Tongue Mountain Range trail

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Tongue Mountain Trail
Five Mile Mountain Summit
Length	25 miles
Trailheads	Various
Use	Hiking
Elevation Change	1258 ft (385m)
Highest Point	Five Mile Mt 2258 ft (691m)
Trail Difficulty	Easy to Strenuous (also season dependant)
Season	All year, (limited access to trailheads in Winter snows)
Sights	spectacular views of the Adirondacks, Lake Champlain, and the Green Mountains of Vermont
Hazards	Severe weather Timber rattlesnakes

Up to the minute information on the Tongue Range especially during snow season can be found on the DEC web site

Location Coordinates = 43.66N 73.54W

The Tongue Mountain Range trail offers hikes from easy along the shores of Lake George to hard along the ridge tops. There are approximately 25 miles (40km) of trails which have been rated as the favorite hike in the north east region.^[1]

Contents 1 Approaches 2 Trail details 2.1 Warnings 3 Geology 4 Wildlife 5 Trivia 6 Rules And Regulations 7 Trail guides 8 References 9 External links

[edit] Approaches

There are three approaches to Tongue Mountain Range.^[2]

1. From the trailhead opposite the Clay Meadows parking lot, (beside a small quarry pool).. This is accessed from the I-87 (Adirondack Northway) by taking exit 24 to Bolton Landing and then following Riverbank Road. At the junction with Rte 9N head north for about 10 miles until the signed trailhead is met.
2. From the trailhead at North End approached from the Deer Leap parking lot, which is about five and a half miles north of Clay Meadow on Rte 9N.
3. The south end of the mountain range accessible by boat at Montcalm Point.

[edit] Trail details

The Tongue Mountain Range consists of 6 summits along the ridge, First Peak, French Point Peak, Fifth Peak, Five Mile Mountain, Huckleberry Mountain and Brown Mountain. The main trail takes in Five Mile Mountain, Huckleberry Mountain and Brown Mountain. There are lean-to’s for overnight camping at Fifth Peak and Brown Mountain. The path is well maintained and takes the walker through wooded and open exposed rock areas. The elevation change on the trail is 1258 ft (385m). The average experienced walker should allow approximately 6 hours to complete the Five Mile Mountain trail out and back. Other trails run from Clay Meadow to take in the southern half of the range, First Peak, French Point Peak and Fifth Peak, this trail is a loop for which 9 or 10 hours should be allowed

The main peak on the range is Five Mile Mountain and this is the most poular trail to hike. From the North End parking lot, cross the highway to the start of the trail where the DEC registration book is located. Following the blue trail up the inclined path, the walker comes to a marked intersection after about 0.75 ml (1km), ahead the (dead end) yellow trail leads to a lookout at Deer Leap about a mile (1.6km) away whilst the blue trail turns right at this intersection and steadily climbs to the top of Brown Mountain and then onto Huckleberry Moutain in a series of zig zag paths that undulate with the ridge.^[3]

Climbing up and past Brown Mountain summit, you reach the Tongue Moutain lean-to after approximately one mile (1.6km).^[4] Continuing to follow the trail as it leaves behind the lean-to, the summit of Huckleberry Mountain is reached after about another mile. Climbing up a ravine leads to the summit of Five Mile Mountain, from here weather permitting, spectacular views of the Adirondacks, Lake Champlain, and the Green Mountains of Vermont can be had.^[5] The trail actually skirts the true summit which is a few feet to the right off the trail.

At this point a day hiker has to turn round and back track to the North End parking lot. If two cars are available, one can be left at Clay Meadow and from a trail split about 2 miles (3.2km) past Five Mile Mt Summit a trek can be made down to Clay Meadow lot.

The overnight backpacker can continue from Five Mile Mt to the shelter at Fifth Peak,or continue over French Point Mt and First Peak to Montcalm Point where they can overnight and then return on the low level route to Clay Meadow, climbing back up to Five Mile Mountain to complete the return to North End parking lot.

[edit] Warnings

• The exposed rocky outcrops along the trail side are covered with mosses and lichens, it is a delicate eco-system and all attempts should be made to avoid walking on any of the rocky areas

• There are rattlesnakes here. These snakes are un-aggressive, and generally pose no threat. Keep your eyes open, and remain alert. Walk carefully, especially when climbing over logs. The wearing of high boots and care with the use of hands when climbing are recommended. (A walking stick would be helpful.)^[6]

Deer Leap trail split	General view of a trail	View of the Green Mountains	Lichens on Brown Mt
North End trailhead	Five Mile Mt summit	Brown Mt summit	Huckleberry Mt summit
Lean to on Brown Mt	Clay Meadow trailhead

[edit] Geology

The Tongue Mountain Range is composed of quartz-bearing syenite.^[7] It runs 10 miles south into Lake George at the southern end of the Narrows Group of lake islands. Tongue Mountain used to be part of the separation between two ancient rivers preceding the modern Lake George.

[edit] Wildlife

The area is a protected wildlife preserve and boasts many species of tree, plant and animal. Dr Patrick L. Cooney of the New York Botany Organisation lists 15 trees, 16 ferns and over 60 herbs that can be found on the range.^[8]

The area is also known for its population of Timber Rattlesnakes. These are large snakes some approaching 5 feet in length.^[9] They have two phases of color during their life, a yellow when they appear light brown to a creamy yellow and a dark or black phase when they appear dark brown to black, both phases have dark brown cross bands. They enjoy the shelter in the wooded areas but also enjoy basking in the sun on exposed rocks.

Numerous birds can be seen including various waterfowl and Peregrine Falcons^[10]

[edit] Trivia

• During the 19th century, approximately half the forest of the range fell to the logger's ax.^[11]
• As late as 1860, 10,000 softwood logs a year were being floated north to the sawmills at Ticonderoga.
• Hardwoods from the range went to feed the iron forges on Lake Champlain.

[edit] Rules And Regulations

The area is covered by the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and hikers must follow the DEC Backcountry Hiking and Camping Rules.^[12] The full rules can be found at ^[13]. Some of the main points are:

• Except where marked by a "Camp Here" disk camping is prohibited within 150 feet of roads, trails, lakes, ponds, streams or other bodies of water.

• Use pit privies provided near popular camping areas and trailheads. If none are available, dispose of human waste by digging a hole 6"-8" deep at least 150 feet from water or campsites. Cover with leaves and soil.

• Do not use soap to wash yourself, clothing or dishes within 150 ft of water.

• Drinking and cooking water should be boiled for 5 minutes, treated with purifying tablets or filtered through filtration device to prevent instances of giardia infection.

• Fires should be built in existing fire pits or fireplaces if provided. Use only dead and down wood for fires.

• Carry out what you carry in. Practice "leave no trace" camping and hiking.

• Keep your pet under control. Restrain it on a leash when others approach. Collect and bury droppings away from water, trails and camp sites. Keep your pet away from drinking water sources.

• Removing plants, rocks, fossils or artifacts from state land without a permit is illegal.

• Except in an emergency or between December 15 and April 30, camping is prohibited above an elevation of 4000 feet in the Adirondacks.

• At all times, only emergency fires are permitted above 4000 feet in the Adirondacks

[edit] Trail guides

• New York State Parks produce a pdf format guide book on their web site guide New York State Parks
• McMartin, Barbara; Bennett Chuck & Robbins Edythe (2001). Discover the Eastern Adirondacks. Lake View Press NY, 229 pages. ISBN 1888374098. 
• Wadsworth, Bruce (2004 4th Ed). Day Hikes for all seasons - an Adirondack sampler. Adirondack Mountain Club. ISBN 0-935272-83-6. 

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Topo map of the area

• New York DEC web site

• Bolton Landing Chamber of Commerce

• Trails.com

• Adirondack Mountain Club web site