The popular Rondaxe Fire Tower on Bald Mountain is getting a steady stream of weekend hikers, according to a news release from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. But it looks like not all visitors to this central Adirondack Park hiking trail are following best practices.
So the DEC has issued a reminder that the trail’s surrounding plants and rocks need to be respected, and that hikers need to plan to take care of any garbage or waste they bring with them.
The “pack it in, pack it out” message is aimed at the many eager weekend visitors who, while playing at the nearby water park and other Herkimer County attractions in Old Forge, Eagle Bay and Inlet, may not have a full grasp of Adirondack Park protocols.
The DEC says weekend tallies have been about 1,000 visitors to the Bald Mountain fire station, adding that if “crowds are not your thing, please consider visiting one of DEC’s other natural resources,” for example, Vista Trail (AKA Scenic Mountain Trail) or the Fulton Chain Wild Forest, which features several easily accessible trails.
