Cascade Mountain | The New Trail - An Inside Look

I hate be the first one to be pretty negative about this project, but I do not believe this trail is a good use of DEC's scarce trail construction and maintenance resources. There is still over a mile of challenging terrain yet to be constructed, and that just reaches the col between Cascade and Porter with, as far as I know, no additional work on the steep, eroded (and muddy in the case of Porter) sections between the end of the new trail and those summits. As some of the hikers in the video noted, the current trail was in pretty good shape 20 years ago, but very little maintenance has been done on that trail since then. Consequently, drainages became clogged and muddy areas that could have been fixed with a board of two became wider and longer. Additionally, many of the originally constructed stone staircases ended up with a first step that was dauntingly high - resulting in hikers going around. All of these problems could have been mitigated, but weren't. My idea would have been to put in a major effort to bring this trail up to, as another commenter suggested, a "silver standard" with a commitment for regular annual maintenance. It's true that the new trail will not require as much maintenance. However, the 1.9 mile East Trail to Mt. Van Hoevenberg reportedly cost $1.8 million, and who knows what the four miles of trail unique to Cascade will ultimately cost. I somehow think it would have been a reasonable trade-off to spend much less on rehabbing the current trail, and then spending a few dollars each year to maintain it. It was also noted in the video that, going forward, fewer hikers will climb Cascade. So where will those hikers end up going? Where to park all the cars is a separate issue, but I have made suggestions on that subject as well.

This. This is the kind of content that helps you take the next step. Vlogging is great, but mixing in education and journalism will put you over the top. Keep up the strong work.

This is a welcome change in your normal video format. Real insights into what's happening now. Well done.

With so many people out there to enjoy the hikes, I love the idea of making the high-traffic trails more durable!

It was 1969 (the year we first landed on the moon) when I, as a 14 year-old, first went up Whiteface, Marcy, Cascade, Algonquin, and a few others along with a group of hikers as day trips organized by my summer camp. The trails were all smooth, soft earth, and easy enough for the youngest of us, who were as young as 12. It was a joy to be able to walk and look around at the nature around us. It was truly a magical, wonderful experience. So many dreams were based on my experiences in those hikes! . In 1977, I went back alone to hike Marcy and Algonquin. The trails were now unpleasant as stones four and five inches high littered the trails, forcing one to look down constantly to navigate the trail. It was rather unpleasant, but seemed worth it anyway. . And now, in 2023, retired, I thought it would be fun to try Wright Peak as perhaps a start of a goal to become a 46er. That meant going up the Algonquin trail again before it veered off to the Wright peak. I COULD NOT BELIEVE THE DISASTER OF A TRAIL IT HAD BECOME! Every moment was dedicated to staring down to plan each step carefully onto each massive boulder that now made up the trail. The magic was gone. The soft, flat, trail was completely ruined. I turned back 1,200 ft in elevation from the summit. It just wasn't fun and simply not worth continuing. As a young couple passed by, I mentioned my dismay at the destruction of the trail. The woman mentioned that all the high peak trails were like this now and that they were a "technical challenge." . So that is what hiking the High Peaks had now become: a "technical challenge." I admire all of those young folks happily accepting such a challenge, but sad for them because they will never know the true joy of hiking the Adirondack peaks. Perhaps the new trail at Cascade will restore the magic for that peak. But it needs to be done at all the peaks. I will not be alive to experience that. Sadly, I do not believe that the commitment to make such a thing will ever happen and that the magic will forever be lost. As the joy of the High Peaks are now lost for me, a special part of me is lost as well. . Goodbye, Adirondacks!

I can say from experience, Cascade and Porter are great hikes!

Thx Jonathan for showing this side of things! People need to be educated on what their impact will be! I still like your other videos too!! Take care, keep on movin on!!

Nice update. I am very interested in trail infrastructure, so I was glad to see this video.

I also wonder how the milage is 11 miles if that will deter some of the more casual hikers. The new Vanhoevenburg trail was amazing.

Great content. I climbed Vanhoevenburg this year, 20ish years after I first did it and it was fantastic. With more and more people visiting, the DEC is forward thinking. Highlighting more of the other peaks and trails could help alleviate some traffic. Just saying...

Just did cascade a couple weekends ago, and it was obvious that people have not been thinking about the well being of the mountain and traversing in whatever way they find easiest. Erosion and the widening of comes down to what the people who hike these trails do in order to preserve these trails and mountains. I can’t wait to check out this new trail when it opens!

Nice information Jonathan. I haven't hiked Cascade in a few years. Boy... even in that time it looks like the erosion has gotten worse. I'm looking forward to hiking the new trail when complete... what a ton of work.

Well done!

Another great video Johnathan!!!

It's nice to get an inside view, and see that the d.e.c. is taking a pro-active approach to keeping the adirondacks user friendly for all of us.

Ilove cascade..I find it moderate and the summit is wowwww… Thank you Jonathan 😘😘

Thank you for sharing this content, when I did Cascade and Porter, the trail was super wide and eroded. I will post this on my page.

Such a good and educational vid my guy

Looks amazing. I've been putting off the existing trail. Sounds like I need to plan a trip sooner than later!

I just did Cascade and Porter for the first time yesterday, and it certainly is a remarkable difference compared to the ones ive climbed already. The erosion and widening of trail is really bad. Its great to see they are creating a new trail, i hadn't heard of this project until this video. Great content as always man! Your care and passion for the Adirondacks certainly speaks volumes through your videos!