The Santanoni Range

Santanoni Peak, Panther Peak and Couchsachraga Peak

Topographic map courtesy of National Geographic

July 2011

This range consists of 3 mountains located in the southwest corner of the high peaks region: Couchsachraga, (46th highest at 3820 ft.), Panther Peak, (18th highest at 4442 ft.) and Santanoni Peak (14th highest at 4607 ft.). Technically, Couchie, as it’s called, is not one of the 46 highest peaks in NY, because it is well under the 4000 foot requirement, due to an early measuring mistake. It is still required to do though, because of sheer tradition.

We were very nervous about this hike. This is widely regarded as one of the most unpleasant ranges in all the Adirondacks, due to the knee-deep pudding-like mud that is forever present along the trails leading to the range, and the infamous bog that sits in the col between Panther and Couchie. The trails are very sloppy and it is highly recommended that you hike in knee-high gaiters, not only for all the mud you’ll encounter, but for all the brush that will scratch your shins and calves raw.

The trailhead is accessed by driving to the Tahawus area, East of Newcomb, NY. Take 28N to County Highway 25, then look for the left turn to Tahawus, (there’ll be the typical brown signs with yellow type).

Courtesy of Google Earth

TRAILHEAD

BRADLEY POND CAMPSITES

SANTANONI PEAK

PANTHER PEAK

COUCHSACHRAGA PEAK

PANTHER PEAK

SANTANONI PEAK

TIMES SQUARE

BRADLEY POND

Seward Range

The Santanoni Range as seen from Donaldson Mountain (in the Seward Range to the north).

Panther

Santanoni

Couchsachraga

(Part of my Original 46er quest)

Just before departing the trailhead. From left to right: Me, my cousin Jim, Tanner, Jonathan, Chris, Andy, Pete and my other cousin Mark.

Soon it is time to leave the road, and turn right, heading north on the blue trail towards Bradley Pond.

More than a mile is on a closed-to-vehicular-traffic, relatively flat stone road. This provides a nice warm-up for the rise in elevation coming soon. We’ve got 4.8 miles to go, until we get to the campsites near Bradley Pond.

We cross over an older, crooked bridge of questionable structural integrity.

Another stronger bridge, with the first hint of the ascending to come immediately afterwards (stairs).

Taking a break a few miles in at a nice open rocky area in the stream along Santanoni Brook.

The camera catches me chewing up some Sport Beans for energy, as I contemplate the hike so far.

A sign of things to come: standing water, broken corduroy and mud, mud, mud...

There are some walk-arounds, which we know we’re technically not supposed to use, but seriously; you could lose a monster truck in that stuff, let alone a hiker...

Our home away from home: Camp Chase. We quickly set up our tents, and get situated before nightfall.

We crack open the bear-proof food canisters, and begin preparing dinner.

Because we’re in the Western High Peaks area, we’re allowed to have a campfire, which is rare for 46er hikes, (most of which are in the Eastern High Peaks area, where such campfires are forbidden. This fire provided a nice ending to the day for everyone, before heading to our sleeping bags.

The boys are bright-eyed and bushy-tailed; ready for a long day of hiking. We depart at 8:30 AM.

Saturday — The range hike — 7.8 miles (approx.)

Friday — The hike in to Bradley Pond — 4.8 miles

Taking the turn westward towards the beaver dam, on the way past Bradley Pond, and up Panther Brook towards Times Square.

Trying not to fall into the stagnate pond water. This part was tricky...

The view of Bradley Pond through the trees. This is the closest the trail comes to the pond without bushwhacking to get closer.

A huge rock cliff on the right side of the trail. Soon after this, there are several camp sites in a flatter part of the trail, before it becomes much steeper.

Andy and I begin a short, but steep section

Stopping for a moment of reflection/water break

Filtering some drinking water where the trail crosses over Panther Brook.

Just one more break before reaching Herald Square at the top of the ridge. The boys are in good spirits, despite huffing and puffing...

The infamous clearing known as Times Square.

From the top of the small cliff on the illustration above, I point westward, towards Couchie; our first peak we’re going to tackle.

The guys debate over which one Couchie is. It’s the first peak on the left; directly above Jim’s left hand/pole.

A particularly tricky section of trail on the way to Couchie.

Mulling over how to get up this crevice... it looks steeper than this picture suggests. No, really...

The start of the infamous bog in the col between Couchie and Times Square. Boot-sucking nastiness. Fortunately, there were plenty of dead limbs to step on, so that helped out quite a bit...

We successfully summited Couchie, after much effort. None of us are too excited by this one. Sorry, Couchie...

The view back towards Panther Peak, (on the left half), and Santanoni Peak, (on the right half), from Couchie.

Fast forwards: now we’re back at Times Square, looking south towards our next destination: Santanoni Peak. There and back took 2.25 hours with a nice break for sightseeing/eating.

At the true summit of Santanoni. No views here, but there’s a heck of a lookout just before you reach the summit, (see below)...

You can see Bradley Pond in the center, with Henderson mountain to its’ right. Above that is Wallface Cliff, with the MacIntyre Range, including Algonquin. Moving right, you see the slides of Mt. Colden, and finally Mt. Marcy to the far right.

Wallface Cliff, Indian Pass, and Algonquin and Iroquois.

Most of the McIntyre Range: Algonquin/Iroquois/Marshall on left and also Mt. Colden to the right.

Mt. Marcy with Haystack, Gray and Skylight surrounding, as well as Cliff, Redfield and Mt. Adams.

The ChaseDesign Adirondack High Peak Hiking Club.

The Cammarata Cousins, Mark, Jim and myself.

On the right is Panther Peak and Times Square. Follow the long ridgeline to the left, down towards Couchie on the far left, and you can see what a long trek that was... The Seward Range is in the middle distance.

Back to Times Square one last time, before conquering the 0.5 miles round trip to Panther Peak.

Mark makes the final ascent up Panther, with Santanoni directly behind.

Just before the true summit, there’s an amazing open clearing, affording a wonderful view. The guys survey the landscape, and see all that they did that day.

Couchie is the first hump on the left. In the middle is Kempshall Mountain, with the thin ribbon of Long Lake to its’ right.

We stopped on the way down the mountain again, where the trail crosses Panther Brook, to filter more drinking water.

Sunday — The hike back out — 4.8 miles

The campsite is now abandoned...

Time to go muddin’ again...

Jim carefully crosses a “puddle” over a reluctant log. That puddle is actually the trail.

Corduroy (logs perpendicular to the trail) and log bridges over the pudding-like mud.

Down the steps, over the bridge. We’re almost back to the road now...

A quick 1 mile drive in the cars northward to the Upper Works trailhead area, where we take a much-needed cool, refreshing, and cleansing dip in the very cold Hudson River.

A familiar sight; one of our favorite aprés-hike restaurants: the Long Lake Diner; for some “Unbearably” Good Food™.

A map of the Times Square area. We came in from the right side, (the eastern approach). We chose to first knock off the hardest and farthest of the three peaks, Couchie to the west, (blue arrows). After that, we hit Santanoni heading south (red arrow), then finally the easiest one, Panther Peak to the north, (purple arrow).