Tongue Mountain Range Trails

Infobox Hiking trail
Name=Tongue Mountain Range Trails
Photo=5_Mile_Mt_.jpg
Caption=Five Mile Mountain summit
Location=New York
Length=Convert|25|mi|km|0
Start/End Points=Various
Use=Hiking
ElevChange=Convert|1258|ft|m|0|abbr=on
HighPoint=Five Mile Mountain Convert|2258|ft|m|0|abbr=on
LowPoint=
Difficulty=Easy to strenuous
Season=Easiest late May to mid-October
Hazards=Severe weather, timber rattlesnakes

The Tongue Mountain Range Trails are a series of hiking trails located within the Tongue Mountain Range, a subordinate range within the Adirondack Mountains of New York. The trails, Convert|25|mi|km|0 in length all told, vary from easy walks along the foot of the mountains on the shore of adjacent Lake George, to more rugged ascents of mountain peaks within the range. [ cite journal
title = Favorite hikes
journal = Backpacker Magazine
date = February 2005]

Trail description

The Tongue Mountain Range consists of six summits along the ridge, First Peak, French Point Peak, Fifth Peak, Five Mile Mountain, Huckleberry Mountain and Brown Mountain. The Five Mile Mountain trail takes in Five Mile Mountain, Huckleberry Mountain and Brown Mountain. There are lean-to’s for overnight camping at Fifth Peak and Brown Mountain. The path passes through wooded and open exposed rock areas. The elevation change on the trail is Convert|1258|ft|m|0. Other trails run from Clay Meadow to take in the southern half of the range, First Peak, French Point Peak and Fifth Peak.

Trail vistas take in the Adirondacks, Lake Champlain, and the Green Mountains of Vermont.Camping and fires are allowed along the Tongue Range Trails within areas designated by the New York Departement of Environmental Conservation. Specific regulations are enforced and leave no trace guidelines encouraged. [ [http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dlf/publands/bacrule.html New York DEC web site] ] Camping and fires are prohibited prohibited above an elevation of Convert|4000|ft|m|0.

Geology

The Tongue Mountain Range is composed of quartz-bearing syenite. [ [http://www.lakegeorgeassociation.org/html/geology.htm Lake George Association] ] It runs Convert|10|mi|km|0 south into Lake George at the southern end of the Narrows Group of lake islands. Tongue Mountain used to be part of the separation between two ancient rivers preceding the modern Lake George.

Ecosystem

The area is a protected wildlife preserve and boasts many species of tree, plant and animal. Dr Patrick L. Cooney of the New York Botany Organisation has listed fifteen species of trees, sixteen fern species, and over sixty species of herbs along the trails. [ [http://www.nynjctbotany.org/lgtofc/georgetongue.html New York Botany Organisation] ] Exposed rocky outcrops along the rock faces are covered with mosses and lichens, and are considered to be fragile habitats. The area is also known for its population of timber rattlesnakes. These are large snakes some approaching Convert|5|ft|m|1 in length. [cite journal
last = Brockway
first = Rick
title = Some snakes around here can get you really rattled
journal = Daily Star (Oneonta, NY)
date = 2006-04-21] They enjoy the shelter in the wooded areas but also enjoy basking in the sun on exposed rocks. Numerous birds inhabit or visit the area including various waterfowl and Peregrine Falcons [ [http://visitadirondacks.com/maps/google/googlePop.cfm?id=90&showBackButton Adirondacks Visitor Information web site] ]

The Tongue mountains were once a source of commercial timber. During the 19th century, approximately half the forest of the range fell to the logger's ax. [ [http://www.nynjctbotany.org/lgtofc/georgetongue.html New York Botany Organisation] ] As late as 1860, 10,000 softwood logs a year were being floated north to the sawmills at Ticonderoga. Hardwoods from the range went to feed the iron forges on Lake Champlain.

References

External links

* [http://nysparks.state.ny.us/news/public/archive/trail_guide/trails_northern.pdf guide New York State Parks Pdf guide]
* [http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dlf/publands/bacrule.html DEC Tongue Mountain rules & regulations]
* [http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip.aspx?TripID=8346 Topo map of the area]
* [http://www.dec.state.ny.us New York DEC web site]
* [http://www.boltonchamber.com/topReasons/top-reason-11.asp Bolton Landing Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.adk.org Adirondack Mountain Club web site]
*cite book
last = Wadsworth
first = Bruce
title = Day Hikes for all seasons - an Adirondack sampler
publisher = Adirondack Mountain Club
date = 2004 4th Ed
id = ISBN 0-935272-83-6
*cite book
last = McMartin
first = Barbara
coauthors = Bennett Chuck & Robbins Edythe
title = Discover the Eastern Adirondacks
publisher = Lake View Press NY
date = 2001
pages = 229 pages
id = ISBN 1888374098