The Balsam Lake Mountain Wild Forest (13,500 acres) is home to many special features and landscapes in the Catskill Mountains.
The first forest fire tower in New York State was erected on Balsam Lake Mountain in 1887. Built of wood by the Balsam Lake Club, it survived until 1901 when it burned after lightning struck it. In 1905, it was replaced with another wooden tower. Telephone lines, a small observer’s cabin and a road to the summit were added in 1909 when the State took it over. The first steel tower was erected in 1919, and the present steel tower, 47' tall, was built in 1930. The tower eventually closed in 1988. Since its reopening in 2000 it once again provides the public with unsurpassed views of the Catskill forests. A large group of dedicated volunteers has been responsible for manning the fire tower on Balsam Lake Mountain every weekend from Memorial Day to Columbus Day.
The cache is an Ammo Box. Since you have climbed over three miles to get to the summit at 3,723 feet the cache is fairly easy to find. You do not have to climb the fire tower to find the cache. This cache is at ground level for safety reasons (inclement weather, acrophobia, etc.). The cache may be more difficult if there is significant snow cover at the summit. Please hide the cache the same or better than you found it.
The box contains some cool swag to start, some travel bugs and a Catskills Fire Tower BLM patch for the FTF.
The placement of this cache has permission from the Senior Forester NYSDEC Region 3.