Giant

The formal name for Giant mountain is Giant of the Valley, but Giant is the only word needed to describe this massive, slide torn peak on the east side of Route 73 south of the tiny hamlet of St. Huberts. Carved by glacial action into a ampitheater-like shape known as a cirque, giant is 4,627 feet tall, the 12th highest in the Adirondacks. Reaching its summit by Roaring Brook Trail, which we chose, means a climb of 3,375 feet in 3.6 miles. An alternate route, known as the ridge trail, is about six tenths of a mile shorter and requires 325 fewer feet of ascent.

Jim, Jay & Mike climbed Giant Aug. 18, 2001. The trail was steep from start to finish but the first half was mostly on soft forest duff, a marked contrast to the rocky, eroded trails on some of the other peaks we experienced earlier. The second half of the trek was on a more typical rocky trail with only a handful of steep rock pitches to conquer.

One of the treats of the climb up Roaring Brook Trail is a giant, balanced rock left behind by an ancient glacier. It would have made a perfect spot to camp, had we been so inclined.

New growth that followed a massive 1963 slide blocked most of the view of Giant as we ascended and a summer-long dry spell had reduced Roaring Brook Falls to a trickle.

A heavy overcast began to lift as we reached the summit. The view was breath taking with the Ausable Club and St. Huberts at our feet. Above them loomed range after range of mountains with Marcy, its summit in the clouds, on the horizon.

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