DNQ for the LoBS...

[Biji]

…Colvin & Blake 8 July 2012

Some folks say that if it wasn’t on a list they wouldn’t climb Blake. While I have only recently become an official “aspiring” 46er, for some inexplicable reason I was reluctant to join the Legions of Blake Slaggers, so after factoring in my characteristic lack of alpine style, viz slow and overweight, planned to camp out along the way, thereby easing the daily mileage, splitting the Lake Road tedium over two days, and making possible a side trip.

With thunderstorms predicted until mid-afternoon on Saturday the 7th, I banked on the forecast deterring backpackers from heading in Friday night, and hoped to score one of the Gill Brook sites for Saturday night. Left home Saturday at noon and arrived at the AMR at 4:00. After nearly being drilled by a line drive slice off the 11th tee by a guy who didn’t call “fore” until his ball disappeared in the rough along the road (evidently the sign on the tee box doesn’t apply to hikers, only pedestrians), I met a nice gal before Checkpoint Charlie who had day-hiked Fish Hawk Cliffs with a full over night pack “for exercise.” She said the first two sites were open when she passed. A survey of the register buoyed my hopes of not having to push on into Elk Pass to find a legal site. After taking the Bypass Trail, thanks to DackerDan’s recommendation, I found the first site across the brook taken, but the first on the right vacant, so I set up shop, bagged water for later, and set off up the trail to take in the sunset from Fish Hawk Cliffs.

What a treat that was. I had the place to myself, a stiff breeze to cool me off, and distant loon cries to obviate the need for tunes, which I didn’t bring anyway (nor a cell phone or firearm for that matter, mindful of the AMR strictures). While I had brought the stove, water, and supper with me, thinking I would chow down on the cliffs, the wind was a deterrent, and the view of Indian Head so tantalizing, I made the loop over and around. Had I known the Ausable Club was shooting off fireworks that night, I might have hung out on the Giant overlook, but it was past supper time and getting dark, so back to the sito I went. The only bugs that bothered on the whole trip were moths swirling around my headlamp. Sweet.

Sunday morning after breakfast, I packed my trash, stashed it in the bush to leave the site open, and headed for Colvin & Blake. Moving at my customary glacial pace, I thoroughly enjoyed the trip out to Blake and back. You couldn’t ask for a better July day. Humidity was low and a cooling breeze kept the bugs at bay. Despite a few showers the night before, there was precious little mud. Plenty of two-handed rock scrambles made you feel like you were climbing mountains, not just hiking. The ridge walk on the south side of Colvin was delightful. Cols always strike me as enchanted places, and that between the two peaks was no exception. And there were plenty of fine views to be had along the way to Blake and back

Spent a pleasant hour on Colvin’s summit in the company of a NE 115er and a 46er from Ottawa who was waiting for her Summit Steward daughter to knock off a Dial-Nippletop-Colvin-Blake loop. Played leapfrog and had several conversations with a senior citizen from the ADK Albany Chapter who had an impressive climbing résumé patched on his pack. His lady friend kindly retrieved my water bottle dislodged (unbeknownst to me) on the last scramble below Colvin. Shared Blake summit with a family just getting started on their 46. Was passed twice by a father-daughter team from Jericho VT, who by the way observed that this peak bagging business entails, among other things, lots of free time and gas money.

What’s not to like? I got a real sense of accomplishment from this trip, paltry by the standards of many on this forum of whose feats I am frankly in awe, but after all, we hike our own hike. And one thing I learned was when I go back there in the winter, I’ll be sure to pack the crampons, ice axe, and a length of rope.

[twinpeaks]

Sounds like a really nice trip, thanks for sharing

[TFR]

Having been beyond Blake to South Blake and Pinnacle, etc., I really liked the area out there. Not a lot of people venture that far.

[Gerard01]

Excellent TR. Take it one step at a time.

[Commissionpoint]

Originally Posted by TFR

Having been beyond Blake to South Blake and Pinnacle, etc., I really liked the area out there. Not a lot of people venture that far.

Is that what that next nub is called? South Blake?

Noted.

I was there yesterday and thought it an interesting summit. Basically wooded, although some recent blowdown has opened limited views to the East. There are also two nice erratics on top. The larger of the two appeared to be the high point.

[TFR]

Originally Posted by Commissionpoint

Is that what that next nub is called? South Blake?

This is South Blake:

http://mapper.acme.com/?ll=44.07673,-73.84662&z=15&t=T

[PA Ridgerunner]

Originally Posted by TFR

This is South Blake:

http://mapper.acme.com/?ll=44.07673,-73.84662&z=15&t=T

Looking at the trails on that map it gives the appearance that the trail follows the ridge line all the way to Blake, which is not exactly so. There's one spot in particular where it drops way off to the west...I think near the intersection with the old Otis Ledge trail.

[Trail Boss]

Thanks for the great TR!

"Checkpoint Charlie"

The Upper Ausable Lake area is like "Shangri-la". No easy route to it (unless you are an AMR member). Up over Colvin or Sawteeth to reach it and the shortest route out is back over them!

[Commissionpoint]

Originally Posted by PA Ridgerunner

Looking at the trails on that map it gives the appearance that the trail follows the ridge line all the way to Blake, which is not exactly so. There's one spot in particular where it drops way off to the west...I think near the intersection with the old Otis Ledge trail.

Yes. I know right where you mean, and I saw the old trail brushed in, albeit laughably, with a log and some sticks looking like ancient blowdown at its begining. Its definately down the west side of the ridge a few hundred feet, and you don't really go over the top of that nub. Based on the conversation I am thinking this is S. Blake:

https://picasaweb.google.com/1060575...74181884177138

[Commissionpoint]

Originally Posted by Trail Boss

The Upper Ausable Lake area is like "Shangri-la". No easy route to it (unless you are an AMR member). Up over Colvin or Sawteeth to reach it and the shortest route out is back over them!

Or in via Pinnacle.

[AdkWalrus]

Originally Posted by TFR

This is South Blake:

http://mapper.acme.com/?ll=44.07673,-73.84662&z=15&t=T

Where is Lookout Rock in relation to this? Is it on that bump, or the next one to the south? Can't remember...

[Biji]

Originally Posted by TFR

Having been beyond Blake to South Blake and Pinnacle, etc., I really liked the area out there. Not a lot of people venture that far.

Originally I had planned to go at least to Lookout Rock before turning around, but time was running short and one of my priorities was to make the Ausable Inn for supper and a pint before the kitchen closed, which I did, barely.

Some day I will take the trail up from Elk Lake to wander over the rest of the Sebille Mountains, as a 1935 map calls them, and spend a night or two at the campsite on Pinnacle's shoulder.

Incidentally, the fellow I mentioned meeting from the Albany ADK Chapter was wearing a pack that from the back looked pretty much like Laurie's - no room for more patches - but he was missing one - Views n' Brews! Here's hoisting a glass to that next list.

[Commissionpoint]

Originally Posted by Biji

Some day I will take the trail up from Elk Lake to wander over the rest of the Sebille Mountains, as a 1935 map calls them, and spend a night or two at the campsite on Pinnacle's shoulder.

Sebille Mountains. Thats new on me. Excellent. Cheers for the reference!

The Pinnacle campsite is OK I guess. Quiet for sure, and in a cool area no doubt, but IMO there are better choices along the ridge. I don't want to tell you to go camping anywhere illegal on one of the nubs or anything like that, but fact is both ledges are below 3500 feet, and I'm positive at least one of them lies ENTIRELY on State Land. You have to do your own homework from there, and probably listen to some feedback from others on the pros and cons of the ledges.

[TFR]

Originally Posted by AdkWalrus

Where is Lookout Rock in relation to this? Is it on that bump, or the next one to the south? Can't remember...

I think Biji is correct in that Lookout Rock is just a little farther South of South Blake, on the next bump.

[JoeCedar]

"Sebille" is probably another spelling of the name of Sabael Benedict, the early settler of Indian Lake. See this :

The story of the McIntyre mine begins in 1826, when David Henderson first met a Native American trapper by the name of Lewis Elijah Benedict. Lewis was the son of the Penobscot Native Sabael Benedict, the first known settler of what is now Hamilton County. The hamlet of Sabael is named after him, and Indian Lake derives its name because of his presence on its shore. One day late in 1826 Lewis Elijah Benedict produced a small piece of iron ore for Henderson, who was in the Lake Placid region in search of silver deposits.

Added note : Benedict was probably Abenaki.