Adirondack Places
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Fire Towers - The Southwestern Region |
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Blue Mountain |
Blue Mountain is one of the most popular fire towers in New York State, due no doubt to it's close proximity to the Adirondack Museum in Blue Mt. Thousands who visit the Museum also take time each summer to enjoy the 2-mile hike to this summit. On a recent July Friday, over 80 people signed in, but I have enjoyed this peak numerous times in early spring or late fall in solitude. What made this trip memorable was a unique opportunity to view Ranger Gregory George in the process of painting the tower. Precariously leaning through the window, he coated the sides in fresh gray paint while jockeying for space with visitors in the tiny cubicle. Ordinarily the tower is closed, so not only were we lucky enough to witness the re-hab, but Ranger George pleasantly answered the many questions I had about Blue and towers in general. Although the citizens' group organized to restore and maintain this delightful trail is fairly inactive now, an informative interpretative brochure is still available at the sign-in to highlight the flora and geological features along the way. Without interpreters manning the summit and giving access to the tower, views are obscured by scrub spruce - with the exception of views to the northeast across Tirrrel Pond and the mountains beyond. Blue's 35-ft. tower was built in 1917 in response to the great fires of 1903 and 1908. The Blue Mt. region was surveyed by Verplanck Colvin who may have been the first person to reach this summit and clear a trail for the luxury hotel guests visiting the lakeside resorts below. Colvin, his assistant Miles Blake and survey party, checked into the Prospect House June 17th, 1882. Look for his benchmark embedded in the rock just north of the tower. For more information on the Blue Mt. Fire Tower Project, contact Jim Briggs, Box 207, Lake Pleasant, NY 12108 |
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West Mountain |
Raquette Lake's history includes the Durants as well as many of the rich and famous at the turn of the century. West Mt. fire tower summit has been a popular destination for locals for many years but seems to be a mountain back-burnered by the State. ADK's West-Central Guide describes the 4.8 mi. overgrown, overland route to West Mt., but locals advised us to use the Sucker Brook Bay Trail - so we rented a small 5hp boat at Bird's Marina on Rt. 28 and motored westward of course. Carefully negotiate the "needles" and hang a left at Indian Point, pass the Hens & Chickens Islands and set a course for the far end of Sucker Brook Bay. There you'll see a small sand beach with a DEC trailhead sign indicating the distance to the summit is 2.8 mi. Much of the trail is along old roadway, but this lower section includes a number of fine old stand pines. |
The moderate trail turns to the left following blue & red markers one mile before the summit. The 2,902 ft. mountain no longer has a tower, but a nice bald rock overlooks the whole of Raquette Lake and its splendid 112 miles of predominately state-owned shoreline. Bring a suit for a swim at Sucker Brook Bay Beach on your return - you'll feel rich, if not famous. Tioga Pt. State Campsite half-way back makes a nice water-access overnight stay.
Raquetters know how to enjoy their winters. Several years ago, life-long resident Ed Lamphere drove me across the lake in his truck along a plowed road lined with evergreens plopped at intervals to warn snowmobilers of the snowbanks. While I listened for cracking ice, we pulled up along side several other vehicles to an ice shanty and were invited in to share some icy-cold beer. We tucked in along side the owners, sharing the warmth of a wood-burning stove, carefully avoiding the hole in the center of the floor where a couple lines dangled into the frigid waters. As I recall, they were using hotdogs for bait, but fishing seemed secondary to the fraternity that was shared. Another not to miss is the ice harvest on the lake during winter carnival weekend in February along with the demolition car derby on the ice! West Mt. - a great place to gaze upon a very historic part of the Adirondacks.
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Woodhull Mt. |
Can't imagine why I haven't climbed this before- it is so close to me! So...I climbed it twice last summer --I liked it so much. Actually, it is a bike hike. The trail begins just So. of the McKeever Bridge on Rt. 28 heading south from Old Forge. In the West-Central Region ADK trailbook, it is described as trail 98, just beyond the old train station, bear right across the tracks. The first parking area that leads to Wolf Lake Landing, you pass. Park in the second lot down the road and don't forget to sign in. This trail roughly follows the So. branch of the Moose River, with a turnoff 2.7 mi. to the Remsen Falls Lean-to, sleeps 12 I've heard. The trail is all mountain bike accessible for the first 5 miles. At a big rock (it is identifiable) on the left in a clearing, you'll cross a small footbridge just as the trail starts to ascend in a woody area. It has some red DEC markers, also some red flagging, but soon after you cross the bridge - look for a spot to ditch the bikes. At 6.4 miles, the Woodhull Mt. (2,350) trail bears left, while a hunters trail leads .3 m. straight ahead to trail 99, the loop trail back to Wolf Lake Landing. The old Number 4 lumber camp is evident in an open clearing, with rusted remnants of cooking pots etc. |
But back .3 mi., at the left turn to Woodhull, the trail is noticeably overgrown, many fallen trees must be scaled or circumvented, but don't get discouraged. Shortly after passing between the roots of two siamese trees, one fallen left, the other to your right, the trail begins the final ascent to the tower just beyond at huge boulder at 7.6 mi. Pause to catch your breath and listen - this must be one of the quietest places in the Adirondacks!
Without the tower, the views would be very limited, but head up the seven flights and the view over the So. Adirondacks will take your breath away. To the east, the mysterious Adirondack League Club acreage; north you should see Rondaxe Mt. and Nick's Lake; westward trace the route of the Moose River gorge; and finally the view south across Woodhull Lake all the way to the southern end of the Blue Line. The stairs have recently been replaced and the NY plans to keep this tower according to AARCH. Oh, on the way out in early Sept., I met a couple guys asking me if I had seen any game (I had, but lied). They were setting up a hunting camp over on trail 99 I believe, so you might want to stay away during the hunting season!
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Moose River Mt. |
Should have made this picture a trivia question! Moose River Mt. has alluded me for 5 years. That was the first time I tried to find it. Locally it is known as Pete's Mt., everyone climbed it or partied on it years ago, but the trail had long-since been abandoned and all I got was vague descriptions of the trail. Last Sept., a grandfather and his two grandchildren got lost overnight there and the DEC brought in a helicopter with night vision goggles and heat sensors etc., but it wasn't till morning that they were found. Just two weeks ago, thanks to DEC Ranger Doug Reidman and members of ADK's Iroquois Chapter, the trail to Moose River Mt. was re-opened. Now - it might not seem like much, considering that it has no tower and no view and few people will want to go there, but it is a step in the right direction in an effort to preserve these fine old routes.
It is still a lovely hike - begins just past the railroad station in Thendara (Old Forge). Turn left heading north on Rt. 28 just before you go under the railroad overpass, park .4 miles in the DEC parking lot at the end of the road, climb the small hill west .3 mi. to the beginning of the Ha-De-Ron-Dah Wilderness area. The ADK West-Central Guide describes this as trail 69, leading to Big Otter Lake. At 2.2 mi. the trail widens slightly and to your left, the newly red-flagged trail up and around to Moose River Mt. With the leaves down this time of year, the views were lovely, even a vista rock at the summit afforded some southerly glimpses. Except for the foundation of the tower and the steps and foundation of the old cabin, the summit is fairly overgrown, but - tucked into the brambles is the above rusted iron bed. Hmmm .... if it could only talk! Thanks to all those who worked to re-discover a little bit of Adirondack history. Oh, by the way, I'm still trying to find out who Pete is!?!