Rusk for "Dummies"

[Adk_dib]

I wanted to do the rusk, hunter, SW hunter loop today. I got to the hairpin turn that I was told that there was a trail to rusk. All I saw was the "private" road. My hiking book says this is a private road and I don't want to break any rules. I went in the woods about 50 feet in for all directions and could not find a trail. The trail must go through the private road but I could not even find semblance of a trail. Looked to me that nobody walked this road. I went on and did hunter and SW hunter. SW hunter trail was obvious. A lot more people must take Sw hunter than Rusk. I was supposed to take the private road wasn't I?

 

[Tom Rankin]

I wanted to do the rusk, hunter, SW hunter loop today. I got to the hairpin turn that I was told that there was a trail to rusk. All I saw was the "private" road. My hiking book says this is a private road and I don't want to break any rules. I went in the woods about 50 feet in for all directions and could not find a trail. The trail must go through the private road but I could not even find semblance of a trail. Looked to me that nobody walked this road. I went on and did hunter and SW hunter. SW hunter trail was obvious. A lot more people must take Sw hunter than Rusk. I was supposed to take the private road wasn't I?

Fortunately, no!

There is no trail to Rusk. The first hair pin turn is way before the junction you are referring to. It is here:

http://mapper.acme.com/?ll=42.19040,-74.26818&z=15&t=T&

This is where you leave the road to do the ascent of Rusk, typically at least. Some people head to the col to the east, and others take a direct route. There are faint herd paths from time to time, and along the ridge, there is a decent herd path. Sorry you didn't make it.