BlazeToBlaze

  • Slide Mountain Wilderness – Giants Ledge and Panther Mountain

    1816 feet of elevation gain

    6.5 miles round trip

    This was a fun trip, though it didn’t start out as well as anticipated.  I got to the trailhead before 8:00 am, which is necessary, as this trail can be zoo-like.  It reminded me of Mt. Tammany in New Jersey, or Indian Head in the Adirondacks.  Certainly, on a warm day in the summer, parking is definitely a premium.  Only a few people were coming down as I headed up; there were too many headed up when I was coming down.  Panther mountain is part of the Catskill 35, as it is one of the peaks above 3500 feet.

    The trail is flat in many sections.  The steeper sections are full of rocks and roots.  It gets steep upon getting up to Giants Ledge and the sections leading up Panther Mountain.  The col between Giants Ledge and Panther mountain is rather exposed to the wind, and I found this section to be the coldest of the day.  Going up Panther mountain you head back into the trees and you will be sheltered from the wind.  In everything I had read, there was supposed to be a sign at the summit of Panther mountain; though I never found it.  I suspect it may have fallen at one point and been “lifted”.  I specifically looked for it.  At least I didn’t have to look for a canister.

    As for views, I didn’t have any on the way up.  I reached the overlooks on Giants Ledge around 9:00 in the morning, and there was nothing to see.  Looking off the rocks there was nothing but clouds.  At the overlook after the summit of Panther, the scenery was just starting to open up.  As I was still in a cloud, I was getting wet and cold.  On the way back (like the way up) I couldn’t see any of Sebastian Slide.  By the time I returned to Giants Ledge from the top of Panther mountain the sun was just starting to peek out and clear off.

    A view off one of the overlooks at Giants Ledge

    Overall the trip was not bad.  I highly recommend it; and I’ll be doing it again – as I have to summit Panther during the winter for the Catskill 35 challenge.  There were no obvious really hard sections, nothing overly steep.  Upon reaching the car, it felt like a long day.  I certainly earned the slice of pizza at Brios.

  • Hurricane Mountain Wilderness – Big & Little Crow

    2.23 miles round trip

    809 feet Elevation Gain

    This was an interesting trip.  The GPS (Google Maps) had me going in circles.  I figured it out.  I had to turn left on O’Toole Lane, instead of staying straight on Hurricane Road.  The GPS had the trailhead accessible off of Jackson road.  When I saw a woodpile that I had previously driven by I knew I was going in circles.  Crow Clearing is at the end of O’Toole Road, which is mostly gravel/dirt.  The end of the road is one-lane; and there are two trails from the parking area:  One that leads to the Crows.  It’s obvious, and signed well.  The sign-in register is at the “other” trailhead.

    Big Crow is part of the Lake Placid 9er.  (I went to Little Crow since I was there.)

    The trail starts off pretty flat.  Once the trail starts going up, the trail doesn’t let up until it reaches the top.  But, it is definitely worth it, the views are crazy good.  After looking at the view for a bit it was off to Little Crow, which I could see to the right.  Upon the top of Big Crow, follow the exposed rock until you pick up the trail again.

    The trail off the top, towards Little Crow, gets a little steep at time.  At the bottom of Big Crow, I ended up in the col between Big and Little Crow.  It’s only a little ways up Little Crow.  I didn’t find a view atop Little Crow, I did find the summit cairn.  I turned around after some water figuring I would have snacks back atop Big Crow.  The trail back up, while steep, was not bad.

    I had the summit all to myself and saw this view.

    View off Big Crow

    To get back to the car, follow your steps back down Big Crow.  Once the trail flattens out, you are almost back to your car.

  • Chestertown – Cougar Nature Trails

    1.61 miles round trip

    220 feet elevation gain

    I had the Monday of Columbus Day off and wanted to hike something shorter and relatively close to home.  I chose the Cougar Nature trails in Chestertown as my destination, on of the hikes in the Chester Challenge.  The kiosk for the trails are all the way at the end of the school driveway.  I parked in the basketball/tennis courts lot, and took the Eagle Trail over to the sign in kiosk.  This portion of the Eagle Trail isn’t much of a trail, and more of a lightly used path.

    After finally signing in, I headed up the hill.  The trail is well marked, and their were benches every so often; no bench at the top.  There are two ways to the top, I took the short/steep route up, and the longer, more gradual path down.  Views from the top are probably better when the leaves are off the trees, though I could see for quite a ways.

    View from the top of Cougar Hill:

    the top of Cougar Hill

  • Lake Placid – Cobble Hill

    2.36 miles round trip

    500 feet elevation gain

    Cobble Hill is part of the Lake Placid 9er.  I specifically picked this as I wanted to stay away from the shenanigans of all the people who came to the High Peak area to see the leaf colors.  Yes, the colors were impressive in some areas.  Going north on 73 all the lots were beyond full.  As I drove by Adirondack Loj road, I wondered what time those lots were full.  I got to the Cobble Hill trailhead at around 7:45 and I could see two cars of people there, not the craziness I passed when I passed Giant, or Chapel Pond, or the Rooster Comb lot.

    This is a pretty short and easy trail; the sineage at the bottom broke the trip up into a couple of parts.  The trail started out as a boardwalk, which seemed pleasant enough.  The next section was crushed stone/gravel.  The third section, the steepest, was more of a trail.  You have a choice of going straight up the slab rock, or staying on the trail which skirts to the right of the slab rock.  There is a nice overlook when you get to the top of that section.  The final section of trail leads to the summit and the overlook looking south.  From these rock I could clearly see the the ski jumping center a short distance aways.  The colors were pretty good, and in my estimation, they were better in the southern High Peaks an the northern.  I’m sure by now they are past their peak.

    Down is the same way as up.  However, at the first trail junction I made a right in order to make the trip a little longer, and the hike a loop.  The longer descent is a little more gradual and leads towards Echo lake.  There were a couple of sections that seemed to be flooded out, and a very short, steep climb rejoined the main trail back to the car.

    I liked the hike, it was a little shorter of a hike than I was used to.

    Here’s a view from up top:

    Cobble Hill view

  • Hoffman Notch Wilderness – Severance Mountain

    723 feet of elevation gain

    2.46 miles round trip

     

    I was supposed to go to the Catskills this weekend and bushwhack Lone and Rocky with the Catskill 3500 group.  The hike leader had a family emergency and had to cancel the trip.  It’s just as well.  A nor’easter was coming up the coast and weather for the Catskills was iffy.  I suspect we had to cross the Neversink river once or twice, which could have been dicey, and not a simple rock hop.  So, with the trip cancelled, I looked for something shorter that wasn’t too far away in case I got rains here.  Severance mountain is not on any challenge list, that I know of.

    Severance Mountain, (or Hill on some maps), is right off exit 28 of the Northway.  The parking lot is right off route 9, and I missed it as the lot is back off the road.  What makes this unique is you start on the east side of the Northway, and have to go through two tunnels.  The mountain is on the west side of the Northway, with the sign-in box between the two tunnels.

    The trail is pretty typical for the Adirondacks.  Roots in many places.  Some rocks.  There were a couple of steep(er) climbs, but nothing too difficult.  And nothing that didn’t have a flatter section to catch your breath.  It’s only 1.2 miles to the top.

    The view at the top is pretty awesome, overlooking Schroon Lake.  I hadn’t been in this area, so it was refreshing to see something totally new.  The leaves were just stating to turn at this point.  While I scouted the hike to lead, I suspect I will miss peak leaves when I actually lead this.  In the winter, spikes might be needed.  It should be an easy snowshoe.

    The view off Severance Mountain towards Schroon Lake.

  • Lake George Wild Forest – Buck Mountain

    Lake George Wild Forest

    6.26 miles round trip

    1978 feet elevation gain

    This hike started from the Pilot Knob trailhead, the longer steeper way to get to the top.  I’ve been to Buck Mountain many times, and the views from the top are amazing.  Early on there are a couple of stream crossings, which can be dicey at times.  The last time I was here, water was raging.  Not so much on this weekend.

    The views from the top were great, the weather was just right.

    Coming down was a piece of cake.

    This parking lot can get busy at times, be sure to get there earlyish on a Saturday, as lots of tourists know of this hike.

    Here’s a view looking north, up Lake George.

  • Giant Mountain Wilderness – Hopkins Mountain

    September 12, 2026

    5.27 Miles

    2124 feet elevation gain

    I returned to the Rooster Comb parking lot and was lucky enough to find a spot to park.  I was headed to Hopkins, though, everyone else went to Snow, Rooster Comb, or attempted a Great Range Traverse.

    To get to Hopkins, you had to cross 73, and walk to the right for two streets, turning on Ranny, which was all dirt, but did contain two bridges to cross.  Only the first bridge was really necessary, both are necessary for cars.  You will walk on a woods road for about a half mile or so, before veering off into the woods.  Climbing Hopkins reminded me a lot of climbing Moxham, though was taller and steeper.

    After 1.8 miles you will junction with the Mossy Cascade trail, turn left .9 miles to Hopkins.  After .7 miles you will come to another junction.  To the right is Giant Mount; at least three miles away.  I thought about it, but quickly dismissed it.  You’ll go left, .2 miles to the summit of Hopkins.  And climb you will.  This is the steepest part for sure.  It was here that encountered a group of about 6 with three dogs.  Only 1 leashed.  It’s not fun being on the business end of German Shepherds.  As I passed the group, I could feel the embarrassment from the people without dogs.  Not a good situation, and not a good look for a trip leader.

    There was only one other person at the top of the mountain.  The views were amazing, especially given that I didn’t think the clouds would lift until later.  Giant was easily visible to my left.  The view over the AMR is insane, and it was very hard to leave.  On the way down I ran into more people, with dogs.  I’ve had enough of dogs on trail.  The views made it worth it though.

    This would make a good hike for Adirondack Mountain Club.  Parking is the only issue.

    Wow!

  • Giant Mountain Wilderness – Blueberry Cobbles

    September 6, 2026

    6.28 miles

    2206 feet of elevation gain

    I first stopped at the Rooster Comb parking lot thinking I might go to Hopkins mountain.  This parking lot (and all of 73 and the Adirondacks) was a zoo.  Cars were all over.  I took off and headed to the lot in New Russia where I got the second to last legal parking space.  Note to self, stay away from the high peaks on holiday weekends when it would be really crowded.

    I took off for Blueberry Cobbles on the trail that went all the way to Giant, and included Rocky Peak Ridge.  The thought entered my mind to go to RPR, but I quickly dismissed it.  On the way to the cobbles there are a couple of lookouts which I stopped at to look at the views.  From the Cobbles I took the shortcut trail back in order to make a sort of loop.  On the way back is when I saw most of the people.  Lots of mushrooms grew all over the place, I missed all the blueberries.  I bet the area was saturated earlier.

    Getting back to the parking lot greeted me with cars all over the place.  It was all I could do to just get out of there.

    A look off one of the viewpoints on the way to Blueberry Cobbles

  • Lake George Wild Forest / Haris Land Preserve – Potash Mountain

    September 5, 2026

    3.39 Miles

    1023 feet elevation gain

    I returned to a mountain I last tried on January 3rd.  I wasn’t successful then, due to the amount of ice right near the top.

    This time was different.  Temperatures were in the 70s and it was a relatively easy walk up.  The first overlook has nice views.  Just below the loop at the top is big rock wall you’ll walk by.  This was all ice in January, and even if I had made it by the ice, I wasn’t sure how I would make it back.  There was no ice on this day.  The rocks in this area were the hardest part of the mountain.  Once you make to the top of the rocks you will be at the loop on top.

    I went to the right and did the loop counter-clockwise.  This way climbs quite a bit and ends up at the summit.  Continuing the loop, you will head down to the rocks of the more famous overlook.  This is where I stopped and stayed for a bit.

    On the way down I took the nature trail which branched off of the main trail.  On this trail were a couple of nice interpretive signs, and by one, a nice bench with a nice view out.

    View off of Potash

  • August 29 – Rooster Comb

    High Peaks Wilderness

    4.82 miles

    11768 feet elevation gain

     

    Rooster Comb is on the alternate list of ADK 29 mountains.

    Today was a gorgeous day, not like the last time I tried this.  Although it was chilly, for August; I saw 45 on the drive up, it was 48 at the trailhead.  I got the last, legal, parking space in the lot.  When I got back down it was a small circus in the parking lot; there were cars all over the place.

    It was a pleasant walk up; I didn’t see anyone.  And with all those cars in the lot I was a little surprised.  The sign-in book had a couple of groups attempting a great range traverse.  I didn’t see anyone on the trail until I started down.  Many people take this route, the trail is pretty straight forward.   My first challenge started with the ladder near the top.

    Ladder near the top

     

    I went straight to the top.  There is a junction to some views, which I saved until after the top.  Here are some pictures from the top: