Rondaxe (Bald) Mountain 5/10/11

DSettahr · 05-22-2011, 03:52 PM

Pictures here: https://picasaweb.google.com/1165375...ndaxeMountain#

Since Rondaxe Mountain alone wasn't worth a drive down from Saranac Lake to climb (even if I did need it for the Fire Tower Challenge), I decided to climb it in conjunction with nearby Woodhull Mountain (also a fire tower mountain). I arrived at the parking area in the early afternoon, having spent the previous night at the Woodhull Lake lean-to, and climbed Woodhull Mountain earlier that day. My feet were definitely feeling the effects of walking on an old road most of the day, but I felt up to the challenge of hiking 4 more miles before driving home.

In contrast to the trails in the vicinity of Woodhull Mountain, the trail up Rondaxe obviously gets a lot of use, and was worn down to bedrock in most places. Especially concerning the level of use it gets, it was in excellent shape, though. The climb, even though it was a bit steep in spots (and perhaps because of it), was a welcome change from the flat hiking I'd had all morning.

There are lots of nice views on the way up- at times I could see the Fulton Chain Lakes, as well as Blue Mountain in the distance. I passed a few groups on their way down- even though it was a weekday, it seemed like there was a decent number of people out climbing this mountain. I bet it's a popular destination on weekends!

It didn't take long before I was at the summit (less time that I would've expected 2 miles uphill to take even). I climbed the tower and took in the views from the summit... Blue Mountain again to the east, the Fulton Chain Lakes spread out below me, and the hills of the Fulton Chain Wild Forest to the North. I had to get out my map and compass to find it since I couldn't spot the tower, but I was able to find Woodhull Mountain, whose summit I'd stood on earlier that day, to the south!

While I was on the summit, a guy came up on a mountain bike... as I watched him bike around on the summit, I became convinced that he'd probably managed to get all the way up the mountain with dismounting! Definitely an impressive level of skill.

The hike down went quickly and uneventfully, although some of the steeper sections made me pause for a bit while I considered the best route to take on the descent. Overall, despite it's steepness in a few places, this was a short and easy hike... definitely a great one for families with kids, and the views are more than worth the effort needed to climb to the top!

46HPR4ME · 05-22-2011, 08:56 PM

We just got back home from there. We had gone to the Paddlefest in Old Forge and the did the Vista trail that starts at the parking area for Bald Mt. We have climbed Bald Mt many times. It's usually were we take non-hikers to get the feel of being on a mountain. Several years ago we took our grandsons, then 4 and 7 years old to Bald Mt. But first I read The Bald Mountain Rescue from The Adirondack Kids to them. I saved the last few chapters for the top of the mountain. They compared our hike to the book all the way up. We spread out a blanket on the top, had lunch and finished the book. It was one of the best days of my life.

RTSpoons · 05-22-2011, 10:01 PM

DSettahr, what a short trip report, running out of words?

RTSpoons · 05-22-2011, 10:05 PM

All joking aside, nice report, as I'm looking for short day hikes to alternate with longer ones. One day hard and one day easy.

Cliff House · 05-23-2011, 07:17 AM

Bald Mountain can be a circus on the weekends, but it's usually OK on a weekday -- great bang for the buck. We make it one of our required climbs every year -- we have dozens of photos of us standing in the same spot over the years. There are a few steep sections, but I think my daughter was three the first time she made the climb mostly under her own steam, so +1 as a good route for a place to take less experienced folks. Be sure to push on beyond the fire tower for some additional views and to get away from the crowds.

The Vista Mountain Trail gets far less traffic, and while the views are limited, it's a good hike that feels surprisingly rugged and secluded for the area. Combining a through hike on Vista with a quick ascent of Bald Mountain tossed in would certainly make a longer drive worthwhile. We usually spot a car in the Bald Mountain lot, then leave from the small lot off RT 28 for the Sis and Bubb Lakes trail. On your way back to pick up your car, stopping at Daiker's is highly recommended -- huge deck overlooking Fourth Lake.

DSettahr · 05-23-2011, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cliff House

The Vista Mountain Trail gets far less traffic, and while the views are limited, it's a good hike that feels surprisingly rugged and secluded for the area. Combining a through hike on Vista with a quick ascent of Bald Mountain tossed in would certainly make a longer drive worthwhile. We usually spot a car in the Bald Mountain lot, then leave from the small lot off RT 28 for the Sis and Bubb Lakes trail. On your way back to pick up your car, stopping at Daiker's is highly recommended -- huge deck overlooking Fourth Lake.

Interesting- is Vista Mountain the ridgeline east of Rondaxe, that also runs parallel to route 28?

Crepuscular · 05-23-2011, 10:44 AM

Thats the one. My folks have a camp in Eagle Bay so I spend alot of time on these trails. I enjoy that ridge hike quite a bit and just before Rondaxe road there is a side trail to a small lake which has a really nice camp site with a great fire pit.
To the east of the vista trail ridge is an unnamed peak i've been exploring for a while. If you are on a boat in Fourth Lake (kayaking with the loons), you can see a rugged exposed cravasse maybe 30 feet tall. It's been fun honing my compass skills up there.

Cliff House · 05-23-2011, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSettahr

Interesting- is Vista Mountain the ridgeline east of Rondaxe, that also runs parallel to route 28?

Yes -- in some places you'll see it referred to as Onondaga Mountain, but I'm not sure if this is "official" or not.

Cliff House · 05-23-2011, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crepuscular

To the east of the vista trail ridge is an unnamed peak i've been exploring for a while. If you are on a boat in Fourth Lake (kayaking with the loons), you can see a rugged exposed cravasse maybe 30 feet tall. It's been fun honing my compass skills up there.

I've noticed those rocks before and thought it would be a good explore!
Are there any paths, or is it all bushwhack? Do you approach from along 28, or off the Sis and Bubb trail?

05-22-2011, 03:52 PM	#1
DSettahr ɹǝpuɐɯɯoɔ Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 2,804	Rondaxe (Bald) Mountain 5/10/11 Pictures here: https://picasaweb.google.com/1165375...ndaxeMountain# Since Rondaxe Mountain alone wasn't worth a drive down from Saranac Lake to climb (even if I did need it for the Fire Tower Challenge), I decided to climb it in conjunction with nearby Woodhull Mountain (also a fire tower mountain). I arrived at the parking area in the early afternoon, having spent the previous night at the Woodhull Lake lean-to, and climbed Woodhull Mountain earlier that day. My feet were definitely feeling the effects of walking on an old road most of the day, but I felt up to the challenge of hiking 4 more miles before driving home. In contrast to the trails in the vicinity of Woodhull Mountain, the trail up Rondaxe obviously gets a lot of use, and was worn down to bedrock in most places. Especially concerning the level of use it gets, it was in excellent shape, though. The climb, even though it was a bit steep in spots (and perhaps because of it), was a welcome change from the flat hiking I'd had all morning. There are lots of nice views on the way up- at times I could see the Fulton Chain Lakes, as well as Blue Mountain in the distance. I passed a few groups on their way down- even though it was a weekday, it seemed like there was a decent number of people out climbing this mountain. I bet it's a popular destination on weekends! It didn't take long before I was at the summit (less time that I would've expected 2 miles uphill to take even). I climbed the tower and took in the views from the summit... Blue Mountain again to the east, the Fulton Chain Lakes spread out below me, and the hills of the Fulton Chain Wild Forest to the North. I had to get out my map and compass to find it since I couldn't spot the tower, but I was able to find Woodhull Mountain, whose summit I'd stood on earlier that day, to the south! While I was on the summit, a guy came up on a mountain bike... as I watched him bike around on the summit, I became convinced that he'd probably managed to get all the way up the mountain with dismounting! Definitely an impressive level of skill. The hike down went quickly and uneventfully, although some of the steeper sections made me pause for a bit while I considered the best route to take on the descent. Overall, despite it's steepness in a few places, this was a short and easy hike... definitely a great one for families with kids, and the views are more than worth the effort needed to climb to the top!

05-22-2011, 10:01 PM	#3
RTSpoons Landscape Surveyor Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Troy, NY Posts: 1,589	DSettahr, what a short trip report, running out of words? __________________ What lies behind us, and what lies before us, are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. Ralph Waldo Emerson

05-22-2011, 10:05 PM	#4
RTSpoons Landscape Surveyor Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Troy, NY Posts: 1,589	All joking aside, nice report, as I'm looking for short day hikes to alternate with longer ones. One day hard and one day easy. __________________ What lies behind us, and what lies before us, are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. Ralph Waldo Emerson

05-23-2011, 10:44 AM	#7
Crepuscular White Pine Enthusiast Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Albany, NY Posts: 441	Thats the one. My folks have a camp in Eagle Bay so I spend alot of time on these trails. I enjoy that ridge hike quite a bit and just before Rondaxe road there is a side trail to a small lake which has a really nice camp site with a great fire pit. To the east of the vista trail ridge is an unnamed peak i've been exploring for a while. If you are on a boat in Fourth Lake (kayaking with the loons), you can see a rugged exposed cravasse maybe 30 feet tall. It's been fun honing my compass skills up there. __________________ Crepuscular Rays: Dissolve into evergreens

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

05-22-2011, 08:56 PM	#2
46HPR4ME Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Watertown, New York Posts: 24	We just got back home from there. We had gone to the Paddlefest in Old Forge and the did the Vista trail that starts at the parking area for Bald Mt. We have climbed Bald Mt many times. It's usually were we take non-hikers to get the feel of being on a mountain. Several years ago we took our grandsons, then 4 and 7 years old to Bald Mt. But first I read The Bald Mountain Rescue from The Adirondack Kids to them. I saved the last few chapters for the top of the mountain. They compared our hike to the book all the way up. We spread out a blanket on the top, had lunch and finished the book. It was one of the best days of my life.

05-23-2011, 07:17 AM	#5
Cliff House 28/46 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: New Canaan, Connecticut Posts: 131	Bald Mountain can be a circus on the weekends, but it's usually OK on a weekday -- great bang for the buck. We make it one of our required climbs every year -- we have dozens of photos of us standing in the same spot over the years. There are a few steep sections, but I think my daughter was three the first time she made the climb mostly under her own steam, so +1 as a good route for a place to take less experienced folks. Be sure to push on beyond the fire tower for some additional views and to get away from the crowds. The Vista Mountain Trail gets far less traffic, and while the views are limited, it's a good hike that feels surprisingly rugged and secluded for the area. Combining a through hike on Vista with a quick ascent of Bald Mountain tossed in would certainly make a longer drive worthwhile. We usually spot a car in the Bald Mountain lot, then leave from the small lot off RT 28 for the Sis and Bubb Lakes trail. On your way back to pick up your car, stopping at Daiker's is highly recommended -- huge deck overlooking Fourth Lake.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)