PHARAOH MTN HIKE (The "Summer in April" Hike)

I hiked Pharaoh Mountain from Crane Pond Rd. My hike began at the ford on Crane Pond Road in the Pharaoh Lake Wilderness. I decided not to try to cross the ford and hiked the .3 miles to Crane Pond.


Where the road ends a trail crosses Crane Pond on a wooden bridge and begins down an old woods road.



After about 1/2 mile I reached a trailmarker indicating a right turn to ascend Pharaoh Mountain. I met a couple of nice DEC Forest Rangers doing trail maintenance here, and thanked them for their hard work. They were the only people I met all day on the trail.


This guy caught me by surprise as I trodded down the path, he was right next to the trail at a stream crossing.


These yellow violets were in bloom, as I ascended the mountain on this unseasonably hot 80 degree April day.

After some difficult steep climbing I reached the top. There wasn't a 360 degree view from the summit, but I enjoyed excellent views from several outcrops around the summit, this one is looking east over Pharaoh Lake.

I always enjoy finding a survey marker from Verplanck Colvin, his work as a surveyor in the late 1800's paved the way for the present Adirondack Park to be established. Colvin is a rather unnapreciated part of Adirondack history, and I think should have the recognition that the likes of John Muir get.

There was once a firetower on the summit, but it was destroyed by fanatical environmentalists who didn't believe in having structures in Wilderness areas. Even without the tower the views to the northwest of the High Peaks were superb.

After some photos and a snack I descended back down to the lowlands and a more gentle grade.


I stopped as the trail passed Glidden Marsh and took this panoramic photo of Pharaoh Mountain accross the marsh. There are many small ponds in this area, with campsites and lean-to's.

As the sun fell in the sky and the light became softer I passed back over and took one last look at Crane Pond before returning to my car for the ride home.

On the drive out, I located this nice waterfall along Crane Pond Road that I couldn't resist to snap some photos.

This was my second trip into the Pharaoh Lake Wilderness and it won't be my last, it's a remote and beautiful area with plenty of hiking, fishing and camping opportunities.

EveryTrail Guide To Pharaoh Mtn

BERLIN MTN TACONIC MTNS (THE "SCOUTING WITH DAD" HIKE)

The plan was to hike the Taconic Crest Trail from Petersburg Pass to Berlin Mtn to see if it was suitable for mountain biking. My father and I arrived at Petersburg Pass on a cool and cloudy fall day.

Petersburg Pass Trailhead

Petersburg Pass View

View Northwest from Petersburg Pass

The leaves covered the trail as we headed towards Berlin Mtn. The trail was wide and showed some signs of illegal ATV/4X4 use. We passed through Berlin Gap and up to the flat summit. There was the footings for the old fire tower which was taken down. The view of Mt Greylock the Massachusettes high point was ver nice to the East. The rolling hills and farmland of New York's Hudson Valley to the West.

Leaves on the trail

Trail Marker

Nice Fall Forest

Berlin Mountain Summit

Mt Greylock from Berlin Summit

We hiked back to Petersburg Pass and concluded that the terrain was too steep and loose to make it a good mountain bike trip. It did however turn out to be a rather nice place to hike for the day with my dad.

Berlin Mountain at EveryTrail
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HADLEY MTN ADK FIRE TOWER (The "Beginning" Hike)

My wife's uncle Nick, his young son Louie and I went on a hike up my first ADK firetower on Hadley Mtn. This was my real introductory hike in the Adirondacks, and even though it was chilly and overcast I enjoyed it a lot. We left the trailhead and climbed to the mostly open summit. There was the firetower, and although the cab wasn't open we went up as high as possible on the stairs. There were nice distant views of Sacandaga Lake as well as the High Peaks.

 Hadley Mountain Trailhead

 Hadley Mountain Summit

Hadley Mountain Firetower

View from Firetower

View from Summit

Just below the firetower is the old observers cabin. Nearby was what seemed like it was a root cellar.

Fire Observers Cabin

Nick & Louie in the Root Cellar

We descended the mountain and this hike really got me interested in hiking for sure. Nick asked me if I wanted to go to the High Peaks and I said sure!

Hadley Mtn. Fire Tower at EveryTrail
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