Black Mountain, Lake George

[Chris I]

I have heard reports about caves on black mountain on the shore of lake George. Rumor has it that they are quite deep and dangerous, i would love find them and check them out. If someone could point me in the right direction that would be great. Just PM me

[Tuchov]

I can show you WHERE Black Mountain is at Lake George, but I dunno about any caves. I don't have any experience caving, nor any equipment for the hobby, otherwise I'd volunteer to go with.

[Bob K]

Black Mtn. Caves?

I've been up Black Mtn. twice and have never seen caves. Don't remember seeing caves mentioned in any guide book either. Note that my trips have been from the road trailhead, not the lake (much more elevation). Good views to the North from Summit rocks (somewhat disturbed by wind turbine feeding emerency communications building). Better views south perhaps 50 meters south.

[redhawk]

I've been up Black Mtn. twice and have never seen caves. Don't remember seeing caves mentioned in any guide book either. Note that my trips have been from the road trailhead, not the lake (much more elevation). Good views to the North from Summit rocks (somewhat disturbed by wind turbine feeding emerency communications building). Better views south perhaps 50 meters south.

The windmill blew over last year. It's no longer operating.

[Chris I]

When did the windmill blow down? I was up in late april or early may and it was fine.

[Hobbitling]

I dont remember it being that much of a visual obstruction. It was the sound that bothered me. I could hear it for about the last mile of the hike, and I kept wondering what that loud mechanical humming sound was.

[redhawk]

When did the windmill blow down? I was up in late april or early may and it was fine.

It blew over some time last year...
I think Doug was in there when it happened but not sure.

Hawk

[Kevin]

I thought they removed it. There's a bunch of solar panels now. I would assume they replaced the windmill / noise with solar power.

It's definitely gone as of my last time on Black - December 2006.

Don't know about any caves. The trails cover only a small % of the mountain, so there very well could be a ton of caves never seen from the trail. I don't know if 'cavers' (caving enthusiasts) would advertise locations for caves on the internet. You might have to try contacting someone at a caving forum and see if they have a friend or friend of a friend familiar with that section of the adk park...

[Hobbitling]

I know there are caves on other mountains in the area. Crane mountain and the tongue mountains apparently have quite a few caves, and they are probably part of the same geological formation. There must be a cave guide somewhere that you can buy, or a spelunking group you could ask.

[Kevin]

...or a spelunking group you could ask.

I was looking for the roots of that term and found some info on wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spelunking

I'm not sure that most cavers would like being referred to as spelunkers according to the common use of that term....

This sentiment is exemplified by bumper stickers and t-shirts displayed by many cavers: "Cavers rescue spelunkers".

[Chris I]

I have been looking for info and cannot find anything. The only thing I have found in the adirondacks is for Chimney mtn and Eagle caves.

[WOBBLER]

I deer hunted with a small group based out of the Lapland Pond leanto in the late '70s & early '80s. We "still hunted" north to south all across the east face of Black many times and no one ever saw caves. There were many interesting terrain features though, including some hidden ravines and a large bowl like area we nicknamed the "amphitheature" (this looked to be created by an earthquake). A good chance there are caves elsewhere...the lake side?? north side of the summit trail?? BTW, does anyone know the name of the unique "sugarloaf" looking mountain to the n.n.e. of the summit. We had another nickname for it. (it's also visible from Hague)

[Dick]

BTW, does anyone know the name of the unique "sugarloaf" looking mountain to the n.n.e. of the summit. We had another nickname for it. (it's also visible from Hague)

It is in fact called Sugarloaf. I forget whether that's its official name, or a local one. A group of us bushwacked it several months ago. I may have posted a TR with pics. If not, I will when I get more time.

Dick

[Chris I]

It is in fact called Sugarloaf. I forget whether that's its official name, or a local one. A group of us bushwacked it several months ago. I may have posted a TR with pics. If not, I will when I get more time.

Dick

Dick is right, I was looking at topo's last night it was labeled as sugarloaf

[WOBBLER]

Thanks.The topo quad I used to use cut off most of sugarloaf and its distinctive features.(hard lesson learned about navigating on the edge of a map, think pine bow bed & make shift lean-to) The whole area east of Black looks like low rolling hills & looks quite different than the view from the west shore of Lake George. Does a slab sided landmark like Sugarloaf make an area more "cavey" ??