DENNIS APRILL, Outdoor Perspective
I was dripping with sweat, though it was a cool June 26 morning, but the haze on the distant mountains promised for a hot humid day.
I sat on a nameless rock outcropping, alone, somewhere between Hardhack Ridge to my south and Lyon Mountain to the north, and the views were spectacular.
To the south, the Saranac River Valley of Clinton County gave way to the Adirondacks beyond, and to the north, Lyon Mountain stood, an imposing barrier to the scenery beyond.
After a few minutes, I moved to another vantage point, impressed and a little nervous about the sheer drop-off a few feet away.
"Silver Lake Mountain," I said to myself. "This hike is like the climb up Silver Lake Mountain (which was actually off to the distance south and west of where I stood)."
However, in this instance there was no easy, well-traveled trail to climb, just a well- marked bushwhack, short and strenuous, but a climb well worth it.
The outcropping I was on does not have a name, according to Department of Environmental Conservation forester Shawn Reynolds, who is in charge of this part of the Chateaugay Woodlands-State negotiated easement in western Clinton County.
"Barnes Pond Bluff or True Brook Ridge would be more accurate," Reynolds told me. This is one of the new trails marked on the easement.
To get to this overlook, I drove north on the Standish Road cutoff on Route 3 about 3 miles to High Banks where the True Brook Road comes in on the right, then down the True Brook Road 3 miles to the unmarked trailhead, an old logging header on the right with a gate at the far end indicating I was there.
If you decide to make this journey, do not block the gate with your vehicle, as the timber company owner is doing forest inventory and needs motorized access.
From the gate, the trail follows an old logging road .02 miles across True Brook to an abandoned hunting camp on the right; bear left .22 miles to blue and orange trail tapes on the right. Here the climb starts and the fun begins. It's uphill all the way — .65 miles — on a well-marked trail with no signs of human presence except a few broken limbs in the underbrush. There are downed logs, though, and fern thickets with boulders hidden below while your hike follows an intermittent little brook.
The forest here is mostly young hardwoods, with some older trees mixed in. In a couple spots I had to stop and look carefully for trail markers, but for the most part, the path is easy to follow.
You know you are getting within reach of the top when you look up and see rock bluffs that have to be scaled. You have .25 miles left to go, with small rock cairns marking the steep ascent. Take care here as you are a long way from help if you take a bad fall and possibly break a leg. One place is so steep it requires scrambling up on all fours (on my return, I went down butt first to avoid injury).
But, once up at the top, the wilderness views are worth it.
Reynolds told me there is cell phone service from the overlook; I didn't carry one with me.
The ledges, somewhat similar to those at Silver Lake Mountain, are almost as imposing, their tops covered with lichen, blueberries and a few red pines. This is an ecologically fragile area that has felt very few boots, so tread lightly. On a very clear day, at least a 180-degree view is possible, including Lyon Mountain, the Adirondacks, the Saranac River valley and places beyond, depending on the vantage point.
On my hike, I saw deer tracks and bear dung, and I also flushed out a family of ruffed grouse.
This particular hike, as of yet, has no real name. Connie Prickett of the nature Conservancy, who first mentioned the hike to me, called it the Barnes Pond Trail, though the actual route to Barnes Pond, according to Shawn Reynolds, starts behind the hunting camp in another direction.
This is not a hike for the novice or a family-friendly one to take with small children. Though relatively short at .95 miles from vehicle to bluff overlook, it is mostly uphill, and the last quarter mile is tough, so be prepared. When you get above the cliffs, however, you will realize the struggle was well worth it.
E-mail Dennis Aprill at daprill2000@yahoo.com and check out our Web site at www.pressrepublican.com/_0105_outdoor_perspective for more photos and past articles.
