|
|
Post by wldisle on Oct 11, 2016 13:23:55 GMT -8
I am planning a trip to Lake George Forest in Fort Ann NY in the spring.
The thought is back pack in from Darcy Rd hiking up sleeping beauty and north out to Fishbrook pond. Then camping over night. On day 2 the plan is to hike north where we plan a climb up Black mountain and back track down to trail where we can either continue down to lake George and then hike up the Fishbrook pond trail to camp or just double back to Fishbrook pond the way we came in camping again over night then hiking out on day 3.
The main question I have is. Is the circuitous route over zealous? The trail on topographical maps look steep 1500' elev gain but manageable does anyone have any experience hiking here.
Thanks for any input
|
|
|
|
Post by bluefish on Oct 19, 2016 3:16:44 GMT -8
Well, I joined this site to answer your question, so I hope you haven't moved on. It's Dacy Clearing Rd. off of Hogtown, that you want. Park at the Hogtown lot if you don't have a vehicle with higher clearance. The road into Dacy Clearing has some deep ruts and it's easy to get high-centered. Spring would generally be impassable for a 2wd. Sleeping Beauty (it looks like a woman laying down in profile from 30 miles away!) is a great hike and the continuation to Fishbrook is OK. Nice lean-to if you can get it. The steepest section of trail is from the top of Black down to the lake. It's steep and rocky, and can get slippery when wet. I've done it in winter with crampons most recently. I would call it moderate in rating. I'd consider planning a loop, using one of the other shelters or dispersed camping, and camping somewhere else on night 2. Lapland and Millman ponds have shelters, and there's tons of sites along the lake at Black Mountain Point. There's several trails from the lake back up to join the trail to Fishbrook and head back to the car. There can be some pretty brutal mud in sections of this forest, I hope you are planning a little later in Spring, or when it's still a bit frozen if you have micro-spikes. Sections of the trail will run like stream beds when there's still run-off. If you're fishing, a pack raft helps. Feel free to ask more, I live about 45 minutes from there and have spent quite a bit of time in the Lake George Wilderness..
|
|
|
|
Post by absarokanaut on Nov 2, 2016 4:50:58 GMT -8
Welcome home Bluefish!
|
|
|
|
Post by wldisle on Dec 8, 2016 18:21:49 GMT -8
thanks for the info Bluefish really appreciate you taking time to offer your experience and advice
looks like we will be going early June
Does the trail receive a lot of traffic and how concerned should I be about bear encounters.
I am no novice to the outdoors but this will be our first backpacking trip.
|
|
|
|
Post by wldisle on Dec 9, 2016 18:39:36 GMT -8
The more I look I'm thinking a loop hike maybe down from black mtn and along lake spending night on lake George shore some where before hiking out to car maybe spending a 3rd night before traveling home I remember reading there is a place to camp or a lean too right on dacy rd? We have a 6 hour drive back to whence we came hiking out a driving home same day may not be my best option.
Any input on camping along lake any good spots you may know of.
what would be best route not the fastest but the most enjoyable as far as scenery and hiking back to hogstown trailhead.
|
|
|
|
Post by bluefish on Dec 10, 2016 14:27:40 GMT -8
Answered your PM. Hope it helps. For future reference, think about the range you will look up the spine of across the lake, when you are on top of Black. It's the Tongue Mt. Range and it's incredible.
|
|
