Wright Peak

Not to be confused with Wright Peak, Antarctica.

For the peak in Northern California, see Mount Konocti.

Wright Peak
Wright Peak from Mount Jo, Heart Lake, lower left, Algonquin, behind at right
Highest point
Elevation	4,587 feet (1,398 metres)
Prominence	270 ft (80 m)^[1]
Listing	Adirondack High Peaks
Coordinates	44°09′06″N 73°58′49″W / 44.15167°N 73.98028°W / 44.15167; -73.98028Coordinates: 44°09′06″N 73°58′49″W / 44.15167°N 73.98028°W / 44.15167; -73.98028
Geography
Location	North Elba, New York, U.S.
Parent range	MacIntyre Range
Topo map	USGS Keene Valley
Climbing
Easiest route	Hike from the Adirondak Loj

Wright Peak is the 16th highest peak in the High Peaks of the Adirondack Park, and is located in the MacIntyre Range in the town of North Hudson, in Essex County, New York. Named for N.Y. Governor Silas Wright (1795–1847), Wright is the northern-most peak in the MacIntyre Range, and is known to be one of the windiest peaks in the park, as well as one of the best for back-country skiing. There are long slides from the summit that lead to Marcy Dam which are often skied in the winter.

The usual approach to Wright Peak is from the Adirondak Loj, heading 1.3 miles (2.1 km) up the Van Hovenberg trail, then ascending the steep MacIntyre Range Trail to the junction for Algonquin Peak; a left turn takes the climber .4 miles and up the last few hundred feet of elevation through the alpine zone. Wright is often hiked in conjunction with Algonquin and sometimes Iroquois Peak by peakbaggers, making for one of the toughest hikes in the region.

B-47 crash site

On January 16, 1962, a B-47 bomber on a training mission crashed into Wright Peak, killing all four crewmen. Their training mission involved practicing low bombing runs over Watertown, NY. Due to inclement weather, the bomber veered about 30 miles off course, and into the High Peaks region. The aircraft made its impact just feet below the summit of Wright Peak. Pieces of the wreckage can still be found on the summit, along with a plaque near the impact site. Some of the crash debris is quite large, and hikers making the trip to the summit have been known to take small pieces down with them as souvenirs.^[2]

Mount Colden from Wright, Marcy at left
Wright Peak as seen from Marcy Dam (note snow-covered Marcy Dam Pond, foreground)
Pitchoff, Cascade and Porter, from Wright

Notes

↑ Key col elevation between 1,310 and 1,320 m.
↑ An Air Force Bomber Crashes into Wright Peak http://www.adirondack-park.net/history/b47.wright.html

External links

The High Peaks of New York's Adirondack Mountains

Northern Adirondacks	Esther Whiteface

Eastern Adirondacks	Giant Rocky Peak

Colvin Range	Blake Colvin Dial Nippletop

Dix Range	Dix Grace Peak South Dix Hough Macomb

Northern High Peaks	Big Slide Cascade Phelps Porter Table Top

Marcy Group	Allen Cliff Colden Gray Haystack Marcy Redfield Skylight

Other Great Range	Armstrong Basin Gothics Saddleback Sawteeth Lower Wolfjaw Upper Wolfjaw

MacIntyre Mountains	Algonquin Iroquois Marshall Wright

Santanoni Mountains	Couchsachraga Panther Santanoni

Seward Mountains	Donaldson Emmons Seward Seymour

Street Range	(MacNaughton) Nye Street

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