Monday, February 8, 2021

Skiing conditions are prime; outdoor rec continues to boom

Foxy Brown ski trail

This spring, when New York State was in a lockdown due to the pandemic, it was unclear what that meant for the Adirondacks. Would the outdoor tourism industry thrive or falter? Would people still be hitting the trails? Would small businesses survive?

Nearly a year later those questions have been answered in emphatic fashion. People have been coming to the Adirondacks in droves and outdoor-related businesses have seen a high demand for their products and services.

You can read about the business trends in a recent story by contributing writer Sierra McGivney, who talked to businesses around the Adirondacks. Just follow the link here: https://www.adirondackexplorer.org/stories/well-into-winter-gear-sales-seem-no-sign-of-slowing

And if you’re thinking about coming to the Adirondacks yourself for an outdoor adventure (or just looking for inspiration), Digital Editor Melissa Hart has compiled a list of five fun trips you can do in the snow.

A skier on the Foxy Brown ski trail in Piseco. Photo by Mike Lynch

Editor’s note: This first appeared in Mike’s weekly “Backcountry Journal” newsletter. Click here to subscribe.

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Mike Lynch is a staff writer and photographer for the nonprofit Adirondack Explorer, the regional bimonthly news magazine with a focus on outdoor recreation and environmental issues. Mike’s favorite outdoor activities include paddling, hiking, fishing and backcountry skiing. In 2011, he paddled the 740-mile Northern Forest Canoe Trail from Old Forge to Fort Kent, Maine. From 2007 until 2014, Mike worked as an outdoors writer and photographer for the Adirondack Daily Enterprise in Saranac Lake. Mike welcomes story ideas and can be reached at mike@adirondackexplorer.org.




5 Responses

  1. Vanessa says:

    Actually, “now” as in right now is probably not the best time. The UK variant of COVID is still spreading and healthcare resources are needed locally. If you’re just planning to be outdoors the whole time, perhaps fair enough, but otherwise from as far as I’ve read it’s an especially sensitive time for the local healthcare system. i’m getting a little exhausted with people because we really may be over worst of it in a couple more months, if everyone keeps following the rules and gets vaccinated. We’re forgoing a trip because of the above. Let’s hope for a more normal summer, eh?

  2. JohnL says:

    Always, ‘just a little while longer’…’a couple more months’. Right Vanessa????
    Forgo your trip as long as you want. I care not. I’m going ‘recreating’. Yippee!

    • Dana says:

      Yes JohnL – we know you don’t care. Keep whistling past the graveyard and enjoy yourself – your happiness is paramount. Those of us that have lost loved ones aren’t quite as flippant. Many countries are already nearly back to normal with far fewer deaths than the US. We are coming up on 500,000 deaths mostly from the first iteration of the virus. Who knows what the next mutations may bring? Let’s make sure they can spread as fast as possible and find out! Healthcare workers can put up with it another few years.

      Karma, dude. Karma.

      • JohnL says:

        Nice to hear from you Dana. FYI, I follow all the (reasonable) guidelines in public (face mask, social distancing, etc etc) but I don’t have that many years left and I am definitely not staying inside and waiting to die of something else. We each make our own choices Dana. That’s the beauty of this country, at least up to now. It’s certainly everyone’s option to stay in their bunkers if they choose to. Whatever makes you comfortable. I, however, make a different choice.
        P.S. I’m very sorry for your loss.

  3. Eric says:

    Oh just go gas up the car and go Vanessa , it’ll give you time to dream up a new angle on climate change.

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