4 3 2 1 Way Challenge - fire tower challenge

Snowy Mountain: More Than Advertised

September 13, 2019 - By ashleykclevenstine

Snowy Mountain is no joke.

And please, for the love of all that is good, do not believe the guidebooks when they tell you it’s only three miles to the summit.

Three miles?

Maybe if you’re measuring as the crow flies.

In reality, it felt much closer to four and a half miles—possibly more. By the time we reached the top, both Josh and I were convinced that someone, somewhere, had gotten their measurements very wrong.

That said, every exhausting step was worth it.

Maybe it didn’t feel that way while we were scrambling up steep rock ledges near the summit, but once the view finally appeared, all of that suffering seemed to fade into the background. At least for me. Josh may still be recovering.

Trip Report

We started the day with a drive to the trailhead under nearly perfect hiking weather. The sun was shining, temperatures were comfortable, and a cool breeze drifted through the mountains. There was even a hint of fall in the air—a welcome reminder that cooler days were on the horizon.

The trail begins gently enough, almost lulling you into a false sense of confidence.

For the first stretch, the grade is relatively mild as the trail winds through the forest alongside small brooks and streams. It was the perfect opportunity to enjoy the scenery, snap photos, and take a few videos before the real work began.

And eventually, it does begin.

The climb grows steadily steeper, demanding more effort with every step. The summit feels impossibly far away, and there are moments when you start wondering whether you’ll ever actually reach it.

But then something changes.

As you climb higher, small glimpses of the surrounding mountains begin to appear through the trees. If you’re brave enough to turn around on some of the steeper sections, you’ll catch your first hints of the view waiting above.

Those glimpses are enough to keep you moving.

Finally—after considerably more miles than the guidebooks would have you believe—the forest opens up and the view appears in full.

And it is spectacular.

We took a well-earned break to soak it all in before continuing on toward the fire tower.

Since daylight was limited, we didn’t linger too long at the overlook. We still wanted to climb the tower before beginning the long journey back down.

At least, that was the plan.

We both started up the stairs, but I quickly noticed that many of the landings had been reinforced with chicken wire to make them feel a little safer.

For some reason, that had the exact opposite effect on me.

Suddenly, I wasn’t entirely convinced that climbing this tower was a good idea.

After a bit of encouragement—and perhaps some gentle teasing—from Josh, I continued upward and eventually made it to the top.

I’m glad I did.

The panoramic views from the tower were incredible, stretching across the Adirondacks in every direction. It was one of those moments where the reward completely justified the effort it took to get there.

The descent, however, was accomplished very slowly, with most of my attention focused squarely on my feet and not on the open air surrounding me.

Once safely back on solid ground, we returned to the overlook and celebrated with some leftover pizza that had somehow transformed into the best meal imaginable after a long hike.

The hike back down felt every bit as long as the climb up.

By the time we reached the trailhead, our legs were tired, our feet were sore, and every muscle seemed to be protesting. We climbed into the car, exhausted but satisfied, already dreaming about the comfort of the couch waiting for us at home.

Snowy Mountain may have been longer, steeper, and more challenging than expected, but it delivered exactly what every great hike should: incredible views, a memorable adventure, and just enough suffering to make the accomplishment feel worthwhile.