Start Time at the Adirondak Loj parking lot: Unknown - we are not in a hurry today

Weather: clear, cool - 50 degrees when we started the trip / 57 degrees by the time we got back

Elevation: 2876 feet (Ascent from Adirondak Loj is 700 ft)

Beautiful walk!  Started along the trail on Heart Lake.  Stopped a the Nature Center to pick up an "Interpretive Guide" for Mt. Jo.  Met Otter, the beautiful husky with golden eyes.  We took the "long trail" to the top (ADK #77), because we had read that the "short trail" was steeper (aren't they always??).  Everyone did great on the hike.  When we got to the rocks near the top, everyone collapsed into a pile and ate a snack.  Then we walked the last 50 feet to the top.

On the way to the top, we saw no other hikers, but once we got to the top, they were everywhere.  There were probably all on the "short trail".

We spent some time on the summit, then started down.  Somehow, we missed the cut-off for the long trail, so we came down the short trail.  It was much more rocky and steep, but it had a rock staircase, which I have never seen anywhere else in the Adirondacks.

We stopped at Heart Lake on the way back and enjoyed the view, then at the Nature Center to talk to the naturalist about owls.  And to pet Otter again.  He was a very good dog.

After the hike, we stopped at the Noon Mark Diner so that the kids could experience a real "after hike diner meal" and some delicious homemade desserts.

Mileage for the day: about 2.5 miles

IMG_1188.JPG	Colden, Wright, Algonquin and Iroquois from Mt. Jo.  Heart Lake is in the foreground.  We were not quite on the summit yet at this point.
IMG_1189.JPG	Marcy (center) from Mt. Jo.  Phelps and Tabletop can be seen to the left of Marcy.  Colden can be seen to the right.
IMG_1190.JPG	The family stops for a snack right before the summit.
IMG_1192.JPG	Wallface (sort of obvious in the center), with MacNaughton behind it and Street to the right.  Indian Pass is at the base of Wallface.  Taken from the summit of Mt. Jo.
IMG_1193.JPG	Another picture of Mt Colden, Wright and Algonquin - this time from the summit of Mt. Jo.  Again, Heart Lake is in the foreground.
IMG_1194.JPG	Cascade and Porter (center), Pitchoff Mountain (on the left) and a couple of the "Brothers" on the right.  Taken from the summit of Mt. Jo.
IMG_1195.JPG	Mt. Marcy is dead center.  Phelps, Basin (behind) and Tabletop are to the left of Marcy. Colden and Avalanche Pass are to the right.
IMG_1196.JPG	Heather on the summit.
IMG_1197.JPG	Heather and Will did a great job of getting to the summit.
IMG_1198.JPG	Another picture similar to previous ones - Colden and Avalanche Pass, Wright and Algonquin, Heart Lake
IMG_1199.JPG	Val and Tim's self-portrait
IMG_1201.JPG	This is a picture towards Lake Placid.  The tall mountain that you see between the trees is Whiteface.  If you click on the picture, you will be able to see the ski jumps from the 1980 Olympics on the left (very tiny).
IMG_1203.JPG	Uncle Tim, Aunt Val and Heather at the summit.
IMG_1204.JPG	Family photo minus Will.  He decided that he had had enough pictures taken for the time being.
IMG_1206.JPG	Back at the bottom of the mountain - at the edge of Heart Lake.
IMG_1207.JPG	Another picture from "Lake Level".
IMG_1208.JPG	Will at the shore of Heart Lake, practicing walking with his trekking pole.
IMG_1209.JPG	Debi, Heather and Will are making friends with Otter.  Otter works at the small Nature Museum for children that is on the trail to Heart Lake/Mt. Jo.  He was extremely friendly.