Mount Skylight facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Skylight |
|
|---|---|
Mount Skylight as seen from the summit of Mount Marcy.
|
|
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 4,925 ft (1,501 m) |
| Prominence | 578 ft (176 m) |
| Parent peak | Mount Marcy |
| Listing | Adirondack High Peaks 4th |
| Geography | |
 Mount Skylight
Location in New York
|
|
| Parent range | Adirondacks |
| Topo map | USGS Mount Marcy |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | Verplanck Colvin, Orson Schofield Phelps and unknown party, 1873 (first recorded) |
| Easiest route | Hike |
Mount Skylight is a cool mountain located in the Adirondack Mountains of New York. It's part of the famous Adirondack High Peaks, which are the tallest mountains in the area. Mount Skylight is special because its top, called the summit, is open and mostly flat. This is pretty unusual for the High Peaks! It's also the fourth highest mountain in New York, standing tall at 4,925 feet (about 1,501 meters).
Even though it's a bit far away, Mount Skylight is a favorite spot for hikers. People love its unique summit.
What Makes Mount Skylight Special?
Hikers often talk about two big piles of rocks, called cairns, on top of Mount Skylight. These cairns have grown really big over many years. There's a fun tradition among hikers who are trying to climb all 46 of the Adirondack High Peaks, known as "46ers." They believe that if you carry a rock all the way up and add it to one of these cairns, you'll have good weather for your hike! It's a neat way to feel connected to the mountain and other hikers.
Hiking to the Summit
Getting to the top of Mount Skylight is an adventure! There's one main trail that leads to the summit. This trail starts at a spot called Four Corners. This junction is located between Mount Skylight and its taller neighbor, Mount Marcy.
There are a few ways to reach Four Corners:
- From the West: Many hikers come from the west. They follow the Feldspar Brook Trail from the campsites at a place called the Flowed Lands. On this route, hikers often visit Lake Tear of the Clouds. This tiny lake is often thought of as the very beginning of the famous Hudson River! Hikers might also climb Gray Peak nearby, which doesn't have a marked trail.
- From Mount Marcy: You can also get to Four Corners by hiking down from the summit of Mount Marcy.
- From the Southeast: Another way is through Panther Gorge and Elk Lake.
All these routes are quite long, so most people turn their hike into an overnight backpack trip. This means they carry their camping gear and sleep out in nature.
Gallery
-
Mt. Skylight seen from Mt. Marcy
