Sleeping Beauty and Erebus Mountains - Lake George Wild Forest - 9/2/17

To kick off the Labor Day weekend, Leesa and I were invited to join Dan, Joanne, Cole and Eric for a trip to Sleeping Beauty and Erebus Mountains in the Lake George Wild Forest.  These two peaks are part of the relatively new Lake George 12ster challenge.  The challenge, of course, draws additional hikers to these peaks.  What some people don't realize however, is that both true summits are only reached via bushwhacks.  While trails pass nearby, there is a bit of orienteering needed to find the true summits.  Each peak now has a summit sign, which helps hikers validate that they've reached the high point.

We were happy that the group wanted an early start.  We met at the Warren County Municipal Center at 7 AM and were on the trail by about 8 AM.  The woods road to Dacy Clearing has been "improved" by DEC.  They've added crushed stone where needed and have smoothed out the road so 4WD is not needed.  Any vehicle should be able to make the trip from Hogtown to Dacy Clearing at this time.

There were already almost a dozen cars at Dacy Clearing.  Most were probably from people who had claimed the campsites there.  We only saw 1 person ahead of us on the trail.  

The weather was cool and clear and really ideal for hiking.  The trails were dry since it hadn't rained in awhile.  Our dog Rev was also with us and she appreciated the cool weather.

          

Looking at the Tongue Range from Sleeping Beauty

We reached the Sleeping Beauty open rock viewpoint and had the location to ourselves.  

Little Buck and Shelving Rock Mountain from Sleeping Beauty/

Some of this area was burned by a forest fire a few years ago. 

Dan and Rev 

Rev on one of the lower ledges

I like this spot!

We hung out at the viewpoint for quite a while and also explored the ledges below before moving on.  The group goal was to hit the true summit, which was actually a short distance away.  I had been there before and knew where to veer off the trail.  The summit is perhaps a couple hundred yards off the trail; no real effort was needed to find this one.      

The new sign on Sleeping Beauty.

Proof that Dan made it....

After we all took pictures at the summit, we went northeast to regain the trail and continue towards Bumps Pond.  Once at the pond, we looped around the north end and visited the old chimney that remains near the west shore.   

Bumps Pond.

Next was our final goal for the day - Erebus.  The Erebus Mountain Trail passes west of the true summit and it is very steep from the trail to the top.  I suggested we work our way up the ridge from the south and the group agreed.  This choice wasn't bad,  There were areas that were moderately dense, but the grade wasn't bad.  We reached the true summit without any issues.    

Another new sign...

We had lunch on Erebus.  This summit, like Sleeping Beauty, has no views to offer, but we had seen the views early in the day from the Sleeping Beauty viewpoint.

Our next task was to get back to the cars.  The group had to get back by mid-afternoon and it was 11:30.  We retraced our steps for awhile before turning east to regain the trail south of Fishbrook Pond.  This is when we had our only incident of the day... bees.  I was in the lead and made out OK, but I believe Eric, who was behind me, stepped on a yellow jacket ground nest.  He received several stings as did Dan, Cole and Leesa.  Joanne and I were the only ones not stung.  It put a little damper on our otherwise great day.

When we got back to Dacy Clearing the parking area was overflowing with cars.  There was no room left.  The Hogtown lot was full also.  We were thankful that we beat the crowd.  

Thanks Dan and Joanne for inviting us to join your group.  We had a great day. 

Hike Stats:

Hike Distance:  7.2 miles

Hike Time:  5.5 hours, including stops

Total Vertical Gain:  ~ 1500'          

The route

The route on the Nat Geo map

Sleeping Beauty Mountain and Bumps Pond - Lake George Wild Forest - 10/25/15

I've climbed Sleeping Beauty many times before but I hadn't done it yet this year so it was time to climb it again.  It was warm for a late October day (50's) and there were still quite a few leaves on the trees.  It was breezy and the skies were alternating clouds with sun.

I parked at the Hogtown parking lot and didn't take a chance on driving the Dacy Clearing Road.  I could have done it with my car if I drove slow and carefully, but I hadn't seen the road in a while and didn't want to take a chance.  The road is 1.5 miles each way, so it added 30 minutes each way to my hike.

The road to Dacy Clearing.  Look at all the leaves still on the trees.

Rev in orange.  Lots of hunters were out. 

I wish I could find out the history on this foundation that is just before Dacy Clearing.

I signed in at the register at Dacy Clearing and there were a group of 21 cub scouts on the trail ahead of me.  It didn't take long to catch up to them.  I walked carefully since the old road has many "roller" rocks that were covered by leaves.

The trail from Dacy Clearing to the summit is 1.8 miles but it always seems less than that to me.  The first 0.6 miles is a slight grade before the junction with the Bumps Pond trail.  After you branch off onto the Sleeping Beauty trail, it soon begins to climb in earnest.  The trail was wet from last nights rain, but it wasn't muddy.  As I was climbing, one of the hunters in the area fired about 10 shots.  It scared Rev and she hung more closer to my side for awhile after that.  

I reached the top and as always, I was reminded just how good the view is.  I was also treated to interested clouds moving across the landscape.  The pictures below can do the talking.

  

Fun clouds!

Heading to the lower viewpoint. 

Someone cut most of the branches off this live tree so they could try and have a fire!

I had the summit to myself for 15 minutes and then I decided to continue on to Bumps Pond.  The scouts hadn't caught up with me yet, so I moved on before they reached the top.

Bumps Pond is an additional 0.8 miles from Sleeping Beauty.  The trail is fairly rugged and this portion feels like more than 0.8.  The pond was quiet and I didn't see anyone after I left the summit of Sleeping Beauty.

Sign at Bumps Pond.

I scooted around Bumps and made my way back to Dacy Clearing.  The mixed sun and clouds and turned to all clouds.  It was nice to visit this area again and I'm sure I'll do it again next year.  

The old chimney on the west side of Bumps Pond.

Hike Stats:

Hike Distance:  7.5 miles (including Dacy Road)

Hike Timea;  2.5 hours

Total Vertical Gain: ~1300' 

The route

Sleeping Beauty Mountain - Lake George Wild Forest - 6/4/13

Sleeping Beauty Mountain is well known to locals in the Lake George area and to hikers.  The ledge near the summit provides a sweeping view of the lower half of the lake and probably a 270 degree view overall.  On May 3^rd, while Leesa and I were hiking on nearby Shelving Rock Mountain at sunset and we could see that a fire had started near the summit of Sleeping Beauty.  As we got back to our car and drove out, we saw lots of fire trucks.  We later read that an accidental fire had damaged about six acres near the summit.  I wanted to return to Sleeping Beauty to see how the burn area looked.

The trailhead is accessed via Buttermilk Falls Road, off of Route 149 in the Town of Fort Ann.  After 7 miles or so, the road turns to gravel for another 5 miles before reaching “Hogtown” where you’ll see signage and a large parking lot.

If your vehicle has a little clearance, you can drive an additional 1.5 miles to Dacy Clearing (if the gate is open).  It is usually closed in the winter and reopens in early May.  I was able to make it just fine in my Volkswagen Jetta by using a little care.  At Dacy Clearing there is another parking lot and 3 designated campsites.  This is the location of the trailhead and trail register.

It is 1.8 miles up to the Sleeping Beauty viewpoint.  The trail begins at an elevation of approximately 1340’ and follows an old carriage road and climbs 300’ in .6 miles before taking a hard right (the carriage road continues towards Bumps Pond).   From the split, it is another 1.2 miles with an additional 500’ of vertical.

This trip was just a quick up and back for me after work so I was moving fast.  I reached the ledge in about 30 minutes.  I discovered that the viewpoint area of the ledge had not caught fire.  It was rock outcrop just to the north (that had previously been covered with slash) that had burned.  It was perhaps a hundred yards from the viewpoint.



Still looking good at the ledge

Looking SE

Looking West



Here's looking at the beginning of the burn area from the scenic ledge

Various pictures of the burn area below.



I scouted around and thought that the area didn’t look too bad and should make a pretty quick recovery.  Good news.



On my way down, I came across a luna moth sitting peacefully on a tree alongside the trail. I haven’t seen too many of those. After that is was back to the car and home for dinner.  

A Luna Moth!

Hike Stats:

Hike Distance: 3.6 miles

Hike Time: 1.25 hrs

Total Vertical Gain: ~800’

 

Fishbrook Pond - 11/12/11

Fishbrook Pond, just east of Lake George, is a sizeable pond with 2 leantos located by the water's edge (one at the south end and one at the north end).  I had not been there before, so Leesa, Nick and I went to take a look on Saturday.

Our route was made easier since the 1.5 mile jeep road from Hogtown to Dacy Clearing was open.  We parked at Dacy Clearing and hiked to Sleeping Beauty Mountain, then past Bumps Pond to Fishbrook Pond.

Trip Stats:

Trailhead Elevation:  1350'

Sleeping Beauty Viewpoint Elevation:  2206'

Highest Elevation:  2272'

Hike Distance:  8.33 miles

Hike Time:  5 hours

Total Vertical:  2260'

Mike enjoying the Sleeping Beauty Mountain viewpoint

Nick stretching at Sleeping Beauty

A nice location with a fireplace at the south end of Fishbrook Pond

This would be a great place to camp if the leantos are full, or you want to be away from them. 

Looking north to the leanto at that end of the pond

Both leantos were on good condition, and both had picnic tables!  What a luxury.

The southern leanto

Both leantos were in nice locations.   The southern leanto had a nice setting in the pines.  The northern one was in the grass with full day sun on a point.

Southern leanto again

Nick contemplating something...

Looking north towards Fishbrook Pond

A nice looking pond.

The leanto at the north end

Trail signs north of Erebus Mountain

After spending some time at Fishbrook Pond, we took the loop trail around Erebus Mountain and back to Dacy Clearing.

Fireplace remains of a house or camp near west shore of Bumps Pond

On the way back to Dacy Clearing

 We started our hike at 10 AM and were done at 3 PM.   The day was nice with temps in the 40's and low 50's.



View Sleeping Beauty Mtn 20111112.kml in a larger map


 Sleeping Beauty Mountain has a spectacular view and Fishbrook Pond makes a nice camping destination.  We found it to be a nice half day loop walk.