Eleventh Mountain W Ledges(Siamese Pond Wilderness-Adirondacks)

After my morning hike to Bearpen Peak and Long Tom Ridge, it was still fairly early in the afternoon, so I decided to squeeze one more small hike in.  I headed up to the Eleventh Mountain trailhead on Route 8 with the intent of hitting a long set of steep, ledges on the far western slopes of the Eleventh Mountain ridge.  A trail heads north towards the Siamese Ponds from the parking area, but I instead immediately entered the woods, bushwhacking straight up.  The parking area's elevation is 1775 feet, and the ledges I was trying to hit sit a mere 4/10 of a mile away, but 700 feet up.

The climbing became steep almost right away, and only got steeper as I gained elevation.  Within just a few minutes, I was already getting views back down towards the SW.

Nearing one of the first clearings atop the ridge.

After a steep 700 foot climb, I arrived at the first of several open view points.  They were nothing short of astonishing.  The Route 8 corridor can be seen threading its way to the SW.

Heading north atop the ledges, there are a string of three successive clearings, each with great views.

The foliage was outstanding from here!!  A real treat!

South facing views across Route 8 down into the Wilcox Wild Forest.

After the first three clearings, I continued north along the steep west ledges, but the woods closed in quickly with spruce.  The spruce was never thick enough to really slow me down, so I pushed on, eventually finding more views.  From this vantage point, I found a more north facing view up the East Branch Sacandaga River valley.

Enjoying one more great viewpoint, just like the others, facing west. 

After contemplating my descent route, I decided not to drop directly down the nearly vertical west slopes, but instead head back south towards my route up.  As I moved away from the ledges, only about 1/10 of a mile east, I found the going much easier, through wide open hardwoods.  In no time at all I was back at the car.  A lot of bang for the buck on this little gem!  1.6 miles RT with 750 feet of ascent.
Route below.  Red=Ascent  Blue=Descent

 On the way home, I took the scenic route, pausing briefly to take in this calm stretch of the Schroon River near Warrensburg, reflecting on a near perfect day.