Ampersand Mountain facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ampersand Mountain |
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Ampersand Mountain from Middle Saranac Lake
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 3,353 ft (1,022 m) |
| Prominence | 1,313 ft (400 m) |
| Geography | |
 Ampersand Mountain
Location in New York Adirondack Park
Ampersand Mountain
Location in the United States
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| Location | Harrietstown, New York, U.S. |
| Parent range | Adirondacks |
| Topo map | USGS Ampersand Mountain |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | Dr. W. W. Ely, in 1872 |
Ampersand Mountain is a cool mountain in New York State. It stands about 3,352 feet (1,022 meters) tall. You can find it in Franklin County. This mountain is part of the Adirondacks, a famous mountain range.
Ampersand Mountain is a popular spot for a day hike. The path to the top starts near Middle Saranac Lake. This is about 8.1 miles (13 kilometers) southwest of Saranac Lake village. The mountain gets its name from Ampersand Creek. This creek twists and turns like the "&" symbol, which is called an ampersand.
The very top of the mountain is bare rock. From there, you get amazing views. You can see the High Peaks to the east. To the west, you can see the beautiful Saranac Lakes. Near the hiking trail, there's a special forest. It's an old-growth forest, meaning its trees have never been cut down.
History of Ampersand Mountain
The first person to officially climb Ampersand Mountain was W.W. Ely. He reached the top in 1872. Later, Ely and Dr. William Reed, along with three other people, cleared some trees from the summit. They even built a small shelter called a lean-to.
The next year, Verplanck Colvin helped clear more trees. He was working on a map of the Adirondacks. Fires and natural wear later left the mountaintop completely bare. Colvin gave credit to Ely for naming the mountain.
Fire Lookout Station
In 1911, New York State built a fire lookout station on the summit. They didn't need a tall fire tower at first. This was because the views from the bare top were already very clear.
But by 1920, trees had grown taller. So, a 22-foot (7-meter) fire tower was put up. People used this tower to spot forest fires until 1970. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation then closed it. It became cheaper to find fires using airplanes. The tower was taken down in July 1977.
Near the top, there's a special memorial. It's for Walter Channing Rice. He was a hermit who lived alone and worked in the fire tower. He was there from 1915 to 1923.
Famous Climbers
Ampersand Mountain was the first mountain that Bob Marshall ever climbed. He was a famous wilderness activist and explorer. He climbed it in 1915 when he was just 14 years old.
In 1925, Bob Marshall, his brother George, and Herbert K. Clark made history. They were the first to climb all 46 of the Adirondack peaks that are over 4,000 feet (1,219 meters) tall. They became known as the first Adirondack Forty-Sixers.
Images for kids
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View of Ampersand Lake and the High Peaks to the east
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View of Lower Saranac Lake to the north.
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Northwest view from Ampersand of Middle Saranac Lake (left), with Weller Pond directly above. Upper Saranac Lake is just visible at top, and Lower Saranac Lake at far right.
