The Northern Tongue Range
September 5, 2020 | Bolton Landing, NY
The background: As of this past September, the only thing standing between me and completing the Lake George (LG) 12ster challenge was the Tongue Range. My intention was to complete it back in June when I was up for a weekend, but the weather had very different plans, so I held off. There’s something about it that intimated me (maybe the thought of encountering rattle snakes? The mileage on the Southern Tongue? The “things I’ve heard”?) Either way, it was time to get out there and complete the challenge I had started back in November 2018.
If I hadn’t been alone, I would have tried to complete the whole range in one day – it is possible – it’s just a long day. To do this in a feasible way, you would drop a car at the Southern trailhead (Clay Meadows) and then drive to the Northern start at Deer Leap. I hope to grab a friend (or a few) and complete this in 2021!
Instead, I broke up the range into two days over Labor Day weekend. Day 1 I covered the Northern section, and day 2, I tackled the Southern section for the finish. I chose to stay in accommodations in Ticonderoga overnight, but you can certainly make this into a fun overnight on the range, thanks to the lean-tos.
The Northern Tongue Range peaks: Brown, Huckleberry and Five Mile Mountain as an out-and-back from the Deer Leap parking area. As of September 2020, there were no summit signs for any of these.
The LG 12ster challenge: Hikers must climb the 12 designated peaks in the Lake George region and can receive a patch upon completion. Like many of the other hiking challenges in the park, there is a winter and ultra-patch, as well. More on the overall challenge in a separate post – but you can read up on it here in the meantime.
Getting there: If you’re driving from the south up I-87 North, you’ll take exit 24 towards Bolton Landing. After driving a few miles towards the Lake (one of my favorite drives TBH) you’ll then head north (turn left) on 9N, pass the Clay Meadows parking on the right for the Southern Tongue trails, and keep driving for about 5 more minutes until you reach the Deer Leap parking for this section of the Tongue. (If you need to hit a gas station or Stewart’s before your trek, turn right instead on 9N, and then backtrack to the trailheads.) The small designated pull-off area to park will be on your left if you come from the way I described. Note that the trailhead is across the street from the parking area. Be cautious when crossing the street. This is a pretty “major” road by mountain standards, so there is nothing notable about the road situation for your car (something you won’t have to worry about for this one.)
The route: It was Saturday of Labor Day weekend, and I was on the road from LI by 5:30AM to try to get a start on the trail by no later than 10AM, hoping there would still be parking on this day. After an uneventful drive up, I arrived around 9:30AM, with one space left in the pull-off area (but I think you can still park on the side areas of the road- some people did this when I returned back to my car.) I took a few minutes to stretch, then laced up my boots, grabbed my pack, and proceeded to cross the street to the trailhead. It would be about 3.6 miles to reach Five Mile (not 5 miles, as the name suggests), the farthest summit I was to tackle this day. I noticed a bit of pain on one foot near the toe area of my boots, but it wasn’t bothering me enough to investigate. I carried on and signed in, already on high alert for rattle snakes. This area of Lake George is a known habitat for Timber Rattlers. While they will mostly leave you alone, be alert and give them wide berth if you see one. There is also a sign at the trail register alerting you to beware.
Brown and Huckleberry
After a mostly nice, but sometimes muddy, walk in the woods for 0.6 miles, you approach a sign. If you continue on the trail, you will reach Deer Leap – I didn’t have a chance to check it out but will return one day to go there. You will follow the direction on the sign, turning right to start your ascent up the first peak of the day, Brown. This is a steady, pleasant hike up a ridge through a tree-covered summit, with some glimpses of views towards the lake on your left here and there. I was still on high alert for rattlers- nothing yet. Also no sign of people, so most of the cars in the lot must have already been way ahead of me, or alternatively went to Deer Leap. It was a pleasant, warm late summer day, and like always, I was SO happy to be out on the trail. There was no summit sign (at that time) at Brown, so you will continue to follow the trail onto Huckleberry (if you do use AllTrails, it is not listed there – but you inevitably have to summit it to go to Five Mile, so don’t worry.) Although there is quite a bit of elevation gain, I never felt it was overwhelming or overly challenging. I carried on the trail, summited Huckleberry without really knowing it, and then encountered the Five Mile lean-to. Still no sign of anyone. It was here I got a bit turned around, but it was such a beautiful day and I was in no rush, so it didn’t bother me.
Five Mile
As I learned, you will veer to the right of the lean-to, and in a little less than a mile or so, you will be at the sort-of cairn that will lead you up in no time to the true summit. I did use AllTrails as a guidance for this, but I also encourage you to use your map (I had it and could have done this as well.) Note: It is easy to miss the turn-off for Five Mile. If you do miss it and keep going, you will eventually end up at the junction for Clay Meadows and Fifth Peak (if you are hiking the whole range in a day, then yes, you would continue this way after reaching the true summit of Five Mile.) I don’t know what made me stop, but I did see a sort of small rock formation (photo below) to my right, and then saw the trail leading upwards. It is not a bushwhack by any means, but it is also not marked. Once you see the rocks I described, the trail will present itself to you. In a few short minutes, I found the geo-marker and had summited Five Mile. I snapped some treed-in summit photos, soaked in the sun that was peeking through the trees (still on high alert for rattler friends) and began my descent, turning left at the rock formation from the direction I came from. I saw a few humans by this point, but still no rattle snakes. Before I knew it, I was back at the lean-to, and had a very pleasant but uneventful hike back to the trailhead.
I felt good after finishing before 1PM and decided to continue enjoying the day by way of a fire tower hike. I got back to my car, ready to drive to Stewart’s in town before heading to Newcomb, was changing out of my boots like I normally do and aaah…..blood poured out of my one foot. ☹ That little bit of pain I described earlier when I started out on the trail was now gushing. Thankfully, I had all my stuff in my car from driving up earlier in the AM, so cleaned and bandaged up the toe and had fresh socks and shoes ready. A simple, but important lesson learned this day… don’t ignore your body telling you something!
I did have energy for another hike afterwards. I headed to Goodnow Mountain, and this proved to be the perfect complement to the day. It was not too strenuous for a late afternoon hike, since my plan was to finish up the last section of the Tongue the following day.
Concluding notes: I found this to be a true moderate hike with no surprises. As you read, there really is no “spectacular” views on this one (unlike the Southern section.) However, this is a nice hike through the woods, with glimpses of the lake and nearby mountains at certain sections. I did not encounter a single snake nor sign of one; however, in many reviews I read, hikers had run into them – so they are definitely out there. Just watch your step and where you sit- you may catch one sunbathing (or, you may not, like I hadn’t.) I always describe the Lake George region as a bit more forgiving than the High Peaks region – but it doesn’t make it any less beautiful or fun or challenging in its own ways. You’ll still get your fair share of mud, wildlife, and the overall beauty of Mother Nature, with the Lake never straying too far from your sight.
However, the next day’s adventure in the Southern Tongue Range would prove to be a different story…check out the Southern Tongue Range write-up for the LG 12 finish.
My recommendation for an ideal day and what you can pair these hikes with:
If you still have have more time and energy to tackle another hike(s), I would recommend Cat and /or Thomas Mountains. These are also in Bolton Landing nearby, and Cat’s view will make you fall even more in love with the region…if you want to grab a heartier meal in town (I go to Frederick’s, Mr. Brown’s or Bolton Beans when they are open) and then end the day with a shorter walk, The Pinnacle is a must.
