This wasn't on my itinerary to begin with but it was so worth it. There were so many different hikes and options. Some were closed due to repairs for roads, others were inaccessible due to the pandemic. This one however was open and there is a legend surrounding this mountain and Crescent Lake below. I also read that there was a killer view so of course those helped tip the favor towards this hike. Starting off at the Ranger Station, we crossed the road through a culvert and veered left at the giant tree onto the Mount Storm King Trail. Moss covered trees lining the soft dirt track. After more than a few switch backs a view started to appear teasingly through the trees. The clouds would swirl revealing a bit more only to swoop in again. Our last little peak of the lake brought us to a small rise and the end of the maintained trail and yet we could see that a trail did indeed continue past the boundary. Hike at your own risk. With an invitation like that how could we not risk it? It wasn't too much farther on that we came upon the ropes. This was a series of ropes tied around trees allowing the hiker to grasp on while making your way up or down a steep, loose scrabbly dirt path. One slip and its over the lip of the trail into the trees below. Eyeing the well used and hopefully well knotted rope we made our way up to the overlook point. It offered a view but there was more to the trail and I was compelled to not settle with just the overlook. I wanted the summit. Instead of the taking the left we chose the path to the right. It was promising until just out of view of the overlook and then it became even steeper with rope that I would normally call string. We scrambled a bit but it became steeper and the rope well it became thinner. So sadly we turned around, but this trail still calls me asking me to find the end. Next summer? Maybe?
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