Stissing Hearth Tower Loop

July 14, 2024 – Pine Plains, NY

Problem: Strenuous

Size: Roughly 2.2 miles

Max elevation: 1460 ft. – whole elevation acquire roughly 950 ft.

Route kind: Lollipop Loop

Map: Thompson Pond/Stissing Mt Trail Map

Trailhead parking: 499 Lake Rd, Pine Plains, NY 12567

No bathrooms on web site – No entrance or parking charges

Pull-off car parking zone on shoulder for about 10 automobiles

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Overview:

Stissing Mountain is a 1,402-foot-tall mountain in Pine Plains, NY. It’s composed of the identical Precambian bedrock because the Hudson Highlands however is separated from them or some other Precambian outcrop by many miles. The terrain could be very steep and rocky, with many uncovered ledges, rocky crests, and talus slopes. There may be an exhibit dedicated to the mountain’s geology within the American Museum of Pure Historical past.

A brief lollipop-loop of freshly marked trails begins at a small car parking zone on Lake Street. It steeply climbs the mountain to the 80-foot fireplace tower close to the summit. The Stissing Hearth Tower supplies vistas east to Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont; Southwest to Pennsylvania and New Jersey; and North to the Empire State Plaza in Albany.

Stissing Mountain is a part of the Thompson Pond Nature Protect, managed by The Nature Conservancy. The metal tower is open to the general public, and it’s a widespread climbing vacation spot. The tower is owned by the Buddies of Stissing Landmarks, a residents group that shaped to rescue it from demolition.

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Historical past:

Whereas the title Stissing is most actually of Native American origin, its etymology shouldn’t be exactly recognized. Earlier types of the phrase are Tishasink, Teesink, and Stissink. In his e-book, Aboriginal Place Names of New York, William M. Beauchamp says that its attainable origin is the Algonkian phrase tahshin, that means “he raises himself”. There’s a legend that the mountain was named for an Indian chief who lived within the notch between Stissing Mountain and Little Stissing, its neighbor to the instant north. On an previous patent survey map drawn in 1734 by surveyor Richard Edsall, it’s known as Stissink Mountain. This can be the earliest written report of the title of this mountain.

In accordance with the Forest Hearth Lookout Affiliation, the construction on Stissing Mountain is a 79′ 6″ Worldwide Derrick E-4898 (circa 1932) tower, offered to the State of New York by the US Forest Service and erected by the Boston Corners – Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Camp in November and December of 1933.

This tower was first staffed in 1935 reporting 91 fires and 610 guests. This tower ceased operation someday between 1979 and 1982.

The ranger’s cabin, situated roughly 200 toes to the north, burned in 1976.

New York State introduced in 1986 that the Tower was not wanted and could be eliminated. Involved residents shaped Buddies of Stissing Landmarks (FOSL) in 1986 to take over duty for the Tower and maintain it open for the general public. In 1994, the Tower was turned over to FOSL, which maintains the construction at this time. Hikers are welcome to entry the Tower at their very own danger and for free of charge. FOSL encourages all customers to ship donations to help within the upkeep of the Tower.

Starting in 1958, The Nature Conservancy acquired 530 acres of Stissing Mountain and Thompson Pond, forming the Thompson Pond Protect. The New York State Division of Environmental Conservation has additionally designated Stissing and Little Stissing Mountains, along with the Wappinger Creek Valley, a part of a Important Biodiversity Space known as the Stissing Mountain Wetlands Complicated.

In late 2022, the decrease elements of the path was rerouted away from the eroded gully and is now properly graded with a number of switchbacks. New path markers have been added to interchange the previous can tops that have been beforehand used.

In October 2023, Buddies of Stissing Landmarks (FOSL) changed the steps and landings on the fireplace tower. The steps up the tower include 106 treads and 7 landings. It was estimated that about half of the treads have been authentic from 1933-34 when the Civilian Conservation Corps constructed the tower. All 106 treads and the landings have been changed.

The wooden is Larch and got here from the pilings of the previous Tappan Zee Bridge.

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Trails Overview:

From Lake Street, the paths are largely woods roads that climb steeply up the mountain. The paths are marked with Buddies of Stissing Landmarks (FOSL) spherical metallic discs.

The paths was marked with rusty can tops and pale orange or blue discs, with among the previous markers remaining.

The Crimson Path is steeper, however makes for a shorter route. The Blue Path makes use of an previous deteriorating entry highway, which is extra gradual, however longer, making a loop hike attainable.

The obtainable path map is outdated (2019) and solely exhibits one path up the mountain.

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Hike Overview:

I did this hike in June 2022 on a chilly and intensely windy day. It was within the mid 50’s and cloudy that day, however the blustery wind on the high of the tower, made it really feel extra prefer it was within the low 40’s. Due to the excessive winds, we didn’t spend a lot time on the high of the fireplace tower.

Shortly after doing the hike, I learn that they added model spanking new blazes to the paths. It took two years to get again up there to replace the hike, however right here we’re. It was a lot hotter on this present day and the air high quality wasn’t superb. It felt like a neater hike when it was cooler. The paths are properly shaded.

We solely noticed just a few folks close to the fireplace tower and handed a lone hiker on our manner down.

This Lollipop Loop was carried out clockwise, ascending on Crimson (steeper) and descending on Blue. I desire a much less steep descent which is gentler on the knees.

As you’ll be able to see from the elevation graph, it’s fairly steep going up and down.

Please Notice: There isn’t a view from the bottom of the fireplace tower, so when you don’t climb a minimum of a part of the way in which up, you’ll not get pleasure from any of the marvelous views.

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The Hike:

From the trailhead car parking zone on Lake Street, rigorously cross the road and head into the woods on a steep, rocky footpath, following the purple blazes. The path quickly bears left and climbs on switchbacks to keep away from an previous eroded part of path.

In about 350 yards, the Crimson Path reaches a junction with an previous woods highway, the route of the Blue Path, which is marked by a pile of rocks. The Blue Path will probably be your return route. For now, bear left to stay on the Crimson Path, which quickly turns into fairly steep and rocky.

Quickly, the grade moderates a bit and the path turns into much less rocky, however the steep climb quickly resumes. Alongside the way in which, there are restricted views via the bushes to the left of the path.

After about 0.4 mile of steep climbing (from the final intersection), you’ll move stone steps to the suitable of the path (the stays of a former ranger cabin) and attain the summit ridge. Simply forward is the fireplace tower. There aren’t any views from the bottom of the tower, however you’ll need to climb this nearly 80-foot tower to get a spectacular view of the countryside.

The Worldwide Derrick Mannequin 1933 Hearth Tower was developed via a cooperative effort between the Aermotor Firm and the U.S. Forest service. Though it’s marketed as a 90-foot tower, it’s precise peak is 79′ 6″ with 8 flights and 106 steps.

The picket plank steps and landings are reclaimed Larch and got here from the previous Tappan Zee Bridge pilings.

You’ll have to climb the fireplace tower a minimum of half solution to benefit from the views. There aren’t any views from the bottom of the tower.

The Stissing Hearth Tower supplies views east to Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont; Southwest to Pennsylvania and New Jersey; and North to the Empire State Plaza in Albany.

Thompson Pond straight beneath to the east.

View west with the Catskill Mountains seen within the distance.

Little Stissing Mountain is the height instantly north. Trying northeast – Twin Island Lake (higher left), Stissing Pond (proper of middle). The Taconic Mountains within the distance, with the states of Vermont and Massachusetts behind them.

A peek via the home windows of the 7×7-foot metallic cab.

View southeast with the true summit of Stissing Mountain within the foreground.

After taking within the panoramic views from the cab of the tower, descend the tower rigorously, and watch your head as you allow the cab.

On the backside of the steps, look straight forward searching for blue blazes on a tree. Observe the blue blazes as they first flip left and descend on a slim footpath, quickly the Blue Path curves to the suitable and descends to a woods highway. Observe the blue blazes on this rocky highway, which descends steeply.

After some time, the highway bears proper, passes rock ledges on the suitable, and continues to descend extra regularly on a much less rocky route. You’ll come to quite a few forks and intersections; in every case, bear proper and keep on the woods highway, following the blazes, persevering with to descend regularly.

About 0.7 mile from the beginning of the Blue Path, close to the bottom of the fireplace tower, you’ll come to the fork you handed on the climb up the mountain, with the tree within the center and rocks piled up in entrance of it. Flip left right here, now retracing your steps on the Crimson Path. Observe the purple blazes and descend the ultimate pitch to Lake Street, the place the hike started.

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Assessment:

A really pleasing hike with the payoff being the marvelous views from the highest of the fireplace tower. Not many individuals on the paths both time that I visited. The paths are properly marked and simple to comply with. I’d undoubtedly do that hike once more.

Execs:

Stissing Mountain Hearth Tower, 360° views from the tower, scenic panorama, comparatively quiet space.

Cons:

An up to date path map could be good.

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Take a hike!

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Sources:

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