Embark August-September 2017 by Adirondack Daily Enterprise

By JUSTIN A. LEVINE

e all milled about in the parking lot, saying hello to old friends and meeting new ones. We were an eclectic group, from all over the upstate area. Despite the differences in age and location, we all had one thing in common. We were there to partake in what could be a historic hike. Now, Peaked Mountain, near North Creek, has a well-established trail that is easy to follow and is not that difficult in hiking terms. But this was no first climb or something like that. No, this was a millennial ascent. Spencer Morrissey, who hails from Long Lake and now lives in Cranberry Lake, was the connecting force for this hike. Morrissey, who hiked his first High Peak by accident, was going to reach the top of his 1,000th named Adirondack mountain on this sunny Sunday late in June. But before you get too googlyeyed over this accomplishment, you should know he’s only about halfway to his goal of hiking every named peak within the Blue Line. “It feels really good. It’s something I’ve been flirting with for a little while,” Morrissey said. “The big mark was sort of when I hit 50 percent, right around 900, (but) it kind of seemed like that last 100 went so slow. “So when you’re finally looking up and you’re seeing that sunlight, you know you’re almost there. Granted, I’m only at 54 percent now.” Morrissey has been working on this hiking effort for years, and has tallied the number of named mountains at 1,817. “But I’m always finding different ones that have been named by locals that have good views that I’ll add to the list,” he said. Morrissey researches the names of most of the places he’s gone, and has written extensively on the history and hiking of all the peaks he’s climbed. Morrissey said his friends, many of whom were on the hike up

August-September 2017

1,0 00 pe a ks , an d co u nt i ng

Spencer Morrissey climbs to the top of a boulder during a trip that included his 1,000th Adirondack peak.

Peaked Mountain, will sometimes find a “new” mountain and send it to him. “I sort of give a half-assed thanks,” he chuckled. Morrissey said he will sometimes research the history of a name beforehand. Other times, he may stumble on a peak and then look up its name later. And while it may seem obvious that Morrissey is — by almost anyone’s definition — a peak bagger, he’s a little uncomfortable with that term. “I guess I kind of have to,” consider himself a peak bagger. “Peak bagger has become such a derogatory term that … I don’t climb the mountain just to climb the moun-

tain. I don’t go up there, touch the top and then just leave. “Yes, I’m going to touch the top. I’m going to experience the top of the mountain, that’s kind of the big purpose,” Morrissey said. “But if there’s a view, I want to find it. I want to flirt with the mountain. I want to be one with the mountain. I want to experience the whole mountain. “So no, I won’t go out and do six, eight, 10 mountains a day, because you can’t and (still) enjoy the mountains.” Morrissey said he never likes to tackle more than four mountains in a day, and thinks even that sometimes is a little too much. Although he does admit that the

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first 500 mountains went pretty quickly, “the last 500 kind of went slower,” he said, adding that he was savoring the mountains more and more. “There’s a lot of really, really small peaks out there that have names,” he said during an interview outside of Origin Coffee in downtown Saranac Lake. “And they really don’t have a whole lot to offer so I don’t spend as much time there.” Morrissey said he doesn’t use Google Earth because he likes the mystery. “I don’t want to know what’s up there until I get there,” Morrissey

‘I want to flirt with the mountain. I want to be one with the mountain. I want to experience the whole mountain.’ Spencer Morrissey

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1000th peak Continued from page 1

said. “I want that to be kind of the surprise and allure of it. “If I’d known that (a) summit didn’t have a view, it might take away from the sexiness of it.” Despite the huge number of hiking trails crisscrossing the Adirondacks, most of the peaks Morrissey is trying to get to have no trail. So he spends a lot of his time bushwhacking, and even started the Facebook group “Bushwhackos.” Morrissey also hasn’t embarked on this odyssey alone. His wife, Corenne, a forest ranger, is often along, as is a rotating cast of adventurous people who don’t mind getting off the beaten path. Many of those people were on the Peaked Mountain hike with Morrissey. The trail followed the edge of 13th Lake for a while, then made a right-hand turn as we began following Peaked Mountain Brook. Relatively flat through the first twothirds of the hike, we soon got our first good glimpse of the naked, sand-colored cliffs that make up the summit of Peaked Mountain. After snapping a few pictures on the shore of Peaked Mountain Pond, the group continued on up the trail to the steep final push. Stopping just short of the summit, several of Morrissey’s regular hiking and bushwhacking partners insisted he take the lead. Up until this point, Morrissey was just one of a group that was out for a hike. We reached the top, where views of Gore Mountain and Peaked Mountain Pond stretched out before us as adult beverages and cookies were utilized in the celebration of his 1,000th peak. We lingered on the summit for a while, with people snapping photos and exploring the different views the various cliffs offered. After lunch, Morrissey leaned over and said, “You up for a little bushwhack?”

It seemed that a trailed peak might just not be quite enough. So, as a group, we started a descent of Peaked Mountain that did not go the way we came. The plan was to bushwhack to the nearby (and trail-less) Slide Mountain summit, then follow Slide’s ridge back down to Peaked Mountain Pond and the trail out. “I’ve introduced quite a few people to bushwhacking,” he said. Morrissey often utilizes the Facebook group to find hiking partners, and some people seek him out after reading his writings. “I’ve been saving some of the ones I know have good views and that are a little bit shorter and are going to be a little bit easier for people who want to experience it with me,” he said. “I think a couple of times in the past I could have picked better mountains.” Morrissey asked everyone in our group on Peaked Mountain before we set off to bushwhack Slide Mountain, a policy Morrissey said he tries to stick to. “If there were people in the group that said they didn’t want to go, I wouldn’t have gone,” he said. “It had to be 100 percent, because I don’t want to put a bad taste in someone’s mouth. I want them to enjoy the mountains just as much as I do. “Everybody has a ‘tree quota’ is what I call it,” he chuckled. “You can only push past so many before you start to swear at the sky. There’s only so many femur eaters you can step in before you just say ‘This sucks.’” Because of the remoteness, lack of trails and difficulty level of many of Morrissey’s hikes, he sometimes feels like he’s the first person to set foot in a place. But this mentality has brought a few surprises. “When I was bushwhacking the 46 (High Peaks), we bushwhacked off the side of Seymour (Mountain) and we got down into this creek and you obviously think very few people

Spencer Morrissey, left, and his wife Corenne Black hike the trail to Peaked Mountain.

PHOTO — JUSTIN A. LEVINE

have ever been here at all,” he said. “It wasn’t the main one going into Oluska Pass, it was just some side creek, and we’re walking along and I look down and there’s a banana peel. “And I’m like ‘this is crazy,’” he laughed. “And it wasn’t that old — it was still kind of yellowish — so someone had been there in the last couple of days. It just blows my mind sometimes.” Another challenge Morrissey

faces, in addition to the lack of trails, is that many of the mountains are on private land. While Morrissey said he has climbed many mountains on private land, he said he never intentionally trespasses. To that end, he said he’ll sometimes spend years trying to track down a landowner and get permission to hike on their property. Morrissey said his love of maps

is one of the main drivers behind his quest. “I love maps, I love looking at maps. I’m a map freak,” he said. “And I always said ‘I wonder what’s up there.’” Morrissey said he started doing bushwhacks with his dad from time to time, and his professional guiding led him to the High Peaks too often. “Honestly, I got bored. There might have been a time when I got to the top of Algonquin for the 10th time,” he said. “It’s just like it’s monotonous; it’s always the same view. “Eventually, it just came to the point where I found enough cool stuff where it sucked me in for more, more, more. “And then I decided, you know what, bushwhacking is kind of fun. I kind of like route finding and seeing different things.” Morrissey said he ended up bushwhacking the 46 High Peaks using slides and creeks. “I’d say every mountain I’ve found some cool stuff on the 46,” he said. “I found an old stove on the side of Tabletop, just in the middle of nowhere. It had to have been there from the old logging days, from the early 1900s.” And for a guy who has become somewhat of a legend in the Adirondack hiking world, Morrissey admits he hiked his first hike by accident. Morrissey said his dad, Oliver “Bud” Morrissey, took him out for his first hike when he was in third grade, but the hiking bug didn’t really bite until he was out of high school. “We went out to Indian Head and Fish Hawk Cliffs one day and that was one of our first hikes together,” he said. “And I saw the sign and it pointed toward Colvin and I said ‘I think that’s one of the High Peaks.’ “I was really green at that point, and so we went for it. It wasn’t that far away and we got to the top and we were totally socked in by clouds, but it was cool. “And eventually it just clicked. This is what I want to do.”

E M B AR K Brought to you by the publishers of the

THE LAKE PLACID NEWS and

Publisher: Catherine Moore Managing Editor: Peter Crowley Editor: Morgan Ryan Designer: Morgan Ryan Email Justin Levine: jlevine@adirondackdailyenterprise.com Produced by Adirondack Publishing, P.O. Box 318, 54 Broadway, Saranac Lake, NY 12983 Cover photo: Will Roth climbs a rock near the trail to the top of Baker Mountain in Saranac Lake. Photo by Justin A. Levine Although Embark is free, some of you may want to get a subscription if you live outside the circulation area or just want to guarantee yourself a copy. To have a subscription mailed to your home or business, mail a $10 check to Embark, c/o Adirondack Daily Enterprise, P.O. Box 318, Saranac Lake, N.Y. 12983.

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August-September 2017

PHOTOS BY SPENCER MORRISSEY

P ea ke d Mo u nt a i n mile st one

Peaked Mountain Pond as seen from Peaked Mountain and from ground level (below).

By SPENCER MORRISSEY

eaked Mountain has been on the short list for me for quite some time. It’s luring topography and sister peaks have always had a strong magnetic draw, but what took me so long to finally visit? Honestly, I had been saving it for this particular day. Peaked could be my 1,000th unique Adirondack Peak climbed and what better way to celebrate than on a peak that has a trail? I mean, let’s be honest here, not everyone enjoys a good cross-country bushwhack. It takes a special kind of someone to push through acres and miles of dense forest, marshy valleys, bug-infested wetlands and over steep, rocky terrain with tread that is not laid out for you. Then having to depend solely on your map and compass skills or GPS knowledge? Yes, a special kind of something. There is a small group of people who consider bushwhacking a choice method of travel, and they have been referred to as “Bushwhackos.” To help celebrate my 1,000th, I was joined by 11 friends who also enjoy the sweet reward of an open peak and the solitude of a wilderness experience. After meeting up at the 13th Lake trailhead, we started our wanderings along the trail to Peaked Mountain. Locked into the typical deep conversations of previous adventures and life events between hikers who don’t get to see one another often enough and fresh conversation between new friends, the trail seemed to pass by before us without hesitation. Recent rains left the trail a bit soggy in areas, but we didn’t seem to notice. The soft sounds and sights of the waterfalls of Peaked Mountain Brook helped in our lack of noticing our fate to be dirty. Peaked Mountain Pond came quickly and

soon replaced our gaze upon the trail to the rocky knob known as Peaked Mountain. Its majestic ragged look was like a siren beckoning us to its slopes. We could no longer resist its presence and knew we must go. As we moved around the pond, the slopes began to become steeper and steeper. Before we knew it, we were in an all-out scramble up the fall-line trail to its summit — similar to a typical High Peaks trail. Eroded under foot, we stepped high to a couple teaser views off some small rock teeth before I could finally see the blue sky before me, welcoming us through the trees to the summit. Welcomed by a summit disk, I stepped atop No. 1,000 with family and friends just steps

behind. The honor was all mine in having experienced this next step in my journey to climb all the named peaks in the Adirondacks, but even more so to be surrounded by such amazing company (and with a cold IPA in hand). We kicked it around the summit area and soaked in the stellar views back down over Peaked Mountain Pond and to as far away as the Great Range. Each view was as good as the next. The day was young and the sun still high in the sky, so why not add on another peak? Slide Mountain, a smaller sister to Peaked by a mere 50 feet or so in elevation loomed to the east. A trip last winter led me to take a mental note of Slide Mountain from the steep slopes of Hour Pond Mountain. I noticed some enticing cliff bands on the east side that would be the objective once the summit was beneath us. We dropped strong from the summit of Peaked, almost due north to avoid the cliffs and rocky outcroppings the mountain laid before us. Seeming to be a bit aggressively north, it ended up being a decent route once we could make the turn east toward an obvious draw. The shallow valley between the two peaks housed a small marshy area we forged through, stepping carefully to avoid any unnecessary sludge (unsuccessfully for me). The climb started out slow and easy with slopes not all that aggressive. Open hardwoods of beech and maple gave us easy passage to the foot of the mountain where we ascended into the dark green cover of balsam and spruce. Views dotted the east face of the mountain as we traversed high on the shoulder to where we would eventually stand atop Slide’s

Charlie’s Inn

densely wooded boulder summit. A view through the trees below gave us an insight into the operations of the Barton Garnet Mines, but we knew better would be awaiting us below. A GPS bearing nearly due south would surely bring us to the cliffs that give Slide Mountain its name. We pushed through the dense evergreens and slowly worked our way toward the east face, where views started to appear. More and more open rock began to open up a sidewalk along the ridge, offering us extensive views, views too many to comprehend. It was a gift that was slowly being unwrapped. We needed to continue down off the mountain to intersect the trail. Our current southerly descent seemed to be the ticked, all we needed was for the rain to hold off for a bit longer. It didn’t. The rain didn’t really last all that long, just long enough for half the group to put on their jackets and the other half to take shelter under a leafed-out beech tree. The descent was pretty much an uneventful stroll among the trees, aside from a small boulder problem a few of us scrambled to the top of. Eventually, and not in all that long of a timeframe, we popped out into the marshland that bordered the marked foot trail we used earlier in the day. A boulder there awaited our climbing skills — or lack thereof. The boulder seemed to be in the shape of a face, resembling something similar to that of a Queen album. Others tended to disagree. The stroll out from this point was pleasant as the skies were clearing with patches of bluebird offerings. A great day was soon to be behind us, but other were sure to come. Sure to come soon, other adventures stories in the making.

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on the trail

the view from the top of echo Cliﬀs includes Piseco lake, Spy lake and the rolling hills of the southern Adirondacks, while interesting rock formations puncuate the trail along the way.

FEEL thE BuRN ON thE WAY tO EChO CLiFFS

echo Cliffs ACtivitY: hiking diStAnCe: 1.74 miles round trip diFFiCultY: Moderate due to steepness diReCtionS: From the north/east: take state Route 30 to Speculator, then turn on to Route 8 heading west toward Piseco. At 8.6 miles, turn right onto Old Piseco Road. Go 5.2 miles to the trailhead parking on the left. From the west/south: take state Route 8 toward Piseco, and turn left on Old Piseco Road. Go 2.5 miles to the trailhead parking area on the right. if coming from state Route 10, turn left on Route 8 and go 2.7 miles to Old Piseco Road on the right.

Despite the steep angle of the hike, this is a great trail for kids. There are rocks and boulders, exposed tree roots and wet areas that kids will love to play in and climb on. The nearly constant distraction should help keep their mind off the steepness of the trail. Once at the top, there are sheer drop-offs that pose a serious danger, but also plenty of big flat sitting places and nearly unobstructed views to the southeast of the Silver Lake Wilderness and Piseco and Spy lakes. Echo Cliffs is a great place to sit and eat lunch, or snap a bunch of photos. The wind was just strong enough at the cliffs to keep the black flies off, but be wary on very calm days and be sure to bring some bug spray.

Big view outSide the Blue line By JUSTIN A. LEVINE

ituated just north of the Blue Line near Malone, there is short, easy hike that offers plenty of bang for the buck. Elephant Head is located off of state Route 30 in northern Franklin County, about halfway between the village of Malone and the state’s Meacham Lake campground. There is a 1.5-mile-long road that takes you to the trailhead proper, but this road has some deep puddles, big rocks and a couple of ruts that a small car or low-clearance vehicle will not be able to make it over. However, pretty much any SUV should be able to get you farther off of Route 30 without much problem. If you start at the parking area just off the main road, the hike turns into a 4.5-mile round-trip trek that is still

quite easy. The road is easy to follow and goes up at a gentle grade. If you’re able to drive farther up the road, there will be another parking area at the start of the trail. The trail continues along the road that comes up from Route 30, beginning at several boulders that prevent vehicles from going any farther. About 100 yards up the trail from the boulders, the trail makes a hard right off the former road and turns into a classic Adirondack trail, weaving between big trees and brush. There are yellow Department of Environmental Conservation markers, and the trail is easy to follow. There is no register at the trailhead, so be sure to leave an itinerary with someone you trust before venturing out. The trail is an easy walk, with rolling

elephant head ACtivitY: hiking diStAnCe: 1.4 miles round trip (4.5 miles with low-clearance vehicle) diFFiCultY: Easy diReCtionS: From the south, go 9.5 miles north on state Route 30 from Meacham Lake campground to the trailhead on the right.

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uphills mixed with some flat spots and short downhills. Just before the top, the trail goes past a large rock outcrop and then hangs a right up a moderately steep slope. There is an old but solid wooden staircase here to help you get up the last little bit of steepness, but honestly, it’s there more to prevent erosion than because the slope is too steep. Once at the top of the staircase, there are numerous herd paths, with some taking you to overgrown views that don’t offer a whole lot but would be fun for kids to explore. At the top of the staircase, at the 0.67-mile mark, bear left and follow the trail to a cut-out view to the north. The viewing area is small but offers spectacular views of Lake Titus and the St. Lawrence valley, something most Adirondack hikers don’t get on other hikes.

PHOTOS BY JUSTIN A. LEVINE

By JUSTIN A. LEVINE

ometimes you go on one of those hikes where it’s just straight up the entire time. Your legs and lungs burn, and it feels like maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all. The hike to Echo Cliffs is kind of like that, but at less than a mile each way, by the time you’re ready to quit, you’re at the top. Located near Speculator, Echo Cliffs is actually a rock outcrop on the side of Panther Mountain, but the cliffs offer a 180-degree view of Piseco Lake and the southern Adirondacks. According to legend, the mountain itself was named in the 1800s due to the prevalence of mountain lions in the area. A local bounty on the big cats quickly led to their extirpation, so there is basically no chance of suffering a mountain lion attack. The trail starts from Old Piseco Rd., which closely follows the western shore of Piseco Lake. The three nearby state campgrounds combined with the great views and short distance make this a popular hike. One other nice thing about this hike is the parking area is just about 100 feet from Piseco Lake. This provides a great opportunity to outrun the blackflies on your way down, sprint past the car and take a jump in the lake to cool off. Due to its popularity, the trail is easy to follow and is marked with blue discs. It’s a short but steady climb that can be wet at times, but also provides plenty of solid footing. This is a good hike for kids, since the steepness is mitigated by the shortness of the trail.

EASY ACCESS tO COBBLE LOOKOut

By JUSTIN A. LEVINE

obble Lookout may offer the best views for such little effort of anywhere in the northern Adirondacks. Situated not far from Whiteface and Esther mountains in Wilmington, the views from Cobble Lookout stretch down to the Jay and Giant mountain wilderness areas, as well as up to the summit castle of Whiteface Mountain, which can be seen quite clearly even on an overcast day (assuming the summit of Whiteface isn’t socked in). Starting out from the trailhead, the trail goes up at a gentle grade. Bear right at the 0.2-mile mark, or take a detour on the left of just a couple hundred feet to the sheer, 80-foot wall that is the remnant of an old rock quarry. There are old artifacts there, such as milk cans, glass bottles and even the sole of a hob-nailed boot. Be sure to leave it as it is: Take only pictures. From there, the trail continues on and is easy to follow. It’s marked with blue state Department of Environmental Conservation discs, and at all of the little stream crossings there were bridges that are in excellent shape, largely owing to this being a new trail, opened just a few years ago. As the trail follows along the side of ridge, there are mild ups and downs, and the few wet spots have strategically placed rocks and bog bridges will allow you to stay dry even on the wettest days. Nearing the end of the 1.34-mile trail, you walk along a wide path which leads straight to the exposed rock band that offers uninterrupted 180-degree views. In terms of bang-for-your-buck, Cobble Lookout ranks right up there, offering impressive views on a hike that could probably be done on your lunch hour.

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August-September 2017

Cover story

‘PRoBleM’ Solving on BAkeR MountAin D By JUSTIN A. LEVINE

ozens of people regularly make the short trek up Baker Mountain in Saranac Lake. Whether walking their dogs, looking for a quick after-work workout or trying to complete the Saranac Lake 6, Baker is a heavily traveled and beloved mountain. But one local climber was looking for a bit more of a challenge, and a way to hone his climbing skills when he only had an hour or two to kill. Will Roth, who is a professional climbing guide for Eastern Mountain Sports and Adirondack Rock and River, decided to hearken back to the old days of bouldering when climbers would put together a series of short climbing challenges. These challenges — or problems in climbing parlance — are meant to provide climbers with much shorter climbing routes, and are often linked together. Roth has mapped out a series of six bouldering problems, although, none of the little climbs are on actual boulders — more like exposed bedrock and small cliffs. Roth grew up in southern New York, about an hour from the wellknown climbing areas in the Catskills, but the 37-year-old didn’t try climbing until a trip to the Adirondacks when he was 14. “My only climbing growing up, my mom and another friend of hers with a son the same age, the two of us came up here and actually went for three days with Rock and River for sort of an intro to climbing,” Roth said while at the base of the first challenge. “It was really cool, but that was it. “We went and did that and then that was it. You know, because you’re like 14 and you can’t drive and there’s just no one to take it

will Roth makes his way to the top of a climb on Baker Mountain in Saranac lake.

PHOTO BY JUSTIN A. LEVINE

any further,” he laughed. Despite his proximity to the Catskills, Roth said he didn’t start rock climbing in earnest until he was at college in New Hampshire. “So from there, that was where I spent every free moment that I had, and probably even a lot of not-free moments when I should have been studying,” he said. Roth managed to graduate with an outdoors degree in spite of his admitted climbing addiction, then moved out west for several years. He stumbled upon an article in Climbing magazine that highlighted the opportunities offered in the northern Adirondacks and decided to move back to the Empire State in 2004. Roth said he lived in a trailer in Keene for a while, climbing as often as he could. As time wore on and Roth’s skills improved, he

began helping out on guided trips and eventually earned his own guide’s license. Since then, Roth said he’s climbing about five days a week, including bouldering on Baker and at other popular spots like the McKenzie Pond boulders. “This basically came around because there were always short cliffs up near the top (of Baker) that I would always kind of mess around on,” he said of the new circuit. “So I decided to spend some time poking around a little more with the specific idea of trying to link together a whole bunch of different problems all the way up.” Roth said the idea of linking together bouldering problems came from France, but has sort of fallen out of fashion recently. “(It’s) more like training rather than have bouldering (be) the end-

all goal, they were doing it more as like a training kind of thing,” he said. “I had that sort of in the back of my mind but wasn’t sure if it could happen. “And so I was poking around and found enough rock that was climbable and good. I didn’t want it to be so hard you had to bring climbing shoes with you. Like, you could do it just in your approach shoes, so it had to be fairly of moderate too because that sort of defeats the whole purpose of being able to constantly move up the mountain. “The idea was to make it more of a timed kind of thing where you could constantly move up the little mountain here in Saranac Lake.” Even though Roth is now promoting the bouldering circuit he developed, he admits there was an ulterior motive.

“This was 100 percent selfish,” he laughed. “I did it originally just for me so I had something to do when I only had an hour. And then, the more I was talking about it with local climber friends, people kind of thought it sounded like a fun idea.” Roth said he had to do a little cleaning of the cracks, including removing dead leaves and dirt to get them into a climbable condition, but said the routes didn’t need any major work. He said he worked on the various problems over the course of years, but said if he had really put in a concerted effort it probably could have been developed in a day. “The first ones were super easy,” he said. “It literally just involved me cleaning off a couple of holds and it was good to go. “I’m sure I’m not the first person to have climbed some of those.” Roth said several of the problems are located right along the trail or at the summit. The first challenge on the route is about 300 feet off the trail, but the other five can be reached via the marked path. The first problem is the highest of the six, and is located about a third of the way up the Baker trail from Moody Pond. To the left of the trail, there is a faint herd path that leads to a 15-foot cliff. Roth said in the fall, it’s easy to see but summer leaves help keep it hidden. From the top of the first problem, climbers can make a short bushwhack back to the trail to continue on the route. Roth said the goal is to do the route up the mountain and then take the trail back down and do the whole thing in 45 minutes. For more information on the

iNDiAN LAKE hiKiNG ChALLENGE

OFFERS RANGE OF OPtiONS By JUSTIN A. LEVINE

he Indian Lake Chamber of Commerce is encouraging people to enjoy the plethora of hiking options available in Hamilton County. The 4-3-2-1 Hiking Challenge requires hikers to complete four easy hikes, three intermediate, two difficult hikes and then either Snowy or Blue mountains, meaning a total of 10 hikes earns you the patch. On the chamber maps, the hikes are color-coded, with green being the easiest hikes. With nearly 40 trails to choose from, there is no shortage of places to visit. Darrin Harr, Chamber Coordinator, said most of the trails are fairly easy. “Some of the ‘green’ trails are so easy, you can rip off four of them and complete

40 percent of the challenge in one day,” Harr wrote in an email. “You can do the hikes in any order you’d like... plus there is no deadline to complete the challenge.” Because there are so many options, hikers are encouraged to visit the chamber offices at 6301 NYS Route 30 in Indian Lake to pick up a map that has all the qualifying hikes. The chamber is open seven days a week for the summer from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Many of the hikes are already well known, such as Blue and Snowy mountains, as well as Pillsbury and Chimney mountains. Hikers can visit ponds, waterfalls and mountain tops on their way to earning the patch. For more information, including the registration form, go to www.indian-lake.com.

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By JUSTIN A. LEVINE

honestly thought we would be all alone at the top of Long Pond Mountain, so to say I was surprised to see three other canoes at the trailhead would be an understatement. My uncle Brad and I set out early on Saturday morning in June, after a breakfast of fresh eggs and bacon. We drove down to the Saranac Inn area and ditched my car at the Hoel Pond public launch so we could make our canoe/hike excursion a one-way trip. Since the forecast had been calling for thunderstorms all week, we kept an eye on the weather and decided to try and climb the mountain first, just in case we had to bail on the rest of the paddle because of lightning. The plan was to put in on Long Pond, paddle to and climb Long Pond Mountain, and then head to my car via Slang, Turtle and Hoel ponds. The majority of the trip was in the St. Regis Canoe Area, with the exception of Hoel Pond. We launched the canoe after thoroughly dousing ourselves with bug spray, and began to make our way across Long Pond. This pond has earned its name for a reason, but as we made our way first east and then north, the clouds showed no signs of turning dark and dumping rain on us. There was enough of a breeze out on the water to keep the bugs down as Brad and I caught up a little as we paddled. In well under an hour we were at the trailhead, which is only accessible via canoe or kayak. As we pulled up on shore, there were three other canoes sitting in the shade of the woods. We pulled Brad’s Bell canoe up on shore and checked our packs to make sure we had everything for the relatively short hike. Packing for a combination trip like this can be tricky, but at least Brad and I remembered to wear hiking shoes and not flip-flops. We donned our packs and headed up the trail, which is marked with both red state Department of Environmental Conservation discs and yellow canoe carry markers. The first part of the trail is a canoe carry to a little body of water called Mountain Pond. While it sure is pretty, Brad and I could not figure out why anyone would want to drag their boat that far into the woods to paddle on the very small pond. But to each his own. Once we hit Mountain Pond, the trail took a right and the yellow markers disappeared. While it seemed like this trail was recently marked, there were definitely some old trail markers hanging on in various spots. This was reasurring because I had found a description of the trip that said it was an unmarked trail. Not a dealbreaker for us, but following a marked trail is a heck of a lot easier than bushwhacking. The first half of the climb was essentially flat, but the trail soon began to climb steadily. Based on the few reports of this hike I had read, I was expecting a rarely visited, hard-to-follow trail, but that was far from the case. The trail is well trod and marked, and despite the little spots of red steadily appearing on our shins from the black flies, we enjoyed the short hike, which was about 1.5 miles up. Gaining the top of the mountain on some exposed bedrock, Brad and I turned around to see the rest of our trip laid out before us. We could see the eastern arm of Long Pond, and then stretching into the distance, displayed as if just for us, were Slang, Turtle and Hoel Ponds. In the distance we could see the carved out slopes of Big Tupper Ski Area, and even with the humid haze graying the sky a little bit, the clouds were high and did not obstruct our views. As we took in the scenery, Brad and I noticed we were alone at the top, despite the canoes we saw at the trailhead. Brad looked around and found a small herd path leading away from the direction we had come, so we walked the path and came out on the other side of the summit just a few hundred yards away.

Double challenge

As we emerged from the thickly vegetated middle of the summit, more stunning views met us, as did the laughter and talk of a halfdozen people sitting there enjoying the day. We chatted with the assembled crowd, and turned down their generous offer of some wine (it was 10:30 a.m. and we still had a way to go, but the offer was certainly appreciated). Brad and I went back to the other side of the mountain to sit in some shade and have a bite to eat. On our way back down to the canoe, we came across another group of four, and then another pair who talked to us extensively, all because they noticed Brad was wearing a Bob Marley shirt. After we relaunched the canoe, we faced a gentle headwind on our paddle east to the carry to Slang Pond. We paddled Slang, again fighting a bit of a headwind, and then managed to get the canoe through a small, rocky stream that

flows from Turtle Pond into Slang. In other years when we haven’t had as much rain, this little stream would be unpaddleable. As it was, Brad’s canoe probably endured a couple of new scratches in the 50foot long stream. We took a break just across Turtle Pond from where we had entered and ate lunch. I personally took inventory of the small bloody spots dotting my legs, and decided that was a problem I would just have to deal with when I got home. We were having too much fun to let a few blood suckers ruin it. After a bite to eat, we again set out in the boat, and, again, faced a stiffening headwind. The headwind was surprising because at this point we had paddled east, west, north and south and had faced a breeze the entire time. We quickly reached the carry to Hoel Pond, which was the shortest of the day. The carry itself is maybe 100 feet, but it’s steep because it goes up and over the rail-

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road tracks of the Remsen-Lake Placid Travel Corridor. Once on Hoel Pond, the wind was serious. We had to paddle hard to make our way across, and there were no chances to stop to just linger and take some photos. However, once we were close to our final take-out, the trees and land gave us a bit of a wind break. We spun the canoe around and took in the stunning views. Not only is Hoel Pond beautiful, but in the distance we could clearly see Long Pond Mountain, and just off to the side we could make out the newly refurbished fire tower on St. Regis Mountain. Sitting in the canoe, looking at where we had come from, the bug bites dotting our legs didn’t even register. Brad and I sat there in silence for a few minutes and just soaked in the view. The forecast had been wrong, and this soaking was the only one we were subjected to all day. And that was more than alright with us.

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Long Pond Mountain ACTIVITY: Paddling/hiking DISTANCE: 10.4 miles DIFFICULTY: Moderate DIRECTIONS: From Saranac Lake, take state Route 86 toward Paul Smiths. Turn left on state route 186, and go 8.8 miles to Floodwood Rd. on the right. Take Floodwood Rd. 0.4 miles and bear left, then go another 4.6 miles to the Long Pond parking area on the right. To do a one-way trip, leave a car at the Hoel Pond launch. This could also be a nice out-and-back trip from Long Pond.

August-September 2017

the paddle/hiking trip to the top of long Pond Mountain included a variety of challenges along the way.

PHOTOS BY JUSTIN A. LEVINE AND BRAD BATTY

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August-September 2017

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Adirondack “By Owner”

On the trail

S lac ke r’s paradise Kevin Shea takes in the view from the top of Floodwood Mountain.

PHOTO BY JUSTIN A. LEVINE

By KEVIN SHEA

e arrived at a small, dirt parking lot big enough to fit three, perhaps four cars. The road continued into the forest. The track ahead was covered in six inches of water. This was our path to Floodwood Mountain. It seemed like the mountain may live up to its name. I slipped off my shoes and peeled off my socks, readying myself for the water. Justin Levine called to me from the parking lot entrance, informing me that he was going to take a picture of the sign. I turned to the sunken trail and readied myself for the mud. Images of hobbits braving haunted swamps popped in my brain. Then Justin called out again. The trail I was ready to endeavor led to somewhere, but not to Floodwood Mountain. Note to travelers: Read the signs. The trek to Floodwood peak began on a bumpy dirt road, but that didn’t last for long. From the parking area, we took a left and then soon after hung a right onto another dirt road. A legion of yellow birch trees guarded the sides of the road as we gallivanted along. Eventually we came to a thin dirt path that advanced up the side of the mountain. Here, we left the wide road and cramped into a singlefile line. The birch trees remained scattered throughout the hike, but now were accompanied by other tree species like beech, as the trail moved away from the road toward a Boy Scout camp. The ascent up the mountain was gradual. Even I — an out-of-shape 21-year-old who interpreted the motto “enjoy life while you can” as an invitation to loaf around — was able to push my way up the mountain with relative ease. When a trail doesn’t suck the air out of your lungs

and the energy out of your legs, one can indulge in discussion with fellow hikers. Unless one is alone, in which case they may still talk out loud, but at the risk of sounding like a lunatic. Justin and I discussed the influence of humans on popular crops, the bizarre books of Stephen King and the many aspects of being a journalist. Boulders as tall as either of us were scattered along the path — perfect places to relax and take a swig from our water bottles. We found difficulty in the final, steep ascent. Recent rain slickened the rocks and transformed the surrounding dirt into mud. Justin and I proceeded cautiously. Not trusting the soles of my street shoes, I relied on my hands to latch onto trees and large rocks. Several slips and trips risked ending our short hike even sooner. Conversation was paused to allow full concentration. Thin trees watched our struggle silently. Only the whisper of the wind disturbed the silence. We trudged up a steep, yet short, rock face and were finally able to relax. Up ahead, stood a few more trees — but only a few. Behind them, a blanket of gray and white clouds signaled the end of our ascent. Ahead waited our reward: the view. The top of Floodwood Mountain was mostly populated with trees, but on certain points to the north and south were rocky portions unsuitable for vegetation. From the summit, one can see what draws so many visitors to the Adirondacks. Lulls and bumps carpeted in various shades of green, interrupted only by pockets of blue ponds and lakes, stretched out to where the horizon slips into the grey distance. At the first vista, we could see the sharp, protruding peak of Whiteface Mountain. On a mountain

Floodwood Mountain ACTIVITY: Hiking DIFFICULTY: Easy to moderate DISTANCE: 3.9 miles round trip DIRECTIONS: From Saranac Lake, take state Route 86 toward Paul Smiths. Turn left on state Route 186 and go 8.9 miles to Floodwood Road on the right. Bear left to stay on Floodwood Road and turn left toward Floodwood Reservation at the 6-mile mark. Go 0.3 miles to the parking area on the left. From the parking area, go left on the road and continue to the next fork and go right. The trail sign is on the right.

far to the right of Whiteface, a small dark pimple that is a fire tower identifies St. Regis Mountain, a popular hike for students of nearby Paul Smith’s College. From the first lookout,

there was a sign pointing toward the southern summit. This last short part was unmarked and could be difficult to follow. But expansive views toward Tupper Lake made the minor risk worth the reward. A structure that looked like a silo towered over rooftops. Clusters of small homes occupied a small area of the green and blue quilt. The vastness of the wilderness reminded me how small humans are. Jokes and enough picture taking to satisfy a millennial, filled the empty vacuum that was previously occupied by the sound of nature: rustling leaves and not much else. After memories were sealed in our plastic contraptions, we sat and ate. I munch on an apple, Justin a brown, bumpy bar. We de-

voured our meals and swapped stories of previous hikes. Ahead of us lay the landscape. After 45 minutes, it was time to descend. We pushed through the tall grass back to the north peak. We took one last glance at the mountains and hills, and prepared to leave when a flash of yellow and black caught our eye, flitting about in a small cherry tree. The bird, which Justin later identified as a blackthroated green warbler, sat on a branch of a tree hanging over the cliff. This wildlife sighting was the first of a few others, all of them toads. Small, gray toads with brown splotches hopped near the trail as we descended Floodwood. Each toad was about the size of a thumb, making them nimble and hard for Justin to catch.

Eventually one was too slow for Justin’s hands, but they had a second defense: urine. Justin’s hand was tainted after the encounter, but a picture was taken, making it worth it. The only other distinct natural encounter — other than the trees, grass and rocks — was a mushroom that huddled near a yellow birch along the road. Its orange and red bulb distinguished itself from the monotonous green and brown of its surroundings. My legs felt like Jell-O at the end. We arrived back at the small, brown patch where Justin’s car was parked. The sun finally came out, but the breeze cooled us off. All in all, it was a great hike. Not too easy, not too hard. Just enough energy was exerted for this slacker’s liking.

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August-September 2017

Adirondack names

Sacandaga River

whAt’S in A nAMe: CentRAl AdiRondACkS

By SPENCER MORRISSEY

lace names in the Adirondack Park have always intrigued me, and with that comes the love of Adirondack history, legends, lore, old tales and, at times, some big fish stories. Through a vast amount of exploring in the wilds, on the internet and in books, I have come to some conclusions on some local names and why they might be named as they are, with a few other neat tidbits thrown in for good measure. Here is a look at a few of the more interesting names in the Central Adirondacks:

PHOTOS BY SPENCER MORRISSEY

Big and Little Hopkins Mountains

Many peaks, places and features get their name from a surname of a local family, hunter, tradesmith, trapper, or guide who once lived, worked or recreated in the area. Putting two and two together isn’t all that hard. The same goes for these two small mountains located near Bakers Mills in Hamilton County. But first you have to look into Curtis Clearing, located east of the said mountains. Curtis Clearing was named after the Curtis family who once resided in this deep valley with the Sacandaga River running through it. Their hay farm was of decent size and harvested large crops. Big Shanty Mountain and Burnt Shanty Clearing may be a result of the homesteads of this family, but that is unclear at this time. The two Curtis brothers had two sisters, who both ended up marrying two boys from the Hopkins family that also resided in the immediate area, hence the mountains whose name bare their last.

trail dog

Rift Hill

Interesting name, no? Well a rift is simply this: an opening or split, a fissure in something. In this case, it’s the border of one of the first major rifts of the Sacandaga River. The mountain itself is rather uneventful in its appearance and may not be a noteworthy adversary for hiking, but it does stand steep and proud over the confluence of the Sacandaga and the Kunjamuk rivers.

King Flow

Many hikers know King Flow as the trailhead for the famous Chimney Mountain whose name comes from the large rock chimney that resides on the steep slopes. But Kings Flow has a bit of history of its own. Currently named after the King family

who resided at the foot of Humphrey Mountain, it was for a brief time referred to as Humphrey Pond or Humphrey Lake Mountain. The King family owned much of the land in the area and logged it heavily up onto the slopes of Humphrey Mountain and Puffer Mountain. Many of the old trails in the area are old roads, many of which are not noticeable any more aside from an occasional knee-high wall or abutment. Much of the width of the old logging/carriage roads are now grown in, leaving just the narrow area of foot traffic wanderings.

Ruby Mountain

A ruby is of course a gem stone, but this Ruby Mountain is named after the ruby-colored crystals known as garnet. Ruby Mountain was the first mountain that Frank Hooper mined for this gem that is used primarily as an abrasive for the wood-working industry. The mining operations best known as the Garnet Mines are renowned for these crystals and still in operation today. For bushwhack explorers, Ruby Mountain has a unique draw and even a small view to show off the local landscape.

Balm of Gilead

A very unique name indeed, a lure to those looking at maps and even for those with an active imagination. A short trail will bring one to an excellent view out over Thirteenth Lake, but to reach the true summit one will have to bushwhack off the Botheration Pond Trail. That’s just one note of this interestingly named peak; the other is the origin of the place name. This mountain was named after a very rare (for the Adirondacks) tree, the balsam poplar, aka the Balm of Gilead tree. The tree has very sticky buds — not a scientific term, but a true characteristic nonetheless. This bud, kind of like its cousin the aspen, gives off a sweet pungent odor that can be smelled from miles away, downwind of course. Balm is a resin derived from plants and Gilead is an area near the Jordan River where the tree was first popularized. Balm of Gilead was first mentioned in the bible as a healing ointment, and used religiously — no pun intended — it also made for a nice gift and was often presented to royalty or kings. Was the sticky bud and fragrance of the aspen mistaken as the balsam poplar? We may never know.

view from Balm of gilead August-September 2017

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Can’t miss hikes in the High Peaks Wilderness

Bear Run

ACtivitY: hiking diFFiCultY: Easy diStAnCe: 4.4 miles, round trip PeRkS: this geological rock feature is a very neat attraction in the region known as the Adirondack Mountain Reserve. the view from top of the rock chimney is a nice reward to a fun scramble through the flue. oBStACleS: the chimney can be a bit hazardous so care is needed to maintain proper foot placement. Young children should be aided as much as possible and kept back from any steep drops. Quote: “A small pool rests at the intersection and you will follow a tall sheer cliﬀ toward Bear Run. Bear Run is a narrow rock cut in the side of the mountain. the trail passes through the rocky shoot and up to nice overlook. Be very careful as you climb and descend this rocky section, it can be slippery and is quite steep.” — www.lakeplacid.com diReCtionS: take exit 30 from interstate 87 and follow Route 9 north for a couple miles to state Route 73 toward Lake Placid. Continue along Route 73, past Chapel Pond and continue to the base of the long hill in St. huberts. the AMR access parking lot is on the left at the base of the hill. You will need to walk 0.7 miles to the gatehouse to access the trail system.

By SPENCER MORRISSEY view of First Brother from Second Brother

Big Slide (via the Brothers)

Noonmark Mountain

ACtivitY: hiking diFFiCultY: Strenuous diStAnCe: 8 miles, round trip PeRkS: the fact that you get to summit the three Brothers is a bonus, a big bonus. the views are amazing from the first two Brothers and the window view of Big Slide from the third Brother is quite unique. Don’t want to go all the way to Big Slide? Stop at Second Brother, and you will surely be satisfied. oBStACleS: Parking is often the biggest obstacle. the Garden parking lot fills up quickly because of its small size. Additional parking can be found a couple miles farther up state Route 73 at Marcy Field, with a shuttle running during the busy season. if the shuttle is not available, you will need to park in Keene Valley and walk the road system to the trailhead, which adds a few miles and extra elevation. Quote: “the route picks up with a rocky and persistent climb up the Brothers, a collection or rock ledges (decorated by blueberries in summer) that oﬀer outstanding southward views to the neighboring Rooster Comb.” — www.backpacker.com diReCtionS: take exit 30 oﬀ interstate 87 and follow Route 9 North for a couple miles before merging onto state Route 73 toward Lake Placid. Continue along Route 73 into the small hamlet of Keene Valley. Locate Adirondack Street in the middle of the village (a brown DEC sign points to the Garden Parking lot). Drive this to the end for the parking area.

ACtivitY: hiking diFFiCultY: Moderate to strenuous diStAnCe: 4.7-mile loop PeRkS: Loops are always perks. You get to see diﬀerent country while enjoying the rigors of one of Keene Valley’s finest. the views are 360 degrees of awe. the option of visiting Round Mountain on the way out is also there, adding a bit more elevation and only a couple more miles. oBStACleS: the footing on the backside of the mountain can be a bit tough, especially on a descent, so care and proper footing should be a priority. Also, be ready for a lot of climbing to get to the top. Quote: “Quick, but challenging (and rewarding) hike that was steeper than expected and included incredible views from the top.” — www.alltrails.com diReCtionS: take exit 30 from interstate 87 and follow Route 9 North for a couple miles before merging onto state Route 73 toward Lake Placid. Continue along Route 73, past Chapel Pond and continue to the base of the long hill in St. huberts. the AMR access parking is on the left at the base of the hill. the trail is a quarter mile farther up the road (foot traﬃc only).

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Rainbow Falls ACtivitY: hiking diFFiCultY: Moderate diStAnCe: 9.4 miles, round trip PeRkS: this hike, while a bit longer, mostly follows a scenic forest road, which makes the approach very easy and welcoming. Need a shower after the long hike? Stand next to the spring, the mist will clean you right up. that’s always a perk, right? oBStACleS: the rocks around the base of the falls and the trail leading up to the falls can be very slippery due to constant mist generated from the nearly 150-foot waterfall. tread carefully. Quote: “this trip offers some of the most spectacular sights of the Adirondacks. Can make its own hike or can be a must-not-miss part of bagging nearby Gothics and upper and Lower Wolf Jaw.” — www.lakeplacid.com diReCtionS: take exit 30 off interstate 87 and follow Route 9 North for a couple miles before merging onto state Route 73 toward Lake Placid. Continue along Route 73, past Chapel Pond and continue to the base of the long hill in St. huberts. the AMR access parking is on the left at the base of the hill. the trail is a quarter mile farther up the road (foot traffic only).

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PHOTO BY SPENCER MORRISSEY

Five trips

Rooster Comb Mountain ACtivitY: hiking diFFiCultY: Moderate diStAnCe: 5 miles, round trip PeRkS: this peak is the first of many in the Great Range. those hikers who wish to traverse the ridge start here to test themselves on one of the most spectacular ridges in the Northeast. Rooster Comb does not lack what the others have, the views are fantastic. the trail is easy to follow and with multiple overlooks, you are sure to have many unique rewards. oBStACleS: No obstacles, but if you are bringing young children be sure to keep back a safe distance from the summit ledges. Quote: “the first 2.5 miles of the hike (gaining just over 1,500 feet) are the real challenge of the day, but there are plenty of trailside distractions to keep your mind wandering while your lungs and legs are throbbing.” — www.backpacker.com diReCtionS: take exit 30 from interstate 87 and follow Route 9 North for a couple miles before merging onto state Route 73 toward Lake Placid. Continue along Route 73, into the small hamlet of Keene Valley. Just before you enter the village, there is a large parking area on the left, this is the trailhead for the Great Range and Rooster Comb Mountain.

August-September 2017