Prospect Mountain Environmental Series LbNA #39341
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Add Location| Owner: | Baker
 |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Apr 27, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Lake George |
| County: | Warren |
| State: | New York |
| Boxes: | 5 |
| Found by: | shaggin83 |
|---|---|
| Last found: | Sep 14, 2020 |
| Status: | FFFFFFFFFF |
| Last edited: | Apr 27, 2008 |
Welcome to the Prospect Mountain Environmental Series. There are a few reasons why I placed this series and I hope that I will have a little something for everybody. First and foremost you will need a compass if you want to find these boxes. I do not lead you far off the trail, but all my clues use a compass bearing.
4 or the five boxes are made out of recycled containers and I am hoping they will stay dry. I have done some field tests and so far they were good.
All compass bearings are magnetic.
Each box was placed for a reason and I will have a little environmental message with each of them. So without further adieu the clues:
To get at the trailhead, you get off New York State I-87 at exit 22. And stay to the right as you drive and head toward the route 9 signs. At the light you will be looking across at the 7 Dwarves Motel. At the light take a left onto route 9 heading towards Warrensburg and drive about 0.5 mile until you see Big Hollow Road on the left. Turn on this road and drive up it until you see huge metal culverts that go under I87. I would not drive through them just park; as there is plenty of room for cars. This hike takes you along a stream with some nice flumes at places that can be seen through the trees at places.
Box 1 The Sun is Crying
This box contains a logbook.
***Do not walk out onto the steel structure at the dam***
This area is what locals refer to as the first reservoir. It used to be a favorite party spot with teens and is sometimes little messy, but in recent years it has been fairly clean. I am bringing you here to illustrate the damage that ATV’s can do if they are misused and the operators are not riding responsibly. If you look to the north up the bank by the reservoir you will see the erosion that ATV’s can caused when they are misused.
One more thing to note is that the town has dredged the reservoir for the first time in 20 years and can provide your water dog with a nice cool dip to begin and end the hike.
From the trailhead walk through the culverts under I-87 and follow the dirt road as it heads into the woods a little ways up. Stay on the dirt road and do not follow the power lines at this point. Stay on the road as it heads into the woods until you come to an intersection. Take the left road and head towards the reservoir. Once you reach the reservoir, walk along the north wall until you reach the end of the concrete impoundment. This is the west end of the north side of the reservoir at a point furthest from the dam. From this point walk on a compass bearing of 282 deg for 32 paces (1 pace =2 steps) until you reach a big pile of dirt. Walk around this pile (dredging spoils) until you see a large rock sticking out of the ground about 8 paces away in the same line that you had just traveled. At the north end of the rock there is a small hemlock, go to the hemlock and shoot a bearing of 314 degree up hill amongst random rocks approximately 30 feet away look underneath one of the large boulders for the first box in the series.
Please stamp in and re-hide exactly as you found it, making sure to screw the lid down tight.
Box 2 the Roaming Raccoon
There is no logbook with this box.
I placed this box in honor of a raccoon that I had trapped near hear when I was 14. It was the last animal I trapped and it was because of him that I pulled my trap line and have never trapped since. I lost the heart for it. However, for population control and to ensure the health of some of the furbearing species like raccoon and fox, trappers are one of the ways to keep these populations in check. If it was not for trappers some of these species would became unhealthy and susceptible to mange and rabies.
As you hike from the intersection to the Roaming Raccoon look to your left as you go and you will see some nice flumes along the creek below. Especially in the spring time.
Go back to the intersection that took you to the reservoir and head to the right (straight) and head up hill. You will pass a couple of exposed culverts and when you just clear an area that the road is badly eroding and the trail opens up you will see the power poles closer to the road. Look for pole number NM 27 NYT 26. The numbers increase as they go uphill in the direction that you are traveling. This pole you can read from the road and is about 0.75 mile from the intersection at the reservoir. Now get yourself even with the pole (perpendicular with the direction of travel), but stay in the middle of the road with the pole on your left shoulder and head back the way you came, staying in the middle of the road, about 114 deg more or less, 25 paces until you come to a large 18” hemlock with a 2.5 boulder right in front of it on your right (south side of road.) Walk to the tree. From this tree, shoot a bearing of 230 and go 8 paces until you reach a large rock sticking out of the ground. The Roaming Raccoon is under this boulder.
Head back towards the pole to continue up the road to box 3
Box 3 the Wood Cutter
There is no logbook in this box.
You will have a short uphill from box 2 and then the trail levels off. The poles will again be close to the road at this point. A little down the road you will see some old concrete culverts out of the ground and a clearing with logging roads heading to the north. This area was logged 25 years ago and I was upset when that happened. However, as I became more environmentally educated I realized that this area became alive and that the biodiversity in this vicinity became the highest in the forest. I almost always see critters when I hike through here. If done right, logging can benefit the forest and the animals that dwell within it.
After you pass this area you will cross a stream and continue until you see the poles on your left. Look for pole NM 42 NYT 41; it is just past a forest preserve sign on your right. Again line yourself up with the pole and the centerline of the road, making yourself as perpendicular to the pole with your line of travel…the pole will be on your left you will face up the trail in the direction you have traveled…go on a bearing of 214 deg more or less up the center of the road for 12 paces; then go on a bearing of 154 for 7 paces to a 4 foot boulder, and there you will find the wood cutter. This is about 0.75 mile from box 2.
Box 4 Lost Farm
Contains Logbook
My father took me up the “backside of Prospect” over 40 years ago to the “second reservoir.” He showed me a few of the old stone foundations and told me when he was a boy there were old buildings on these foundations and that they and the reservoir were part of a farm that was abandoned years before that. He didn’t know the people who ran it. I never could find out anything about it. This place was like one of those old abandoned homes you see when your take a ride in the country and wonder what the story was with that place. The only things that remain today are two foundations, one of a building, maybe a small gristmill, and part of the foundation for a barn. I haven’t found where the house was. I call this area the Lost Farm.
Once you reach this area take a few moments to check out the remains of the second reservoir, it is empty right now, but when the beavers come back they will fill it. If you look you can see how a pond turns from a young to a mature pond as aquatic plants live and die and slowly fill the pond in, until the pond turns into a meadow.
From the Wood Cutter head up the road and you will after a very short while after that come to a major intersection of some snowmobile trails, you will start seeing directional signs. From that intersection walk on a bearing of 200 deg or straight ahead along the road that you have been traveling on, 30 paces (1pace=2 steps). You will see the trail split, the one to the left leads to the top of Prospect Mountain (0.75 miles), and one more a less straight ahead (Bearing 220 deg.) You will see a pine tree at this intersection with a “Forest Preserve” sign on it. From the tree walk down the road that is straight ahead (bearing 220 deg +/-) about 13 paces. You will see a stonewall to your right. Walk to it and you have made it to the second reservoir, which is now dry. Now right about where you see the wall you will be at the southeast corner of the reservoir. You will see a twin paper birch tree very near this corner. From the birch walk 17 paces on a bearing of 324 deg. along the stonewall to a pine tree. This pine tree falls close to the extension line of the stonewall. From the pine walk about 20 paces at a bearing of 42 deg to what remains of the foundation of the old barn. You can walk right into it and you will be facing the north wall from inside where the barn was. That what you seek is hidden in that wall. Be careful here. I placed the Letterbox in an existing hole in the wall at chest height, and placed some rocks in front of it to protect it. Do not remove any load bearing rocks when you are looking for it. Look in the middle of the wall about 12 feet from the NW corner. I put a pile of rocks on top of the foundation to mark the spot.
This is about 0.25 mile from box 3.
Box 5 the Prospect Mountain Hotel
Does not contain a logbook.
This box is simply a bread crumb to get you to another box of mine the Prospect Mountain Fire Tower. Go back to the pine tree at the trail interaction and head up the trail that leads to the left (146 deg) you will immediately cross a stream that outlets the second reservoir. You will come to another steam crossing that is approx. 210 paces (1 pace=2 steps) from the aforemntioned pine tree. This is a very ballpark number. If you look at over the bank at this stream crossing you will see two working culverts allowing the water to pass under the road. You will cross culvert or two on your way to this stream crossing that look abandoned ignore them; these two are in good repair. From eastern edge of the stream crossing directly over the culverts shoot a bearing of 126 deg and look approx 11 paces and you will see a couple of hollow logs. The one the hotel is in is the one sticking out into air.
The distance from box 4 to box 5 is about .33 of a mile
To reach The Prospect Mountain Fire Tower Box. Keep heading up the trail about 0.5 of a mile until you come to the orange posts, than follow the clues as stated in the clues for the Prospect Mountain Fire Tower.
4 or the five boxes are made out of recycled containers and I am hoping they will stay dry. I have done some field tests and so far they were good.
All compass bearings are magnetic.
Each box was placed for a reason and I will have a little environmental message with each of them. So without further adieu the clues:
To get at the trailhead, you get off New York State I-87 at exit 22. And stay to the right as you drive and head toward the route 9 signs. At the light you will be looking across at the 7 Dwarves Motel. At the light take a left onto route 9 heading towards Warrensburg and drive about 0.5 mile until you see Big Hollow Road on the left. Turn on this road and drive up it until you see huge metal culverts that go under I87. I would not drive through them just park; as there is plenty of room for cars. This hike takes you along a stream with some nice flumes at places that can be seen through the trees at places.
Box 1 The Sun is Crying
This box contains a logbook.
***Do not walk out onto the steel structure at the dam***
This area is what locals refer to as the first reservoir. It used to be a favorite party spot with teens and is sometimes little messy, but in recent years it has been fairly clean. I am bringing you here to illustrate the damage that ATV’s can do if they are misused and the operators are not riding responsibly. If you look to the north up the bank by the reservoir you will see the erosion that ATV’s can caused when they are misused.
One more thing to note is that the town has dredged the reservoir for the first time in 20 years and can provide your water dog with a nice cool dip to begin and end the hike.
From the trailhead walk through the culverts under I-87 and follow the dirt road as it heads into the woods a little ways up. Stay on the dirt road and do not follow the power lines at this point. Stay on the road as it heads into the woods until you come to an intersection. Take the left road and head towards the reservoir. Once you reach the reservoir, walk along the north wall until you reach the end of the concrete impoundment. This is the west end of the north side of the reservoir at a point furthest from the dam. From this point walk on a compass bearing of 282 deg for 32 paces (1 pace =2 steps) until you reach a big pile of dirt. Walk around this pile (dredging spoils) until you see a large rock sticking out of the ground about 8 paces away in the same line that you had just traveled. At the north end of the rock there is a small hemlock, go to the hemlock and shoot a bearing of 314 degree up hill amongst random rocks approximately 30 feet away look underneath one of the large boulders for the first box in the series.
Please stamp in and re-hide exactly as you found it, making sure to screw the lid down tight.
Box 2 the Roaming Raccoon
There is no logbook with this box.
I placed this box in honor of a raccoon that I had trapped near hear when I was 14. It was the last animal I trapped and it was because of him that I pulled my trap line and have never trapped since. I lost the heart for it. However, for population control and to ensure the health of some of the furbearing species like raccoon and fox, trappers are one of the ways to keep these populations in check. If it was not for trappers some of these species would became unhealthy and susceptible to mange and rabies.
As you hike from the intersection to the Roaming Raccoon look to your left as you go and you will see some nice flumes along the creek below. Especially in the spring time.
Go back to the intersection that took you to the reservoir and head to the right (straight) and head up hill. You will pass a couple of exposed culverts and when you just clear an area that the road is badly eroding and the trail opens up you will see the power poles closer to the road. Look for pole number NM 27 NYT 26. The numbers increase as they go uphill in the direction that you are traveling. This pole you can read from the road and is about 0.75 mile from the intersection at the reservoir. Now get yourself even with the pole (perpendicular with the direction of travel), but stay in the middle of the road with the pole on your left shoulder and head back the way you came, staying in the middle of the road, about 114 deg more or less, 25 paces until you come to a large 18” hemlock with a 2.5 boulder right in front of it on your right (south side of road.) Walk to the tree. From this tree, shoot a bearing of 230 and go 8 paces until you reach a large rock sticking out of the ground. The Roaming Raccoon is under this boulder.
Head back towards the pole to continue up the road to box 3
Box 3 the Wood Cutter
There is no logbook in this box.
You will have a short uphill from box 2 and then the trail levels off. The poles will again be close to the road at this point. A little down the road you will see some old concrete culverts out of the ground and a clearing with logging roads heading to the north. This area was logged 25 years ago and I was upset when that happened. However, as I became more environmentally educated I realized that this area became alive and that the biodiversity in this vicinity became the highest in the forest. I almost always see critters when I hike through here. If done right, logging can benefit the forest and the animals that dwell within it.
After you pass this area you will cross a stream and continue until you see the poles on your left. Look for pole NM 42 NYT 41; it is just past a forest preserve sign on your right. Again line yourself up with the pole and the centerline of the road, making yourself as perpendicular to the pole with your line of travel…the pole will be on your left you will face up the trail in the direction you have traveled…go on a bearing of 214 deg more or less up the center of the road for 12 paces; then go on a bearing of 154 for 7 paces to a 4 foot boulder, and there you will find the wood cutter. This is about 0.75 mile from box 2.
Box 4 Lost Farm
Contains Logbook
My father took me up the “backside of Prospect” over 40 years ago to the “second reservoir.” He showed me a few of the old stone foundations and told me when he was a boy there were old buildings on these foundations and that they and the reservoir were part of a farm that was abandoned years before that. He didn’t know the people who ran it. I never could find out anything about it. This place was like one of those old abandoned homes you see when your take a ride in the country and wonder what the story was with that place. The only things that remain today are two foundations, one of a building, maybe a small gristmill, and part of the foundation for a barn. I haven’t found where the house was. I call this area the Lost Farm.
Once you reach this area take a few moments to check out the remains of the second reservoir, it is empty right now, but when the beavers come back they will fill it. If you look you can see how a pond turns from a young to a mature pond as aquatic plants live and die and slowly fill the pond in, until the pond turns into a meadow.
From the Wood Cutter head up the road and you will after a very short while after that come to a major intersection of some snowmobile trails, you will start seeing directional signs. From that intersection walk on a bearing of 200 deg or straight ahead along the road that you have been traveling on, 30 paces (1pace=2 steps). You will see the trail split, the one to the left leads to the top of Prospect Mountain (0.75 miles), and one more a less straight ahead (Bearing 220 deg.) You will see a pine tree at this intersection with a “Forest Preserve” sign on it. From the tree walk down the road that is straight ahead (bearing 220 deg +/-) about 13 paces. You will see a stonewall to your right. Walk to it and you have made it to the second reservoir, which is now dry. Now right about where you see the wall you will be at the southeast corner of the reservoir. You will see a twin paper birch tree very near this corner. From the birch walk 17 paces on a bearing of 324 deg. along the stonewall to a pine tree. This pine tree falls close to the extension line of the stonewall. From the pine walk about 20 paces at a bearing of 42 deg to what remains of the foundation of the old barn. You can walk right into it and you will be facing the north wall from inside where the barn was. That what you seek is hidden in that wall. Be careful here. I placed the Letterbox in an existing hole in the wall at chest height, and placed some rocks in front of it to protect it. Do not remove any load bearing rocks when you are looking for it. Look in the middle of the wall about 12 feet from the NW corner. I put a pile of rocks on top of the foundation to mark the spot.
This is about 0.25 mile from box 3.
Box 5 the Prospect Mountain Hotel
Does not contain a logbook.
This box is simply a bread crumb to get you to another box of mine the Prospect Mountain Fire Tower. Go back to the pine tree at the trail interaction and head up the trail that leads to the left (146 deg) you will immediately cross a stream that outlets the second reservoir. You will come to another steam crossing that is approx. 210 paces (1 pace=2 steps) from the aforemntioned pine tree. This is a very ballpark number. If you look at over the bank at this stream crossing you will see two working culverts allowing the water to pass under the road. You will cross culvert or two on your way to this stream crossing that look abandoned ignore them; these two are in good repair. From eastern edge of the stream crossing directly over the culverts shoot a bearing of 126 deg and look approx 11 paces and you will see a couple of hollow logs. The one the hotel is in is the one sticking out into air.
The distance from box 4 to box 5 is about .33 of a mile
To reach The Prospect Mountain Fire Tower Box. Keep heading up the trail about 0.5 of a mile until you come to the orange posts, than follow the clues as stated in the clues for the Prospect Mountain Fire Tower.