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.