Adirondacks: Cooper Kiln (Wilmington) Slide 5/21/21

On an unusually hot day for May, with temps reaching 90 in the valley, I climbed another slide born from Tropical Storm Irene. Cooper Kiln Slide is a mile-long scar on the east side of the Wilmington Range, with easy access to its track from the Cooper Kill Trail. For this approach I started on the lower eastern end of the trail on Bonnieview Road, outside of Wilmington.

The 1.6 mile approach started as a delightful easy walk, as seen here, then climbed moderately with pretty good footing to a sharp left turn.

At the turn an old woods road/herd path leads across to the track of the slide.

The lower part of the slide is a rubbly swath.

A decade after the slide came down, alders are flourishing in many places along the track.

From a point behind a huge boulder, I obtained a first glimpse to the head of the slide.

The very steep headwall of the slide is on the right. On the left is a short slide that fell during the same storm.

First ledges on the slide. Now it gets more fun.

More ledges, hot in the sun.

Looking back, hazy views opening up to the east.

Farther up, the vista is panoramic. Were it clearer, Lake Champlain and the northern Green Mountains would be prominent.

Weaving a route up the slide.

Spring foliage greening up the lower slopes of the Wilmington Range.

An impressive rock wall looms ahead.

I went over to the base on the right side for a closer look, then went back to the left for a tricky scramble up a series of ledgy steps.

Looking down from the top of the scramble.

Interesting formations in the white anorthosite.

View from the top of the rock wall.

Ledge steps ahead.

Steep pitch.

There's the headwall! Reports are that it is for experienced rock climbers only, with a pitch up to 45 degrees.

Working up to the base of the headwall.

It looks impressive up there.

I made my way up to the base of the big ledge step seen here on the right. The white bedrock was brilliant in the sun.

Looking up from my turnaround point.

Serious terrain up here.

A beautiful quartz vein cutting across the anorthosite.

Down-look.

View from my lunch spot.

 

 

 

Looking back up.

 

 

Partway down on the descent I took to the woods to avoid down-climbing at the rock wall.

Back onto the slide.

Crossing over to the other side.

Descending through open hardwoods - yeah!

Last look at the imposing headwall.