Mount Brace 4/24?
Thank you, Zoe!
I drove to Brace last Friday with some printouts from the website, a large hand saw in case I could do something about that downed tree, and lots of ambition.
Unfortunately, I never found the trailhead to launch. Lol. The place was more complex than expected! No cell reception up there, so no way to call for more information. I did find the trailhead to Mt. Frissell, but I don't think that was it. Eventually I gave up and went home.
Anybody have more specific information on how to get to launch? I want to sample the hike without gear, next time with a friend (It is rugged so the Buddy System seems wiser to me in hindsight.)
The place is beautiful, by the way! I can't wait to fly there!
Thanks,
Jane
Hi Jane,
The directions for accessing launch are all on the club website, see
https://mtbraceclub.com/hiking-to-launch
and follow the directions for the 'backside' hike, you can click on the red text to get an exact pin for the place where the paragliders typically park.
Hope that helps. (The website has lots of other useful information also.) Let me know if it doesn't. And yes there is quite limited cell reception on the plateau there. It helps to preload maps.
Best,
Zoe
Hey @janeskygal sorry to hear you had trouble finding the access road. My notes aren't very good so it prompted me to do some digging around and asking questions.
First point of reference is on the club's website, Hiking to Launch | Mt. Brace Club (mtbraceclub.com) Refer to the "Backside" hike on this page. Note anyone planning on taking a vehicle to get from the paved road to the trailhead needs to get the ok from the Brace club... as well as needing a vehicle capable of the task.
I also chatted with one of the CT pilots who is familiar with it and got coordinates for the trailhead:
42 02' 02.87" N, 73 28' 18.95" W
42.03394140795246, -73.47188625302694
https://goo.gl/maps/5Byn3j9TWXsfkkeK8
Hope that helps. Field trip soon!
The pin Michael posted is nearly correct. The club has permission from the Mt Riga Association (the landowners) to use a parking lot here:
42.034939, -73.472295
https://goo.gl/maps/Fihi8WTRSdKfcwci8
There is one locked gate at the entrance to the parking lot. There are a few places you can park off the road immediately nearby. Don't leave cars there overnight. Pass around that locked gate (it's only meant to prevent vehicles, hikers are welcome). Then at the far side of the parking there is another locked gate. Pass around that locked gate and you are on a wide 4x4 trail. There is an immediate junction; make a right. From there just follow the wide 4x4 trail, after about 1mi you will find where you can no longer go in a vehicle since it goes uphill over rocky stuff. (well we've taken an ATV that way, and a snow machine could also go, but for practical purposes that's where the road ends for HG). Go up the rocky uphill bit, in about 1/2mi you will intersect with the Taconic trail (blazed in white). Make a left onto the Taconic trail and shortly you will arrive at launch.
Please don't cut anything unless you've talked it over with the club 🙂 you are either on private land owned by the Mt Riga Association or on Taconic (NY) State Park land. Both parties are naturally sensitive to stuff being cut. It won't be a problem to cut the fallen tree across the road but we do need to make sure you're cutting the right tree on the right road LOL
I live not far away and am around a lot unless I'm off flying somewhere! If you think you might come by send me a text 646-421-5031 ahead of time and if I can meet up with you I will.
-Zoe