many as five peaks. These peaks would best be Marcy, Skylight, Gray, Redfield, and Cliff. All other peaks add significant hiking time to/from. All of these peaks are best hiked from Uphill Brook Lean-to and there are numerous spots for tents in the vicinity of the lean-to, as well. he three is strenuous from Uphill lean-to, close to the base of Feldspar Brook. While Feldspar Brook is steep, long, and strenuous, the trail condition is good. The ascent of Gray Peak is short and easy despite being a so-called trail-less peak. (See the Skylight and Marcy pages for their particulars.) If you are hiking from Lake Colden, then add 4 miles to the round trip. For most hikers, that added distance would probably eliminate either Marcy or Skylight from your agenda.

Views:
Gray offers precious little in the way of views, being completely and densely forested on its summit. Expect nothing so as not to be disappointed. The adjacent summit of Marcy is barely visible through the trees.

Lean-to and Tent Sites:
There are a number of options if you would like to spend a night in the vicinity of these 3 peaks. Note, however, that this is a heavily hiked area. Most of the year there will be a number of parties vying for the lean-to's.

Feldspar Brook Trail (ADK #121, McM #47) to Lake Tear-of-the-Clouds and Gray Peak Trail (McM #49)
1	The Opalescent River Trail runs from Lake Colden all the way to Lake Arnold on the NE side of Mt Colden, following the river. We started out from the Uphill lean-to which is on this trail at the base of Mt Redfield. It is about a half mile to the Feldspar Brook Trail from the lean-to.
2	For about 0.2 miles before reaching the Feldspar Brook Trail, you will be on a well-made stringer walkway on the Opalescent River Trail, most of which appears to be very new. This starts right after you cross Uphill Brook.
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4	Looks like a lot of blow-down, but it's nothing compared to Cliff, Redfield, or Allen, which were severely damaged by Hurricane Floyd. None of the blow-down is on the trail.
(photo courtesy Elaine Serafini) 5	The Opalescent Trail near the base of the Feldspar Brook Trail.
6	Here is the turn-off where you leave the Opalescent Trail and turn right (S) to begin the Feldspar Brook Trail and a pretty sharp climb of about 1.2 mile. Trail markers remain yellow. If you didn't turn right, but continued straight, instead, you would end up at Lake Arnold at the foot of Mt. Colden.
7	The one and only ladder on the Feldspar Brook Trail.
8	The Feldspar Brook Trail is consistently steep and rocky, but it is well-maintained and does not get the traffic that the Van Hoevenburg Trail on the other side of the summit receives. Judging by the folks one runs into at the summit of Marcy, it also appears that most of the Van Hoevenburg traffic is dressed in tenny-pumps, cotton Ralph Lauren tops that are just perfect with the new fuchsia capri pants, and don't you just love the little gold tennis bracelet with matching necklace. And is that a real diamond pendant? You get the picture, and that's just the guys!!! All that cotton would be fine if the weather wasn't so changeable.
9	A view of near-by Gray Peak from the Feldspar Brook Trail. This tells you that Lake Tear and the trail to Gray are just ahead.
10	Classic Feldspar Brook Trail very near Lake Tear-of-the-Clouds.
11	Your first view of Lake Tear will tell you that you've almost reached the saddle between Marcy and Skylight. The trail flattens out immediately.
(photo courtesy of Elaine Serafini) 12	Continuing toward Four Corners, when you arrive at the lake you will see a trail that turns left and crosses the beginnings of Feldspar Brook flowing out of the lake. This is the Gray Peak Trail (ADK n/a, McM #49). It is hard to miss. If you are going to Skylight, Marcy, or Panther Gorge, instead of Gray, you continue on the Feldspar Brook Trail keeping the shores of the lake to your left.
Gray Peak Trail (ADK n/a, McM #49 )
13	The trail to Gray's summit is easy to follow. The foliage is heavy all the way there, but poses no significant obstacle. The trail starts at the Feldspar Brook Trail just where the Feldspar Brook starts.
14	The trail up Gray is deeply rutted trail in many places. It will be a mud pit on a wet day. The trail looks as though gaiters would be in order.
(photo courtesy of Elaine Serafini) 15	The trail from the lake to the summit is short. Towards the summit there is this short, steep section.
(photo courtesy of Elaine Serafini) 17	An elated Elaine reaches #44.
(photo courtesy of Elaine Serafini) 18	A panorama shot of nearby Colden. The slide on the backside is a popular route to the summit from the Opalescent River.
19	The summit is quickly reached.
20	View to West from summit.
21	Marcy. There is reported to be a herd path direct from Gray's summit to Marcy's summit. We did not see any sign of it, but neither were we looking. for it.
22	Redfield to the south.
23	Colden's south slide and, in the background, the MacIntyre's.