View SSW to Cheney Coble and North River Mts from Mt Redfield

21 Photos

Route:

• From Upper Works trailhead to Lake Colden and the start of the Opalescent Trail

• Follow Opalescent Trail to Uphill Brook crossing.

• Follow herd path along Uphill Brook to summit of Mt. Redfield
  

 Updated: 2004 

Peak View Rankings        Upper Works Trailhead           Printable Redfield

The Trip In A Nutshell:
If you want to climb Redfield as a day-hike, start at Upper Works Trailhead and use the Calamity Brook Trail (ADK #121, McM #39) to Lake Colden, thence on the Opalescent River Trail (ADK #121, McM #46) to Uphill Brook.  That is the shortest route with the least climb, but it will be a long, tough day.  ADK grades this hike as A+ in difficulty when done in a day.  

An alternative plan that I recommend highly for those wanting to climb several or more peaks, or to have a down day without leaving the woods is to hike in from Upper Works and tent or make use of the excellent Uphill Brook lean-to while climbing the peaks in the area.  (Be prepared to share this well-placed lean-to).  We stayed 3 nights and climbed four peaks, which was a very leisurely pace, but why hurry?  The other peaks, besides Redfield, that we climbed were Cliff, Marcy, and Skylight.  In that period of time, had we been ambitious we could've done Colden's south slide as well.  We talked about it, but that's as far as it got.  Ascend Mt Redfield (ADK n/a, McM #50) via the herd path along Uphill Brook's S bank until the brook peters out, then continue on the herd path to Redfield's summit.    

Difficulty:  
The herd path to Redfield's summit is 1.4 miles from the start at the intersection of Uphill Brook with the Opalescent Trail, to the summit.  It can be climbed in an hour, but if you do so you will be missing out on all the great photo opportunities, wading in the brook, and sunning on the numerous flat expanses of rock in the brook.  The route, which closely follows Uphill Brook is  occasionally strenuous over rugged and steep terrain on a narrow herd path.  The herd path divides itself into three distinct sections.  The first third is strictly along the brook and involves some fairly steep ascent along the fall line of the brook.  This occasionally requires finding hand-holds on muddy or gravelly banks where you may use some language that you don't use with your mom although the task is more interesting than on many easier climbs.  Over the latter part of the ascent of the brook, you can either stay on the herd path along the brook or walk on the large expanses of dry, flat, rock in the streambed.  The latter option is a nice switch and enables you to travel twice as fast, although we stopped to take lots of photos.  (There's a good shot of  Shepherd's Tooth!)  

The last part of the ascent begins when the trail leaves the brook.  This last section is about a half mile on a very narrow, deeply eroded path full of rocks and roots that desperately want to trip you up.  If it were difficult that would be okay, but, it's just aggravating as saplings press in on you from both sides and whip you in the face as you try to watch your footing.  Of the three of us, two went down hard.  This part of Redfield ranks as annoying.  Of the trailless peaks, Allen may be the longest and most tiring, from the start of its own herd path.  Yard-for-yard, Redfield may get our vote as one of the most picturesque of the "trailless" peaks.  

Plan on 1-2 hours for the ascent depending on your fitness.  We suggest that whenever the opportunity presents itself you take advantage of the large expanses of open  rock in the brook and do your hiking there.  Hiking shoes made for hiking in water may also be an option that would add an enjoyable diversion to the climb.

Views:
Redfield ranks 26th, 22nd, and 25th by the scorers listed on our View Rankings page.  Redfield has good views, although these cover only about a 120 degree span.  Its summit view to Allen is quite impressive, as is the view of Cheney Coble, above.  As you climb Redfield along Uphill Brook there are a few modest views back toward the MacIntyre Range, particularly Iroquois.   

Our Trip:
We decided to make this a leisurely trip.  We hiked in from Upper Works since it is shorter and has less ascent.
Day 1:  Upper Works to Uphill Brook lean-to
Day 2:  Climb Cliff Mtn in the morning and Redfield in the afternoon
Day 3:  Enjoy the sunshine and relax at the lean-to.
Day 4:  Climb Skylight, and Marcy.
Day 5:  Hike out.

Notes: 

1. We have it on very good authority that there is a summit sign on Redfield if you take a sign as being essential to considering yourself at the top.  You have to search for it, though, because it's not where the canister used to be. 

2. The old English system (non-metric) USGS maps, such as ADK's map, while easier to use than the metric version, do not show the tributary of Uphill Brook that you will actually follow at higher elevations.  If you have the non-metric version you can easily make corrections as follows:  1) the unmarked brook that flows into the Opalescent and appears to begin at a point half way between Lake Tear of the Clouds and the summit of Redfield is Uphill Brook;  2) You will note that it has a zig and a zag in it.  Right where the downstream zig occurs, draw in a branch that continues in the same direction the lower half of the brook takes.  You'll be drawing it right toward the "M" in Moss Pond from the zig.  The line stops at about 3800 ft.  The branch you've drawn is the branch you will actually follow.  At the point during your hike that you reach this fork, you will be walking on the rocks in the brook, following cairns.  The brook will have dwindled in size and you may not notice the fork.  Don't worry if you don't see the fork; if you just keep following the cairns you'll be fine.

Map:

Cliff and Redfield topographical map

1	This photo shows the Opalescent River in the vicinity of the Uphill Brook route to Redfield.  You can also see the slide on the south slope of Mt Colden in the background..  Most of it is obscured by the fog and sleet on Colden left over from the morning.	The gorge of the Opalescent River 2	To reach Uphill Brook from Lake Colden, take the RED Opalescent River Trail (ADK #121, McM #46) from its start at the Lake Colden dam located between Lake Colden and Flowed Land.  Follow it uphill (SE), crossing the Opalescent on the suspension bridge just a hundred yards or so above the river's debouchment into Flowed Land.  Follow the trail uphill (SE) passing the Uphill Brook lean-to which is close to the trail on your left at about 1.5 miles above the suspension bridge.  Right at the lean-to, the Opalescent Trail starts downhill a bit and reaches Uphill Brook in about 150yards.   Just before you would cross Uphill Brook you will see the start of an unmarked trail that is close to the brook  and heads upstream.  This is the start of the trail to Redfield.  If the start of the trail is not obvious just stick close to the brook, keeping it on your left, follow it upstream a short distance, say 100-200 ft,  and you'll quickly find the path.
3	The Opalescent varies from placid pools to violet rapids and gorges.	4	We have left the Opalescent Trail and have started the climb of Redfield along the herd path following Uphill Brook.  This photo was taken at one of the many beautiful pools that one encounters.  This brook is one of the best you will ever find for wading or just cooling your heels.  In most spots the water moves slowly and is a foot or less deep.  The pools vary, but in places can be almost deep enough for a shallow dive.
5	Relaxing on Uphill Brook.  Life is good.	6 photo courtesy of  Elaine Serafini	At the other end of the spectrum, Uphill Brook has a number of falls of varying sizes.  Be on the look-out for opportunities to leave the trail and follow the solid rock streambed, instead.  There are plenty of excellent photo opportunities along the brook and from the path.
7	Redfield is an untrailed peak,  but like all of these peaks it has a trail of sorts.  This one follows the west side of Uphill Brook, is steep, and frequently requires handholds and careful foot placement on wet rocks.  You will have gotten a strenuous workout by the time you see the bottom of the mountain again. This particular spot begs for you to take a photo.  It's a nice pool, probably 20-30 yards from its upper end to where it spills over the hill.  Note Shepherd's Tooth to the left, Marshall and Iroquois.	8 photo courtesy of  Elaine Serafini	A falls on Uphill Brook.  There are many of these, and this is one of the more beautiful brooks in the Adirondacks.
9 photo courtesy of  Elaine Serafini	A small pool in Uphill Brook.  One of many.	10	Always a variety of terrain along Uphill Brook and minor acrobatics are sometimes useful.  You will be within sight of Uphill Brook until the brook runs out at upper elevations.  In this photo the brook is, as always, just to the left out of the photo.
11	There are times when the trail leaves the bank and goes out onto the rocks in the brook.  Cairns usually mark these departures from the bank.  There are also times when walking on the rocks just looks easier and more fun than following the trail.  In that case, feel free to use the rocks because the trail is always nearby.	12	Once you leave the brook, a few narrow vistas open up.  This is a view of Marcy and Gray Peak from a point about 15 minutes from the summit.
13	From Redfield's summit.  You see the Dixes (Dix, Hough, S. Dix, and Macomb) in the far background and a shoulder Skylight to the left.  The Colvin Range is just in front of the Dixes.	14	This is the view ESE from Redfield's summit.  An outcropping of Skylight is in the foreground.  Skylight itself is out of the picture to the left.  There is not a good view of it from the summit trail.  In the extreme background is the Dix Range.  Just in front of it is the Colvin Range.  That would be Blake in between the 2 dead trees a bit left of center.
15	There is no better view of Allen to be had than this one from Redfield.  As we move to the East from the photo just previous, we see Allen and, just left of Allen, McDonnell Mtn.  Allen Brook is clearly visible running up its right side.  The trail to Allen follows Allen Brook.   Behind Allen and McDonnell is Moose Mt.	16	Continuing to capture the panorama from Redfield, we see an unnamed pond in the foreground that flows into Skylight Brook. which flows into Dudley Brook which flows into the Opalescent River, which, oddly enough, is also behind me at Redfield's base where it receives the waters flowing out of Uphill Brook!  In the center of the photo are the North River Mts (a bit to the right) and Cheney Cobble the pointy peak a bit to the left.
18 photo courtesy of  Elaine Serafini	Elaine nearing Redfield's summit can't help a big smile at having ascended peaks #42 and  #43 today.	19 photo courtesy of  Elaine Serafini	The Dix Range with the Colvin Range just in front of it.  Taken from Redfield's summit.
20 photo courtesy of  Elaine Serafini	Marcy is not visible from Redfield's summit.  This photo of Marcy was taken about 10 minutes from the summit of Redfield.	21	Descending from the summit.  The hike down is faster, of course, but it was a tough hike due mainly to the left-over remnants of Hurricane Floyd.

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This page was last updated 09/11/06 08:28:31 PM