New York Highest 100

[Rik]

I like using lists and the more varied the better. When I'm deciding where to hike I consider who I'm going with, what kind of time I have, current conditions, where I might be travelling for other reasons,.... Have a varied list allows me to pick a hike that fits what I'm looking for on a given day. Some days that is something hard and off trail and some days it is just a workout up a short trail for a couple of hours. Going to Blue Mt. early in the morning (before crowds) and then spending the day in the Adirondack museum makes for a nice day especially with a non-hiker.

 

[Raymond]

Speaking of private property issues and alerting the public, I see that the top of Dun Brook Mountain is now completely closed.

I first read of this mountain on Tim’s Web site last year, but when I looked in my ADK High Peaks guide, Dun Brook was NOT one of the mountains marked as being on public property. I double-checked the guide that was on the shelf at the Lake Placid EMS — still the same. Not on private property, according to the list at the back of the book.

I’m not disputing the fact that the mountain is on private property and that it is closed to the public, but if Tony Goodwin doesn’t know the situation, it may be harder than everyone thinks to compile such a list and keep it current.

Incidentally, rather than substituting an entirely different mountain for Dun Brook (What’s the story there, anyway? Telephone towers?), shouldn’t there be some sort of as-close-as-possible point, as the highpointers used to have for Rhode Island’s Jerimoth Hill?

Was Dun Brook private even back in 1998, when my guidebook was published, or is this a recent development (no pun intended, if that’s what’s going on up there).

I’m also wondering how PinPin and Tom H. managed to climb it when they did. If I remember correctly, you later fellows joined a fishing club.

 

[BlackSpruce]

As there were only a rare few climbing up the 100 list trespassing wasn't such an issue as it is today, therefore most didn’t bother about respecting private property. For instance I can assure you that no one has yet climbed Cheney Cobble and North River while staying on state lands all of the time. Only a handful have asked and obtained permission to cross the private property to reach those two peaks.

Dun Brook has always been on private property. Ensuing the action, in 2006, of a lone individual any hiker caught by a hunting club or F&P will be prosecuted.

I should add that I am a member of the East River Club and can understand the reluctance of the private clubs in allowing free access to their lease. Our Club dues are in the $30,000 range and it’s a lot of volunteers work maintaining roads, trails, etc.

 

[Peakbagr]

Raymond,

We met with the Forestry Manager of Finch Pruyn and at his request, asked the ADK to make a note of private property status of Dun Brook in their next edition of the guide book to the HPs. I was told that this would be done.

There are a handful of mts on the ADK100 list that are on private property. Most can be climbed by joining a club or being invited and accompanied as a guest. Others can stay at Elk Lake Lodge and hike as guests there.
The summit of Dun Brook is not one of the peaks that is currently open under any circumstances, even to the surrounding hunting clubs.

If someone is truly interested, and gets far enough into the list where Dun Brook is the difference between finishing the list or not do this - Climb Bullhead or Wilmington(peaks 101 and 102 and probably higher than the last 2 ADK100ers on the Guide Book list). You've then done the list, with the understanding you'd go back to DB if and when it ever becomes available.

The HH list has been in the ADK HPs guide for many years. I can't speak for Tony, but I believe he probably thought that Dun Brook,like many of the other peaks on leased land was available if you 'belonged'. this was also not a climbing guide, simply a list of the ADK100 peaks.

If you want to talk about any of this, drop me a PM and we can speak on the phone. Those of us involved with the ADK100 would prefer not to duplicate the information and heated debate that is available on ADKHPs and would rather avoid some of that other discussion.
Hope I answered your query.

Alan

 

[Raymond]

I was just curious — or nosy; that’s all.

When I read that ‘‘the summit is not open under any circumstances,’’ it piqued my curiosity. Or that ‘‘no one has yet climbed Cheney Cobble and North River while staying on state lands all the time.’’ That looks like a challenge.

Don’t worry, I’m not going to go sneaking onto any private property to climb those mountains. But I wouldn’t have any interest in them, either, if they weren’t going out of their way to make it difficult. Forbidden fruit, you know?

Some of you have topped off Dun Brook I guess, thinking you had permission to do so. Is there anything actually up there other than eye-poking branches? (Maybe no one is willing to admit they’ve been there.)

 

[BlackSpruce]

I have been there and didn't really found anything really worth the climb on Dun Brook summit, the usual blowdown before getting to it if coming from the Salmon Pond side, up from the other side the going is much easier, the trees are near each other but mostly standing at least.

Regarding all of the "forbidden" summits I believe that the 100 climbers will keep on taking a chance and not bother asking for permission even when available no matter what "they" write or say publicly. A rare respectable few keep their words and will not trespass.

 

[AntlerPeak]

I was just curious — or nosy; that’s all.
Some of you have topped off Dun Brook I guess, thinking you had permission to do so. Is there anything actually up there other than eye-poking branches? (Maybe no one is willing to admit they’ve been there.)

Raymond, I believe Dun Brook is one of those that could be categorized as "not always the case" Years ago, as someone stated in an earlier post, "very few climbers no bother to ask," I have a friend who climbed Dun Brook many years ago, perhaps the early eighties. He being a stickler for the rules, in fact over the top in efforts to not break the slightest rule, surprised me by saying he had climbed it. I not being able to resist breaking it off replied with something like, "you! you of all people trespassed?" He answered by telling me that back then you could get permission and he in fact did. Considering this guy was well connected in business circles I don't doubt it. So for many it is likely the "absolute closed" did not apply twenty to twenty-five years ago. This fellow's attitude about trespassing reminds me of that often stated by Mavs. I don't know Mavs but I do know the other guy and he would not make up the tale of having "permission". So the short of this is /back then/ permission may very well have been possible. As for now Mavs has my respect for sticking to what is right. Hopefully in time things will change in regard to access.

 

[BorealChickadee]

Things have changed. Back in the seventies I hiked and sledded down a mountain in the Catskills which now has PP issues. Not a problem, my mother-in-law lived in the local community and baked the bread for the church suppers. Things WERE different then. Although land was privately owned hardly anyone would think of posting because there were so few people out in the woods. If anything they were worried about deer hunting season. We pretty much wandered all over without any worry over land ownership. And if there was a house, you'd just introduce yourself, say where you lived and everything was OK. I went fishing in a lot of places that way also. The end of the seventies and the beginning of the eighties was when I first started to see posted land by hunting/fish/game clubs. So for ten dollars a year we joined.

 

[Neil]

When I read that ‘‘the summit is not open under any circumstances,’’ it piqued my curiosity. Or that ‘‘no one has yet climbed Cheney Cobble and North River while staying on state lands all the time.’’ That looks like a challenge.

Cheney and NR at first study don't seem to be too complicated. You head out as if for Allen and then curl around along Allen's SW flank staying above PP until clear of it. From there the map indicates a straight shot over Cheney to NR. My bushwhacking buds and I have discussed doing them either as one very long day hike or as a more leisurely 2 nighter.

The PP issues surrounding some of the HH merely add another layer of challenge to the list.

 

[BlackSpruce]

Plan for two days, I have flown over this range several times (we all have our easy ways to scan the best routes), it will be an interesting challenge! Don't forget you will have to retrace your steps to stay on state land going back home. Since I enjoy the luxury of giving myself permission of legal access to CC and NR, I have several times visited those peaks in summer and winter and I doubt that you can traveling on state land at all time make it a one day climb for both or even one of those 100 peaks. Before the end of the winter with a few friends we are planning to visit NR, if we are lucky enough once on state land we will meet your tracks! Thanks.

 

[Neil]

Yes indeed, the 2 night plan has all the makings of a great and memorable backcountry experience whereas attempting a 20 hour "day" hike has pain and death march written all over it. I like the idea of mid spring in order to benefit from deep snow above the blowdown and a supportive crust to prevent sinking in. Ie. having one's cake and eating it too is possible.

 

[Peakbagr]

I was on Dun Brook. We actually joined a Sportman's Club with the specific intention of climbing DB, Fishing Brook, and Fishing Brook Range.
It was only much after the 2 hikes that we discovered that the Club we joined did NOT have permission for access to DB.

So, while we thought we climbed DB legally, upon subsequent discovery, we apologized in person to the Finch Pruyn manager, explaining what happened.
In the meantime, anyone in the high 90's on the ADK100, climb Bullhead or Wilmington in place of DB and you'll be a finisher. Those interested are then eligible to receive the ADK100 patch and decal.

 

[mavs00]

As for now Mavs has my respect for sticking to what is right. Hopefully in time things will change in regard to access.

Thanks Antler.....

As for me, I've been told directly by the manager of the property that "I DO NOT HAVE PERMISSION TO CLIMB DUNN BROOK MOUNTAIN". So I will not. That does mean that I will not finish the ADK 100, the NY100 or any other list that will require me to compromise my own personal code of back-country ethics. I've made my peace with it. I do not expect anyone to understand or even care, it's just what I will do. It may change in the future, but for now, that is the way it is. I asked permission, and it was denied, perhaps others will have better luck. I do NOT judge others for the decisions they make.

Does that mean that I will not continue to seek out places that are remote, untraveled, special or otherwise worthy of my time and effort? Absolutely not, it is those pathless summits that really enhance my back-country experience and makes me long to get back time after time.

 

[Peakbagr]

"As for me, I've been told directly by the manager of the property that "I DO NOT HAVE PERMISSION TO CLIMB DUNN BROOK MOUNTAIN". So I will not."

"I asked permission, and it was denied, perhaps others will have better luck. I do NOT judge others for the decisions they make."

To be clear, we didn't ask permission either, thinking that the club we joined had legal permission for Dun Brook. As it turned out, we caught a 'lucky break' doing something off limits, not knowing so, and thinking it was legitimate at the time.
We made every effort to apologize to Finch Pruyn, and to show our support for their right to keep hikers off the peak, we asked the Adirondack Mt Club to amend the Dun Brook listing in the next HP's edition. This is something FP Paper had not been able to accomplish in years.

 

[Raymond]

BlackSpruce or Neil, do you know if the private land out near Allen is posted? If not, how do you know if you've stayed on state land or not? If you don't have a GPS receiver, that is, which I don't.

Also, how come everyone calls it North River Mountain instead of Rist Mountain? What's wrong with Rist?

 

[John H Swanson]

BlackSpruce or Neil, do you know if the private land out near Allen is posted? If not, how do you know if you've stayed on state land or not? If you don't have a GPS receiver, that is, which I don't.

QUOTE]

It's called navigation....and is made easier with an altimeter, but that is is not necessary to have a really good idea of you position when you know how it is done.

 

[Peakbagr]

Back in '04, the original poster asked about the peaks on the NY 100 Highest. I thought it was an interested question and bumped it up.
It appears that question has been answered.