Stissing Mountain Hearth Tower

June 18, 2022 – Pine Plains, NY

Problem: Strenuous

Size: Roughly 2.1 miles

Max elevation: 1460 ft. – complete elevation acquire roughly 1,001 ft.

Route sort: Lollipop Loop

Map: Thompson Pond/Stissing Mt Trail Map

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

No bathrooms on website – No entrance or parking charges

Pull-off 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 every other Precambian outcrop by many miles. There may be an exhibit dedicated to the mountain’s geology within the American Museum of Pure Historical past. Close to the summit of Stissing Mountain is a hearth tower that’s nearly 80 toes excessive, about 20 toes taller than the common hearth tower. The Stissing Mountain Hearth Tower gives 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 in style mountain climbing vacation spot. The tower is owned by the Pals 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 just isn’t exactly identified. Earlier types of the phrase are Tishasink, Teesink, and Stissink. In his ebook, Aboriginal Place Names of New York, William M. Beauchamp says that its doable 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 keeping with the Forest Hearth Lookout Affiliation, the construction on Stissing Mountain is a 79′ 6″ Worldwide Derrick E-4898 (circa 1932) tower, supplied 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 Pals of Stissing Landmarks (FOSL) in 1986 to take over duty for the Tower and hold 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 gratis. FOSL encourages all customers to ship donations to help within the upkeep of the Tower.

Starting in 1958, The Nature Conservancy acquired 507 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 Vital Biodiversity Space known as the Stissing Mountain Wetlands Complicated.

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Trails Overview:

The Hearth Tower might be reached by trails main from the east aspect of Stissing Mountain from Lake Street and from State land on the west, from Hicks Hill Street on the Stissing Mountain A number of Use Space.

From Lake Street, the topic of this hike, the paths are woods roads that climb steeply up the mountain. The paths are marked with rusty can tops and light orange or blue discs.

The paths was unmarked, however plainly somebody took the time so as to add some markers in recent times. There are numerous woods roads and/or footpaths that department off of the primary trails. So long as you’re seeing orange or blue blazes on the bushes, you’re on the proper path.

The Orange Path is steeper, however makes for a shorter route. The Blue Path makes use of an previous deteriorating entry street, which is a extra gradual, however longer ascent, making a loop hike doable. In the beginning of the path, there may be a proof with light marker.

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Hike Overview:

This hike has been on my checklist for fairly a while and I used to be glad to lastly have had the possibility to do it. Except for the 360° views from the highest of the tower, the hike itself was work out and never many individuals on the paths. It’s cooler and really windy on that tower and correct gear equivalent to a sweater or windbreaker must be packed, even within the hotter months. I made the error of leaving my mild fleece within the car and regretted it. It was within the mid 50’s and cloudy, however the blustery wind on the prime 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 prime of the hearth tower.

Please Be aware: There is no such thing as a view from the bottom of the hearth tower, so when you don’t climb at the least a part of the best way up, you’ll not get pleasure from any of the marvelous views.

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

It’s a steep climb on the Orange Path, gaining almost 1,000 toes of elevation in just below a mile.

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The Hike:

From the trailhead parking zone on Lake Street, rigorously cross the road and head into the woods on a steep, rocky footpath, following each blue and orange blazes. In about 200 toes, the path involves a fork, the place the blazes bear left. Then about 5 minutes later, the Blue/Orange Path reaches an intersection with an previous woods street. Flip left onto the woods street, which quickly turns into fairly steep and rocky.

A brief distance later, you’ll attain one other fork within the path, with a tree in the midst of the fork and plenty of rocks piled in entrance of it. That is the place the paths break up. The proper fork, the route of the Blue Path, will probably be your return route, however for now, bear left on the Orange Path and proceed to comply with the woods street up the mountain. Quickly, the grade moderates a bit of and the path turns into much less rocky, however the steep climb quickly resumes. Alongside the best way, there are restricted views by way of 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 proper of the path (the stays of a former ranger cabin) and attain the summit ridge. Simply forward is the hearth tower. There are not 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 by way of 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 top is 79′ 6″ with 8 flights and 97 steps.

It’s a closely galvanized free-standing batter-legged hurricane-proof construction with a 7×7-foot metallic cab.

The wood plank steps are displaying indicators of age, with some dry rot seen. I stayed away from stepping within the heart of the steps as I ascended the tower.

Useful tip: Anytime that I climb any type of previous steps/stairs, I guarantee that I place my toes/weight the place the helps are. I have to say, I’ve climbed a number of metal hearth towers, however by no means on such a windy day. To its credit score, this 89 12 months previous tower didn’t have a lot shake to it. It held its floor like a champ throughout the excessive winds that we encountered.

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

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

View southwest with the precise summit of Stissing Mountain within the foreground.

View west with the Catskill Mountains seen within the distance. Kaaterskill Excessive Peak close to heart with the Devils Path Peaks to the left and the Blackhead-area summits to the proper.

Comparable shot as above however zoomed in.

Thompson Pond straight under to the east. The Nature Conservancy has a path that’s 2.5 miles lengthy that encircles the pond.

Trying northeast – Twin Island Lake (higher left), Stissing Pond (heart) and a part of Thompson Pond (decrease proper). The Taconic Mountains within the distance, with the states of Vermont and Massachusetts behind them.

Little Stissing Mountain within the heart, with Twin Island Lake and Stissing Pond to the proper.

After resting out of your steep 1,000-foot climb and taking within the panoramic views, descend the tower and on the backside of the steps, look straight forward searching for blue blazes on a tree. Comply with the blue blazes as they bear proper and descend on a slim footpath, then flip left on the subsequent intersection and descend to a woods street. Flip proper onto this rocky street, which descends steeply. After some time, the street bears proper, passes rock ledges on the proper, and continues to descend extra progressively on a much less rocky route. You’ll come to a variety of forks and intersections; in every case, bear proper and keep on the woods street, following the blazes, persevering with to descend progressively.

An enormous wall of Taconic volcanic rock to the proper of the path.

About 0.7 mile from the beginning of the Blue Path, close to the bottom of the hearth 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 Blue/Orange Path. On the subsequent fork, bear proper and descend the ultimate pitch to Lake Street, the place the hike started.

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Assessment:

A really exhilarating hike with the payoff being the marvelous views from the highest of the hearth tower. Not many individuals on the paths on the day that we visited. The paths are simple to comply with. Simply do not forget that so long as you’re seeing blazes on the bushes, you’re heading in the right direction. I’d undoubtedly do that hike once more.

Execs:

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

Cons:

Higher path map and a freshening up of the blazes could be good.

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Take a hike!

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Sources:

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