Nun-da-ga-o Ridge 7/8/2012

twinpeaks · 07-10-2012, 05:28 PM

On my way home from a week on the lake on Sunday I wanted to get a short hike in and had recently read someone's suggestion for Nun-da-ga-o Ridge. I liked the name and the sound of the Ridge so I decided it would be my destination. I was running late and didn't get to the trailhead until about 12:30 and started off in a clockwise direction. Steady uphill for about 20 minutes until the Big Crow trail junction, which I took just to check out the view. Lots of folks up on the summit so I had a snack but didn't linger, eager to get on with the rest of the ridge.

Basically for the next couple of hours, I went up and down over some great rock outcroppings with outstanding views of the entire Eastern High Peaks from Giant all the way around to Whiteface. The view perspectives were different than any I had seen previously so it was a lot of fun trying to pick out the bumps on the Great Range from that angle and trying to figure out which one is UWJ, Armstrong, Gothcs, etc. Great angle to see the entire Noonmark-Nippletop ridge, Colvin-Blake and Cascade-Porter and the road up through Cascade Pass across the valley. It was also cool to look back and see how far I had progressed along the ridge as I went. The occasional scrambles up steep rock faces were a nice reminder of more difficult hikes. While I would rate this hike overall as easy-moderate in difficulty, some of the pitches might cause a problem for weaker hikers.

After a dozen or more "oh wow" moments, I started down and came to the Walter Biesemeyer Memorial Lean-to. There's a really nice memorial plaque inside, and it looks like a great place to camp out, just a short walk to Lost Pond a beautiful body of water. I stopped at both spots and just soaked in the sun and the silence. I couldn't believe that I hadn't seen anyone on the trail since leaving Big Crow.

As I reached the Gulf Brook Lean-to (another really nice camping spot), I had thoughts about going up to Hurricane Mt but I was out of water and my Steri-pen wasn't working properly so I headed back to the lot. About a 6 mile loop and it took me approximately 3.5 hours, with lots of stops to admire the views. The path, although not "maintained" is easy to follow with some helpful cairns on the open rock parts and some white markers occasionally on the trees.

After spending the better part of the past three summers peak bagging, it was really nice to just take a relaxing hike in a slightly less popular part of the Adks. Given the perfect weather and the fact that it was a Sunday, I was very surprised to not see a single person on the entire trail or in either of those Lean-to's. I would highly recommend this hike on a nice day for anyone looking to get away from it all for a few hours. One note, the path on the ridge is tight in some areas (reminded me of the path from Dix to Hough) so it would be advisable to wear something waterproof if there's been rain within a few hours of your hike.

A few pics: http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/583084649yaaOwt

Jack7957 · 07-10-2012, 09:00 PM

Thanks. I'm planning on that same hike, with Hurricane for the fall, after the leaves change, as long as it's a sunny day.

El Loco · 07-10-2012, 09:09 PM

It is also a great circut on a clear, crisp winter day.

ScAtTeRbOnE · 07-10-2012, 09:18 PM

Nice Report! One of my favorite ADK Hikes, hiked it in June a couple years ago and saw tons of Pink Ladyslippers along the trail.

Gregory Karl · 07-10-2012, 10:00 PM

Yeah, that is a great hike. The Crows certainly get the majority of the traffic—huge payoff for very little work—but Nun-da-ga-o usually gets its share too.

Have you tried the Jay Range yet? Just a little north of there and even more spectacular. A couple of miles of open rock and nonstop views.

twinpeaks · 07-10-2012, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gregory Karl

Yeah, that is a great hike. The Crows certainly get the majority of the traffic—huge payoff for very little work—but Nun-da-ga-o usually gets its share too.

Have you tried the Jay Range yet? Just a little north of there and even more spectacular. A couple of miles of open rock and nonstop views.

Haven't tried it yet but I was checking it out on my map and I've read some trip reports that have intrigued me so I'll definitely put it on the list. Thanks!

07-10-2012, 05:28 PM	#1
twinpeaks Consultant Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Burlington CT and Mountain View NY Posts: 230	Nun-da-ga-o Ridge 7/8/2012 On my way home from a week on the lake on Sunday I wanted to get a short hike in and had recently read someone's suggestion for Nun-da-ga-o Ridge. I liked the name and the sound of the Ridge so I decided it would be my destination. I was running late and didn't get to the trailhead until about 12:30 and started off in a clockwise direction. Steady uphill for about 20 minutes until the Big Crow trail junction, which I took just to check out the view. Lots of folks up on the summit so I had a snack but didn't linger, eager to get on with the rest of the ridge. Basically for the next couple of hours, I went up and down over some great rock outcroppings with outstanding views of the entire Eastern High Peaks from Giant all the way around to Whiteface. The view perspectives were different than any I had seen previously so it was a lot of fun trying to pick out the bumps on the Great Range from that angle and trying to figure out which one is UWJ, Armstrong, Gothcs, etc. Great angle to see the entire Noonmark-Nippletop ridge, Colvin-Blake and Cascade-Porter and the road up through Cascade Pass across the valley. It was also cool to look back and see how far I had progressed along the ridge as I went. The occasional scrambles up steep rock faces were a nice reminder of more difficult hikes. While I would rate this hike overall as easy-moderate in difficulty, some of the pitches might cause a problem for weaker hikers. After a dozen or more "oh wow" moments, I started down and came to the Walter Biesemeyer Memorial Lean-to. There's a really nice memorial plaque inside, and it looks like a great place to camp out, just a short walk to Lost Pond a beautiful body of water. I stopped at both spots and just soaked in the sun and the silence. I couldn't believe that I hadn't seen anyone on the trail since leaving Big Crow. As I reached the Gulf Brook Lean-to (another really nice camping spot), I had thoughts about going up to Hurricane Mt but I was out of water and my Steri-pen wasn't working properly so I headed back to the lot. About a 6 mile loop and it took me approximately 3.5 hours, with lots of stops to admire the views. The path, although not "maintained" is easy to follow with some helpful cairns on the open rock parts and some white markers occasionally on the trees. After spending the better part of the past three summers peak bagging, it was really nice to just take a relaxing hike in a slightly less popular part of the Adks. Given the perfect weather and the fact that it was a Sunday, I was very surprised to not see a single person on the entire trail or in either of those Lean-to's. I would highly recommend this hike on a nice day for anyone looking to get away from it all for a few hours. One note, the path on the ridge is tight in some areas (reminded me of the path from Dix to Hough) so it would be advisable to wear something waterproof if there's been rain within a few hours of your hike. A few pics: http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/583084649yaaOwt __________________ "Feats don't fail me now"

07-10-2012, 09:00 PM	#2
Jack7957 Consultant Join Date: May 2012 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 325	Thanks. I'm planning on that same hike, with Hurricane for the fall, after the leaves change, as long as it's a sunny day. __________________ Firetowers - 29/29 46ers - 4/46

07-10-2012, 09:09 PM	#3
El Loco Commander Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Addison, NY Posts: 515	It is also a great circut on a clear, crisp winter day. __________________ 46R - #4541W CL50 - #100 Northville-Placid Trail :

07-10-2012, 09:18 PM	#4
ScAtTeRbOnE Balsam Sniffer Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Victory Mills, NY Posts: 655	Nice Report! One of my favorite ADK Hikes, hiked it in June a couple years ago and saw tons of Pink Ladyslippers along the trail. __________________ ADK 46/46 4W CATS 39/39 8W ADK100 63/102 VT35 26/29 FT's 25/29 VT FT's 9/15 "We are now in the mountains and they are in us, kindling enthusiasm, making every nerve quiver, filling every pore and cell of us. Our flesh and bone tabernacle seems transparent as glass to the beauty about us, as if truly an inseparable part of it, thrilling with the air and trees, streams and rocks, in the waves of the sun, a part of all nature, neither old nor young, sick nor well, but immortal." John Muir from My First Summer in The Sierra

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07-10-2012, 10:00 PM	#5
Gregory Karl * — * — * — * — * Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Jay Posts: 1,985	Yeah, that is a great hike. The Crows certainly get the majority of the traffic—huge payoff for very little work—but Nun-da-ga-o usually gets its share too. Have you tried the Jay Range yet? Just a little north of there and even more spectacular. A couple of miles of open rock and nonstop views.

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