Fire Towers

[backpacker]

Great photos. Nice to see the colors, I was hoping that they were at that point-and not just patchy. If all goes well I will be venturing into Keene Valley this weekend. With plans to hike either Sawteeth or Colvin and Blake.

Those towers are in the southern dacks, I've heard the color is better in the highpeaks area. All three peaks are nice hikes Sawteeth can be done in 1/2 to 3/4 of a day (I did it in the winter). Colvin and Blake will be a day hike Colvin has good views towards Ausable lake, Blake has little to no view. I just did Dial, Nippletop, Colvin, Blake and back over Colvin in August with a couple friends it was a long day but great hike. Have fun and looking foward to your picks.

[charlesm]

Great pictures.Here is a panoramic I took on Snowy Mtn. Sunday.

[backpacker]

nice pan

[charlesm]

Found a great site on fire towers in the Adirondacks while doing some research,wanted to share with everybody.Snowy Mtn.did have a cabin on it. http://www.beebehill.info/towers/towers5.htm#hamilton

[Frank Broughton]

The October 2009 New York State Conservationist magazine has a cover story on NY fire towers. The article's title is "Standing Tall." This year mark's 100 years for NY's Fire Towers.

It is even online for free: http://www.dec.ny.gov/pubs/58684.html

[Matt]

funny, was just reading it yesterday.

[backpacker]

Hunter fire tower is located on Hunter Mountain in the Catskill. We took the shortest of four routes “Becker Hollow Trail” which happens to be the steepest route. You gain 2210 feet in elevation over 2.2 miles with the first and last tenth or so being flat. The mountain was in the clouds when we arrived around 9:30am. They did break up as we climbed but by the time we mated it was again in the clouds. By the time we got out the mountain was clear as seen in the last picture. This wasn’t the first time nor will it be the last where the views were less than hoped for, such is New Your weather. When we started hiking the peaks we said any views we got were a bonus to the trip the fun and enjoyment is in getting there.

The trail hear off route 214


First sign of the top


First sight of the tower


Cabin & Tower


Looking down on the cabin


Looking up the tower


Departing view


The tower as seen from route 23A, and the way we went up

[hobkyl]

Nice photos!