>>1216587The mountain is the highest peak in the area and there used to be a fire tower at the top. The only thing remaining now is a concrete platform and possibly a geocache. I couldn't find it since the snow blanketed everything and I didn’t really care to look for it. You can see the lake through the trees but I’d imagine it will be harder to see through the summer foliage. I wish I would’ve explored the area a bit more but I was tired and I needed to make it back on the trail to get to the Plumley site.
I was able to follow the trail down much easier than looking for it coming up. It was amusing to see where I had taken my wrong turns and where I basically travelled parallel to it through the brush. I would have enjoyed it much more if I would have left my pack at the bottom of the mountain and taken just a lightweight daypack. Keep in mind I was also wearing snowshoes and they were constantly getting stuck/twisted as I tried to clear fallen logs and maneuver over large rocks.
It was definitely a fun side hike during my 2 days at Long Lake. It took me around 2.5 hours to reach the top of Kempshall and half more to get down back to the main trail. I wish I would’ve had more time to explore the mountain and possibly camp up there. I also wanted to check out Blueberry mountain and I regret not sucking it up and going up to check out the view. It is very possible to do and if you’re looking to get off the beaten path I highly recommend it for those that are up to a bit of a challenge.
