Me and my father climbed this mountian id say about 6-7 years ago in the winter. Very icy and slid alot of the way down i remember. I was only like 13 at the time it was a good hike and awesome exercise haha.
Actually it was my first real hike in almost ten years, that last stretch is like the stairway from hell, but well worth it for the view! In fact I climbed up the stairway frame of the tower to get better pictures as some idiots had trashed the tower. Now that it's been restored I have to go back. Other towers restored since I visited them are Kane and Rondaxe. Wakely is well worth the trip and needs to be saved, no view without it.
@LinnTractorNut Been camping at Indian Lake since I was a 6 year old in 1967. Climbed Snowy three times, the last about 8-10 years ago. When I was a boy, the tower was fully intact and had a locked trapdoor, which the ranger had to unlock for access. Eventually, the wooden steps and glass were burned/broken, leaving you to climb (very carefully) just the frame to the top for this view. Glad to hear it's been restored; maybe I'll make a 4th trip as an older man. That last 400 yards is a killer...
Not sure I'd make it today, I figure it's time for another trip to Ronadaxe though. I carried too much weight up Snowy in hindsight, and the best part was going back down the staircase to hell I met three guys in swimming trunks in sneakers and a woman in a bikini ascending, if I wasn't dead tired I would have gone back up to watch how they dealt with the blackflies at the top.
@beeroosterm Forgot I'd left a comment here and just revisited. Here's another little tidbit: The last ranger I saw hiking up there to unlock the tower (1960's) had shiny eyes and a pint bottle of whiskey hanging out of his back pocket. Guess they got bored back then - but drinking and hiking? Even at a very good clip, it's a 2 hour hike up...
It's only three and a half miles one way, but its a brutal hike. Parts of it are very steep and the last mile or so is straight up. Mt. Marcy is a much longer hike but way easier.
I recommend Snowy as a must climb, but only if your fitness level is high. See go4colts "Snowy Mountain" for our experience. To answer the other question, the trail head is between Indian Lake and Speculator NY off Rte 30.
Me and my father climbed this mountian id say about 6-7 years ago in the winter. Very icy and slid alot of the way down i remember. I was only like 13 at the time it was a good hike and awesome exercise haha.
TheBmarien5050 10 months ago
nice hike to one of the fully restored fire towers left standing in the ADIRONDACK PARK .hope you brought some lunch for Maggie!!!
cordlessv10 1 year ago
Nice spot...
howardb42006 2 years ago
Actually it was my first real hike in almost ten years, that last stretch is like the stairway from hell, but well worth it for the view! In fact I climbed up the stairway frame of the tower to get better pictures as some idiots had trashed the tower. Now that it's been restored I have to go back. Other towers restored since I visited them are Kane and Rondaxe. Wakely is well worth the trip and needs to be saved, no view without it.
LinnTractorNut 2 years ago
@LinnTractorNut Been camping at Indian Lake since I was a 6 year old in 1967. Climbed Snowy three times, the last about 8-10 years ago. When I was a boy, the tower was fully intact and had a locked trapdoor, which the ranger had to unlock for access. Eventually, the wooden steps and glass were burned/broken, leaving you to climb (very carefully) just the frame to the top for this view. Glad to hear it's been restored; maybe I'll make a 4th trip as an older man. That last 400 yards is a killer...
beeroosterm 1 year ago
Not sure I'd make it today, I figure it's time for another trip to Ronadaxe though. I carried too much weight up Snowy in hindsight, and the best part was going back down the staircase to hell I met three guys in swimming trunks in sneakers and a woman in a bikini ascending, if I wasn't dead tired I would have gone back up to watch how they dealt with the blackflies at the top.
LinnTractorNut 1 year ago
@beeroosterm Forgot I'd left a comment here and just revisited. Here's another little tidbit: The last ranger I saw hiking up there to unlock the tower (1960's) had shiny eyes and a pint bottle of whiskey hanging out of his back pocket. Guess they got bored back then - but drinking and hiking? Even at a very good clip, it's a 2 hour hike up...
beeroosterm 9 months ago
It's only three and a half miles one way, but its a brutal hike. Parts of it are very steep and the last mile or so is straight up. Mt. Marcy is a much longer hike but way easier.
I recommend Snowy as a must climb, but only if your fitness level is high. See go4colts "Snowy Mountain" for our experience. To answer the other question, the trail head is between Indian Lake and Speculator NY off Rte 30.
batty008 3 years ago
My cabin is at the base of Snowy!!
asapi07 3 years ago
Adirondacks are the closest thing we got to heaven on earth, aren't they? :)
twochordcool 4 years ago
ive lived in jindy 5 yrs, and never known of this.. where is it?
jap55s 4 years ago
What a great place!
My family had a cabin there in the early 60s, plus I've been there a few times since.
How long a hike is it up to the Ranger station (or whatever it is), roundtrip?
notrombones 4 years ago