pat t
08-16-2007, 08:52 AM
After two long weekends of Lake George island camping, it was time to get some real exercise. We see the Pilot Knob Ridge whenever we are on the lake and we climb some portion of it every year. Though we've been to the open area on the northwest ridge many times, we've never tried to reach the true high point (2163'). My maps indicate private property on the western slopes of the high point but state forest land on the east.
We parked at the Lower Hogtown lot and took the Butternut Brook trail. After about 1.25 miles of trail walking (and after spending a few minutes looking at what appears to be a 1940s car, upside down and just off the trail) we approached what turned out to be about a quarter of a mile of beaver meadows close to the left side of the trail. We left the trail at this point and headed roughly in a SW direction, following a stream. When the stream turned S we headed W. We had an altimeter and it was a great help.
When we reached 1900' we knew we were close to the summit ridge and scrambled up a steep section to a clearing with a great view to the south. We could see Ridge Rd, Bay Rd, Green Mtns, and lots of haze to the south.
We wanted to avoid the very steep areas for our descent so we went north for a short distance and then tried to head down to the NE. Pilot Knob has lots of rock ridges that run NE to SW. We've encountered these on the SW flanks of the ridge and now we've found a few on the NE side, too. We did not want to do too much up and down so we finally had to go slightly west around the last big ridge. We followed a drainage down to about 1200' and there was the Butternut Brook trail, about a half a mile beyond where we had originally left the trail. Following the trail we climbed about 200 feet and found the other end of the beaver meadow that we noticed on the way in. It looks like the trail has been rerouted around flooded sections in this area. From here is was a pleasant 1.5 mile walk back to the car.
The sections of the Butternut Brook trail that we travelled were in great shape. This is a very pretty trail with open woods, ferns, wildflowers in the spring. Off-trail, we encounted mostly open woods and some rock outcroppings. When it was steep, it was a little tricky. Potential handholds turned out to be rotten trees and there were places where loose rocks were easily set in motion. There were places on the descent where heavy fern growth made it hard to see where our feet were.
Only saw two other hikers on the Butternut Brook trail. When we mentioned that we were going off trail they told us about the day they spent trying to find the summit of Erebus. Sounds like fun!
Pat T
ps -- And thanks to my trusty hiking companion, Matt, who puts up with the slow pace!
We parked at the Lower Hogtown lot and took the Butternut Brook trail. After about 1.25 miles of trail walking (and after spending a few minutes looking at what appears to be a 1940s car, upside down and just off the trail) we approached what turned out to be about a quarter of a mile of beaver meadows close to the left side of the trail. We left the trail at this point and headed roughly in a SW direction, following a stream. When the stream turned S we headed W. We had an altimeter and it was a great help.
When we reached 1900' we knew we were close to the summit ridge and scrambled up a steep section to a clearing with a great view to the south. We could see Ridge Rd, Bay Rd, Green Mtns, and lots of haze to the south.
We wanted to avoid the very steep areas for our descent so we went north for a short distance and then tried to head down to the NE. Pilot Knob has lots of rock ridges that run NE to SW. We've encountered these on the SW flanks of the ridge and now we've found a few on the NE side, too. We did not want to do too much up and down so we finally had to go slightly west around the last big ridge. We followed a drainage down to about 1200' and there was the Butternut Brook trail, about a half a mile beyond where we had originally left the trail. Following the trail we climbed about 200 feet and found the other end of the beaver meadow that we noticed on the way in. It looks like the trail has been rerouted around flooded sections in this area. From here is was a pleasant 1.5 mile walk back to the car.
The sections of the Butternut Brook trail that we travelled were in great shape. This is a very pretty trail with open woods, ferns, wildflowers in the spring. Off-trail, we encounted mostly open woods and some rock outcroppings. When it was steep, it was a little tricky. Potential handholds turned out to be rotten trees and there were places where loose rocks were easily set in motion. There were places on the descent where heavy fern growth made it hard to see where our feet were.
Only saw two other hikers on the Butternut Brook trail. When we mentioned that we were going off trail they told us about the day they spent trying to find the summit of Erebus. Sounds like fun!
Pat T
ps -- And thanks to my trusty hiking companion, Matt, who puts up with the slow pace!