mavs00
New member
IMPORTANT NOTE: I have been given permission to give this trip report on one condition, that this fact be known. The trip described, in fact all routes from the north into these mountains is over private property. Unless you are invited quests of the landowners/leasee, which we were, access in not permitted this way. Violated ARE prosecuted. Other potential public access routes exist for the few hardy souls who research them. Please respect private property.
We had the good fortune of taking advantage of a unique opportunity to attempt to hike these two ADK 100 highest peaks (Cheney Cobble & North River) in one hike. These peaks are arguably are two of the logistically (if not physically) most difficult to reach. There are no trails anywhere in the range. In talking with some (of the few) others that have been there, We’d been told that Cheney Cobble was sort of like a “medieval fortress” of a peak that was guarded with dense conifer stands, fields of blowdown and the entire summit ring lined with a band of rocky cliffs of 50-75 feet. Not much info was available about the traverse between the two peaks, other than to say, “it doesn’t look fun”. The trip out was likely to be typical of the terrain in the region (remote and wild). Despite the reasonable 5 miles the b-whack would cover, we were told that 12-13 hours (or an overnight stay) might be required.
Dressed for battle and ready to go, myself, my son (Nick), peak_bgr, bushwhacker & peakbagr met early and were brought to within 1.4 miles of the summit of Cheney Cobble. We had real good beta, which we promptly ignored (unintentionally), and proceeded well left of our intended route. It worked out like a champ, While thick in spots, we avoided some large blowdown fields (we crossed almost no blowdown) and we reached the cliffs near the summit quickly. We unlocked the fortress gates without difficulty and were enjoying the summit of Cheney Cobble about 2 hours after starting out. You had to look around a touch but, WOW, there were some great (and very unique views) from the summit area. After a spell, we headed out with much confidence, which lasted about 10 minutes. As we prepared to descend the cliffs off the cone, we got a look over to our destination, North River Mountain.
The true summit was only about 1.1 miles (our route) away, but in the way, was lots of blowdown, one hellish and ugly bump (Cheney’s sub-summit, to be avoided at all costs), a deep col, dense conifers forest (not a hardwood to be seen) and a very steep cliff strewn side-slope approach to N. River’s summit. Our egos deflated , we quickly focused at the task at hand and the trip over was, as expected, mindnumbing, dangerous (hidden ledges), tedious and painful. It was strange in ways. This hike changed complexity so frequently it was amazing. Alternatly you were almost falling off cliffs, beating back impenetrable brush all the way to hitting a spot of (relative) openness that showed that you were really making progress. Our spirits would lift like a new morning, only to have em' crash in the next tangle of ledges, cliffs and dense brush. By the time we were just below North Rivers Summit, we ALL were “feeling” the strain. It was physically tough, but mentally, it was just brutal. Whats even worse, we passed under a sub-summit of N. River that we saw would provide a 360 degree view, and it wasn’t ours to enjoy. The thought of taking an hour to climb it and check it out was never considered (and would’ve incited mutiny at the mere mention of it). We reached the summit of North River about 3 :15 after leaving Cheney, 1.1 miles back.
The view (like Cheney) was outstanding and all to soon, with bolstered spirits, we headed back to the cars 1.5 miles away. I’d call it a death MARCH, but marching we weren’t. There comes a point in a tough b-whack that you reach a “tree quotient” that makes you just beg for it to end. Were were there, and then some. Actually, we kept each other in great spirits. As we descended, we hit pockets of open spots that emotionally felt like “new found money” and that was uplifting. We finally hit the cars about 2:45 after leaving the summit. It was a tough hike. Not the toughest by far, but it would surely test the mettle of any bushwhacker out there. As we rested by the car, we all firmly agreed that the sense of satisfaction that we will take from this hike will far outweigh the physical discomfort we felt, and is already fading (less then 24 hours later). 5 miles, 9 hours (.55 MPH ave.), 2 great places and no trails anywhere.
We’d all like to thank our unnamed “sponsor” and give our profound gratitude. On a personal note, I'd also like to thank my hiking partners, without them this wouldn’t EVEN have been fun. I learn so much from you guys and appreciate you letting this moron and his snot-nosed kid tag along with you. Speaking of which… Nick, at 14, you continue to ASTOUND me with your perseverance and sense of adventure that you WILLINGLY bring to these hikes. Your an ideal partner and I look forward to the nest 31 with you. You’re also one tough kid.
Here’s a taste of North River’s view (looking east towards the Dix’s). The rest of the pics will be posted soon.
We had the good fortune of taking advantage of a unique opportunity to attempt to hike these two ADK 100 highest peaks (Cheney Cobble & North River) in one hike. These peaks are arguably are two of the logistically (if not physically) most difficult to reach. There are no trails anywhere in the range. In talking with some (of the few) others that have been there, We’d been told that Cheney Cobble was sort of like a “medieval fortress” of a peak that was guarded with dense conifer stands, fields of blowdown and the entire summit ring lined with a band of rocky cliffs of 50-75 feet. Not much info was available about the traverse between the two peaks, other than to say, “it doesn’t look fun”. The trip out was likely to be typical of the terrain in the region (remote and wild). Despite the reasonable 5 miles the b-whack would cover, we were told that 12-13 hours (or an overnight stay) might be required.
Dressed for battle and ready to go, myself, my son (Nick), peak_bgr, bushwhacker & peakbagr met early and were brought to within 1.4 miles of the summit of Cheney Cobble. We had real good beta, which we promptly ignored (unintentionally), and proceeded well left of our intended route. It worked out like a champ, While thick in spots, we avoided some large blowdown fields (we crossed almost no blowdown) and we reached the cliffs near the summit quickly. We unlocked the fortress gates without difficulty and were enjoying the summit of Cheney Cobble about 2 hours after starting out. You had to look around a touch but, WOW, there were some great (and very unique views) from the summit area. After a spell, we headed out with much confidence, which lasted about 10 minutes. As we prepared to descend the cliffs off the cone, we got a look over to our destination, North River Mountain.
The true summit was only about 1.1 miles (our route) away, but in the way, was lots of blowdown, one hellish and ugly bump (Cheney’s sub-summit, to be avoided at all costs), a deep col, dense conifers forest (not a hardwood to be seen) and a very steep cliff strewn side-slope approach to N. River’s summit. Our egos deflated , we quickly focused at the task at hand and the trip over was, as expected, mindnumbing, dangerous (hidden ledges), tedious and painful. It was strange in ways. This hike changed complexity so frequently it was amazing. Alternatly you were almost falling off cliffs, beating back impenetrable brush all the way to hitting a spot of (relative) openness that showed that you were really making progress. Our spirits would lift like a new morning, only to have em' crash in the next tangle of ledges, cliffs and dense brush. By the time we were just below North Rivers Summit, we ALL were “feeling” the strain. It was physically tough, but mentally, it was just brutal. Whats even worse, we passed under a sub-summit of N. River that we saw would provide a 360 degree view, and it wasn’t ours to enjoy. The thought of taking an hour to climb it and check it out was never considered (and would’ve incited mutiny at the mere mention of it). We reached the summit of North River about 3 :15 after leaving Cheney, 1.1 miles back.
The view (like Cheney) was outstanding and all to soon, with bolstered spirits, we headed back to the cars 1.5 miles away. I’d call it a death MARCH, but marching we weren’t. There comes a point in a tough b-whack that you reach a “tree quotient” that makes you just beg for it to end. Were were there, and then some. Actually, we kept each other in great spirits. As we descended, we hit pockets of open spots that emotionally felt like “new found money” and that was uplifting. We finally hit the cars about 2:45 after leaving the summit. It was a tough hike. Not the toughest by far, but it would surely test the mettle of any bushwhacker out there. As we rested by the car, we all firmly agreed that the sense of satisfaction that we will take from this hike will far outweigh the physical discomfort we felt, and is already fading (less then 24 hours later). 5 miles, 9 hours (.55 MPH ave.), 2 great places and no trails anywhere.
We’d all like to thank our unnamed “sponsor” and give our profound gratitude. On a personal note, I'd also like to thank my hiking partners, without them this wouldn’t EVEN have been fun. I learn so much from you guys and appreciate you letting this moron and his snot-nosed kid tag along with you. Speaking of which… Nick, at 14, you continue to ASTOUND me with your perseverance and sense of adventure that you WILLINGLY bring to these hikes. Your an ideal partner and I look forward to the nest 31 with you. You’re also one tough kid.
Here’s a taste of North River’s view (looking east towards the Dix’s). The rest of the pics will be posted soon.
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