McKenzie Mountain

McKenzie Mountain is one of two peaks on a trail off Route 86 just south of Ray Brook. At 3,861 feet it is nearly 1,000 feet taller than 2,878-foot Haystack Mountain, its trail mate. The trail to the summit of McKenzie is 5.2 miles, meaning a 10.4-mile round trip.

We climbed McKenzie July 3, 2001. The first 2.4 miles to the junction with the Haystack trail were a breeze despite a few minutes of light drizzle. The next 1.2 miles to the junction of a trail to Whiteface Inn alternated between rocks and mud with two stream crossings. Then the fun began. The trail ascends more than 1,000 feet in little more than a half mile. The challenges included three narrow ledges that had to be traversed.

The view from the top was worth the effort. It included a panoramic view of Lake Placid, Mirror Lake, the Olympic venues and the high peaks with Marcy looming in the background. We were alone on the trail and at the summit

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