It was one of those summer-like spring days in the mountains and I was bound for some more excitement exploring my home state’s natural treasures. I had sights set on 2726’ Ragged Mountain of the Vanderwhacker Mountain Wild Forest. Why Ragged you ask? I was driving east along the Blue Ridge Road the day prior, returning from another successful trip. The beckoning open rock of Ragged caught my eye and held fast to the part of my brain that determines the next adventure…
With breakfast downed and boots on the ground, I set off from a small parking area on the Gulf Brook Road in the Boreas Ponds Tract. From here I followed a very well maintained trail for rock climbers to access the impressive cliffs on a SW shoulder of Ragged. It appears more work will be done in the near term as plenty of lumber/materials for bridges were staged along the way. There lacks any signage or markers, but after a half mile this trail reaches the base of the cliffs. I poked around here and marveled at some pretty massive walls. While not a climber myself I can surely appreciate the allure of scaling a rock face so vertical, and at times overhanging outwards. I’ll stick to my scambles and slide climbs for the time being. I was able to sniff out a herd path that seemed to skirt to the W of the cliffs and then bushwhacked my way onto the upper reaches of rock. I paused to enjoy some neat views looking southwest, the peaks of the Hoffman Notch most noticeably on display just across the road. Among them was the intriguing Sand Pond Mountain, where I had been exploring only the day before. I jumped into the woods ascending further to investigate some more openness atop this 2300’ Ragged shoulder. Finding a convenient crack in this rocky fortress I pulled my way up a steep ramp of duff and roots. The bugs were not yet bothering me much, they were worse in the Hoffman Notch Wilderness by far. Some have said that the NY-28N/CR-84 corridor from Long Lake to North Hudson forms a sort of demarcation line, whereas to the north the bushwhacking tends to be tighter and more troublesome when compared the woods to the south. In my experience this is often true, but there are of course a horde of factors that can contribute to how a trailless peak is explored, e.g. logging history, slope aspect, elevation, etc.
In any event the first proper summit was yet to be attained, I had about 400 more feet of climbing to do. Before leaving I enjoyed a nice perspective looking towards Wolf Pond Mountain at the foot of the Boreas Mountain ridge, and even stole a glimpse at Nippletop’s especially prominent “conical precipice” from the south. I dropped down 100 feet or so and soon was climbing up to the true high point on Ragged Mountain. An old ATV road crossed thru the col, and from there I could see where trees had been cut leading to upslope to a dilapidated hunting blind. Prior to its inclusion to the Boreas Tract, this land was leased by sportsman clubs after the days of logging were through. I recalled from previous research that there would be a large patch of bare rock just before gaining the summit ridge, which I was glad to have visited. A fine panorama of the "Blue Ridge Mountains" of the Hoffman Notch met my sandwich and I, as well as some painted trillium flowers which are always a treat to see. Pressing on, it wasn’t very long for this new pair of boots to grace the top, pleasantly wooded and peaceful. This was the third trip after breaking them in, I’m happy with my La Sportivas thus far. My running 'round Ragged was not yet through, to the north and west there rises a curious row of bumps that drew me in for more fun.
Coming off of the summit, a small lookout granted me a sight of my old friends Haystack, Basin, Saddleback & Gothics. The Pinnacle Ridge marching off to Blake & Colvin too was visible. Some very precipitous ledges could be seen upon one of the unnamed peaks north of Ragged, where hopefully I would make it to unscathed. I dropped down to the 2100’ col which was also transected by an old road. The forest type around me was indicative of past logging, chock full of snarly saplings. Up, up again to the next peak, which I unimaginatively christened “Northwest Ragged.” I did not spend much time there, only for a Gatorade and a power bar, its 2663’ high point was also wooded. Between myself and the next prominent summit was an intervening bump that was on the scratchy and steep side, but soon an afterthought. I was feeling the heat of the day at this point, the sun was brightly shining down and the bugs were beginning to find my sweaty neck appetizing. The final ascent up to 2588’ “North Ragged” was straightforward, after arriving at this third peak of the day it was time to reap the rewards of a viewpoint encompassing where I’d just been, a cool look at Ragged & the NW peak. I was exceedingly careful poking around the tops of those ledges, reminded of that cheerful sign above Rainbow Falls. A parting glug of orange Gatorade sent me off, back the way I came. I backtracked to the intervening bump between NWR & NR and climbed over to the col where I picked up on a network of old logging ruts. These were very easy travel and they’d get me back to the Gulf Brook Road. After a reflective roll credits walk on gravel, I was returned to my trusty steed, a white Honda nearing 50k miles.
Another day appreciating the places presently less traveled! Plenty more to come…