Island Pond, Long Pond and unnamed Long Pond Hill(Lake George Wild Forest-Adirondacks)

Headed up into a quiet area of the Lake George Wild Forest on an overcast morning to do a little exploring to a pair of ponds and a small peak that looked like it may have some views to offer.  I would be getting started from Padanarum Road Spur, which is a very rough(in spots) single lane road that heads deep into the wilds of the Adks.  There were many small branches and ruts in the road that made it a very slow go in my low clearance sedan, so I decided to park(Elevation 1160 feet) about 3/4 of a mile east of the beginning of the snowmobile trail to Long Pond.  Anyone with a high clearance vehicle could easily make it all the way in, but for me it just added in some road hiking. 

After the quiet road walk, I turned right, north, and headed onto the marked snowmobile route towards Long Pond.  Much to my surprise, there was an SUV parked in the unmarked parking area here.

As I started on the trail, the sounds of rushing water could be heard, so I headed a few yards off trail to check out a small area of cascades on an unnamed brook.

Back on the trail, it was an easy hike up to an enormous beaver pond, which is actually quite scenic, but unfortunately also spreading out over the trail.  Several areas along this stretch of trail have been completely washed out and need to be carefully avoided.

Once I made my way around all of the rerouted areas, it was smooth sailing up to a high spot on the trail, where I began my bushwhack up the small, unnamed hill southwest of Long Pond.  The woods were wide open and easy to hike through, as I made my way up to the 1585 foot summit.

From the top of the peak, there are good views from some several open areas.  This is a view NW towards Brant Lake.

From a patch of open rock, a nice view east unfolds.

From the northeast side of the summit area, a nice view takes in Long Pond.

Open summit ledges with Long Pond below.

After enjoying the views, I bushwhacked NE down to the marked snowmobile trail, which brought me over to Island Pond.  The trail dead ends at a wet spot directly on the pond, but an easy bushwhack east/northeast skirts the edge of the pond and offers up some nicer water views. 

Circling around to a spot on the east side of the pond, I found a very nice informal campsite with a view towards the pond's namesake island.

I really liked that area on the east side of Island Pond.  Highly recommended via a short bushwhack. 

Back on the trail, I headed over to neighboring Long Pond which also looks to be a beautiful body of water.  From a spot on the south shore, I enjoyed another informal campsite with good water views.  Not sure how good the fishing is, but looks like a nice spot to try. 

From Long Pond, I headed back south on the trail, but instead of trying to get around the the beaver ponds and flooded trail, I bushwhacked far off trail up a small, unnamed peak due south of Long Pond.  The woods were quite open and easy to navigate up to the 1500 foot summit.

From the top of the small peak, I dropped south and east back down to Padanarum Road Spur and onto my waiting car.  Didn't see anyone else all day(including the driver of the SUV at the trailhead), and somehow also avoided the incoming rain.  A nice and easy 5 miles RT, with 700 feet of ascent.

Map below.  Red X=Parking     Black X=Open area atop "Long Pond Hill"      Blue X's-Informal camp sites I visited