Marshall

Difficulty:

This peak was climbed in 2001. The ascent of Marshall via the traditional Herbert Brook route is strenuous due to elevation change and distance hiked.

To descend from Marshall back to our camp at Flowed Land we (as per usual) followed a herd path we found at the summit that led us straight to TRAIL #72, COLD BROOK PASS. as easy as can be. The descent from Marshall to the starting point of this hike, following the herd path that connects to the Iroquois Pass Trail and then Iroquois Pass Trail itself down to Lake Colden then on to the starting point, is strenuous due to trail surface, distance, and elevation change.

To get to Mt Marshall from the highway we used the UPPER WORKS trailhead and hiked in on Calamity Brook Trail. We rate Calamity Brook Trail strenuous with packs due to its length combined with the rocky, sometimes sloppy nature of this trail. It is moderate with day-packs.

Views:

Some consider Marshall to have very good views. The McMartin guidebook states that if you prowl around through the brush you might find some views to the South or West. We did not find them nor did we find any herd paths that might lead to them. The views to the East and views of Iroquois to the NE were very uninspiring. We therefore rate Marshall low on views based on the probability that most hikers will not do the scouting about that Marshall appears to require in order to nail a view. See our View Rankings page for an impartial comparison of views from the peaks.

Hiking Notes:

Ascent via Herbert Brook (McM #41) and Descent via Cold Brook Trail (formerly Iroquois Pass Trail) (ADK #72, McM #45):
The ascent of Mt Marshall is an excellent hike; one of the best hikes of the twenty so-called untrailed peaks. In the case of Marshall, the pleasure comes in the heavily shaded, almost church-like, woodland scenes coupled with the beautiful waterfalls and impressive rock slabs that Herbert Brook offers.

Being an untrailed peak, the herd path is not formally marked or maintained by DEC and does not appear on most trail maps, most significantly, the ever-popular ADK map. Usually, status as an untrailed peak implies that the hiking will be difficult, that there may be a number of tangled herd paths to sort out, and that many of these may be so crude and meandering that they just go in circles. In the case of Marshall, however, we found the trail clear of debris and blow-down, easy to discern, and in better condition than most DEC maintained trails. Why? We'd say it's a combination of overuse of the DEC trails and the modest traffic on the untrailed peaks. It is obvious that someone is doing some good maintenance on Marshall. We have received a reliable report that, in fact, it is the 46'ers that are at work. The result is that the hiking is in itself a very nice accompaniment to the beautiful woodland scenery to be found during most of the ascent. Hats off the the 46'ers!

We chose to descend by the herd path that runs NE from the summit to Iroquois Pass. While a change of pace, we do not recommend this route to anyone expecting an easier, quicker, or more scenic route down than the route up. Compared to the ascent, this trail is very minimal, more difficult, longer overall, and annoying from start to end. The conifers are close and dense; significant stretches of this path require you to keep an arm out in front of you just to protect your face from branches that press in on all sides. There is a not-very-troublesome bog in a saddle along the way. There are almost no views; often you can't see a much as 20 feet ahead. It is slow going, despite being a shorter route to the DEC Iroquois Pass Trail. The only positive was the single view that is obtained just before intersecting the Iroquois Pass Trail, of Shepherd's Tooth on the side of Iroquois Peak (see photos below). You will intersect Iroquois Pass about 45 minutes after leaving the summit.

When we reached Iroquois Pass Trail, we found a very rocky, steep, and long descent ahead of us. It was little better when we hiked it back in the 1960's. Frankly, this trail is best avoided, but we followed it down to Lake Colden in the vicinity of the Interior Outpost. Overall, Iroquois Pass is a foot-pounding, steep, rock-hop following Cold Brook.

Calamity Brook (ADK #121, McM #39):
We hiked in to Mt Marshall via Upper Works trailhead and the Calamity Brook Trail (ADK #121, MCM #39). The trail starts off at Upper Works is marked RED and YELLOW, but very quickly the yellow and red split. The yellow trail heads north toward Indian Pass. You follow RED to the right. At about 1.5 miles, you cross a bridge and reach an intersection where red ends. The BLUE Bypass Trail (ADK #126, McM #44) heads left and the now BLUE Calamity Brook Trail goes right. 4.4 miles and an 1000 ft elevation increase, this is the shortest route to Flowed Lands or Lake Colden from a trailhead. We rate Calamity Brook Trail strenuous due to the rocky, eroded condition of the trail over most of its length and its modest length. Also, we were fully loaded for 4 days in the woods which was approximately the situation of every hiker we met. Without a pack or with just a day pack, we would upgrade the hike to moderate.

Calamity Brook Trail (ADK #121, McM #39)

1		Departing the Upper Works at Tahawus on a narrow gravel road, you cross the Hudson a few hundred yards from its source at Henderson Lake. The trail markers are both RED and YELLOW at this stage, but the YELLOW trail to Indian Pass continues straight north, while the RED Calamity Brook Trail turns sharply right still following the road. The turn is well marked. The landscape changes dramatically for the worse as the gravel road gives way to a muddy, heavily-used, logging road that passes across large tracts that have been recently logged to clear blow-down.
2		Here is the edge of the clear-cut section. The road has terminated and a discernible trail begins. It is very clear that even before Hurricane Floyd this land had been severely maltreated. Evidence of this appears again and again
3		Over the first mile or so of trail, the route is largely flat with easy walking. Bridges are not an infrequent occurrence. This was the first bridge and the only suspension bridge that I recall, which came at about the 1.0 mile point.
4		At 1.6 miles, the trail crosses the brook again and turns sharply right to follow the brook. The Bypass Trail that connects into the Indian Pass Trail turns left here. Note that the RED markers you have followed up to now, stop here. Both the Bypass Trail and the continuance of the Calamity Brook Trail are BLUE and will remain so from here until the end at Flowed Lands.
5		Sections of corduroy road appear here and there. Following this short section the trail becomes much steeper and acquires most of its 1000 ft rise. From this point on the trail becomes increasingly rocky, muddy, and unpleasant. You pass over Calamity Brook again, this time with a choice between stepping from rock-to-rock, or taking a high-water bridge. Old and new sections of logs and planking ease the way over and through the mud.
6		We pause for a break and to investigate Calamity Pond and the Henderson Monument at the 4.0 mile point.
7		The monument to Mr. Henderson, fatally shot in a hunting accident.
8		Close-up
9		At 4.4 miles we reach Flowed Lands and this sign indicating the three directions one can take from this point. We will continue on along the West side of Flowed Lands (below), and take a lean-to on the south bank of the Opalescent River very near the Lake Colden dam.
Flowed Lands (ADK #121, McM #40)

10		Flowed Lands from the terminus of the Calamity Brook Trail. The view is NE to Mt Colden.
11		Taken from the same spot as the photo just above. The view is E and the trail goes to Hanging Spear Falls. Note that this is now the only legal DEC route to Allen Mtn since landowners closed the yellow trail that accesses Mt Adams, Lake Jimmy, and Lake Sally. Apparently, they have now logged or are in the process of logging this previously beautiful section of the Opalescent, cutting off access to the Allen Mtn herd path that starts at Lower Twin Brook. So... to get to Lower Twin Brook legally you have to hike this trail from Flowed Lands. It has been said that some hikers are ignoring the landowners...
12		This is the route around the west side of Flowed Lands which will take you to the start of the Marshall Trail, Avalanche Lake, or Lake Colden. It was the roughest section of hiking we encountered.
The Ascent of Mt. Marshall (McM #41)

Cairn at start of the Marshall Trail 13		The trail to the summit of Marshall follows Herbert Brook. This photo shows its starting point and the cairn that marks it. The trail is obvious, but finding its location may not be. However, if you start at the Lake Colden dam you should have little problem so let's start there. The dam is very easy to find as it separates Flowed Land from Lake Colden. It is the conjunction of the RED trail that comes down the Opalescent River from towards Marcy, the BLUE trail that comes south from around the west side of Lake Colden, and the RED trail that comes up the west bank of Flowed Land. All these meet at the Lake Colden dam. At the dam, climb the ladder and turn left (south) following the trail that would eventually take you around Flowed Land's west side. Walk about 10 minutes from the ladder and you will come to a wooden bridge made of logs. The bridge crosses Herbert Brook. Do not cross; retrace your steps maybe 30 feet and you will find this cairn on the north side of the trail.
The Boreal forest 14		Start up the path. For the first 20 minutes you are in another world where little light penetrates and tranquility prevails. It is open beneath the canopy. Moss and low growing greenery cover the ground. Don't step on Frodo, Merry, Pippin, or Sam should they walk by.
15		The trail follows Herbert Brook on its right for the early part of the hike. After about 30 minutes, the trail tends to change banks frequently.
16		The trail never leaves the brook until finally the brook runs out at the beaver ponds.
17		For about 5 minutes the trail is in the brook as you hike up a short series of slabs of rock. The slabs are mostly dry. Probably no special measures would be necessary to keep your feet dry in a in wet season as the slabs bow nicely so that there is always a high spot to walk on.
View of summit 18		The slabs are wide enough to offer sufficient opening to glimpse either the summit or the bump just to the NE of the summit. Above the slabs the route becomes narrower. The path stays next to the brook, but mostly to the left as the route enters a steep cleft. The path is minimal in this section, but continues to be readily discernible.
Falls 19		This falls popped up as we got close to the beaver ponds and the end of Herbert Brook.
Beaver Ponds 20		The beaver ponds about 30 minutes below Marshall's summit.
Beaver PondsI 21		Before you sight the beaver ponds you will see daylight ahead through the trees, giving you the impression that you are at the summit. While very wet, the trail is easily navigable through the moss at the ponds' edge. Turn left here at the ponds and start the last, steep 300 feet to the summit. The remaining climb is slower due to very rough terrain..
Summit view 22		Nothing to write home about here. This is a southerly view, probably of Mt Adams. We climbed Marshall after the canister had been removed in 2001. As you stand on the rock at the heavily wooded summit, the trail you arrived on comes in from your right. Straight ahead is the route to Iroquois Pass by which we would descend.
Iroquois Pk 23		Iroquois is very close by to the NE. It stands about 400 ft above Marshall's summit.
Descent from Marshall to Lake Colden (McM #41)

Slope of Iroquois 24		The herd path from Marshall's summit down to Iroquois Pass is no fun: nothing to see, nasty branches in the face, and a minor bog in the saddle of the slight ridge you must follow. Often the path turns in odd directions. There are one or two difficult ledges to descend.
Shepherd's Tooth 25		Shepherd's Tooth is a promontory on the SE slope of Iroquois. This trail appears to offer the best view to be had of it.
Shepherd's Tooth 26		This is a better close up of this interesting feature.
Iroquois Pass 27		Iroquois Pass Trail YELLOW is a difficult, steep trail. In apparent testimony to this we found a large, heavy, tent in its stuff sack with poles, stakes, etc., laying on the side of the trail, left by someone who apparently decided he'd rather dump it than carry it all the way up into the pass. (He didn't know that he was already almost to the top of the pass.) Oddly enough, that night a hiker showed up at our lean-to on the Opalescent River with the same tent which he had decided was worth salvaging. Then, the next day when he departed, he, too, dumped the tent by leaving it in the lean-to.
Continue Descent from Marshall via Iroquois Pass Trail (ADK #72, McM #45 )