Big Slide Mountain On Which "I Did Slide" & The Brothers Mountains in 360

No doubt that Nolan I have gotten the "peak climbing bug". After being warned by ADK and some well traveled peak baggers about the trials and travails of hiking the mountains in early spring, Nolan and I checked the trail reports and decided to give it a go, to notch our fourth Adirondack High Peak. We headed north for the just under 3 hour drive which I do not seem to mind. There is much beautiful scenery on Rt 8 & 87, and the anticipation of the climb ahead, seems to keep boredom in check. We arrived in the village of Keene around 9:30am and pulled into the "Garden" trail-head ($7/parking fee, 60 car limit)in the charming Village of Keene, around 9:45am. We signed in, and Nolan and I were immediately struck by how dry the trail was. We easily crossed a small creek about a half-mile in. Trail conditions in the first half of the trek were dry and excellent, and because it was still early spring in the Adirondacks there were no nasty black flies yet. We made it to the first mountains; "The Brothers" where we taken aback by the stunning views especially the 360 degree view on Brother 2. Scrambling over the gorgeous stone faces atop the Brothers peaks was truly one of the highlights of this mountain climb. After coming off the Brothers, we encountered the last remnants of snow and ice (a few inches up to a foot deep) on the dark (North) side of Big Slide Mt and the side of Brothers in the shade of Big Slide. So we slipped on the cramp-ons and pushed ahead to make the final push to the summit....more to come.