Poke-O-Moonshine Mountain facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Poke-O-Moonshine Mountain
Pohqui Moosie
Poke-O-Moonshine, with cliffs, from U.S. Route 9 to the north
Highest point
Elevation	2,180 ft (660 m)
Prominence	361 ft (110 m)
Parent peak	Old Rang Mountain
Geography
Poke-O-Moonshine Mountain Location in New York
Location	New York, U.S.
Parent range	Adirondacks
Topo map	Au Sable Forks
Climbing
Easiest route	Old jeep road, trail

Poke-O-Moonshine Mountain, often called Poke-O, is a cool mountain in the Adirondack Mountains. Its name comes from the Algonquin language. Pohqui means 'broken' and moosie means 'smooth'. It's in Chesterfield, New York, within the Adirondack Park. Many call it the 'gateway to the Adirondacks'. This is because it sits right by a main pass into the mountains.

At its top, which is about 2,180 feet high, there's an old fire lookout tower. This tower is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. People love to hike up to the summit for amazing views of the High Peaks and Lake Champlain. There are two main trails from Route 9 near the mountain's base. The rocky cliffs around the summit also attract climbers. However, climbing is sometimes limited when peregrine falcons are nesting. Poke-O-Moonshine is a very popular spot for rock and ice climbing in the Adirondacks. It's easy to reach from the Adirondack Northway (I-87). Climbers come from both the U.S. and Canada.

Where is Poke-O-Moonshine Mountain?

Poke-O-Moonshine is at the eastern edge of a group of mountains. These are in the northeastern part of the Adirondacks. Most peaks to its west are similar in height. Old Rang Mountain, about a mile away, is a bit taller at 2,294 feet. To the east, there's a narrow pass. This pass is used by I-87 and Route 9.

The mountain is in the southern part of Chesterfield, New York. It's close to where the towns of Lewis and Willsboro meet. The closest towns are Willsboro and Keeseville. Both are about 6 miles from the mountain.

A ridge connects Poke-O-Moonshine to Carl Mountain to the west. On the east and south, the mountain slopes rise steeply. They lead to tall granite cliffs. These cliffs are about 600 feet high and a mile wide. They surround the summit. The north side slopes gently down into the valley of McGuire Brook. This brook flows into Butternut Pond. The south side has a steeper slope down to Cold Brook. Both streams eventually flow into Lake Champlain. Willsboro Bay on Lake Champlain is about 3 miles east of the summit.

Mountain History

Humans have lived in the Adirondacks for a very long time. The Algonquin were the first known to live near Poke-O-Moonshine. They were amazed by its cliffs. They named the mountain Pohquis Moosie, meaning "place of the broken smooth rocks." The mountain was important for trade and meetings. This was because it stood by the main pass into the mountains.

European settlers didn't arrive in large numbers until after the American Revolutionary War. The land became part of New York State. Early settlers changed the Algonquin name to "Poke-O-Moonshine."

In 1876, the land around the mountain's summit became state property. Verplanck Colvin used the summit for his survey of the Adirondacks. A tall wooden tower was built to help with this survey.

In 1885, New York State created the Forest Preserve. This was to protect the forests. A decade later, this protection was added to the New York State Constitution.

In the early 1900s, many wildfires happened in the Adirondacks. To help stop fires, the state built fire lookout towers. In 1912, a wooden tower was built on Poke-O-Moonshine. Five years later, in 1917, the metal tower you see today replaced it.

The state added other buildings, like a cabin, in the 1920s. The mountain became a popular hiking spot. In the 1940s, a guidebook mentioned a local story. It said the mountain's name got a second meaning during Prohibition. People would make and sell illegal alcohol in the pass.

In 1930, the state built a campground near Route 9. It also started buying more land around the mountain. This helped create more access for outdoor activities.

In the late 1950s, climbers started exploring the Adirondacks' rock cliffs. Geoff Smith and John Turner made many first climbs on Poke-O-Moonshine. Turner's bold style helped name and rate many of its routes.

The mountain remained popular with hikers and climbers. The Northway was completed in the late 1960s, making access easier. In 1988, the fire tower was closed because better ways to detect fires were available. In 1995, the state planned to take down the tower. But a local group raised money to save it. It was fixed up and reopened in 1998.

In 2009, the campground was closed due to low use. However, it still serves as a day-use area for climbers. In 2011, a new trail was added. This trail was a former jeep road. It's longer but less steep than the old trail. More land around the mountain has also been protected.

Mountain Geology

The Adirondacks are unique mountains in New York. They are part of the Laurentian Mountains from Canada. The Adirondack range is a large dome that lifted up and then eroded. Glaciers later shaped it even more. People often call them "new mountains from old rock." This is because the rocks are very old, but the mountains themselves are relatively new.

Poke-O-Moonshine's rock is a mix of granite and gneiss, like the rest of the range. The climbing cliffs have special types of this rock. You can also find some Potsdam Sandstone on the mountain. This sandstone is a leftover from a time when the land was under a shallow sea.

Animals and Plants

The mountain's lower slopes are covered in a northern hardwood forest. You'll find sugar maple, birch, and beech trees. There are also some oaks, which are not common in Adirondack forests. Many ferns and sarsaparilla plants grow on the forest floor.

Higher up, near the cliffs, the slopes get rockier. Here, you'll see white pine, striped maple, and hemlock trees. Stinging nettles, red-flowering raspberry, and wildflowers like trillium also grow here.

On the summit ridge, the trees are shorter and scrubbier. Mountain ash trees appear. The summit isn't high enough for the boreal forest found at higher elevations in the Adirondacks.

The mountain's forest is home to many animals typical of the region. It's especially known for the peregrine falcons that nest in the cliffs. These falcons are an endangered species in New York. So, climbing routes near nesting sites are often closed in spring. This closure lasts until the young falcons can fly. The department works with climbers on this. Falcons have been known to attack people who get too close. Birders come to Poke-O-Moonshine to watch the falcons and ravens that also nest there.

Getting to the Summit

Two trails lead to the top of Poke-O-Moonshine Mountain. Both trails meet near the old observer's cabin. From there, it's a short climb to the fire tower. A lean-to shelter called Upper Tiers is also nearby.

Ranger's Trail

The Ranger's Trail starts from the south end of the old campground. It goes up under the cliffs. It's about 1.2 miles to the summit. But it climbs 1,280 feet in that distance. This makes it a very steep trail, with an average slope of 35%.

This trail was the only public way to the top for a long time. It's still used a lot by climbers. This is because it gives access to the base of the cliffs. The trail can be eroded in some areas. Water can run along parts of it in spring or after heavy rain. The trail has 11 special stations. These stations point out interesting natural history. You can get a brochure about them at the trailhead.

Observer's Trail

The Observer's Trail was opened in 2010. It was created from an old jeep road. Its starting point is almost a mile south of the Ranger's Trailhead on Route 9. This trail is longer, at 2.4 miles. It also climbs more, about 1,450 feet to the summit. However, because it's longer, its slope is much gentler. On the way up, it passes two beaver ponds.

From its parking lot, it crosses a brook. Then it heads west, climbing gently for about half a mile. At a ridge, it turns north. It follows the ridge for a bit, then goes down into wetlands around the beaver ponds. It climbs again and turns east. It meets the Ranger's Trail at the cabin ruins after about 1,000 feet.

Summit Views

The summit of Poke-O-Moonshine is a small, open rocky area. The fire tower is at the north end. From the tower, you get amazing views in all directions. To the south, you can see the valley with the Northway running through it. Further south, the Adirondack High Peaks stand out. You can see Giant and Whiteface Mountain with its ski trails. The narrow southern end of Lake Champlain is also visible to the southeast.

Looking north from the fire tower, the Adirondacks give way to the plains of Clinton County. The lake opens up more. You can see Plattsburgh. On clear days, you might even see Montréal in Canada. To the east of Poke-O-Moonshine, Burlington, Vermont, is visible across the lake. Beyond it, you can see the Green Mountains of Vermont.

Climbing Adventures

Poke-O-Moonshine is known as the best climbing spot in the Adirondacks. Climbers from Montréal first explored its cliffs in the late 1950s and early 1960s. A group from Plattsburgh continued their work. They tried to keep the mountain a bit of a secret. But by the mid-1970s, Poke-O-Moonshine was well-known to climbers across the Northeast. Today, you'll find a mix of American and French Canadian climbers there.

The cliffs have three main areas:

• The Main Wall is on the north and east side. You can easily see it when you approach from the north.
• The Slab is the rock face you see first when coming from the south.
• The Upper Tiers are the cliffs near the summit.

Many of the climbing routes are very challenging. They have high difficulty ratings. If you're not an experienced climber, it's best to stick to hiking up the mountain.

Routes range from easier ones like "Snake" (rated 5.4) to very hard ones like "Salad Days" (rated 5.13). "Salad Days" is a 100-foot climb. It's described as "the hardest climbing yet done in the Adirondacks." Both of these are on the Main Wall. "Catharsis" is a 450-foot route on the Slab. It's rated 5.5 and has been the mountain's most popular climb for a long time.

Other popular routes on the Main Wall include "Remembering Youth" (5.12), "Gamesmanship" (5.8, 500 feet), and "Southern Hospitality" (5.11). "FM" is another favorite, rated 5.8 and 400 feet long. "Positive Thinking" is a 5.9 route elsewhere on the wall. It has become Poke-O-Moonshine's most popular ice route.