Jay Range — 7/16

[Gregory Karl]

Maria and I hiked the Jay Range today. It was its usual spectacular self, despite the haze and heat, and Maria, who had not climbed it before, was impressed by its beauty and great views.

FYI: There is major trail work going on. Almost the whole lower section of the trail has been rerouted, mostly, it seems, to cut out the steep, heavily eroded section up and over the 2,200 foot knob. The trail now goes left around the knob and reconnects in the wet area behind it. Does anyone know if there are further plans for this trail? I am wondering in particular whether the trailhead will be moved down the road and if a little parking area is in the offing, as suggested years ago in the 13th edition of the ADK Guide Book.

[SendHelp]

This is one of my favorites. Thanks for sharing.

One question, are the stick figures still up there? Or have they run away?

[mastergrasshopper]

saw the rock art people in june.
Also took note of trail reroute, didn't like it.
It just side slopes around on the pine knob and will be just as eroded in a few years. I like eroded trails, whats wrong with them ?
A few minor reroutes in wet area because of blowdown from IRENE ?
A real good reroute would be a swing left around wet area. It's really the only section of trail that is a problem in wet weather.
The bluberries should be ripe ahead of schedule due to heat if they don't all dry up. Any ripe yet ?
MG

[dRitter]

Jay is best approached via a combination of Bald, Slip, and Saddleback. Nice view, open woods most of the day with some unfortunate sidehilling but fun nonetheless. YMMV.
Damon

[ScAtTeRbOnE]

Good Report! One of my favorite ADK hikes! I would like to go back and go up Saddleback sometime soon, or camp out on the ridge in good weather (under 3500ft of course).

[JoeCedar]

The Jay Mountain Wilderness Unit Management Plan was approved in August 2010 (you can find it online). Part of that plan, approved by DEC and APA, was a reroute of the herdpath which followed the property line. The reroute is being done, I think, by the ADK Pro trail crew (I was up there about two weeks ago and work had not started). On the map in the UMP, the reroute swings left (north of) the current herdpath, then about 2/3 of the way up swings right (south of the current herdpath) till it reaches the ridge. A parking lot is also to be constructed by the Town of Jay, downhill of the current starting point with the survey pipe.

The little reroute Mastergrasshopper mentions around the rocky knob, I think, was done by some well-intentioned but misguided individuals--not DEC.

[Gregory Karl]

Originally Posted by SendHelp

This is one of my favorites. Thanks for sharing.

One question, are the stick figures still up there? Or have they run away?

Saw no stick figures, only a faded memorial plaque leaning against the summit cairn with the name of the individual no longer legible. And of course the mega-cairns.

Hey Joe, thanks for the info. I saw a DEC truck there today and I believe they were either working on the trail or getting ready to. They were N of the old trail and the reroute.

Glen,
-Yeah those are some serious cairns up there—if that was what you meant.
-I had nothing against the old trail, I was just trying to guess the rationale for the reroute. In fact there is a partial view on the old trail that I'll miss.
-There were a few ripe ones upon which we happily grazed, but no signs of a major crop as yet. I'll probably go back late next week to check.

Scatterbone,
I did Saddleback from the road, struggling through raspberry patches but with a lot of open rock too. Enjoy!

Damon,
I haven't done anything from that approach yet, though I did Slip by going over Saddleback. I loved the "blockhouse" cliffs on Slip W. I'll have to link those peaks and do a traverse some time.

[mastergrasshopper]

not the oversize cairns but laid out almost full size figures. Look like raggy ann and Andy made out of flat stones. I've seen them for the last 3 years rebuilt at different places.
MG

[Raymond]

What’s the story behind the cross up there behind (I think) the high point?

[PA Ridgerunner]

Originally Posted by mastergrasshopper

not the oversize cairns but laid out almost full size figures. Look like raggy ann and Andy made out of flat stones. I've seen them for the last 3 years rebuilt at different places.
MG

Yeah, they're even anatomically correct. YMMV.

[Maria]

Such a beautiful hike and we lucked out as the day stayed clear.
It must be stunning in winter.

MG the stone stick figures were still there, but Steve, guess I should have looked closer! I didn't realize they were going for such realism...

[Gregory Karl]

Originally Posted by Maria

Such a beautiful hike and we lucked out as the day stayed clear.
It must be stunning in winter.

MG the stone stick figures were still there, but Steve, guess I should have looked closer! I didn't realize they were going for such realism...

How did I miss these? And after you saw them, you didn't mention them?

[Gregory Karl]

Originally Posted by Raymond

What’s the story behind the cross up there behind (I think) the high point?

It's a memorial plaque for someone's deceased loved-one, whose name is included, but the surname and some of the other words are becoming illegible due to weathering.

[Maria]

Originally Posted by Gregory Karl

How did I miss these? And after you saw them, you didn't mention them?

Well they didn't have "hair" as in Steve's photo and didn't look quite so dramatic. And weren't very large. I guess I was too caught up in the views.

[rockysummit]

Any pics? I'm thinking of heading up there in a couple of days.

[PA Ridgerunner]

Originally Posted by rockysummit

Any pics? I'm thinking of heading up there in a couple of days.

Sent you a pm.

[Maria]

Originally Posted by rockysummit

Any pics? I'm thinking of heading up there in a couple of days.

Hey Tony - only can access the internet on my Blackberry so can't upload anything. Will be in touch too. Didn't realize you were heading up and I'll be in your neck of the woods next week.

[dundee]

Originally Posted by Gregory Karl

It's a memorial plaque for someone's deceased loved-one, whose name is included, but the surname and some of the other words are becoming illegible due to weathering.

I've been told that the gentleman had a fatal heart attack there.

[rockysummit]

Hey Maria, let me know what you are up to.