Jay H
New member
Date: 5-5-12
From: Keese Mills Road (St Regis) / Blue Mtn Road (Azure)
Route: out and back
St Regis: Trail is in pretty good shape, there is a 5" birch oddly spanning the actual trail once you leave the TopRidge access road by the trail register but that is not a foreshadowing. Trail is slightly muddy as you finally gain elevation towards the summit and the tower is still unclimbable. However, no need to climb the tower as you can see Whiteface/Ester, the McKenzie range, Saranac lake, the airport, numerous ponds in the St Regis area... Spectacular mtn and it's long enough to feel like you had a good half day hike, including some R&R at the summit.
https://picasaweb.google.com/104827043392670889977/20120505StRegisFiretower
Road between St Regis and Azure is in OK shape, there is only one section for maybe 2 miles between the Keese Mill/Blue Mtn junction (at the yield sign and the nice house there) and the fishing lot for the Santa Clara tract south of the Azure mtn trailhead that was a bit pot-holed.. 20-25mph zone but once you get the Santa Clara boat launch, all is well again and it's a nice dirt road..
Azure: Trail is muddier than St Regis and the steepness adds to the slipperiness. Caution is definitely needed on the descent on this short 1 mile one-way trip. Carry a rock program is still in effect and the tower is in good shape and climbable..
https://picasaweb.google.com/104827043392670889977/20120505AzureMtnFiretower
From: Keese Mills Road (St Regis) / Blue Mtn Road (Azure)
Route: out and back
St Regis: Trail is in pretty good shape, there is a 5" birch oddly spanning the actual trail once you leave the TopRidge access road by the trail register but that is not a foreshadowing. Trail is slightly muddy as you finally gain elevation towards the summit and the tower is still unclimbable. However, no need to climb the tower as you can see Whiteface/Ester, the McKenzie range, Saranac lake, the airport, numerous ponds in the St Regis area... Spectacular mtn and it's long enough to feel like you had a good half day hike, including some R&R at the summit.
https://picasaweb.google.com/104827043392670889977/20120505StRegisFiretower
Road between St Regis and Azure is in OK shape, there is only one section for maybe 2 miles between the Keese Mill/Blue Mtn junction (at the yield sign and the nice house there) and the fishing lot for the Santa Clara tract south of the Azure mtn trailhead that was a bit pot-holed.. 20-25mph zone but once you get the Santa Clara boat launch, all is well again and it's a nice dirt road..
Azure: Trail is muddier than St Regis and the steepness adds to the slipperiness. Caution is definitely needed on the descent on this short 1 mile one-way trip. Carry a rock program is still in effect and the tower is in good shape and climbable..
https://picasaweb.google.com/104827043392670889977/20120505AzureMtnFiretower
