Ampersand Mountain
Encyclopedia
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Ampersand Mountain is a 3352 ft (1,021.7 m) mountain in Franklin County
in the northeastern Adirondacks, west of the High Peaks in New York State. The trail up the mountain begins on NY-3 8.1 miles (13 km) southwest of the village of Saranac Lake
, near Middle Saranac Lake
; it is a popular day hike. The mountain takes its name from nearby Ampersand Creek, so named because it twists and turns like the ampersand
symbol. The summit is bare rock, with extensive views of the High Peaks to the east and the Saranac Lake
s to the west.
. The following year, Verplanck Colvin
cleared the remaining trees while working on his survey of the Adirondacks, and subsequent fires and erosion left the summit bare. Colvin credits Ely for the mountain's name. New York State built a fire lookout station on the summit in 1911, although a fire tower was deemed unnecessary due to the open views available. By 1920, tree growth was such that a 22-foot (7-meter) fire tower was erected. The tower was used until 1970, when the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
closed it, as it had become more cost-effective to spot fires using aircraft. The tower was removed in July, 1977. There is a memorial near the summit to hermit Walter Channing Rice, who manned the fire tower from 1915 to 1923.
Ampersand was the first mountain that wilderness activist and explorer Bob Marshall
climbed, in 1915, when he was 14. In 1925, Marshall and his brother George
became the first to climb all 46 of the Adirondack peaks over 4000 ft (1,219.2 m), becoming the first Adirondack Forty-Sixers
.
Ampersand Mountain is a 3352 ft (1,021.7 m) mountain in Franklin County
Franklin County, New York
Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 51,599. It is named in honor of American Founding Father Benjamin Franklin...
in the northeastern Adirondacks, west of the High Peaks in New York State. The trail up the mountain begins on NY-3 8.1 miles (13 km) southwest of the village of Saranac Lake
Saranac Lake, New York
Saranac Lake is a village located in the state of New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 5,406. The village is named after Upper, Middle, and Lower Saranac Lakes, which are nearby....
, near Middle Saranac Lake
Middle Saranac Lake
Middle Saranac Lake, also called Round Lake, is the smallest of three connected lakes, part of the Saranac River, near the village of Saranac Lake in the Adirondacks in northern New York. Two-thirds of its shoreline is state-owned...
; it is a popular day hike. The mountain takes its name from nearby Ampersand Creek, so named because it twists and turns like the ampersand
Ampersand
An ampersand is a logogram representing the conjunction word "and". The symbol is a ligature of the letters in et, Latin for "and".-Etymology:...
symbol. The summit is bare rock, with extensive views of the High Peaks to the east and the Saranac Lake
Saranac Lake
Saranac Lake may refer to:* Saranac Lake, New York, a village in the northern Adirondacks*One of the three nearby Saranac Lakes, part of the Saranac River:**Upper Saranac Lake**Middle Saranac Lake**Lower Saranac LakeSee also...
s to the west.
History
W.W. Ely made the first recorded ascent of Ampersand Mountain in 1872. Ely and Dr. William Reed and three others later cleared the summit of trees, and built a lean-toLean-to
A lean-to is a term used to describe a roof with a single slope. The term also applies to a variety of structures that are built using a lean-to roof....
. The following year, Verplanck Colvin
Verplanck Colvin
Verplanck Colvin was a lawyer, author, illustrator and topographical engineer whose understanding and appreciation for the environment of the Adirondack Mountains led to the creation of New York's Forest Preserve and the Adirondack Park....
cleared the remaining trees while working on his survey of the Adirondacks, and subsequent fires and erosion left the summit bare. Colvin credits Ely for the mountain's name. New York State built a fire lookout station on the summit in 1911, although a fire tower was deemed unnecessary due to the open views available. By 1920, tree growth was such that a 22-foot (7-meter) fire tower was erected. The tower was used until 1970, when the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is responsible for the conservation, improvement, and protection of natural resources within the U.S. state of New York. It was founded in 1970, replacing the previous Conservation Department...
closed it, as it had become more cost-effective to spot fires using aircraft. The tower was removed in July, 1977. There is a memorial near the summit to hermit Walter Channing Rice, who manned the fire tower from 1915 to 1923.
Ampersand was the first mountain that wilderness activist and explorer Bob Marshall
Bob Marshall (wilderness activist)
Robert "Bob" Marshall was an American forester, writer and wilderness activist. The son of wealthy constitutional lawyer and conservationist Louis Marshall, Bob Marshall developed a love for the outdoors as a young child...
climbed, in 1915, when he was 14. In 1925, Marshall and his brother George
George Marshall (conservationist)
George Marshall was an American economist, political activist, and conservationist. He was an early leader both of The Wilderness Society and later the Sierra Club.-Early life and education:...
became the first to climb all 46 of the Adirondack peaks over 4000 ft (1,219.2 m), becoming the first Adirondack Forty-Sixers
Adirondack Forty-Sixers
The Adirondack Forty-Sixers are an organization of hikers who have climbed all forty-six of the traditionally recognized High Peaks of the Adirondack Mountains. They are often referred to just as 46ers.- Origins :...
.