This is perhaps one of the few areas where you can bag 6 or more names hills in a half day hike. I started at the trailhead near the hamlet of Adirondack on the east shore of Schroon Lake. My primary goal was No. 8 Hill, but I wanted to grab the other hills along the way (Pine Hill, Orange Hill, Franks Hill, No. 6 Hill and No. 7 Hill).
It was -20 degrees when I woke up, with a -30 degree windchill, so I waited at home until noon when it warmed up to 0 degrees with a -10 degree windchill. I signed in at the trail register and immediately left the the Sucker Brook Horse Trail in favor of a bushwhack to Pine Hill. I had a small puffy coat under my shell, but I shed that after 10 minutes. I just don't get cold while I'm climbing (as long as I'm sheltered from the wind).
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| Sign at the parking area. |
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| On the way up Pine Hill |
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| Looking back at Schroon Lake |
These hills are mostly hardwoods and they are pleasant to hike when the leaves are down. You get a much better view of your surroundings.
Rev found a spine, probably from a deer and later found a deer leg (which she proudly carried around with her)!
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| Animal spine |
Although it was cold, I was moving fast and actually had to occasionally take off my hat and mitts. The strong sunshine and blue skies were a nice perk.
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| Rev... near the top of Franks Hill |
This hike was nice because the snow conditions were perfect and the rolling terrain was easy to negotiate. Most of the trees were on the small side. I don't know if this area was ever logged, but there was evidence that parts of it had been farmed. I saw rock piles in the middle of nowhere and stone walls and a foundation hole along the Sucker Brook Trail.
After I summited Pine, Orange, Franks, No. 6 & No. 7, I wasn't sure I would have time for No. 8, but I headed in that direction.
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Looking at No. 8 hill from the north side of No. 7.
I attacked No. 8 from the west and stayed left of the rock faces. I ocntinued to move quickly and I reached the top of No. 8 Hill at 3:30. This is an awesome summit! If you want an easily reached open rock summit with a 360 degree view (including views of many High Peaks) this peak is for you.
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| The summit of No. 8 hill. |
Unfortunately with the cold and the lateness of the day, I couldn't linger. I did snap a bunch of pictures though (see below). This is a peak I'll come back to. This peak reminded me of another great peak in the area that is similar - Stevens Mountain.
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| Pharaoh Mountain to the north. |
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| Looking SW, Schroon Lake in the distance |
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| Looking NW to the high peaks |
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| zoom view |
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| Rev looking eastward from No. 8 Hill. |
Leaving No 8 Hill at 3:30, I had to chose the fastest way back to the car. I retraced my steps down the west face of No. 8, then continued downhill to the Sucker Brook Horse Trail. From there it was a 3.5 mile trail walk back to the car.
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| The new style horse trail discs |
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| ... and the old |
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| old stone walls along the Sucker Brook Trail. |
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| An old foundation hole along the Sucker Brook Trail. |
All these hill are worth exploring, but make it a point to visit No. 8 Hill. It is a special place. I ran out of time and wasn't able to visit "The Dam Hill", but I'll visit that one too; perhaps when I go back to No. 8.
Hike Stats:
Hike Distance: 9.5 miles
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| The route (click image to enlarge) |
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| The route on the Nat Geo map |
