Erebus Mountain - Lake George Wild Forest - 11/23/13

I hadn't planned on getting in much of a hike today, but plans changed and I found myself with some time to get outdoors.  I decided to climb Erebus Mountain in the Lake George Wild Forest (a new peak for me). There is a trail encircling the mountain, but a short bushwhack hike is required to reach the summit.

I chose to start from Parking Lot #3 on Shelving Rock Road.  This is the primary parking lot and trailhead for Shelving Rock Mountain which I've hiked many times.  From this lot, I'd be taking a trail I hadn't done before as the trail splits from the Shelving Rock Mountain Trail within a couple hundred yards from the start.  

The Erebus Mountain trail heads northeasterly, following Shelving Rock Brook on an old carriage road.  There are many trails in this area.  Most are old carriage roads.  Be sure to bring a map and compass.  I passed 2 trails branching right to Dacy Clearing and 2 branching left towards Lake George.  The trail climbs steadily gaining ~1400 feet in 2.75 miles to another trail junction.  Here I chose to head west to Bumps Pond on the Bumps Pond Spur Trail, rather than north along the west flank of Erebus.

In .7 miles I was at the familiar Bumps Pond.  I stopped at an old chimney on the west side of the pond to have a drink and some food.    

Remains of an old stone chimney on the west side of Bumps Pond

Still pretty solid

From the pond, I began a bushwhack north along a ridge line towards Erebus.  The beginning of the bushwhack followed an old abandoned trail.  I saw some yellow markers still on trees.  The abandoned trail ended on the 1st bump at a rock outcrop with a view of Lake George.  In the rock are some pieces of iron bar from some former structure. 

View south to Buck Mountain from the abandoned trail

Looking north to Erebus Mountain

After the 1st bump, I continued to bushwhack northward generally following the ridge line.  There are several views of Lake George and I was able to zoom with the camera and get some good pictures.  It was still mostly sunny.  The weather forecast called for mostly cloudy, but fortunately, it was wrong. 

Zoomed view of Lake George.  Gore Mtn Ski area in the background

Erebus Mountain

The bushwhacking wasn't bad at all.  No blowdown and no thick woods.  I was moving rather slowly at about a mile an hour just enjoying the walk.  I reached the summit to find a nondescript high point.  There were no markings or signs of human visitation.

Rev... near the summit 

Looking north to Black Mountain

From the summit, I followed the ridge northeasterly it it dropped down to the trail leaving Fishbrook Pond.  This was familiar territory for me.  I followed the Hogtown trail past Fishbrook Pond and past Bumps Pond back to Dacy Clearing. 

Beaver pond just NW of Fishbrook Pond

 

Rev

Leanto at north end of Fishbrook Pond

Leanto on east side of Fishbrook Pond

Bumps Pond with a thin layer of ice

From Dacy Clearing, I took another old carriage road back to Shelving Road Road.  This trail was a steady downhill, dropping about 1500 feet in 3.7 miles.  It would be a nice XC ski trail if you get there before the snowmobiles get there.

Hike Stats:

Hike Distance:  12.3 miles

Hike Time:  6 hours

Total Vertical Gain:  ~ 2500'

My route (click image to enlarge)

My route in blue on the National Geographic map