You’ve begun your ascent of Hadley Mountain and the
Fire Tower … perhaps you already found Hadley’s Foot GC1T853 and
are on your way to the first stage of the multi, Resting Rock Cache
GC1TFOG.
The huge boulder (on the left of the trail, N
43° 22.378 W
073° 57.314) has been
split apart by the forces of freezing and thawing. The large mass
of metamorphic (heated and squeezed) rocks may have originally been
sedimentary rocks, such as sandstone. This rock is called
“gneiss” (pronounced,
“nice”). Note the light colored quartz and the darker
hornblends and biotites.
The use of a jeep to reach the fire tower during the
1950s started rapid erosion of the soil cover; now hikers’
footsteps continue the process.
The actual cache is located about 140 feet up the
trail from this split rock.
After making the find, you’ll continue on to
pass a stream, reach a ridge line for a flat walk, come to some
great views of the Great Sacandaga Lake, Baldhead Mt with Crane Mt
just behind it and then finally reach the Tower itself, for even
more views.
For more info, check out GCMW4P This Ole Gray
Mare.
As you walk along the ridge line further up the trail,
don’t forget to grab GC1TF1V Ranger Trail Cache as
well!
Enjoy your hike! No need to rush.