Mt. Colden - Trap Dike
Route Topo
Route Details
Difficulty: WI2
Length: 1825 feet
Type: Alpine Snow/Ice
Approach Length: 3-4 hours
Route Length: 4-7 hours
Recommended Rope Size: 40m
Date: 1/17/2026
Partner: Lia
The Trap Dike is a classic mountaineering objective in the Adirondacks. This route was first climbed by James Goodwin in 1935, before he went on to serve as an instructor and medic for the Army's 10th Mountain Division during World War II.
As with many alpine snow/ice routes, the difficulty of this route is heavily dependent on the conditions of the snow. In the early season, this route is less filled in with snow and it becomes a long ice route and the slabs at the top can be particularly tricky.
Route Media
Approach | Start at the Adirondack Loj and snowshoe or ski past the Marcy Dam, and taking the southwest fork towards Avalanche Pass at the Avalanche Camp. I’ve created a Caltopo map for reference which includes both the ascent and descent beta.
Note: the Avalanche Pass Trail is officially closed due to a slide last summer, but the DEC does not prevent bushwhacking to get to the base of the Trap Dike.
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There are many ways up the Dike, depending on time of year and conditions. You can avoid the 2 ice steps by staying to the right of them.
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The first ice step is within 30m of the start of the route
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Having a holstered ice tool comes in handy for this section of the route.
In these filled out conditions, there were several options for ice belays at the top of this section to belay a follower.
Snow slogging most of the way
Summit shot
Avalanche Lake approach view
Descent | You can either reverse the route, rappelling past the 2 short ice steps, or follow the snowshoe trail included in my Caltopo map.
Gear | This is heavily dependent on the snow conditions. In the early season, you can bring a few ice screws and cams/nuts to belay your follower past the ice cruxes. When the route is really filled out as is shown in this report, you might even be able to place snow pickets during some of the exposed snow slab sections.
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