Big Slide mountain is one of the 46 Adirondack High Peaks in Keene Valley, New York. There are a couple different routes to this trail but I took the trail that takes you over The Brothers from the Garden parking lot. Parking here is about $10 per person and more information on the parking area can be found here. It’s about 7.6 miles and 3,126 feet in elevation gain. The trail to this peak is beautiful and has numerous lookout points. I did this hike in the winter to familiarize myself with winter hiking since it was a short trail. I started at 7:15 am on January 9, 2022. It was my first hike of this year!

Before the hike I familiarized myself with using an ice axe, micro spikes, and snowshoes for hiking. Snowshoes are required on the trails in the Adirondacks when snow depths exceed 8 inches. So bring them with you even if you might not actually need to use them. More information about hiking in winter conditions can be found on this website. If you are just learning about hiking in the winter like I was, I recommend talking with lots of experienced winter hikers and watching YouTube videos about using an ice axe properly and practicing with it before you go. I also joined an Adirondack Trail conditions Facebook group which provides really great insight about snow/ice conditions on the trails and this helped me prepare for my hike.

The trail is pretty straightforward and well marked. At about 1.5 miles you reach the first brother and at 2.7 miles you reach the third brother. At the third brother you have gained about 2,000 feet in elevation and are about to start the final climb to the summit. You follow The Brothers Trail for a total of 3.9 miles then merge on to the Big Slide Trail. From the third brother up to Big Slide you will gain about 800 feet in elevation.

When I went on this hike there was fresh snow on the ground and plenty of ice. I used my ice axe in several spots to pull myself up the ice or over sketchy portions. I also wore my micro spikes the entire way because it allowed me to stick myself to the ground and prevent slipping and sliding. Near the top of Big Slide there was a slick sheet of ice covering a rock slide. This part was a little scary but I took my time and was certain of my foot/axe placement to get over it. Other than this small section the hike wasn’t overly challenging.

I reached the summit at 10:30 am, I obviously went pretty slow. The top was completely socked in and super windy, so I hid among some trees to have one of the fanciest meals I’ve ever had on a high peak. It was leftover fish, green olives stuffed with garlic and jalapeños, and mozzarella cheese. That food made the hike so much more rewarding. I didn’t stay at the top long but I did see two other people come up after me, other than that I didn’t see anyone on the trail. I was the first one to break the trail and reach the summit that day and that is an amazing feeling!

Getting down the mountain wasn’t too bad. Follow the same route that you took on the way up. I still moved pretty slow because I didn’t want to fall down and slide off of the trail. At one point I did slide though and was able to use my axe to self arrest which goes to show how important it is to bring safety equipment. I was done around 1 pm.

Overall thoughts on the trail

I really enjoyed this hike since it was my first winter hike, I was alone, and I had such a tasty snack. I also layered well and was never cold, that’s almost like an art in my opinion.

Some parts of the trail were sketchy in the ice and snow but in the summer/fall I imagine it’s not that terrible.

Before you go on any winter hike please dress appropriately, check for avalanche warnings, bring the right gear, and tell people where you are going and when they can expect to hear from you. Hiking in the winter can easily and quickly become a scary situation so don’t take the ordeal lightly. Also since it’s cold out it’s easy to think you are not dehydrated/thirsty. Keep drinking water the whole way and use either an insulated water bottle or keep it lodged within clothes in you pack so that it doesn’t freeze.

What I brought