12 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



number, so easy to remember, may be established in mind as a 

 datum. 



The charts of the survey show by the soundings depths for the 

 lake ranging down to about 400 feet, as a maximum. The deepest 

 portion is opposite Essex and just north of the present map. The 

 deepest point upon the map itself is 334 at the northern end and 

 near the New York shore. A pronounced channel follows along 

 the western side of the lake of varying depths above the maxi- 

 mum to 257 as a minimum before Westport is reached. Ofi 

 Westport 201 feet have been, found. Off Barbers point the depth 

 is 191 ; off Coles bay 166; a mile and a half south 100; then from 

 50-60. The deepest near Port Henry is 53. In the Chimney 

 Point passage it is 55, and then farther south less than 30. Un- 

 doubtedly the deposits of drift and of Champlain clays mask the 

 natural outline of the bottom. The rocky bed ought to slope down- 

 ward all the way to the St Lawrence river, although it may be 

 somewhat modified by postglacial warping. 



The highest point within the area is Giant mountain at 4622 feet.^ 

 Thus from the bottom of the lake to the loftiest mountain there is 

 a range of just about 5000 feet. Giant stands a little north of 

 the middle of the western border, and is the eighth in altitude of 

 the loftier Adirondack summits. It forms the culminating point 

 of a group or massif, and has a steep eastern front at the head of 

 an amphitheater. Rocky Peak ridge, one of its buttresses, reaches 

 4375 but is hardly to be considered a separate mountain. Giant 

 is chiefly ascended from the Keene valley. The trail from Eliza- 

 bethtown has in later years become obscured. The Keene trail in- 

 volves a long walk through the woods, until quite suddenly the 

 summit is reached. North of Giant and fairly distinct from it is 

 Green mountain a great east and west ridge attaining 3928 feet 

 and having for its spurs, Tripod, Knob Lock and Cobble. 



1 By way of comparison a summary of the most elevated peaks may 

 be of interest. They are in order. 



Feet Feet 



1 Marcy 5 344 9 Nippletop 4 620 



2 Mclntyre 5 1 12 10 Redfield 4 606 



3 Skylight 4920 II Saddleback 4530 



4 Haystack 4 918 12 McComb 4 425 



5 Whiteface 4872 13 Sawteeth 4138 



6 Dix 4 842 14 Cascade 4 092 



7 Gothics . . .' 4 738 IS Porter 4 070 



8 Giant 4 622 16 Dial 4 023 



No others reach 40C0 feet. These altitudes are taken from the topo- 

 graphic maps. 



