Stissing Hearth Tower Loop

July 14, 2024 – Pine Plains, NY

Problem: Strenuous

Size: Roughly 2.2 miles

Max elevation: 1460 ft. – whole elevation achieve roughly 950 ft.

Route kind: Lollipop Loop

Map: Thompson Pond/Stissing Mt Path Map

Trailhead parking: 499 Lake Rd, Pine Plains, NY 12567

No bathrooms on website – No entrance or parking charges

Pull-off parking zone on shoulder for about 10 automobiles

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Overview:

Stissing Mountain is a 1,402-foot-tall mountain in Pine Plains, NY. It’s composed of the identical Precambian bedrock because the Hudson Highlands however is separated from them or some other Precambian outcrop by many miles. The terrain could be very steep and rocky, with many uncovered ledges, rocky crests, and talus slopes. There may be an exhibit dedicated to the mountain’s geology within the American Museum of Pure Historical past.

A brief lollipop-loop of freshly marked trails begins at a small parking zone on Lake Street. It steeply climbs the mountain to the 80-foot hearth tower close to the summit. The Stissing Hearth Tower gives vistas east to Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont; Southwest to Pennsylvania and New Jersey; and North to the Empire State Plaza in Albany.

Stissing Mountain is a part of the Thompson Pond Nature Protect, managed by The Nature Conservancy. The metal tower is open to the general public, and it’s a fashionable mountain climbing vacation spot. The tower is owned by the Mates of Stissing Landmarks, a residents group that shaped to rescue it from demolition.

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Historical past:

Whereas the title Stissing is most actually of Native American origin, its etymology shouldn’t be exactly identified. Earlier types of the phrase are Tishasink, Teesink, and Stissink. In his ebook, Aboriginal Place Names of New York, William M. Beauchamp says that its potential origin is the Algonkian phrase tahshin, which means “he raises himself”. There’s a legend that the mountain was named for an Indian chief who lived within the notch between Stissing Mountain and Little Stissing, its neighbor to the instant north. On an previous patent survey map drawn in 1734 by surveyor Richard Edsall, it’s known as Stissink Mountain. This can be the earliest written document of the title of this mountain.

Based on the Forest Hearth Lookout Affiliation, the construction on Stissing Mountain is a 79′ 6″ Worldwide Derrick E-4898 (circa 1932) tower, offered to the State of New York by the US Forest Service and erected by the Boston Corners – Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Camp in November and December of 1933.

This tower was first staffed in 1935 reporting 91 fires and 610 guests. This tower ceased operation someday between 1979 and 1982.

The ranger’s cabin, situated roughly 200 toes to the north, burned in 1976.

New York State introduced in 1986 that the Tower was not wanted and could be eliminated. Involved residents shaped Mates of Stissing Landmarks (FOSL) in 1986 to take over accountability for the Tower and maintain it open for the general public. In 1994, the Tower was turned over to FOSL, which maintains the construction in the present day. Hikers are welcome to entry the Tower at their very own danger and for gratis. FOSL encourages all customers to ship donations to help within the upkeep of the Tower.

Starting in 1958, The Nature Conservancy acquired 530 acres of Stissing Mountain and Thompson Pond, forming the Thompson Pond Protect. The New York State Division of Environmental Conservation has additionally designated Stissing and Little Stissing Mountains, along with the Wappinger Creek Valley, a part of a Vital Biodiversity Space known as the Stissing Mountain Wetlands Advanced.

In late 2022, the decrease components of the path was rerouted away from the eroded gully and is now nicely graded with a number of switchbacks. New path markers had been added to interchange the previous can tops that had been beforehand used.

In October 2023, Mates of Stissing Landmarks (FOSL) changed the steps and landings on the fireplace tower. The steps up the tower include 106 treads and 7 landings. It was estimated that about half of the treads had been authentic from 1933-34 when the Civilian Conservation Corps constructed the tower. All 106 treads and the landings had been changed.

The wooden is Larch and got here from the pilings of the previous Tappan Zee Bridge.

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Trails Overview:

From Lake Street, the paths are principally woods roads that climb steeply up the mountain. The paths are marked with Mates of Stissing Landmarks (FOSL) spherical metallic discs.

The paths was once marked with rusty can tops and pale orange or blue discs, with a few of the previous markers remaining.

The Purple Path is steeper, however makes for a shorter route. The Blue Path makes use of an previous deteriorating entry highway, which is extra gradual, however longer, making a loop hike potential.

The accessible path map is outdated (2019) and solely reveals one path up the mountain.

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Hike Overview:

I did this hike in June 2022 on a chilly and very windy day. It was within the mid 50’s and cloudy that day, however the blustery wind on the high of the tower, made it really feel extra prefer it was within the low 40’s. Due to the excessive winds, we didn’t spend a lot time on the high of the fireplace tower.

Shortly after doing the hike, I learn that they added model spanking new blazes to the paths. It took two years to get again up there to replace the hike, however right here we’re. It was a lot hotter on at the present time and the air high quality wasn’t excellent. It felt like a better hike when it was cooler. The paths are nicely shaded.

We solely noticed a number of individuals close to the fireplace tower and handed a lone hiker on our method down.

This Lollipop Loop was finished clockwise, ascending on Purple (steeper) and descending on Blue. I choose a much less steep descent which is gentler on the knees.

As you may see from the elevation graph, it’s fairly steep going up and down.

Please Be aware: There isn’t any view from the bottom of the fireplace tower, so in case you don’t climb no less than a part of the way in which up, you’ll not take pleasure in any of the marvelous views.

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The Hike:

From the trailhead parking zone on Lake Street, rigorously cross the road and head into the woods on a steep, rocky footpath, following the crimson blazes. The path quickly bears left and climbs on switchbacks to keep away from an previous eroded part of path.

In about 350 yards, the Purple Path reaches a junction with an previous woods highway, the route of the Blue Path, which is marked by a pile of rocks. The Blue Path might be your return route. For now, bear left to stay on the Purple Path, which quickly turns into fairly steep and rocky.

Quickly, the grade moderates somewhat and the path turns into much less rocky, however the steep climb quickly resumes. Alongside the way in which, there are restricted views via the timber to the left of the path.

After about 0.4 mile of steep climbing (from the final intersection), you’ll cross stone steps to the precise of the path (the stays of a former ranger cabin) and attain the summit ridge. Simply forward is the fireplace tower. There aren’t any views from the bottom of the tower, however you’ll wish to climb this virtually 80-foot tower to get a spectacular view of the countryside.

The Worldwide Derrick Mannequin 1933 Hearth Tower was developed via a cooperative effort between the Aermotor Firm and the U.S. Forest service. Though it’s marketed as a 90-foot tower, it’s precise top is 79′ 6″ with 8 flights and 106 steps.

The wood plank steps and landings are reclaimed Larch and got here from the previous Tappan Zee Bridge pilings.

You’ll have to climb the fireplace tower no less than half technique to benefit from the views. There aren’t any views from the bottom of the tower.

The Stissing Hearth Tower gives views east to Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont; Southwest to Pennsylvania and New Jersey; and North to the Empire State Plaza in Albany.

Thompson Pond straight beneath to the east.

View west with the Catskill Mountains seen within the distance.

Little Stissing Mountain is the height instantly north. Wanting northeast – Twin Island Lake (higher left), Stissing Pond (proper of heart). The Taconic Mountains within the distance, with the states of Vermont and Massachusetts behind them.

A peek via the home windows of the 7×7-foot metallic cab.

View southeast with the true summit of Stissing Mountain within the foreground.

After taking within the panoramic views from the cab of the tower, descend the tower rigorously, and watch your head as you permit the cab.

On the backside of the steps, look straight forward searching for blue blazes on a tree. Observe the blue blazes as they first flip left and descend on a slim footpath, quickly the Blue Path curves to the precise and descends to a woods highway. Observe the blue blazes on this rocky highway, which descends steeply.

After some time, the highway bears proper, passes rock ledges on the precise, and continues to descend extra progressively on a much less rocky route. You’ll come to quite a lot of forks and intersections; in every case, bear proper and keep on the woods highway, following the blazes, persevering with to descend progressively.

About 0.7 mile from the beginning of the Blue Path, close to the bottom of the fireplace tower, you’ll come to the fork you handed on the climb up the mountain, with the tree within the center and rocks piled up in entrance of it. Flip left right here, now retracing your steps on the Purple Path. Observe the crimson blazes and descend the ultimate pitch to Lake Street, the place the hike started.

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Assessment:

A really pleasant hike with the payoff being the marvelous views from the highest of the fireplace tower. Not many individuals on the paths both time that I visited. The paths are nicely marked and simple to comply with. I’d positively do that hike once more.

Professionals:

Stissing Mountain Hearth Tower, 360° views from the tower, scenic panorama, comparatively quiet space.

Cons:

An up to date path map could be good.

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Take a hike!

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Sources:

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