Hamilton Mountain Fire Tower

redhawk · 03-15-2004, 05:36 PM

Not too long ago, someone asked me if there was still a fire tower on top of Hamilton Mountain here in Wells.

Well, some of the locals "think" it might have been taken down but are not sure.

I do know that you cannot hike the trail up there through Sucker Brook. The trail is on private property and the caretaker will run you off.

I have found a feasable route going in from Jimmy Creek via West River Road. It might be a good bushwhack for the weekend of the outing.

I figured I would do this as a new thread to get the attention of whoever asked me.

rondak100 · 03-16-2004, 09:49 AM

... and it was in the spring outing thread. I saw the tower a few years ago from the road but have not seen it in a long time. It probably is gone.

Too bad.

Mike

southernadkhiker · 05-19-2004, 02:14 PM

Hey guys, just to let you know, the hamilton mountain fire tower was closed, dismantled, and flown of hamilton mountain in either 1977 or 78. my contractor, who lives in wells, climbed over mt orrey, down to jimmy creek, and up to hamilton mountain in a 3 day camping trip last year. He said there are still great views to the south and that you can see great sacandaga lake from the top. Redhawk, your right about not being able to climb up the sucker brook trail. The guy who owns the property has been known to pull out a shotgun on people who try to cross his land. It kills me to know that a mountain with views of lake pleasant, sacandaga lake and speculator to the north and great sacandaga lake to the south is officialy not possible. For more information read marty positich's book adirondacks southern fire towers. Theres a great piece on hamilton mountain in there.

redhawk · 05-19-2004, 06:46 PM

I did confirm about a week ago that the fire tower was gone.

The best route up there is to go past jimmy Creek, down to Dugway Creek and follow that up and over.

Most of the land on the Gilman side of hamilton Mountain is owned by IP and they cut off access to Hamilton Lake and Hamilton Mountain. there are a lot of nice places up in there. I'm thinking maybe getting in there uop to Chartruese Lake and hamilton lake sometime this year.

lumberzac · 05-19-2004, 09:23 PM

If anyone is interested there is a very good book about the Adirondack fire towers called: Adirondack Fire Towers: Their History and Lore, the Southern Districts, by Martin Podskoch. The book is more of a collection of stories and personal accounts of the observers and their families. There is supposed to be another book about the northern districts that will be coming out in the near future.

Adirondack Fire Towers: Their History and Lore, the Southern Districts

03-15-2004, 05:36 PM	#1
redhawk Senior Resident Curmudgeon Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: In My Memories Posts: 8,916	Hamilton Mountain Fire Tower Not too long ago, someone asked me if there was still a fire tower on top of Hamilton Mountain here in Wells. Well, some of the locals "think" it might have been taken down but are not sure. I do know that you cannot hike the trail up there through Sucker Brook. The trail is on private property and the caretaker will run you off. I have found a feasable route going in from Jimmy Creek via West River Road. It might be a good bushwhack for the weekend of the outing. I figured I would do this as a new thread to get the attention of whoever asked me. __________________ "If future generations are to remember us with gratitude rather than contempt, we must leave them more than the miracles of technology. We must leave them a glimpse of the world as it was in the beginning, not just after we got through with it." Lyndon B. Johnson It Ain't Your Daddy's Trail Food Redhawk's Lodge

03-16-2004, 09:49 AM	#2
rondak100 Mike Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Bethel, Vermont Posts: 227	It was me Redhawk... ... and it was in the spring outing thread. I saw the tower a few years ago from the road but have not seen it in a long time. It probably is gone. Too bad. Mike __________________ Though we rush ahead To save our time We are only what we feel. Neil Young

05-19-2004, 02:14 PM	#3
southernadkhiker Jumping Treman Falls Join Date: May 2004 Location: SUNY Plattsbugh/Wells/Coram LI Posts: 217	Hamilton Mountain Hey guys, just to let you know, the hamilton mountain fire tower was closed, dismantled, and flown of hamilton mountain in either 1977 or 78. my contractor, who lives in wells, climbed over mt orrey, down to jimmy creek, and up to hamilton mountain in a 3 day camping trip last year. He said there are still great views to the south and that you can see great sacandaga lake from the top. Redhawk, your right about not being able to climb up the sucker brook trail. The guy who owns the property has been known to pull out a shotgun on people who try to cross his land. It kills me to know that a mountain with views of lake pleasant, sacandaga lake and speculator to the north and great sacandaga lake to the south is officialy not possible. For more information read marty positich's book adirondacks southern fire towers. Theres a great piece on hamilton mountain in there. __________________ I cherish the outdoors. Its the adventure, the unknown, and the call of the wild that gives me its thrill, passion, and deepest respect.

05-19-2004, 06:46 PM	#4
redhawk Senior Resident Curmudgeon Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: In My Memories Posts: 8,916	I did confirm about a week ago that the fire tower was gone. The best route up there is to go past jimmy Creek, down to Dugway Creek and follow that up and over. Most of the land on the Gilman side of hamilton Mountain is owned by IP and they cut off access to Hamilton Lake and Hamilton Mountain. there are a lot of nice places up in there. I'm thinking maybe getting in there uop to Chartruese Lake and hamilton lake sometime this year. __________________ "If future generations are to remember us with gratitude rather than contempt, we must leave them more than the miracles of technology. We must leave them a glimpse of the world as it was in the beginning, not just after we got through with it." Lyndon B. Johnson It Ain't Your Daddy's Trail Food Redhawk's Lodge

05-19-2004, 09:23 PM	#5
lumberzac Beware of the Lumberzac Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: country of the lakes and the crooked stream Posts: 1,716	If anyone is interested there is a very good book about the Adirondack fire towers called: Adirondack Fire Towers: Their History and Lore, the Southern Districts, by Martin Podskoch. The book is more of a collection of stories and personal accounts of the observers and their families. There is supposed to be another book about the northern districts that will be coming out in the near future. Adirondack Fire Towers: Their History and Lore, the Southern Districts __________________ A man needs to believe in something. I believe I'll go hiking. http://community.webshots.com/user/lumberzac

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