Stissing Mt Fire Tower and Thompson Pond
Details
Our date for this hike is set for Friday May 1st but is subject to change if weather does not cooperate.
For directions to the start of this hike search on ....
"Stissing Mountain Fire Tower Parking" That is where you want to go for the start of this hike.
This hike is an extremely biologically and geologically diverse and beautiful hike. The hike will start out from the dry edge of a flat lakebed plain with a rapid and relatively steep ascent of about 700 or 800 vertical feet to the top of Stissing Mountain where we will climb a 90 foot steel fire tower for the expansive views. The fire tower is historical, and it has been restored to a high level of safety by the FOSL Friends of Stissing Landmarks, so it is VERY safe and well maintained. The views from all sides of the tower cabin are as vast and far reaching as any views in the Hudson Valley. I can positively identify with ease 4 different states from the tower, those states being NY, CT, MA and NJ but hearsay has it that VT and PA are also visible but I myself cannot make the positive identification of those states although have my visual suspicions on VT. Several sub ranges of the Appalachian Mountains are easily visible from the tower. The Hudson Highlands, Shawangunk Plateau Mountains, Catskill Plateau Mountains, lower Taconic Mountains and lower Berkshire Mountains are all visible and well defined on a clear day. Stissing Mountain itself is not attached to any of the previously mentioned sub ranges of the Appalachians. It is a loan geological outlier. Additionally, the lower edge of the Adirondack Mountains in northern Saratoga County are visible from the tower on a clear day. All vertical ascent for the hike will be complete after we reach the fire tower. After enjoying the view at the fire tower, we will descend another side of the mountain on a lesser known but well-defined trail back down the 700 or 800 vertical feet on trail that frequently switchbacks down and through the talus block slope of the mountain to the lakebed plain where we will hike around the shores of the Thompson Pond. We can expect to see at least some waterfowl on this part of the hike. We will also be intimate with an active dairy farm with cattle and pastures included on this part of the hike along the right side of the trail. The pond will be on our left. We should likely be able to maintain dry feet on boardwalks hiking around the pond but all bets on this are off as they always are. The pond is more of a small lake then a pond but is under the firm protection of the Nature Conservancy and you can read further about it at the Nature Conservancy Thompson Pond Preserve. The land on and surrounding Stissing Mountain is extraordinarily beautiful landscape taking on a new look in each season of the year. Thompson Pond was designated a National Natural Landmark by the US Department of Interior in 1973
Thompson Pond Preserve | The Nature Conservancy in New York
Facebook Friends of Stissing Landmarks
This hike is about 4 plus miles total. It is about 3/4 of a mile up to the Stissing Mt fire tower .... about 3/4 of a mile down to Thompson Pond and about 2.5 miles around Thompson Pond.
For directions to the start of this hike search on ....
"Stissing Mountain Fire Tower Parking"
You may want your bug spray this time of year so bring it and any other personal items you may want for this hike. Snacks included.
By attending this hike, you acknowledge that this is a volunteer hiking group and is not a professional outdoor organization. The only purpose of this group is to enjoy the outdoors with like-minded adventurers. As a participant you understand that you are responsible for your own preparedness and well-being and will hold no one else liable in case of injury. So therefore, you agree to release all organizers from any liability for injuries which you might incur.