Pilot Knob Preserve - Lake George, NY - 4/10/14

At a good pace, the gazebo on the Pilot Knob Preserve trail can be reached in 15 minutes from the trail head on Pilot Knob Road in Lake George.  In my opinion, it has the best view that can be obtained in a 15 minute hike.  You have to climb 500 feet, so you may want to climb more slowly, but the vantage point is awesome.

From the the gazebo you can see most of the southern half of the lake.

This property is owned by the Lake George Land Conservancy and the official name is the Lynn LaMontagne Schumann Preserve at Pilot Knob.  It contains a small network of trails that total about 3.7 miles.  Two loops are possible; a lower loop to the gazebo only, or a second loop to a waterfall.

I did both, and spent about 1.5 hours here last night.  The trail rises steeply to the gazebo.  There was still some rotten snow and ice to contend with, but it is disappearing fast.  I had decided to do this hike on a Thursday night because it was 60 degrees and it was a nice night to be out.

  

Decision point.  I chose left.

The wind picked up quite a bit while I was climbing and as I reached the gazebo, it didn't feel anywhere close to 60 degrees, but I didn't care.  I stopped at the gazebo and took pictures before continuing towards the waterfall. 

Looking towards Assembly Point

Looking towards Northwest Bay

Same view from the deck of the gazebo

 Beyond the gazebo, the trail can be continued to the waterfall, zigging and zagging following an out truck trail.  Watch carefully for the blue trail markers; they are sometimes few and far between.  You get a little disoriented since you are going back and forth.

As you get close to the waterfall, there is another loop option.  This is a small loop.  I chose the right fork which leads to the base of the falls.

    

Choice #2

The area near the falls is shaded and there was still snow cover

I've been here before quite a few times, but never during the spring runoff.  The waterfall dwindles quite a bit during the dry season, but not in the spring.  There was a beam of light from the sinking sun that hit the waterfall.  It wasn't quite captured by the pictures, but it looked really neat at the time. 

You can't tell perspective, but this is probably a 25 foot drop on the primary falls

I scampered around the falls, careful not to slip on the ice and snow still in the area.  My dog Rev doesn't get concerned about this, but I kept her away form the edge as well.  

Looking down on where the falls spills over

There are several cascades in this area, but the primary one is probably on the order of a 25 foot fall.  The one shown below is probably 6 feet.

Another cascade higher up

 

Rev was patient

What a good girl!

 The trail loops around and passes by the top of the falls before heading back.  It quickly reconnects with the beginning of the loop and their is a sign pointing the way back to the gazebo.  If you take this additional trail to the waterfall and back, you climb another 500 feet for a total vertical gain of about 1000 feet.  It makes a nice little evening trip for me.

Back to the gazebo

At the gazebo I gazed out over the pre-sunset skies, then dropped down the other part of the first loop to get back to the trailhead.  

Hike Statistics:

Hike Distance:  3.7 miles

Hike Time:  1.5 hours

Total Vertical Gain:  ~ 1000'

The route (click image to enlarge)

Giant Mountain and Rocky Peak Ridge - Giant Mtn Wilderness - 4/6/14

In picking a hike for today, Giant and Rocky Peak Ridge were the only peaks that I had in my head.  I'm not sure why.  Leesa wanted a hike that would be about 6 hours or so.  I wanted to get some vertical and get perhaps one last good snowshoe hike for the season.  I also wanted a trail that would be well broken, since I knew that with spring conditions, a trail not well broken would be much more difficult.

 

I've done Giant and RPR many times before, in all kinds of weather.  I've done them in conditions similar to today, and remembered the hike as a good one.  On my own, I've done the pair in less than 5 hours, but Leesa and I were out to enjoy the day.   Leesa's never one to go for speed.

 

We arrived at the Zander Scott Trail and got started at 9 AM.  It was 32 degrees.  Since we were climbing the west side of the mountain, we were in the shade until we were 2/3 of the way up.  As we got into the sunshine, the snow began to stick to our snowshoes.  I knew it was going to get warmer, and as soon as it did, the snow would no longer stick.

 

Two pairs of people had signed in ahead of us, one pair for Giant, and the other pair for both Giant and RPR.  We saw both, as well as one other pair of hikers, all near the Giant/RPR split.  Those were the only hikers we saw all day.     

 

 

Reaching the light...

 

We wore snowshoes the entire day.  I thought they were the best tool for the day.  5 out of the other 6 hikers we saw chose microspikes.  The trail was pretty firm until we reached the point where the sun was hitting the trail.  In addition to the sun causing the snow to stick to the snowshoes, it softened the snow on the trail. 

 

Bluebird skies all day

 



 

 

 

Leesa climbing

 

 

 

 

This is my kind of hiking

 

 

Rime ice

 

 

The alpine zone sign

 

 

Signs encased in ice

 

 

We reached the summit of Giant at around 11:30 and there was practically no wind!  That was a first for me.  Needless to say, we stayed on the summit for awhile and enjoyed it.

 



Leesa and Rev basking in sunshine on Giant

 

As we started towards Rocky Peak, the sun really began to bake us and the snow.   The trees started to rain as their icicles began to melt.  As the snow got softer, it no longer stuck to our snowshoes.  We reached the icy step on the way down Giant and it was still mostly covered in snow.

 



 

 

 

 

Rocky Peak Ridge from the Giant/RPR split 

 

Rocky Peak had some wind  by the time we got there, but it was warm enough that it didn't have the chill of a winter wind.

 

Rev on the summit of RPR



 

I broke out the Rev snacks on RPR and she was appreciative.  Once again, we spent some time on the summit.  RPR is one of my favorite high peaks and I always linger when I'm there.  Leesa started back and I stayed just a little bit longer.  I took a couple videos and a whole bunch of pictures.  

 



Mike and Rev on Rocky Peak.  Lake Champlain in the background 

 

 

 

 

Rocky Peak Ridge and Mary Louise Pond 

 

 

 

 

I finally had to say goodbye.  I zoomed down towards the Giant/RPR col and caught Leesa at that point.  From there, we began the steep climb back up Giant.  It was tough in the hot sun and soft snow.  I'm not used to hiking in the warm temps yet!

   

Leesa coming down the Zander Scott Trail

 

Back at the Giant/Rocky split, it was all downhill from there.  It was tricky though.  I tried to stay upright descending the soft mushy snow.  It was now almost a water slush slide.  I did succumb twice to a lack of balance and ended up on the ground.  Leesa took the buttslide approach, and I think she was more successful. 

     

Nice moss battling the snow 

 

We didn't reach the car until 4 PM, but it didn't matter.  We had a good day.  It was 46 degrees when we got back to the car, and 55 when we got home!  Leesa stated that she is now ready for spring.   I'll take it also, but winter hiking is still my favorite.  I am ready for some bushwhacking though.  I haven't done much since the snow began to pile up in February.

 

 

Hike Stats:

Hike Distance:  7.7 miles

Hike Time:  7 hours, including stops

Total Vertical Gain:  ~  4200' 

 

 

The route (click image to enlarge)