Black Mountain Fire Tower LbNA #31059
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Add Location| Owner: | Baker
 |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Aug 4, 2007 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Huletts Landing |
| County: | Washington |
| State: | New York |
| Boxes: | 1 |
| Found by: | Nairon |
|---|---|
| Last found: | Oct 13, 2013 |
| Status: | OFFFF |
| Last edited: | Aug 4, 2007 |
Terrain: Morderate with some steep spots Round trip is about 5 miles.
Clues: easy
This letterbox is located on the summit of Black Mountain, the tallest mountain in Lake George.
The Black Mountain fire tower was originally constructed out of logs in 1911. It was 35-foot high tower when finished. New York State replaced the log structure in 1918 with a similar sized steel tower. This tower was manned until 1988. The tower is now being used as an emergency-repeating tower for the State of New York. I remember the ranger that manned the tower when I first climber the mountain in 1979. It was reassuring to know that there was someone up there watching and someplace that you could go to for help if needed. Now you are on your own.
The sun has set on the fire towers in New York State. While maybe it is more economical, gone is the personal touch of talking with a ranger who stays up on the mountain for a week at a time. Gone is that tangible feel that the State is here protect your forests and educating us as we enjoy the views from our mountaintops.
There are many was to access Black mountain. The first is from Black Mountain point on Lake George. You will have to get a day use pass for the dock from the ranger on Glen Island. See my Black Mountain Point Letterbox for the actual beginning of the trail.
The second is from the Pike Brook Road trailhead, so from Exit 22 of I-87 take a left at the light and a mile or so to a light and take a right onto NY state route 149. Take Route 149 to Fort Ann and turn left (north) onto Route 22. Stay on Route 22 past Whitehall for about 4.5 miles and look for a sign for Hulett`s Landing (left turn). Drive for 2.7 miles and turn left on Pike Brook Road, at 0.8-mile look for a large trailhead parking lot on the left. This is the shortest way up to the summit of Black Mountain.
Once you climb to the summit you will see the fire tower, that is now a solar powered repeater surrounded with a tall chain link fence. Go to the SE corner of the fence (the corner furthest from the main trail to the outlook) and go on a bearing of 206 deg 15 paces +/- (2 steps=1 pace) you will see a faint path and you will be on top of a rock outcrop.You will also see a USGS benchmark, you should touch it as you made it all the way to the top of this beautiful mountain. Walk along this rock for a few more steps in the same direction you just traveled until you step off the outcrop onto regular ground. Please note that just before you step off the rock outcrop, there are two smaller stones that may be mistaken for the stones that I am refering to. Then look again in the direction that you have traveled and you will see two large rocks. Also, if you were to go past the stones you would end up on the trail that leads to the intersection with the Lapland pond trail. The box is hidden under the rock on the right or the west one (The more flat one). There are some sticks and stuff hiding the hole. Be careful here as the trial is very close to here.
Please, please re-hide well as this is a regularly visited area.
Please be sure to walk around the fire tower and check out the spectacular views to the north of Lake George. Becareful of the ledge.
http://bakersoutdoors.blogspot.com/
Clues: easy
This letterbox is located on the summit of Black Mountain, the tallest mountain in Lake George.
The Black Mountain fire tower was originally constructed out of logs in 1911. It was 35-foot high tower when finished. New York State replaced the log structure in 1918 with a similar sized steel tower. This tower was manned until 1988. The tower is now being used as an emergency-repeating tower for the State of New York. I remember the ranger that manned the tower when I first climber the mountain in 1979. It was reassuring to know that there was someone up there watching and someplace that you could go to for help if needed. Now you are on your own.
The sun has set on the fire towers in New York State. While maybe it is more economical, gone is the personal touch of talking with a ranger who stays up on the mountain for a week at a time. Gone is that tangible feel that the State is here protect your forests and educating us as we enjoy the views from our mountaintops.
There are many was to access Black mountain. The first is from Black Mountain point on Lake George. You will have to get a day use pass for the dock from the ranger on Glen Island. See my Black Mountain Point Letterbox for the actual beginning of the trail.
The second is from the Pike Brook Road trailhead, so from Exit 22 of I-87 take a left at the light and a mile or so to a light and take a right onto NY state route 149. Take Route 149 to Fort Ann and turn left (north) onto Route 22. Stay on Route 22 past Whitehall for about 4.5 miles and look for a sign for Hulett`s Landing (left turn). Drive for 2.7 miles and turn left on Pike Brook Road, at 0.8-mile look for a large trailhead parking lot on the left. This is the shortest way up to the summit of Black Mountain.
Once you climb to the summit you will see the fire tower, that is now a solar powered repeater surrounded with a tall chain link fence. Go to the SE corner of the fence (the corner furthest from the main trail to the outlook) and go on a bearing of 206 deg 15 paces +/- (2 steps=1 pace) you will see a faint path and you will be on top of a rock outcrop.You will also see a USGS benchmark, you should touch it as you made it all the way to the top of this beautiful mountain. Walk along this rock for a few more steps in the same direction you just traveled until you step off the outcrop onto regular ground. Please note that just before you step off the rock outcrop, there are two smaller stones that may be mistaken for the stones that I am refering to. Then look again in the direction that you have traveled and you will see two large rocks. Also, if you were to go past the stones you would end up on the trail that leads to the intersection with the Lapland pond trail. The box is hidden under the rock on the right or the west one (The more flat one). There are some sticks and stuff hiding the hole. Be careful here as the trial is very close to here.
Please, please re-hide well as this is a regularly visited area.
Please be sure to walk around the fire tower and check out the spectacular views to the north of Lake George. Becareful of the ledge.
http://bakersoutdoors.blogspot.com/