Fire tower in the clouds

The 5:30 am alarm clock on New Year’s eve was nothing new. I’m typically an early riser for my job, but today I’m not heading to the office, I'm heading to a wonderful little mountain in Franklin County. With my backpack stuffed with extra clothes and newly acquired camera gear from Christmas, I anxiously wait for my ride to pick me up. At 7am on the dot I load my pack and snowshoes into the truck and we are on our way.

Our first stop is the Town Line Market in Brasher Falls for a cup of coffee and a breakfast sandwich to fuel us up. Clear country roads and some wonderful conversation makes the trip fly by. An hour later we pulled into the trail-head parking lot for Azure Mountain. I instantly think back to the first time I climbed this gem during the winter about 25 years ago. It was my first winter mountain hike with snowshoes, definitely a learning curve but a wonderful trip .

“First ones here” I say as we climb out of the truck. We look around for a few minutes and determine that there is only 2”-3” of snow on the ground so snowshoes will not be required for this trip. There is a bit of gray fog lingering in the air on this 22 degree morning as we head up the trail. Past the sign in box and the old fireplace we go as the elevation gain immediately starts. This isn’t a huge mountain by any means but it does get the blood pumping in a hurry. We cross the small stream that is still gurgling away reminding us that winter is here but the deep freeze of Northern New York still hasn’t set in.

The trail has been broken through the thin layer of snow and the red DEC trail markers lead the way to the summit. Fifteen minutes up the trail and I need a quick break. Sucking in the clean mountain air I’m reminded that my fitness isn’t as great as it could be. But today isn’t a race, just an opportunity to get outside and enjoy the wilderness of the North Country. Step by step we move up the mountain and play the too hot then too cold game. I always dress in layers so it’s easy to remove clothing and put it back on in an attempt to not sweat or freeze. As we move our way up the mountain we are in the middle of dark gray overcast but high above us we can see crisp blue skies.

At about the halfway point there there is a small clearing to the left of the trail. We take a moment to look out over the forest. The trees sit still with a dusting of snow resting peacefully on their branches. Other than our huffing and puffing there isn’t a sound. No traffic, no distracting human chatter, just the quiet lull of mother nature's quiet season. The skies continue to dance between clear blue and dark gray as we push on. The tree line appears and we know we are getting close to the top.

The trail finally levels out a bit and through the sleeping trees the fire tower finally appears. We have made it.

The views across the Adirondack park aren’t quite what we were hoping for today as the thick dark clouds move in. But occasionally the wind whips the dark cover open and views of a few peaks are available. I break out the new camera and attempt to catch some shots. I am no professional photographer by any means but I do love to try and capture the moment so it can live on forever.

We work our way around the peak to “ The Boulder”. This giant rock has been sitting near the edge of the cliff forever. Many have tried to push it yet it hasn’t moved. It’s a must see when on the peak.

We work our way back to the fire tower and we climb the historic stairs to the top. This is one of only 25 fire towers in the Adirondack park. We hang out there for a few minutes in the now heavy wind. We talk about what it must have been like back when the towers were in use and it was a daily job to climb up here and look over the vast wilderness hoping to not see a fire on the horizon.

We soak up every last bit of view we can and decide to head down. About halfway down we come across our first hikers heading up. A father and son out for a New Year’s Eve adventure as well. It’s great to see families out enjoying the natural world. We carefully worked our way down the snow and ice covered trail and made it back down to the parking lot in half the time it took to get up. There was one more group there getting ready to head up the trail. We passed on the trail conditions and view status as we unload our gear into the truck. An hour later I’m back in the house talking with my wife about the day's adventure. It amazes me that such a great place can be so close to my front door. What a great way to finish out 2021.

Azure mountain is located near St. Regis Falls in Franklin County NY. I call this the gateway mountain because it is one of the most popular firsts for people that want to climb a mountain in the North Country. This out and back trail is about two miles round trip and its elevation is approximately 2,518 feet. Don’t let the short distance and lower elevation fool you as it is a steady grinding incline the whole trip. On a clear day the view of the Adirondack Park and the St. Lawrence Valley is spectacular. Spring through fall this trail sees a lot of traffic. Many people love this mountain because it offers close access from anywhere in the North Country. During the summer the trail is usually very dry and is an excellent choice for kids or someone interested in trying their first mountain hike. No special equipment is needed for this hike during this time period. Sneakers and a small backpack for water and a quick snack is all that is required. I do recommend a pair of good hiking boots but this is not a requirement if you are just starting out. I would encourage anyone to give this a climb in the fall. On a clear fall day the views are spectacular. The vibrant colors of the trees that roll up and over the surrounding landscape is incredible. If you decide to try your hand at winter climbing this is a great mountain to start on. Make sure to dress in layers and bring with you snowshoes and micro-spikes. Snowshoes will prevent post holing as the snow gets deeper and keeps the trail safe for everyone to navigate. I have been up this mountain well over 20 times in my life and would recommend it to anyone. It’s easy enough for first timers yet can be a challenge to experienced climbers who want to test their physical endurance. Great physical fitness isn’t a requirement but I would say it would be best if you could walk a minimum of 4 miles before taking on this lovely little mountain. If you are looking for a Northern NY Adventure then consider adding Azure Mountain to your list, you won’t be disappointed.

Aaron Hardy

Northern NY Adventures