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.

Bearpen Peak and Long Tom Ridge(Wilcox Lake Wild Forest-Adirondacks)

The autumn season can be a tricky one with the changing seasons and weather fronts coming through, but when its good...its real good!  Headed north today to avoid the potential rain south and east coming from a coastal storm, and lucked out with a pretty nice, comfortable day in the southern Adirondacks.  My intention was to hike Bearpen Peak and Long Tom Ridge(an unnamed western summit of Bearpen) from West Stony Creek Road, a rough, gravel road that heads high into the hills north of Stony Creek.  Traveling along rough West Stony Creek Road, I passed by several seasonal camps and this picturesque wetland, with peak fall foliage as the backdrop. 

I parked at a height of land, where state land comes down to meet the road, although there are no DEC signs in sight. From there, at a high elevation over 2200 feet, I entered an open, hardwood forest heading north.

Dropped down to a small creek crossing and followed it a short distance NW up to a pretty, large beaver pond.

From the beaver pond, a nice and easy ascent brought me up towards Bearpen's summit.  From the SE slopes of the summit ridge, I hit some open rock with views back to the south.

The fall colors are really coming along nicely in the north country. If its not peak, then its very close!

Just beyond the lower ledges is the 2555 foot summit, where a small, open rock slab allows for good south/ southeast facing views back down towards the Stony Creek valley.

A fire pit with a view at Berpen's summit, barely 1/3 of a mile from the road.

After enjoying the summit view, I continued NW, dropping into the saddle between Bearpen and the neighboring ridge, known locally as Long Tom Ridge.  In the saddle between the peaks, I found the high end of the lower beaver pond I had passed earlier, which is actually the headwaters of the drainage.

The ascent of Long Tom Ridge was mostly pleasant, passing through open hardwoods mixed with just a little spruce.   I hit the wooded summit first, which sits at 2765 feet, but there was a lot of deadfall so I quickly moved on, dropping down a short distance to an impressive viewpoint to the SW.  The views here are quite sweeping, stretching as far as the Indian Lake area to the NW. 

The incredible view point on the SW end of Long Tom Ridge's summit.   Much of the East Branch Sacandaga Valley can be seen from here, with the views extending well beyond.

Found this small meadow just off the summit ridge, which seemed out of place at over 2700 feet.

Instead of dropping right back off the summit, I decided to stay on the ridge NE for a bit, in hopes of finding more views.  I did manage to squeeze one small view north down towards Garnet Lake, with Mount Blue and Ross Mountain above. 

After leaving the ridge, I basically followed my footsteps back to the car, enjoying the solitude of this remote area.  As I arrived back at the car, I was actually surprised to spot two more cars parked near mine.  Bow hunters possibly?  3 miles RT, with 1100 feet of ascent.
Today's route.  Red=Ascent  Blue=Descent

 

Mount Ashley(Southern Taconics/Berkshires)

Wanted to get out and take advantage of an absolutely gorgeous fall day, but only had a limited time available so settled on a short bushwhack to 2382 foot Mount Ashley, tucked away in the deep SW corner of Massachusetts.  After looking around for a good parking spot, I left my car in a small Conservation parking area on the east side of East Road in Mount Washington, then did a road walk south for about 4/10 of  mile to a public access area on the west side of the road.

Public access is permitted on the eastern slopes of Mount Ashley and eventually connects with the Mount Washington State Forest.

As I began my bushwhack I was pleasantly surprised to enter an open hardwood forest...

 ...within mere moments, however, I hit thick mountain laurel.  Lots of it.

The mountain laurel was about as thick as any that I've ever hiked in before.  It not only grabs and tackles you as you go, it also hides many tripping hazards along the way.  Needless to say, progress was extremely slow and frustrating. 

Thankfully just below the summit ridge I stumbled upon a massive pile of jumbled, loose boulders that allowed me a much needed break from the mountain laurel.  This was almost as good as a paved walkway, as I made my way up towards the summit. 

Near the top of the rocky slopes I found an open area with good views east towards Mount Everett(distant left) and Mount Race(distant right), with Mount Plantain in the foreground. 

 From the open area, I also enjoyed southeast views towards Bear Mountain(L) and Gridley Mountain(R).

The steep east side below the summit was interspersed with thick mountain laurel and small, open patches.  Just a few yards south of the previous view, I found this framed view towards Bear Mountain.

A short push up through more thick laurel got me up to the summit area.  From the summit the views were okay, but certainly not as good as the lower ledges.  To the east, the deep cut of Sages Ravine can be seen with Fisher Pond in the distance.

The mostly flat, 2382 foot summit of Mount Ashley was much more pleasant than its east slopes, with open rock patches and low brush.

After having to fight and claw for nearly every step of the ascent, I found the summit to be mostly enjoyable.  Even here, there was some thicker brush though.  The only other views from the summit area, were fairly limited and above the tree tops.

After exploring the summit, I dropped back down into the thick mountain laurel for the descent.  I tried to go a slightly different route down, in hopes of avoiding the thickest patches, but to no avail. No matter which way I went, the going was tough.  Down low, near the road, I spotted this sugar maple which was fire red, but colors didn't seem that far along otherwise.  Just little dabs here and there.

Another short road walk brought me back to my car.  A short but tough little 2.2 mile hike, with 660 feet of ascent.
Red=Ascent   Blue=Descent

East Jewett Range(Catskills)

October 1st, 2019.  Today would finally be the day.  The day that I would finish my quest to finish hiking the hundred highest Catskill peaks.  I finally was able to secure permission, through Alan Via, to hike to the summit of the 3140 foot summit of the East Jewett Range, my last remaining peak on the list. This is an exclusive list that I have been working on for over three years now and I would have Alan and his dog Toby, my good buddy Jim and Jason(who himself is only 2 peaks short of completing the list) accompanying me along the way.  As I left the house this morning, heavy rain was falling, but the forecast was for clearing as the morning went on.  Luckily, when we met up the rain had stopped and there was actually a slight break in the clouds.  We met up with the land owner and thanked him for permission to hike and set out on a beautiful old woods road. 

From an open meadow, we enjoyed an early morning view of the ridge that we would be climbing to the summit.  The colors are really starting to come along at elevation. 

Sometimes it's nice to slow down and take in your surroundings, capturing a nice moment like this butterfly paying a visit.

As we neared the summit ridge, we checked out an area filled with rocky ledges in hopes of finding a view.  We were rewarded with small windows to the south, where the Hunter Mountain ski slopes and East Rusk were visible.

Once above 3000 feet, we began to see an increase in fall color.  where many vivid reds and yellows were beginning to pop.

We did not hit any spruce until the very top of the peak, which was spruce filled.  We poked around the summit area until we found a spot that we agreed on as the high point.  Fully covered in spruce, but it didn't matter.  It was the top!!  #102!!  

 I got to sign the CHH banner, which was quite an honor!!

Taking a moment to celebrate with Jim, who has been a great friend and constant companion on many of these peaks. 

Just off the summit, we left the spruce behind and emerged into a gorgeous high elevation meadow, where peek a boo views to the north were hidden by tree tops.

Alan and his dog Toby checking out yet another pretty grassy meadow.

Following in the footsteps of two Catskill legends(or at least trying to).

We basically followed old woods roads almost the entire day, with just a little bushwhacking mixed in.  A golden canopy of hardwoods made for perfect conditions.

I'm not sure exactly what it was about this tree, but I fell in love with it immediately.  Just looked like a perfect place to take a nap and enjoy the serene woods.

The colors of fall taking over above.

As always, what Catskill mountain would be complete without a stone wall?  A quiet reminder of the farming past of these mountains.

Toby leading the way into a large clearing down low on the peak.

We followed this old woods road out, which was nothing more than a wide foot path now.

From the meadow near the beginning of our hike, we now were able to soak in the vibrant fall colors under mostly sunny skies.  Quite a spectacular spot!

Quite simply, a beautiful day on a beautiful peak, with great company.  About 5 miles RT and over 1400 feet of ascent for the day. 

After many long days, trip planning, and getting landowners permission, today was a culmination of all of these efforts.  Completing this list was a labor of love and I am truly honored to be a part of this group of less than 60 people.  Thanks to Jason for coming along today, Alan for getting us permission and Jim for being a true friend and incredible hiking companion over these last few years.  I know many more adventures await and I cannot wait to see what lies ahead.