Gore Mountain (Adirondacks)

[Mohamed Ellozy]

A couple of days ago I attempted to climb Gore Mountain (the highpoint of Warren County) by the Schaefer Trail from the Snowbowl area. Neither the description in in CoHP book, nor that at the trail register, allowed me to find the start of the trail. There are many snowmobile and old ski trails leaving the trailhead, all unmarked.

Does any of the guidebooks give a good description of the start of the trail, preferably with a diagram? Can anyone give me specific instructions on finding it?

Though I did not get anywhere near the summit I had a great day going up an old downhill ski trail, with lots of blackberries along the sides. I probably established a personal record for amount of blackberries consumed in a single day, which beats getting one more peak

Note: I would much prefer going up a real hiking trail than going to the ski center and going up their trails.

 

[WalksWithBlackflies]

I haven't been to Gore (yet), but "Views from on High", a book with routes to the firetowers in NYS, contains a trail description. I believe the route follows ski trails for part of the ascent.

At time last year, I nearly got sick climbing Skylight from all the raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries I ate on the way

 

[ken]

take route 28 west from weavertown - pass the route 28N junction at north creek - just past that junction you will see (i believe it is a retirement home) on the left - make a left at that corner (i think it is ski run road, but you cant miss the big building)and about 1/2 mile down the road you will see the DEC sign for the trail (usually there are trail maps stuck in with the register) - it is a wide grassy hill that you climb from the sign to the old road that turns into the trail (the markers will be along the way - once you get near the top you will be following service roads to the summit.

 

[TCD]

I hiked the Schaeffer Trail on Gore several years ago when it was brand new. At the time, there were some trail guides at the register which gave a fairly detailed description of the start. I recall that it was confusing, and that without the guide from the register, it would have been very difficult. If I recall correctly, you go up the old snow bowl ski trails to the top of the old lift, and from there you can scout around and pick up a trail marker. There are several trails looping around the area, so you will have to scout around a bit.

(Unfortunately, it often seems to be that when you are near a camping area, or other open area with many trails, there are very few trail markers (like Bushnell Falls, or Lake Colden), but when you're in tight growth, where it would be impossible to walk off the trail, the markers are frequent.)

Once on the trail, it's mostly easy to follow. The trail parallels the "pipeline road", and crosses the same bridge as the road. Then the trail ducks back into the woods. When you get into "Dave's Cirque," you'll know, because of the attractive small cliffs and uniquely open woods. At that point, be careful of intersections with the Ski Center's Mountain Bike trail network.

The ST will eventually bring you out to the lookout rock and the nearby Leanto. After that, there are several intersections with Ski Center trails, including crossing and recrossing the "Tahawus" ski trail.

Once you reach the "Saddle" (there is a Lodge, Patrol Building, and the top of two lifts), the hike to the summit continues on the Ski Center's "Cloud" work road and "Cloud" ski trail.

 

[Rik]

I used the Views from on High book and had no trouble.