Street and Nye: Not all Peaks have a View

After my introduction to the High Peaks with Cascade and Porter, my next hike took me to Street and Nye. These two mountains are a bit more off the beaten path. For the most part, they’re unmarked trails accessed via herd paths (albeit well-travelled ones). 

The hike starts by Heart Lake, which was especially beautiful, covered in early morning steam fog. Not too far in, I came to my first stream crossing, where I had to take off my boots to cross. I knew it was coming, so I was ready for it.

I tackled Street first; it’s slightly higher than Nye and has some rockier sections. Along the way, I enjoyed walking along the sound of the stream. The trails were quiet; I probably only crossed paths with about a dozen groups all day.  Reaching the summit of Street was anticlimactic. It’s literally just a sign in the middle of the woods. I never would have guessed it was the summit, and there was definitely no view.

Next up was Nye. This part of the hike came with a lot more mud. The summit? Also wooded. Also no real view. But I enjoyed a quiet break at the top in solitude. The way back brought round two of the mud and another go at the stream crossing, which didn’t go quite as smoothly. Six hours into the hike, I was tired, and slipped on a slimmy rock, taking a bit of a tumble. A few bruises, but my boots stayed dry, which was really all I cared about. The sun dried the rest. Overall, it was a solid day of hiking, nothing too difficult, asides from the mud and stream crossing (which added a bit of fun). No real views but I enjoyed the forest and peaceful quiet trails.

Hike Details:

• Trailhead: Adirondak Loj

• Distance: 16.6 km (10.3 miles)

• Elevation Gain: 814 m (2,670 feet)

• Time on Trail: 7h35