Jay Mountain

As the weekend approached, we kept an eye on the weather as this usually has an influence on the type of activity we plan. For this particular weekend, the forecast called for 70 degrees and sun, so we had plenty of options to choose from. Given that it was October and there was still some fall foliage around, we thought it would be the perfect time to get out from some more hiking. Now that we had that figured out, it was time to decide what mountain we wanted to climb, which is not an easy decision with the abundance of opportunities in the Adirondacks. Over the past year, I'd heard some great things about Jay Mountain from locals and some articles posted on the web, so we decided on making our way to that trailhead on Saturday morning.

Accompanied by our friend, Krista, a born and raised ADKer, we registered at the sign-in and began our ascent. The new trailhead is located at the intersection of Jay Mountain Road and Upland Meadows Road in the town of Jay. The trail was built by the Student Conservation Association's Adirondack Program and the Adirondack Mountain Club's trail crew in late 2012. This new trail is 2.5 miles to the western side of the Jay Mountain Ridge and has a moderate grade, compared to the steep 1.5-mile herd path that was previously used. If you continue along the ridge trail for another 1.5 miles, you will reach the official summit, making this an 8-mile round trip.

In our opinion, the trail is in great condition and offers unique variety and views that differentiate it from many other hikes in the Adirondack Park. The ridge-line also known as the "Highway in the Sky" offers incredible views and there is plenty of space to stop for a break to enjoy the scenery. As usual, we've prepared a video using the GoPro and have a collection of several images from our trip that we're always happy to share. See you on the trails!