Peaks East of Nun-da-ga-o

[JoeCedar]

I had been waiting all week for the big Thursday hike with a couple of well-known bushwhackers, who shall remain nameless. The great conditions so far this spring (no doubt compounded with their youthful enthusiasm) hobbled both of my partners with knee problems. I’m sure they’ll be back and ready for action right along with the emergence of the black flies….

The weather was so nice that I just had to do something with a great view. We’ve heard the praises of Nun-da-ga-o lately, but northeast of Hurricane Mt is a mountain called Ausable No. 4 (aka Peak 3373) which is supposed to have nice views. Not exactly an innovative, exciting or interesting name, is it? Believe it or not, there are also Ausables No. 1 to 3. It is safe to say that the namer was not the same person who chose Nun-da-ga-o (what does it mean?; why the hyphens?), or the other descriptively named mountains nearby, such as Peaked, Spruce Hill, Big Slash, Limekiln, Saddleback, etc.

I decided to approach No. 4 from the Crow Clearing PA and Gulf Brook, which forms the principal southerly drainage for the area. Rather than do an out-back trip to No. 4, I decided to include Peaked Mt and Weston Mt in a nice loop. This way I would return via the Lost Pond trail back to my starting point. The approach to No. 4 is about 3.5 miles from Crow Clearing in reasonable open forest most of the way. I left the marked trail above Gulf Brook lean-to and headed up the slopes toward distant No. 4. The terrain around one mile from the peak is varied and confusing with lots of ups/downs in the fan-shaped drainage. After about 3 hours of whacking, I could see the cliffs of the peak to the east and was ready to make a direct assault. Only problem was that this is where the cliffs rise several hundred feet! I probably did not save any time compared to going around them, but it was fun (and something new and different) weaving in and out of the bands, avoiding steep ledges and huge ice flows, and then suddenly emerging to see the eye-popping views south toward of Hurricane Mt. Of course, there were also more distant views of Green and Giant, over to Marcy and Algonquin, and even Whiteface.

The trip over to Peaked Mt was uneventful through mostly open forest, once I got off the broad and confusing No. 4 ridge. This route descends into the broad col separating the drainages of Spruce Mill Brook to the north and Gulf Brook to the south—a very pretty and open area. I took a bearing on Peaked Mt and had no problem reaching the summit. Contrary to its name, the summit is broad and flat. The views here were also well worth the climb and there was little evidence of human visitation other than for the nicely built cairn. I had hoped to follow a herd path back to Weston, but found none and bushwhacked over to pick up the Nun-da-ga-o path at the Weston summit. From here it was an easy descent to Lost Pond and back to the trailhead. It was a great day to be out and this was a nice loop hike of about 8.5 miles through the little-visited and wild territory east of Nun-da-ga-o.

[randomscooter]

I'm green with envy. That's a hike I've been meaning to do for some time now. Your report makes it a definite on my list. I spent the day raking leaves and other chores that don't impact my, um, knees.

[Neil]

Joe, I did Aus4 last year a little later. Wonderful mtn. wonderful hike. We left the trail at a lean-to where the trail turns sharply north and hiked up to the ridge which looks like a cirque on the map culminating at Aus 4. We did a semicircular route going over all the bumps and knobs. I had anticipated open ledges and killer views all the way but no such luck. We had some views of Hurricane and of Aus4 but spent most of our time enclosed in forest.

Reading your report it sounds like you cut directly over the ridge and made straight for Aus 4. A more interesting and shorter route. We had spotted a car on Hurricane rd. so we exited pretty well due south to it through beautiful open forests.

Amazing views and feel on that mountain. (It's on the 770 list btw.)

Here's a link to my pics (taken with a 1 megapixel camera on the lowest reolution setting).

http://www.neil.webcentre.ca/outdoor...le4/index.html

(I was talking to one of those guys and he says his knee is improving steadily. He might even be up for ST4 next week.)

[Mavs00]

Originally Posted by JoeCedar

It is safe to say that the namer was not the same person who chose Nun-da-ga-o (what does it mean?; why the hyphens?), or the other descriptively named mountains nearby.....

Nun-da-goa-a is native in orgin of course (I believe Mohawk) and it roughly translates to "Hill of the wind spirits" {more}. Romantic huh.

Great report. I eyed Peaked longingly last Tuesday, but both my partners indicated no desire to head over with me . Besides we were facing a 5 hour drive after our traverse of the ridge. I loved the openess of the woods in that area, very Jay Range-ish

[JoeCedar]

There was no openness between Peaked and Weston -- pretty thick and full of blowdown. I recall seeing a path toward Peaked turning off the Weston ridge last year, but even though I looked around and usually can find herd paths easily, I did not see anything resembling one. Peaked was nice, though, will a feeling of remoteness and isolation.

[Rik]

Originally Posted by JoeCedar

There was no openness between Peaked and Weston -- pretty thick and full of blowdown. I recall seeing a path toward Peaked turning off the Weston ridge last year, but even though I looked around and usually can find herd paths easily, I did not see anything resembling one. Peaked was nice, though, will a feeling of remoteness and isolation.

When I went from Weston to Peaked one year ago I didn't find it to be too thick at all. No herd path but remember it as being quick. The view from the carin was very nice. Didn't look like that many people take the walk over. I remember a lot of moss near the top that would be more trampled if many people went over there. Nice report by the way.

[peak_bgr]

Joe heres a little run down of those peaks. They are right in my backyard.

Spruce Hill-Little views on the way up, wooded summit.

Yard Hill-Not much for views, nice in the fall with no leaves.

Peaked-awesome as you know.

Frenyea-Nice views from the ledges below the summit, small summit views.

Saddleback-Gem.

Slip (Ausable #3)-Thick near the top, awesome views from the summit ledge.

Bald-360 degree views, open hike.

Seventy-Fun climb, ledges, views, open woods.

Big and Little slash-open woods, but did it a fog and drizzle. Big looked to be
wooded, but little looked to have small rock outcropingf for view points.

Ausable #4-Very nice as you know. We approched it from Lost Pond and followed the ridge around. We came accross very little thick stuff.

Limekiln-Wasn't impressed, open hike, don't remember much more.

Smith Hill-Sweet views, theres an old logging road that goes near the summit.

Toms and Seths Hills-heavily posted, thought we were going to get caught, no views through open woods.

Beech Ridge and Death(ausable #2) Mountains-great combo hike, awesome views.

Bald Mountain(Ausable #1)-Another gem.

Well I went a little north as well-could have kept going but didn't want to bore you. I love the entire Jay MOuntain area, most of the peaks have great views, even the ones that don't have a ton of rock on them and make for some fun bushwhacking.