Lyon 12-18

[hillman1]

The trail is broken out to the summit courtesy Spaddock and Toby. No views, great hike, and it looks to be a great ski trip for most of the trail. We couldn't even make out Averill due to conditions, so hiking to it was not in the cards this day. A cool area to hike in, so I am looking forward to going back for a redo with nicer weather.

[Shewolf]

Hillman,

How much snow at the summit?

If you ever get to hike Lyon Mt. with views, you'll get some great ones of the dacks and the Greens! Not to mention Lake Champlain!

[Neil]

If you ever get to hike Lyon Mt. with views, you'll get some great ones
You mean, like this? (http://neil.webcentre.ca/outdoor%20pursuits/lyon/IMG_0032.html)

[Prino]

You mean, like this? (http://neil.webcentre.ca/outdoor%20pursuits/lyon/IMG_0032.html)

I remember that! I'm sure there must be more snow up there now.... A few more dumps like last Friday's and we'll be able to hike "above the treetops" from Lyon to Averill.

[spaddock]

How much snow at the summit?

There wasn't that much snow on the summit by the firetower, it was mostly wind swept there. A hundred yards off though and I got into a spruce trap up to my waist!

It was tough going up. It took us about 3 hours to summit (from the main road, the access road to the trailhead isn't plowed). We spent 30 minutes on top. Despite the lack of views of Montreal it was really nice up there and I hadn't seen a fire tower since my first ADK hike on Hurricane. Besides, I've seen what Montreal looks like close up many times... ;) It only took us 1.5 hours to descend.

Now's a perfect time to grab that summit. Four others that we know of hiked that peak after us.


-Shayne

[TFR]

... I hadn't seen a fire tower since my first ADK hike on Hurricane...

Shayne, I just did Hurricane in late October when we had all that early snow! That was tough! My g.f. fell into a spruce trap up to her shoulders! :eek:

Hiking the firetowers this past summer was really cool. They are still quite challenging and you get a really good perspective on the entire Adirondack Park, not just the high peaks.

See here (http://www.adk-gfs.org/fire_tower_challenge.html) for more info...

[Shewolf]

You mean, like this? (http://neil.webcentre.ca/outdoor%20pursuits/lyon/IMG_0032.html)

yep, Just like that one...though I've got some even better ones, but I suck at attaching them...UGH!

{QUOTE=Niel}It was tough going up. It took us about 3 hours to summit (from the main road, the access road to the trailhead isn't plowed). We spent 30 minutes on top. Despite the lack of views of Montreal it was really nice up there and I hadn't seen a fire tower since my first ADK hike on Hurricane. Besides, I've seen what Montreal looks like close up many times... It only took us 1.5 hours to descend.[/QUOTE]

Spaddock, the access road will not be plowed...Hikes from here on out will be started from the little parking area at the beginning of the access road. The parking area you used before is referred to as "the summer parking lot"....for obvious reasons.

I think the descent is so much more fun than the ascent. Like running on cotton balls!!! There are some spots you can do a really fun butt slide down half the mountain!

[spaddock]

Spaddock, the access road will not be plowed...

I know... The sign at the start of the road made that quite clear. ;)

Was stating it in my post since I mentioned how long the ascent was. Starting the hike from the main road adds about 1.6 more miles to the hike.


-Shayne

[Shewolf]

Spaddock,

You really need to walk up the access road when they have a snowmobile convention on the trail...There's a trail that crosses over the access road and they like to congregate at that intersection...Some like to attempt to ride up the access road and up the trail. In the process they manage to annihilate the ski tracks.

[Rusty and the Maniac]

Lyon gets more snow than most of the Adirondacks. It's an orographic barrier that catches a lot of the moisture moving down the St. Lawrence Valley form the Great Lakes. Plattsburgh is actually the driest city in NY, thanks to Lyon. Oh, and no one ever skiis there. ;)

[spaddock]

Spaddock,

You really need to walk up the access road when they have a snowmobile convention on the trail...There's a trail that crosses over the access road and they like to congregate at that intersection...

I saw the trail that intersected the road. Actually a snowmobiler had driven almost all the way to the trailhead, which I was thankfull for since they packed the snow down a little. ;)

I believe Hillman also mentioned that you could easily take a snowmobile up that trail. Although we really want to go back with our skis!!!


-Shayne

[hillman1]

I would have to say that this trail is one of the most easily skied routes in the mountains. Very wide, and mostly low angle. We met two guys from Plattsburgh that told us most people bring thier skis to just below the steep section before the summit ridge, and then ski easily back to the parking area. They evn had names for the sections of the trail. I believe they said the steep section was named "the chute".

[Affix Snow]

So im drawing a blank....where is this?!

Anyone got a link to topozone?

Thanx

Nevermind...got it. Looks cool!

[Affix Snow]

Okay, you mentioned skis and now my interst it peeked.

Is there enough snow to ski next week? I will be up at my place from 12/27- 1/2.....

[Rusty and the Maniac]

The problem is it gets tracked out pretty quickly. But, with all the snow it gets, one of those days should be good. There's a base there now and it's only gonna get deeper (fingers crossed). I'm planning on going up at least one of the days between the 28th -30th, depending on what day I get back from my wife's folks, downstate. I'm also going up at least once this week to see what it's like since we got the new snow. I hear it's getting good. :D

[spaddock]

It definitely has a nice packed base now. All the new snow will make it better. Either way, Bombs Away, it looks like a sweet run.

-Shayne

[Affix Snow]

Sweet. Thanx!

Might just give her a try!!!!!

Whats the best way to get there from Jay/9N?

[Rusty and the Maniac]

Okay, the easiest way, not the fastest, but the easiest way is to go 9n to the Northway, get off at exit 38 onto rte 374 and take that all the way past Dannemora and past Chazy Lake and then take a left onto Chazy Lake Road (just when you can't see the lake anymore is when you'll see the road). Go up the road a mile or two and the trail is on the right hand side, it's a dirt road in the summer, but has no sign or markings, or parking. It's the first thing on the right that looks like a dirt road though. Follow that road in for maybe a mile and you get to an open area that's the summer lot... which is where the trail starts from. Don't let the lack of a register or disks fool you, it's a well used trail and is easy to follow. :)

[hillman1]

It is a super wide trail that has some areas of open woods along the sides. I believe it is an abandoned ski area, and I'm pretty certain I saw rmnants of lift towers. The snow was between calf and thigh deep. I will be skiing this trail before winter ends.

[Affix Snow]

Excellent. Consider me SYKED! Thanx!

[Rusty and the Maniac]

Skiied up there today. It was great!