Got an early start on by arriving at the Garden parking lot by 8am on what was forecast to be a beautiful November day. There were only a few other cars as I set out for the woods, on my way to Big Slide Mountain via the Brothers Trail. Big Slide is the 27th highest mountain in the High Peaks, with an elevation of 4240 feet.
Once in the woods, you will soon arrive at the first trail junction at .2 miles.
Climbing through mostly hardwoods at the lower elevations.
Arriving at the first ledge at about .8 of a mile on your approach to the Brothers.
The first of many outstanding views of the Great Range.
The view back towards Keene Valley.
There are amazing views to be had from a series of rock ledges as the trail traverses the three Brothers.
Following a ledge with a very steep drop off.
The Great Range from the Brothers.
Successive views of the Great Range beyond Johns Brook Valley.
The view of Porter Mountain directly to the north is impressive.
Panorama from Porter Mountain past Keene Valley and towards the Great Range.
There are almost endless views from the rock ledges along the trail.
A phenomenal view of Big Slide Mountain from Third Brother.
The only other hikers I saw the entire day, just ahead.
A fantastic panorama from the Third Brother.
The trail on the way up Big Slide is very muddy and keeping dry feet is almost impossible.
At 3.7 miles into the hike, you arrive at a trail junction.
The last .3 of a mile is extremely steep and challenging.
A wooden ladder helps in a trickier spot.
Looking down at the ladder climb.
Another steep and rocky section just prior to the top.
An amazing view below the summit of the scar from the slide that is the mountain's namesake.
The steep view back down the trail.
The drop off from Big Slide Mountain is extremely steep.
After 4 miles of tough climbing you arrive at the summit. The view northeast from Big Slide's ledge.
An incredible panorama from Big Slide's summit.
Big Slide Mountain's 4240 foot rocky summit.
After leaving Big Slide's summit I continued on towards Yard Mountain. The trail towards Yard Mountain is fairly overgrown in spots, where evergreen branches crowd in on you in spots.
Yard Mountain's wooded summit. The elevation here is 4018 feet, but there is not enough prominence from Big Slide for it to count as a High Peak of its own.
Climbed very steeply down towards the valley, where you arrive at a trail junction. I turned left(north) here on the way back to the Garden.
A small pool below a pretty cascade on Black Brook.
The trail follows babbling Black Brook for a little while.
A sturdy footbridge over Black Brook just before arriving at Johns Brook Lodge.
The DEC Interior Outpost, Johns Brook Lodge, owned and managed by the Adirondack Mountain Club.
A plethora of trails from JBL.
Beautiful Johns Brook is found only yards away from JBL.
A footbridge where Brown Brook empties into Johns Brook.
A footbridge near the lean to on Johns Brook.
Cascades along Johns Brook.
Double foot bridges crossing Deer Brook just before the Deer Brook Shelter.
Finally arrived back at the Garden after 11.1 miles RT, completing a long loop. Elevation gain for the day was well over 2800 feet.
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