By DENNIS APRILL
Last Wednesday, I was invited by members of the Algonquin Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK), more specifically Anne Bailey, to join them on a hike on the opening of the new trail up Lyon Mountain.
Having known members of this chapter for many years, I was happy to oblige.
We started at 9 a.m. from the same parking area as the old trail (actually the climb starts off the same trail, but the new trail veers off after about .17 of a mile).
I was one of the first to leave the trailhead because I had to get back early. One difference that was quickly noticeable after the new trail branched off was that, instead of walking on stones and cobble, this new trail is mostly dirt, yet narrower than the original climb. There are 11 switchbacks, making the walk a much easier, gentler rise as it moves through hardwood forest, at times dominated by white birch and poplar, other times hemlocks, maple and beech.
It was easy to see the amount of work put into this trail: downed trees were cut out by ax, not chainsaw; large stones were moved in place by hand; and the wood for two rustic bridges constructed over small brooks was carried in. The trail has yet to be marked with trail markers.
It was a cool morning, with Algonquin Chapter members -- about 18 in all -- spread out along the trail after we got under way. I walked alone up ahead of most, the breeze of a very cool 40-degree morning permeating my fleece pullover, and at one point near the top I could see my breath.
The entire climb is said to be, by an ADK press release, 3.5 miles; the trail marker says 3.2, and my GPS showed 3.1 miles total. No matter, it still is longer than the old trail, but a far easier climb. At the juncture where the new trail meets the old about .4 of a mile from the summit, things start getting rough. Here only a small sign and two rock cairns (one falling apart) indicate the new trail on your return.
The final ascent was a scramble up rocks and boulders in a shallow streambed until finally, almost pooped out, I rejoiced at seeing the fire tower at the top.
At the summit, I chatted with the climbers as they arrived. Wes Lampman, the ADK Director of Field Operations who led the trail making, talked about the switchbacks and keeping the grade from 8 to 15 degrees. He also talked about the time involved -- 10 weeks -- to build the trail, which is on Nature Conservancy land that will be sold to New York state.
David Thomas-Train also made the ascent. He is director of the Adirondack Fire Towers Association and has a keen interest in the Lyon Mountain tower.
Then there were the local people, too many to name, who hiked the trail for the sheer enjoyment of the great views of Lake Champlain, the Adirondacks, and to the north on that clear day, the distant tops of Montreal skyscrapers. Two weird sights were both the windmills toward Ellenburg and Malone. They are so large, larger than I ever imagined, and they easily stood out of the landscape.
Finally, it was time to go, the initial descent downhill more difficult than the climb because, when going uphill, you are moving in toward the mountain, downhill away from it, so falls are more common on the return trip. I took my time until I got to the new trail turnoff.
Even with this new trail, it is still a workout climbing Lyon Mountain; now, it's just a little easier.
Field Notes
The Algonquin Chapter donated $1,000 to the new trail project.
To get to the trailhead from the south, take the Chazy Lake Road north. After the Saranac/Dannemora town signs and roughly 1.2 miles on your left is a dirt road. Take it to the end (.8 of a mile) to the parking area.
daprill2000@yahoo.com
