The Adirondack Mountain Club, based in Lake George, has released the second edition of its popular hiking guide, “Views From on High: Fire Tower Trails in the Adirondacks and Catskills.”
Extensively revised and redesigned, it includes a new chapter describing fire towers outside of both parks. The intervening years have seen what co-author Jim Schneider refers to as “fire tower fever,” a sweeping enthusiasm that has helped prompt restoration of numerous towers and their trails.
Written by John P. (Jack) Freeman and Schneider, “Views from on High” enables hikers, history buffs, and others fond of Adirondack and Catskill trails to visit and learn about 30 historic fire towers.
Detailed trail descriptions are accompanied by numerous photographs and maps as well as an essay about these structures written by historic preservationist Wesley H. Haynes. The new chapter, Beyond the Blue Line, by tower aficionado Jacob C. (Jake) Wilde, describes 13 additional fire towers, three of them demonstration towers.
When ADK first published “Views from on High” in 2001, all five Catskill Park fire towers had been restored, but Adirondack towers were another matter, the group said. Today, all five towers—on Mt. Adams and Hurricane, Lyon, Spruce, and St. Regis—have been restored and opened to the public. During the same interval, other park fire towers were rehabilitated, most recently Stillwater Mt. This tower’s restoration in 2016 included construction of a new trail and better recognition of this remote peak’s historic role as a primary triangulation station for Verplanck Colvin’s Adirondack land survey.
“Views from on High” also provides insight on the role fire towers have served in environmental education.
Lead author Freeman is an accomplished hiker, chemist, conservationist, and musician who in the 1990s became a leading voice in efforts to restore fire towers in the New York State Preserve. Schneider, a librarian, is also an experienced hiker. He is co-creator of the ADK Fire Tower Challenge, sponsored by ADK’s Glens Falls–Saratoga Chapter.
The book is 224 pages, and includes numerous photos and maps. It is available in softcover at book and outdoor supply stores, at ADK stores in Lake George and Lake Placid, through mail order by calling (800) 395-8080, and online at ADK.org.
ADK is the only nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting and advocating for New York State’s wild lands.
Since 1922, the organization has offered people opportunities to stay and play in as well as protect, discover, and explore the outdoors. Today, ADK has 30,000 members in 27 chapters statewide and is served by a professional, year-round staff.
For more information visit www.adk.org.