Spencer Morrissey

Spencer Morrissey

Spencer Morrissey is an Adirondack native and to this day resides and works in the park. He works as a community developer, smart growth planner, recreational consultant, and licensed guide. He is the owner of Incapahcho Wilderness Guides a publishing company,where he produces and publishes books on adventures in the park. Spencer is a published author with titles; “The Other 54,” “Adirondack Trail Runner,” and “Adirondack Trail Skier,” with many other titles always in progress.

Spencer is a 5-time 46er and a winter 46er, a fire-tower challenger completer, a finisher of the Adirondack 100-highest, and is in the pursuit of climbing all the names peaks in the Adirondack Park, one of the reasons behind his countless unique adventures in the wild.

Written by Spencer Morrissey

Pond Hoppin’ the Moose River Plains Area

It was one of those days that looked like the weather was not going to cooperate with us, so we postponed our anticipated autumn summit hike. But it turned out we were wrong — can you believe it? So...

For Pete’s Sake – a long hike back to Pete’s Hill

One of the hardest things about trying to find hiking partners, is finding ones who have days off during the week. This week in particular I couldn't talk anyone into taking the day off to join in on...

Three Select Hikes in Hamilton County

Hamilton County is one of the largest counties in New York state and it does not fall short for hiking opportunities. To choose just three would be a tough proposition. The hiking trails of the...

Number Four and Stillwater: Two Tower Peaks (Kinda)

By now, most locals - and I'd guess many visitors to the heart of the Adirondacks  - have heard the hubbub about the Stillwater Fire Tower  being open the public.  Corenne and I were just as excited...

Gluten Free on the trail!

Trying to eat gluten free is one of the hardest things I have ever tried to do - I love wheat and wheat products. While being a celiac is not something we have to deal with, Corenne and I both have...

A day of fire tower past

Corenne and I have this unique quest to climb all the fire tower peaks in the Adirondacks, even if the fire tower has been removed. This brought us to the Piseco area, on a trek that would gain us...

The triple in Indian Lake

I found myself with Jerod and Melissa once again hiking in the Indian Lake Region, but this time on three somewhat secluded peaks that I have been eyeballing for some time. However, seeing them from...

Care and storage of winter gear

The end of a long winter season is once again upon us, and even though the conditions weren't all that conducive to what might be called an excellent winter season, our gear did get periodic use and...

Get ready for camping, Part 2: Sleeping bags and pads

Picking a sleeping bag is not all that difficult once you get a grasp on your personal comfort level. There are numerous companies out there making sleeping bags, and some are better than others, but...

Get ready for camping season, Part 1: Tents

Every company that has anything to do with the outdoor retail industry is making a tent and placing it on the market. With different price points, features, colors, weight, and retail propaganda,...

Two Days in the Hudson River Gorge Primitive Area: Day One

A warm day was a-brewin' as we set out for our first adventure on the south side of the Hudson River. We had been scoping out Casey and P Gay mountains for some time, and if I had anything to do with...

Two days in the Hudson River Gorge Primitive Area: Day Two

Starbuck and Harris Rift Mountains Arriving about a week and a half later to the same region, we found ourselves attracted to Starbuck and Harris Rift mountains. Some of this would tread through the...

Proper Layering, Part 5: Core Protection

10Feb2016
I don't know if I would say I've saved the best for last, but here it is anyway: Proper layering for core protection. This part of your body is by far the most important and vital for survival. It's...

Proper Layering, Part 4: Hand Protection

The hands are pretty easy to monitor and layer up because they are usually the first to feel the effects of cold temperatures. However, if in the past you have had frost nip or frostbite to your...

Owls Head and the Horns, my curiosity won

Owls Head, always a fun trail I think my curiosity to find cool and interesting stuff wins over more often than not, kind of like my lack of self-control when it comes to baked goods, but I like to...

Proper Layering, Part-3, Feet Protection

Starting from the bottom The feet can be a huge issue to deal with when not properly equipped for the weather. This is an especially problematic area for many people in the winter when ill-fitting or...

Proper Layering, Part 2: Head Protection

Be sure to protect that noggin I'm not a doctor and my nickname isn't "Doc," but I do know one thing: I can regulate my temperature like a thermostat by putting on or taking off my winter cap. The...

A quick trip up the Pisgahs

Its official, well it's been official for some time now, but both Pisgah mountains are on state land and have become a welcome part of the Hudson Gorge Primitive Area. Big Pisgah Mountain has been a...

Proper Layering, Part 1: Materials

No matter the destination, no matter the part of the Adirondacks, no matter the conditions at hand, I see improperly prepared people hiking in the winter cold. I mostly contribute that to a lack of...

Lewey Mountain: Finding a friendlier route

Lewey Mountain is the 69th highest peak in the Adirondack Park on the Adirondack 100-Highest Mountains list of peaks. You can easily find Lewey in Indian Lake because it towers over the lake with the...

An autumn visit to two gems: Little Sawyer and Ledge mountains

Little Sawyer and Ledge mountains are true gems in the Hamilton County Region, and quite honestly I might be addicted to their summits. I have been to these two peaks on several occasions but looking...

Gluten Free (GF) Snack Recipes for the Pack

23Nov2015
Trying to eat gluten free is one of the hardest things I have ever tried to do - I love wheat and wheat products. While being a celiac is not something we have to deal with, Corenne and I both have...

Billy’s Bald Spot and Brown’s Rock: A historical walk through Big Moose

The Adirondacks has some of the most rooted and interesting history in the northeast — and possibly the country — and a passion of mine is reading about it and experiencing it. After reading through...

A rainy day in Indian Lake

Hiking is great in Indian Lake, even on a rainy day Overall I would have to say I had a pretty good, constructive fall season. The rains that typically soak the region this time of year have not been...

Moose River Plains: 4 days of exploring (day 4)

The wonders of waters This will most likely put an end to my visits to the Moose River Plains for the season, but with that being said, I might be coerced to tackle one more peak in the area. I will...

Try a new type of adventure: Surf and Turf style

Do you like to hike? Do you like to paddle? Than I am pretty sure you will like doing a bit of both packed into one adventure. A surf and turf works like this: First you paddle to a trail (surf),...

Moose River Plains: 4 days of exploring (day 3.5)

We had just come off of Indian Lake Mountain - located just over the border into the West Canada Lake Wilderness  - where we enjoyed side trips to Muskrat Pond and Squaw Lake along the way. We now...

Moose River Plains: 4 Days of Exploring (day 3)

The Moose River Plains is by no means a stranger in my life or the life of my hiking partner Jimbo. However, the part that we would explore today was a bit of a reach for us - we were heading out...

Moose River Plains: 4 days of exploring (day 2)

09Sep2015
This would be a short day out exploring a trail I noticed to be a new addition to the Moose River Plains. I saw this trail on my previous visit to Fawn Lake Mountain and it made me wonder about its...

Moose River Plains: 4 days of exploring (Day 1)

As you can imagine, four days in the Moose River Plains is only enough time to merely scratch the surface of the possible exploring that can be had there. But on this day I only had a brief amount of...

Mitchell Ponds Mountain-A true treat to the senses

Hiking in the Wilds of the Moose River Plains Can a mountain be delicious? If so, I think Mitchell Ponds Mountain might be a gourmet treat. I mean who knew that this 2400' summit on the outskirts of...

So you like trout fishing, huh? See what Long Lake has to offer...

Five Top Spots for Trout Fishing Long Lake is one of those small towns of the Adirondack Park whose recreational offerings are as diverse as you could ask for. From climbing to the top of a mountain...

A three peak spectacle in Speculator

After a day or so contemplating how I would spend my day off, I set my sights on three peaks between Speculator and Wells: Guideboard Hill, Speculator Mountain, and Cutknife Mountain. We had pretty...

Sargent Ponds Loop--A guided hike for Long Lake

A guided tour of the Sargent Ponds Wild Forest A few years back Long Lake asked me to lead hikes for them in the Long Lake Region, of course I jumped on the opportunity. This year's outings started...

Hamilton County Waterfalls---Wet Weather Wonderlands

Hamilton County is loaded with waterfalls and after the last few weeks of heavy rain those waterfalls are loaded with water and that opens up some serious opportunities for scenic hiking, and...

Barker Mountain and Barker Pond

In search of trail potential I have been working with the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) off and on, trying to determine locations of family-friendly trails, in particular in Hamilton...

Camping in Hamilton County --- New York State Style

State camping in Hamilton County The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has numerous campgrounds throughout New York, but in the Adirondack Park we have some of the finest...

Metcalf Mountain, an Indian Lake 3k’er

Metcalf Mountain There is a small group of hiking enthusiasts out there whose goal is to climb all the Hamilton County 3000 foot mountains. This is a pretty decent accomplishment considering it's a ...

DIY Exploring—A Bushwhacking Overview

17May2015
Adirondack Bushwhacking I have been exploring the Adirondack backwoods for decades and much of that time has been spent off-trail, through the forest, thick and thin, bushwhacking. I took on the...

Macomber Mountain—A venture to a Hamilton County 3K’er

Macomber Mountain I have a fascination with bushwhacking and exploring something new, and who knows, maybe even previously uncharted. My buddy Jim has been itching to do the 3000 foot peaks in...

A Cascade Trifecta: The Mountain, The Lake, and The Waterfall

A bit of bushwhacking and a bit of trail hiking in the Inlet Region  Springtime is a challenging time for hiking, especially for portions of the hiking experience that is completed off-trail, but I...

Bluff Point Hill

A Raquette Lake Shoreline Adventure Bluff Point Hill can be found on the northeast shore of Raquette Lake, right on the edge of the Sargent Ponds Wild Forest. It's one of those named peaks that might...

Death Falls, Estelle Pond and Estelle Mountain

Hiking in Hamilton County Estelle Mountain lays a simple 1.1 miles off the main corridor heading to and from Raquette Lake, and with such close proximity I just had to head out into the wilderness to...

Buck Meadow Mountain

Exploring a remote peak in the Siamese Pond Wilderness Note: Please respect the rights of property owners and stay on the trail — there is no public access to Kings Flow at this time. Buck Meadow...

Hike like a dog - recreation with man’s best friend

Being a dog hiker!!! As with many of you, I enjoy hiking with my four-legged companion. But for many of you reading this, maybe this hasn't been a pleasure you have yet partaken in. While fun, it is...

A Half Dozen snowshoe destinations in the Indian Lake Region for the entire family

A Half Dozen snowshoe destinations in the Indian Lake Region for the entire family Indian Lake is home to some the finest snowshoeing available in Hamilton County ranging from tough excursions to...

Humphrey Mountain, a little of this and a little of that = a great day in the woods

Humphrey Mountain, a little of this and a little of that = a great day in the woods My buddy Jim Hopson and I have been eyeballing this peak for quite some time. Every time we look at a map of the...

A Winter Fire Tower Challenge ~ Kane Mountain plus some

A Winter Fire Tower Challenge~~~Kane Mountain plus some Did you know that the Adirondack Fire Tower Challenge also has a winter category? Between December 21 and March 21 you can work on your winter...

Cross-country Skiing---Try something new this winter

Cross-country Skiing---Try something new this winter Do you snowshoe, hike, snowmobile, ice fish or maybe you have some other winter passion but have never tried cross-country skiing? Maybe you want...

Cellar Mountain - A bushwhack in the West Canada Lake Wilderness

My buddy Jim and I have this crazy obsession with trail-less peaks and we are always looking for new places to explore and new terrain to break trail on. This week our eyes focused on the Indian Lake...

An Adirondack winter outing; Snowshoeing the Sagamore Lake Loop

An Adirondack winter outing: Snowshoeing the Sagamore Lake Loop A Winter Carnival Event This outing was an event planned by the Great Camp Sagamore as part of the Long Lake/Raquette Lake Winter...

Goodnow Mountain - Looking back on a sunset hike

Goodnow Mountain - Looking back on a sunset hike Have you ever had one of those days where you just needed to get outside and leave everything inside behind? Inside your head I mean. You know that...

Gluten Free in the Back-Country

Nutrition on the Trail: Gluten Free Snacks for the Back-Country First off what's gluten? A substance present in certain grains, especially wheat, it is a mixture of two proteins; it causes illness...

Adirondack Fire Tower Challenge

Hike into history by climbing one or all of the five historic fire towers in the Adirondack Experience region. These towers are more than a century old but still stand as sentinels in the Adirondacks...

3 Trail Running Destinations in the Indian Lake Area

While not all trails in the Indian Lake area are great for trail running, many you will find do fit the bill. Trail conditions and terrain play a huge roll in what's good and not-so-good. Trail...

A Weekend on Long Lake, Part 3 of 3

A Weekend on Long Lake Read Part 1 Read Part 2 PART 3 OF 3 We awoke the next morning to the thumping and crashing of aluminum canoes along the shore, another camp group was setting off down the...

A Weekend on Long Lake, Part 2 of 3

A Weekend on Long Lake, Part 2 of 3 (If you haven't read Part 1 yet, follow this link to read Part 1) Buttermilk Falls I had left you last week as we laid our heads down for the night at the end of a...

A Guided Adventure up Sawyer and Little Sawyer

A Guided Adventure up Sawyer and Little Sawyer Hiking in the Indian Lake Region As a licensed guide I have the pleasure of planning some pretty interesting and fun trips for the Town of Long Lake,...

A Weekend on Long Lake

Weekend on Long Lake: Part 1 of 3   Gearing up for vacation   With an extended weekend planned and the boats strapped securely to the roof rack, we loaded up our camping gear, charged the batteries...

Paddling Raquette Lake

Many options for a weekend paddle on one of the Adirondacks premiere lakes Raquette Lake is an interesting body of water, not only is it a large body, but its structure is unique in itself. With...

Five Family Friendly Hikes

Plentiful Hiking New York State is not lacking in hiking opportunities, especially when it comes to the Adirondack Park. Not all hiking in the Adirondacks is perfect for the entire family, especially...

5 Secluded Flatwater Paddles in The Adirondacks

The Adirondacks is filled with paddling opportunities, far too many to write about in one single blog, but below you can read about five destinations that are well worth checking out. Where are your...

Newsletter Sign Up