Mt Adam Firetower - HOLY COW (11/26)

[mavs00]

As a post-Thanksgiving treat, we decided to take on this short hike up this firetower peak that has long been on our “to do” list. It did not disappoint. HOLY COW, For the effort involved (very reasonable), this is quite possibly one of the finest views in the entire park. Sure there are better summit views out there, but not many that are just 2 pleasant hours from the car.

We drove 3.5 hours in from Rome and met Bushwhacker (Brian) and Eric (Peak_bgr’s son) at the Allen trailhead at about 8:30 AM. It was a brisk 22 degrees as we started and the sky was clear. We were decked out for full winter conditions (minus snowshoes) and we warmed quickly. After reaching the turn off to Adams from the main trail, we started heading up. This newly restored trail is wonderful, wide and soft. We took it slow and focused on enjoying the trip.

While there was only a dusting of snow down low, we could tell from the looking at the other peaks around, the big ones were sporting the white caps of winter up high. Sure enough, as we approached the 2900’ mark, it got icy. We decided to throw on the crampons and not have to futz around dodging ice. Brian and Eric chose to bareboot, and they certainly struggled more than we did. By around 3200’-3300’, there was solidly 2-3 inches of ice on all rock surfaces. It was certainly doable without them, but we had em, so why hassle.

After a little over two hours we hit the summit and the firetower. The tower box itself was in disrepair, but the stairs and landings have all been restored. We went up to the 4-5th level and were well above the trees. Man, the view was SIMPLY AWSOME. You are in the middle of it all and it’s 360 all the way around.

My trusty -KESTREL- unit recorded 18.1 degrees on the summit with 10 MPH winds (4 degree wind chill). There was even a little rime ice forming on the tower. We quickly had some lunch and enjoyed the views. I crashed around the summit areas and found some other nifty views. Overall, we were up there for about 45 minutes and then headed out. The afternoon warmed up nicely and with the sun shining we got downright HOT coming down. By the time we got down to the trailhead, it was a balmy 30 degrees.

All in all, a simply amazing hike. We did it in just over 5 hours and we took our time. You’d likely be faster as we really relaxed this one. This hike is pretty easy, all the way through, and like I said, the effort/reward ratio is real high. It’s like a Noonmark on the western side of the peaks.

More pictures of this hike in my-GALLERY-. (Adams firetower)

 

[ALGonquin Bob]

Tim, Great report and photos. What a spectacular day!

 

[prino]

As always, a great trip report with outstanding photos. You guys had a blast!
Thanks for that Tim.

-Phil

 

[1ADAM12]

Tim and fam:

AWESOME PICS AS USUAL

 

[BlackSpruce]

Great news about Mt. Adams

From WNBZ-Saranac Lake website, Wednesday Nov. 24, 2004 -- FYI:

MT. ADAMS FIRE TOWER TO BE RESTORED
The Department of Environmental Conservation is providing funds to help
restore the Mt. Adams fire tower on the Tahawus Tract in Newcomb.
DEC has allocated $5000 for work on the tower, located in the heart of the
High Peaks Region.
The Residents Committee to Protect the Adirondacks applauded DEC's efforts
to preserve and restore the tower. Executive Director Peter Bauer feels DEC
is protecting a site that has much to offer. "We feel there was an
opportunity here to protect this site because of its cultural value but
also because of the terrific view that it provides," he said. "And the
feedback we've heard from the hiking community is that people that have
hiked to the summit of Mt. Adams have really found a stunning view from
this tower."
The fire tower is located on the 10,000-acre Tahawus tract, purchased from
NL Industries last year by the Open Space Institute. OSI plans to sell the
acreage to the state sometime next year. Once the land is transferred, the
DEC is expected to recommend to the Adirondack Park Agency that it be
classified as part of the High Peaks Wilderness Area.
Bauer said the Mt. Adams fire tower should remain a private inholding with
use restricted by a conservation easement.
In addition to the money allocated to the Mt. Adams tower, another $5000
will go to restoration of the nearby Vanderwhacker Mountain fire tower.
Bauer said some restoration work on the two sites has already begun.
"They're stabilized but both will need more work before they will be truly
restored," he said. The renovations are needed to ensure safe public access
to the towers.
Many other fire towers across the park have been restored in recent years
by community groups, such as the Mt. Arab fire tower near Tupper Lake and
the Azure Mountain fire tower north of Paul Smiths.

 

[grizzy]

Wow
Beautiful view. The Adams tower is on my short list of hikes.