The Solitude Of TLake & TLake Falls and the Southern Adirondacks, NY

 The trail entrance to T Lake is located on Piseco Lake Road adjacent to the third state camp site on Piseco Lake. When you see the sign which is kinda hidden by the trees in summer, pull into the grassy area and you'll find a small parking area. Around 3.5 miles you'll find a nice lean to if you want to do some camping, but there is little in the way of views from the lean to so you'll probably want to bushwack T Lake a little, or go the extra few miles to the falls.

T Lake and it's remoteness add to it's pristine beauty. This day I only saw a party of three whom I don't believe made it as far as the lake as they were travelling this rugged trail without maps, had a young child, and little water that I could see. Although they had some of those sippy straws. 

Just after (half-mile or so) T Lake and down the now unmarked trail to T Lake Falls, you see this "lesser" falls and a beautiful grassy vly to the right.  After the lean to at TLake there are no trail markers, and the DEC prefers that you don't go any further. I have heard that rangers will cite you but that sounds a little melodramatic. Whether the ranger dropped the trees that now block the old trail past T Lake, or whether it is blow-down or what ever, I could not tell. But the trail is blocked in several places. There is a s herd path of sorts past T Lake,  but it is easy to get off trail if you're not careful. If that happens, just keep the lake, the vly, stream and falls to your right and you'll get there.

The warning sign was down so I replaced it, and then took a moment to think about and remember those  including Eric Lemieux who died tragically on these falls.

At the very top of T Lake Falls....very grown in here and fair warning to those who venture here to stay off the rocks as they are mossy and very slippery!

T Lake Falls is basically a sheer rock 300-600 ft wall face on the side of a mountain, with patches of scrub and trees  except where the falls has basically blown away anything through the years that has tried to root and grow there. The falls is disputed to be the highest in New York State. Disputed, because it is not a sheer drop falls like Niagara. 

Hanging along the rock edge and scrub tree line about half way down to get these as close to full length photos as you probably can get without being in a plane or helicopter

After T Lake I wanted to go around Eagle Bluffs to Twin Lakes, but timed out on this trip having told my family I would return by a certain time. So, I scrambled back up the T Lakes cliffs and headed back down the 5 miles or so the way I had come. The trip back was very quiet and saw no one else on the trail, although there was a nice strong breeze this day blowing through the trees.

June bugs & such.......

The bridge crossing on the Lower Ausable Lake

Rock cliffs on Saddleback Mountain

June was an unusually busy month that saw us in the high peaks region 3 times, and the off weeks spent in the Southern Adirondacks. We covered much ground, mainly because of the favorable weather conditions and the unexpected lack of rain and bugs. The official bug of the Adirondacks the black fly, were around at times as well as deer flies, but no where near other years when you tried to wave off black clouds of the little biting devils.

Resting on Saddleback Mtn

Anyway, no doubt that Nolan and I find that our "hearts are in the clouds" and especially look forward to our visits and time in the Adirondacks of New York State. I really find the high peaks breath taking and most enjoyable, although it seems at times to be a lot more people than the more pristine and sedate back woods areas of the Southern Adirondack region. I am finding that I really prefer the winter climbs in the peaks when there are fewer climbers, and more peace and solice amongst clouds and the mountain summits.

atop Haystack Mtn

Enjoy some of my favorite photos from our June climbs of Adirondack high peaks Dix, South Dix, East Dix, Macomb, Basin, Saddleback, Haystack, Colvin & Blake as well as our bushwack of Big Marsh Mountain and a hike to Hamilton Lean to from Piseco.

Staircase coming off Saddleback Mtn

View of Indian Head

View from Indian Head Ausable Lake

trail to Indian Head

View from Colvin  Mt

View from Blake Mt

Nolan on Indian Head

me atop Indian Head

back up Colvin Mt after Blake

Bushwacking up Big Marsh Mtn

the classic Dix Mtn profile

view of Dix from the Beckhorn

Dix Mtn

Dix Mtn

East Dix

Macomb Mtn

the early bird catches the worm. One of the benefits to getting an early start to climb the peaks is we get to enjoy magnificent sunrises (and sunsets) over beautiful Adirondack areas we might normally ever see. Here on our way to climb a few weeks ago we stopped to enjoy coffee and a sunrise over Loon Lake, a pair of woodies and their home in the foreground?

A view of Irondequoit Mtn from Big Marsh Mtn

atop Big Marsh Mtn (we think) was so heavily wooded and thick we weren't 100% sure....are you ever?

a beautiful parting shot from Dix Mtn