Goodnow Mountain Ramble

As I wrote this on 14 October, fats, waterlogged snowflakes have been pelting out of the sky and accumulating in my yard. The upcoming weekend was Columbus Day, the swan music for hikers. On Sunday, I acquired out into the woods, hoping to get a measure of solitude. I gazed on the backside of the map. Hoffman Notch or Goodnow Mountain?

I selected Goodnow. The trailheads alongside Route 73 confirmed my determination. They have been all stuffed to the max with vehicles. I wouldn’t thoughts climbing Cascade once more, however not with 500 of my closest mates. I turned onto the Northway to sprint right down to exit 29 and Blue Ridge Street.

Because the previous saying goes, you’ll be able to’t get there from right here. Goodnow Mountain is 30 miles from Saranac Lake because the crow flies. It was a 70 mile experience, although. Leaving the Northway, Blue Ridge Street is a protracted climb and a twisting street. The Hoffman Notch trailhead was solely 5 miles from the Northway, however at the moment, I used to be sure for Goodnow Mountain.

Again within the day, my grandfather had a looking camp on Goodnow Move, south of the mountain. In response to Wikipedia, it’s a synthetic lake. Once I was 10 or 12 years previous, he took us as much as see it. We drove north from Warrensburg towing an outboard-motor powered rowboat. All these years later, I don’t keep in mind the place we launched the boat. We motored throughout the lake to an unprepossessing cabin with a forged iron range and an outhouse.

The Blue Ridge Street dumped me on to Route 28N. I drove previous Elk Lake Street, the leaping off level if one needs to climb Allen Mountain. Then it was previous the street to Higher Works, one other distant Excessive Peaks path head. Then via the city of Newcomb, strung out alongside 28N. Vice President Teddy Roosevelt was looking on this space when he realized of President William McKinley’s assassination.

On the west finish of Newcomb was the Goodnow Mountain trailhead. The path and surrounding forest are a part of the Archer and Anna Huntington Wildlife Forest which is managed by SUNY Faculty of Environmental Science and Forestry. I’d thought that being comparatively distant, there wouldn’t be many individuals out right here. However I snagged the following to final parking area.

At 2,685 toes excessive, and a 4 mile spherical journey, Goodnow is way from imposing. There’s one ledge that’s a little bit of a problem. But it surely’s nothing like a few of the extra determined rock partitions on, say, Algonquin or Colden. With bluebird climate and gentle temperatures, off I went.

The path kicked up from the parking zone at a straightforward grade. A kilometer in, there’s a stream that’s ample as a water supply. A bit after that, there’s just a few acres that have been logged just lately, by SUNY ESF. Saplings are rising again in, nevertheless it’s a big open space that affords some good views.

After the logged part, the path acquired steeper. I handed an previous cabin, collapsed into ruins. I went over a wooded false summit. Half a mile later was the true deal.

Like Saint Regis and Hurricane mountains, Goodnow has a fireplace tower, deserted since 1970. About two dozen folks and a few canines milled across the base. On a ledge under is a small cabin.

There actually aren’t any views with out climbing the fireplace tower. Up excessive, nevertheless, 360-degree views await. Trying due south I noticed a nook of Goodnow Move and the southern Adirondacks. I had no illusions about finding the positioning of Grandpa’s camp. To the north, the Excessive Peaks beckoned. I used to be too far-off to acknowledge something. I took just a few images and descended.

Was it essentially the most bold hike I’ve finished? Not by a protracted shot. However I did stand up one thing that I’d by no means been on. Trying on the two path heads, looking back, I might have had whole solitude on Hoffman Notch. However that’ll be a visit for one more day.