BlazeToBlaze

Category: solo

  • 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