South Boquet Mountain (2-26-2018)

This has been the warmest February that I can remember in ages. I was hoping to get out and hike with Kailee on Sunday but we stayed inside because of rain and sleet. However, the weather for Monday looked extremely promising. I figured I could get a quick hike in while she was at school.

So, I turned to the Champlain Area Trails website and decided to check out the Wildway Overlook Trail on South Boquet Mountain.

I was surprised to see two trooper cars

at the trailhead.

As I pulled up to the parking area, there were two State Trooper cars parked with their lights on. No one was in the vehicles. So, I waited a few minutes for the officers to return. They came out of the woods on the other side of the street and assured me that I was good to go for my hike. It turns out, the troopers had responded to a call for a supposed trespasser.

I signed in at the trail register as the troopers took off.

Much like Cheney Mountain (also maintained by CATS), South Boquet  Mountain was once used for logging. You follow an old jeep road through a young birch forest. There's a number of information panels along the trail that offer insight to the local habitat.

Looking back through the trees on the trail.

The Wildway Overlook Trail has no obstacles to overcome and the grade is pretty easy. It leads you to the mountain's southern summit which offers a wonderful view of the Lake Champlain, the valley, Split Rock Mountain and Vermont's Camel's Hump.

I took a few minutes and sat on a memorial bench and enjoyed the view. This would make an excellent picnic spot!

At the Lookout.

I took a quick trip on a herd path to the North (true) Summit just to be a perfectionist before returning to the Overlook.

View from the Wildway Lookout on South Boquet Mountain.

I decided this might be a fun chance to bushwhack down the hill

(Always use GPS or map and compass when whacking!).

It was an enjoyable and easy descent through the woods. I kept running into different logging roads and would follow them for a bit before cutting back into the woods.

Giant Mountain through the trees -
bushwhacking South Boquet Mountain.

Through the thin trees, Giant Mountain and it's massive white slides were visible. Eventually, I popped back out on the trail right at the register. I checked myself out and headed home.

The Wildway Overlook Trail at South Boquet Mountain is a great trail for almost everyone. Sticking to the trail, it's two miles out and back with approximately 600' of elevation gain. The view is far greater than the effort invested to climb this one.

The Wildway Overlook Trail is located on Brookfield Road in Whallonsburg.
Visit the CATS website for more information on their network of trails.

Mountain Math: South Boquet Mountain is the shortest mountain that I've climbed in the past year at only 1,233'. In terms of height, it's ranked 1,860th in the state. However, it's other stats are staggering for such a small peak. Due to it's excellent isolation and rise, South Boquet is ranked 297th in prominence in New York!