Updated Fire Tower book now available!

 The new NY Fire Tower book is official and available through Amazon. Its title is: Fire Tower Treks of Eastern New York: (Includes all of the fire towers in the ADK Fire Tower Challenge, and more!) Paperback – October 6, 2022

by ROGER FULTON (Author)

It is available through Amazon at:

Fire Tower Treks book

ADK Fire Tower Challenge - Do it!

In our book , 29 Fire Tower Mountains, we lay out the requirements to meet the ADK Fire Tower Challenge. It's a GREAT family activity. Enjoy the Adirondacks and Catskill Mountains with a positive goal of family accomplishment. Ask for the book at your local outfitter or bookstore, or order it from the sources on the webpage at: www.RogerFulton.com

ADK Fire Tower Challenge - Loon Lake Mountain Update

Since our fire tower book came out in 2012, DEC has changed the access point for the mountain listed as A-14 Loon Lake Mountain on page 79 of our book 29 Fire Tower Trails in the Adirondack and Catskill Mountains. Here are the updates:
The new parking area is just beyond Grassy Pond on the left hand side. It is a small parking area for about 5 vehicles. The GPS reading is now: N 44 35.136 and W 074 07.477. Photo below:

Get more information on this book at: www.RogerFulton.com

ADK Fire Tower Challenge - Winter

From their webpage: The Saratoga-Glens Falls Chapter of ADK is now offering a new Fire Tower Challenge: the Winter Fire Tower Challenge. Climb 18 of the Adirondack Mountains with fire towers and all five of the Catskill ones, and you can earn a rocker for your Fire Tower Challenge patch. You can keep track of your climbs on the regular brochure, noting at the top of the form that it’s the Winter Challenge. For more details contact them directly. Just thought you should know about this Winter challenge.
www.RogerFulton.com

Red Hill Fire Tower in 6 inches of snow. We did it and so can you. It was fun!

ADK Firetower Challenge - Final Leg

Although Kate and I have finished the ADK Firetower Challenge, gotten our ADK patches and the book 29 Firetowers... has come out, we're not done. Kate has yet to do two of those firetower mountains and wants to repeat Wakeley and climb that tower. (Winds and snow and sleet prevented it the last time.) We've been delayed in completing that final leg while Roger had a major artory blockage in his leg repaired this fall. (That's not a pun; but it is kinda funny.) 
We'll finish up her assignment next spring. But stay tuned.
www.RogerFulton.com

The ADK Fire Tower Challenge - Powerpoint presentation

In conjuction with the release of our book 29 Fire Tower Trails in the Adirondack and Catskill Mountains, we also have a Powerpoint presentation for groups. Titled The ADK Fire Tower Challenge, we explain what the "Challenge" is, how we met it and we feature our top 10 favorite mountains from the easiest to the most patriotic. The presentation is free to most non-profit organizations, although we may need some mileage fees if we have to travel a long distance. It's about an hour long and then we leave time for questions and answers. We'll have books with us if anyone is interested.
If you have a group that might be interested, please contact us at: Roger@RogerFulton.com or via phone, afternoons and evenings at: 386-956-6089. 

The Fire Tower Book is out!!!!

Our book 29 Fire Tower Trails in the Adirondack and Catskill Mountains is now out. It is about the 29 remaining fire towers, all of which are part of the ADK Firetower Challenge.  We did them all! You only have to do 23 to meet the “ADK Fire Tower Challenge”.  In this book we have included explicit directions from Interstate highways, where to park, what you might see and what we found. We also included GPS readings and more than 60 full color photos. It’s all in our usual user friendly format. The ADK Firetower Challenge is much less than trying to become a 46’er, but a fun and rewarding challenge just the same.

2012, 129 pages, spiral bound, $19.95 

You can ask for this book at your local bookstore or outfitter. Or just order it from the publisher, Common Man Books at: www.commonmanbooks.com or call them, toll free at: 866-793-0555.

Firetowers of the Adirondacks and Catskills

Coming soon! Our book about the 29 remaining firetowers, all of which are part of the ADK Firetower Challenge. We did them all! In this book we have included explicit directions from Interstate highways, where to park, what you might see and what we found. We also included GPS readings and more than 60 full color photos. Titled 29 Fire Tower Trails in the Adirondack and Catskill Mountains, it should be available by April of 2012. It's up-to-date and user friendly in our usual format. The attached photo is a just a draft copy of the cover, but you get the idea. More later as we get closer to publication.

ADK Firetower Challenge - Continuing, but ......

Even though we have successfully completed the ADK Fire Tower Challenge, we're not done! . The book is done! Either Roger or Mike, or both have completed the last of the Fire Tower trails. So the "book"' is on its way to the editor and publisher with all of the fire towers in it. But for this Blog, we actually still have two more towers to do next spring. So stay tuned until we do the remaining towers for this Blog, and until the book comes out next spring. We'll keep you posted then.

Wakely Mountain - October 15, 2011

We left Glens Falls, NY on our way to Wakely Mountain, about 90 minutes away. The temperature was about 60 degrees with light winds and clear skies when we left. We hit intermittent rain showers along the way and decreasing temps. Upon arrival at the base, we donned raingear and headed up. Three miles and nearly 3 hours later, after an ascent of 1635 feet, we finally reached the summit at nearly 4000 feet. (3744 to be exact). The temp up there was 34 degrees, with heavy winds. While we were there, the rain turned to SNOW! In October!

The ten story firetower was impressive, but we couldn't climb it in those conditions. But it is done for the upcoming book, and we had a fun day of adventure and exercise, even if we didn't get to see those great views from the top we were promised. Maybe next year, on a CLEAR and much WARMER day. :-) http://www.rogerfulton.com/ Stay tuned, we still have two more towers to climb this year.

The "Prize" of the ADK Firetower Challenge

As of this date, we have technically completed the ADK Firetower Challenge. We've climbed all five of the mountains in the Catskill Preserve. And we've climbed more than 18 of the 24 mountains in the Adirondack Preserve. We submitted this Blog to the ADK Saratoga/Glens Falls Chapter that sponsors the "Challenge." They approved us and sent us each the patch to the right which recognizes our accomplishment of completing the challenge. So we SHOULD be done with a feeling of great success under our belts. But, being the "over-achievers" that we are, we have vowed to do "every" firetower listed in the challenge. That will include the newest one, not even on the list yet, at Loon Lake Mountain in Franklin County. There will be a guidebook published on all of this by the spring of 2012. Twenty-seven of the 29 chapters in that upcoming book are already written. So stay with us! It's all great fun. (Three more to go!)

Bald (Rondaxe) Mountain - 9/11/11

This was a "fun" mountain to climb. It's only about 400 feet to the summit. Much of it is over bare rock. Thus, the name "Bald" Mountain. The views along the way, as well as at the top are great. But on a more human note, we met a great family who had just come down from the top. It was the Honan Family from Spencerport, NY. They are 'musical' family' with an album pending. They are an example of how "Family friendly" this firetower mountain is. After all, the 8 of them did it! Check out their website at: http://www.honanfamilymusic.com/

Woodhull Mtn - 9/10/11 - Old Forge, NY

To climb this mountain we had to mountainbike in 5 miles on a dirt and gravel forest road. That just got us to the START of the firetower trail. Then we were going to hike 2.5 miles up the mountain, climbing 800 feet to the summit at about 2400 feet and the firetower. Then 2.5 miles down and then mountainbike out another 5 miles to our vehicle. We think that's why this is billed as the "least visited" firetower in New York State. So, naturally, we HAD to do it! So, overall we hiked and biked just under 14 miles over about 5.5 hours for the day. We had our usual "subs and suds" on the summit, and a VERY good day overall. Tired, but accomplished!

Gore Mountain - August 27, 2011 - 3583 feet

With a 2500 foot ascent over 4.7 miles, this proved to be one difficult and tiring mountain to climb. Although potentially hazardous at times along steep ridges, the views of the waterfalls and the views from the top were all well worth it, even on a hazy day. (Like we EVER hit a clear day.) :-) Overall, we hiked more than 10 miles for the day. MORE than enough for us! We'll take a two week break before we tackle the 15 miles of Woodhull Mountain in Old Forge.

Lyon Mountain - August 24, 2011 - 3830 feet

We found the trailhead without any difficulty. But the trail, that was a different story. We wanted to go up the green trail and back down the red trail for a loop trail. We decided that from our research from the book on firetowers and other info from the Internet. Turns out none of our sources of information were correct. All were outdated! Couldn't find the GREEN trail, because we believe there never WAS a green trail. And the steep red trail is still there, but no longer marked because the non-existent green trail is now the red trail. We sorted it all out! (That's what we do.) The new RED trail consists of a series of switchbacks that make the 1900 foot climb a little more enjoyable, albeit a mile longer. Once we sorted it out and climbed for about 3 hours, all was good and we actually found a firetower with great views, even on a hazy day. The photo is proof that it exists, at the end of the CURRENT red trail! Life is good.

Mt. Adams, NY - August 22, 2011 - 3520 feet high

A broken suspension bridge had us wading across the Hudson River for openers. A floating bridge, shown here with Roger crossing it, was our next mini-adventure. And that was just in the first mile. After that we learned why this is considered a "difficult" climb in the Firetower Challenge. Its steep climbs and solid bedrock trails challenged us, but after 2 1/2 hours of climbing we reached the summit and the firetower. Fantastic views! It's why we do this. Along the way we met a solo hiker named Bob from Long Island on his 65th of the 100 highest peaks in the Adirondacks. He hiked down with us. Maybe THAT will be OUR next challenge? Not!

Hurricane Mountain - 8/9/11

We found out why it is called Hurricane Mountain when we reached the summit. On an otherwise calm day, the winds on top caused us to go for our jackets, even on a mid-August afternoon. Wow! and "majestic" describe the mountain views from this summit, even on a hazy day. You can identify Whiteface Mountain by its ski trails carved into its face. Lake Champlain and Vermont can be seen to the east. It was a 2000 foot climb, but well worth it for the view. We got drenched on the way back down, but it was still worth it for the great views.

Pillsbury Mountain - August 6, 2011

We hiked our 20th mountain today. What we found on top was the highlight of our day, and an excellent example of an active American Family. At the 3597 foot summit we met the Sundeen Family from Voorheesville, NY, outside of Albany. Each year they take vacation time to climb 2 or 3 of the firetower mountains in the ADK Firetower Challenge. They started the boys out when they were 3 and 5. Today they are 10 and 12, and still hiking their way up the Challenge ladder. We met them on top of their 18th mountain completed. Before the week is out, they hope to be up to #20. Great parents with a great idea. We applaude them!

Owls Head Mountain - August 4, 2011

We climbed up to this firetower today at 2780 feet, sometimes looking funny climbing on our hands and knees. But that's not as funny as a story we found about an Owls Head Fire Observer and his wife, who lived here for many years. One very hot day the observer sent his wife down the mountain to get some groceries and beer. When she got back, the wife began her trek back up the mountain with her supplies in her pack basket. Well, along the way she got thirsty so she put the pack basket down and drank a beer. She then threw the can off to the side and continued her journey up the mountain. It was a VERY hot day, and she had to take a few more breaks along the way and proceeded to drink a beer with every break. A trail of empty cans marked her path to the tower.

When she finally reached the cabin, her husband looked inside the pack basket to retrieve a beer to quench his thirst from a long hot day in the tower. He searched and searched but could not find a single beer. He yelled, " Hey, I thought I told you to get some beer!"

His wife replied, " You did, it is very hot, and I got thirsty along the way!"

Here is a picture of the firetower at the top of Owls Head Mountain, and that pink dot at the base of it is Kate. She managed to make it all the way to the top with enough beer for us each to enjoy one to celebrate our climb. That makes 19 of 28 mountains done to date!

Blue Mountain - August 2, 2011

"Boulders and bedrock" describe this strenuous trail to the top. That "climb" was more than 1500 feet in elevation change. But we were certainly not alone, even on a Tuesday afternoon. More than 15,000 people climb this firetower mountain every year. And we think most of them were on the trail this day. :-) We earned that beer at the top! It was a GREAT day with GREAT views and a real sense of accomplishment. Thanks for checking in.