What's Up in Upstate Trivia Game | USA

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1. The 46ers of the Adirondacks is a list that was thought to comprise the highest peaks of the region, all at least 4,000 feet above sea level. However, several of them were later found to be less than 4,000 feet - in fact, not even among the 46 highest of the Adirondacks. Which is the shortest on the list?

Answer: Couchsachraga

"Couchie", which means "dismal wilderness" in ancient Indian dialect, lives up to its name, many hikers have found, as the 3,820-foot mountain is the most remote peak in the Santanoni Range and makes for a relatively long "peakbagging" day in the range. Similarly, Blake and Cliff are rugged climbs deep within the Nippletop and Redfield Wilderness Areas, respectively.

2. Which Adirondacks high peak, though not included on the list of 4,000-foot peaks in the region and still without a maintained trail to its summit, is the "honorary 46er?"

Answer: McNaughton

MacNaughton is most often hiked from Upper Works or the Adirondack Loj from its northeast, south of the Street Range. The location of the peak's sign was later found to not be the actual high point, or true summit.

3. Which highly trafficked, comparatively small peak in the Hudson Highlands features four designated viewpoints, the first of which is marked by a flagpole overlooking the river to Storm King?

Answer: Breakneck Ridge

At just 1,260-feet above sea level, hikers accustomed to the loftier peaks of the Adirondacks and Catskills may not think much of Breakneck though, with an elevation gain higher than the actual elevation of the peak and several class-two climbing sections, it has earned a reputation as a rugged scramble and is the highlight of the annual Breakneck Trail Runs marathon.

4. One popular destination for Catskills-goers - hikers and non-hikers alike - is the Blue Hole, a water feature named for what nearby 3,842-foot peak?

Answer: Peekamoose

With an access path across the road from the standard approach to Peekamoose and high popularity among New Yorkers, there are restrictions imposed for visiting, including the necessity of a day-use permit from the Department of Environmental Conservation.

5. One Catskills peak, once thought to be the highest in the region - hence its original name "High Peak" - slowly declined in popularity over time from a "resort peak" to just a name to check off on a list of 3,000-feet in the Catskills. Larger, more accessible mountains were discovered to the north of Greene County. What 3,655-foot peak am I referring to?

Answer: Kaaterskill

Nowadays less frequented than the nearby waterfalls of the same name, Kaaterskill High Peak nonetheless features one of the more noteworthy views from atop Hurricane Ledge near its summit, as well as offering a solid climb, as the fourth-most prominent peak in the Catskills.

6. Harriman State Park features two long point-to-point traverses containing the name of a mountain near one terminus and a municipality at its other trailhead. One is the Ramapo-Dunderberg Traverse. The other is named for Suffern and what well-known 1,289-foot peak?

Answer: Bear Mountain

Though one might argue the popularity of Bear Mountain is its proximity to New York City, the amount of recreation there exceeds neighboring mountains, as it features an inn, skating rink, and lake at its base, and a newly renovated section of Appalachian Trail and motor vehicle road that make their way up to Perkins Memorial Fire Tower.

7. The Catamount Ski Resort is located in which range?

Answer: Taconics

This 1,893-foot Mount Fray (sometimes called Catamount) where the slopes are located is actually just inside the Massachusetts border. This peak is not to be confused with the 3,169-foot Adirondacks peak Catamount located near Lake Placid.

8. The two most popular trailheads for hiking in the Adirondacks are arguably the Loj and the Garden. However, this highly trafficked peak is not easily accessed from either but, rather, from Round Pond trailhead southwest of the Dix Range and St. Hubert's, a trailhead adjacent to a private country club road. What is the name of this peak, as locally famous as the diner of the same name?

Answer: Noonmark

One of the most popular Adirondacks peaks not hiked by "peakbaggers" along with Giant Mountain and the much-shorter Mount Jo, the 3,556-foot Noonmark Mountain is so-named because it dominates the eastern view from the nearby hamlet of Keene in the afternoon.

9. What is the highest peak in New York?

Answer: Mount Marcy

As the 21st-highest State High Point, the 5,344-foot "Tahawus" is often hiked by peakbaggers in conjunction with many neighboring 4,000-footers, including Skylight, Gray, Haystack, Colden, Algonquin, Phelps, and Tabletop.

10. Anthony's Nose is found in Minnewaska State Park.

Answer: False

Anthony's Nose rises steeply from sea level to 899' directly east of the Bear Mountain, marked by a flagpole. The popular Gertrude's Nose is found within Minnewaska.

11. Two highly trafficked mountains go by the name of Sugarloaf. Where are they located?

Answer: Hudson Highlands and Catskills

The shorter 785-foot Sugarloaf Hill is commonly hiked in conjunction with Breakneck.

12. What is the name of the 2,914-foot fire tower peak in the Catskills that can be hiked in about just 4 miles roundtrip on a well-maintained trail?

Answer: Red Hill

The 3,750-foot Blue Mountain, located much farther north in Blue Mountain Lake, also boasts its own fire tower. The state boasts dozens of other peaks with fire towers, each with their own regulations regarding access and day use.

13. The "Saranac 6ers" is a list of six peaks created by Saranac Lake to spur interest in peaks easily accessible from the mountain village and to promote outdoor recreation. What 2,454-foot peak - the shortest of the bunch - is all the more accessible due to its proximity to the town it overlooks?

Answer: Mount Baker

The trail to Mount Baker is less than one mile with just under 900 feet of elevation change, making it popular for even those not aspiring to complete the list. On the other hand, it is the most common final destination of "Ultra 6ers" -those who complete the 6ers in less than 24 hours - as the trailhead is just minutes from the bell hikers ring to signify their completion of the list.

14. Which of these is not part of the Tupper Lake Triad, one of many programs that earns completionists with a patch for ascending the peaks in question?

Answer: Cascade Mountain

Cascade - often hiked along with Porter Mountain - is the most popular of all the 4,000-foot mountains in the Adirondacks and its trailhead near Pitchoff and Cascade Lakes often fills up on long summer days. Although it barely makes the cut for Adirondack 46ers at 4,098 feet, a fire near the summit in the early 20th-century has afforded it fine views from its summit.

15. What is the name of the New York state surveyor whose metal plate still stand to signify the highest elevation of a peak?

Answer: Colvin

Verplanck Colvin was introduced to the mountains through a piece of literature given to him by Alfred Billings Street, romanticizing the peaks. Along with assistant Mills Blake - all three give their names to peaks on the Adirondacks 46er list - they focused their efforts on studying the wildlife of the region. Matilda lends her name to the ladders to the planks and ladders scattered around Avalanche Lake.

Source: Author HyruleHistoria

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor agony before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

What's Up in Upstate Trivia Quiz

From the simple pleasure of driving up Bear Mountain to the thrill of ascending the wild Trap Dike of Mount Colden, Upstate New York offers a lot by way of hiking. Test your knowledge on it.

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