Adirondack Sports September 2023

HIKING continued from 7
before the summit – bear left here. You will have gained
2,000 feet from the start of the hike. From areas of open
rock at the summit the views are primarily to the south,
west, and north. Lake George stretches out below and, to
the west, undeveloped Dome Island contrasts with Green
Island’s development where The Sagamore Resort stands
out from its surroundings. Motorboats look like tiny bugs
scooting across the water.
You could spend some time trying to name all the
mountains in sight, near and far, many that are familiar
to those who hike regularly in the Adirondacks – Gore,
Crane, Snowy, Blue, Pharaoh – to name only a few. On a
clear day, Mount Marcy and other High Peaks can be seen
in the distance. East of the summit, the Champlain Valley
and the Green Mountains can be seen from a small area
of open rock.
From the Northeast – The 2.3-mile trail from Hogtown
is a less-traveled route up the mountain and has an ascent
of only 1,130 feet. To get to the trailhead from NY Route
149, drive about 10 miles on Buttermilk Falls, Sly Pond,
and Shelving Rock roads. There are small parking areas
on both sides of Shelving Rock Road.
The trail heads south and soon it passes a campsite.
Several brooks are crossed and the trail gets steeper the
further you go. Huge boulders are passed at the 1.7-mile
mark, then the route crosses a brook twice in a small
gorge, before reaching the junction with the trail from
Pilot Knob. Bear right to the summit.
Fall foliage colors in the area should be good in
early- to mid-October, but the views are impressive at
any time of year.
Be Prepared – As we move into late summer and
fall, hikers have less daylight to work with. Always carry
a headlamp or flashlight and spare batteries, just in case
of a delay. Start out with food, high-energy snacks, and at
least a quart of water. Bring a zip bag for your trash (food
wrappers, fruit peels, tissues, etc. – used toilet paper can
be carried out or buried six inches in the ground at least
150 feet from the trail and covered up).
Bring a paper map, like the National Geographic #743:
Lake George/Great Sacandaga map, and compass – and
know how to use them. Phone apps should be used only
as a backup; I keep my phone on “airplane mode” to save
power. You should have extra non-cotton clothing in your
pack – it gets colder the higher you go and can get quite
chilly at the summit whenever the wind is blowing.
A pocket knife, a basic first-aid kit, fire-starting equipment,
and some repair materials (such as some duct tape)
are always in my “essentials” kit.
Groups should stay together and should pace their
hike to the slowest person – stop at every intersection to
make sure everyone is accounted for. Each hiker should
carry a whistle. Most experienced hikers use trekking
poles to minimize the stress on their knees, especially on
the descent. Poles also make it easier to cross streams and
to help maneuver around rough and rocky areas.
More detailed advice can be found on the NYSDEC
website: dec.ny.gov/outdoor/28708.html
For more information on Buck Mountain and the Lake
George Wild Forest, visit: dec.ny.gov/lands/53165.html.
SEPTEMBER 2023 9
■ A CASCADING BROOK
ON THE WAY UP FROM
PILOT KNOB.
A lover of wild places, Rich Macha has led many trips
for the Adirondack Mountain Club, and has spent 20
years in the paddle/snowsport business. More of Rich’s
adventures can be found at northeastwild.blogspot.com.
Since 1941
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