Spruce Mountain Fire Tower(Wilcox Lake Wild Forest-Adirondacks)

The days are slowly...and I mean slowly...getting slightly longer....which in turn gives me much more opportunities to get to do some after work hiking.  Headed north to Saratoga County this afternoon on an overcast winter day to hike the Spruce Mountain Fire Tower in Corinth.  Parked in the snowplow turnaround at the end of Spruce Mountain Road and set out, greeting a solo hiker and his dog at the trailhead.  They would be the only folks I saw all day.  There were a few inches of snow but the trail was well matted down so I decided to bare boot it as most others appear to have done.  Elevation to start the hike was about 975 feet, and with a summit elevation of 2009 feet, it would be a good workout to get to the top.
As stated, the trail is pretty well trodden so it was easy going as I made my way initially through a pretty coniferous forest.

 Stone walls and old woods roads lace the slopes of these mountains.

 As the trail climbs, the woods turn predominately deciduous and much brighter.

There are really no steep areas on the hike, just a steady, gradual ascent for about 1.4 miles until you reach the 2009 foot summit and fire tower in a large clearing.

Although the top cab was locked, the views from the top step are very nice.  Luckily there was very little wind, so I was able to enjoy the views without growing icicles on my fingers. From this vantage point, the peaks of Vermont can be seen in the far distance.

Turning slightly SE, the Kayaderosseras Range can be seen stretching south above the valley.  A careful eye can spot part of Saratoga Lake in the hazy distance(upper left).

West/northwest views towards many southern Adirondack peaks on the horzion.

A nice and easy hike down got me back to the car just prior to sunset.  2.8 miles RT with 1040 feet of ascent.