Almanack Contributor Editorial Staff

Stories under the Almanack's Editorial Staff byline come from press releases and other notices.

Send news updates and story ideas to Alamanck Editor Melissa Hart at editor@adirondackalmanack.com.


Monday, November 18, 2019

TAUNY’s Adirondack Balsam Wreaths Available

Jane Desotelle with her handmade, all-natural balsam wreathsTraditional Arts in Upstate New York (TAUNY) is once again offering locally made Adirondack Balsam Wreaths for sale this holiday season.

There is an earlier deadline to order wreaths this year and all orders must be submitted by Friday, November 22nd for a December 7th pick-up date at The TAUNY Center in Canton or to be shipped to family and friends across the country. » Continue Reading.


Sunday, November 17, 2019

Fort Ticonderoga Launches New Season of Programs

living history eventFort Ticonderoga has announced a new schedule of programs during its Winter Quarters season. From now through April, visitors can enjoy exciting living history events, engaging seminars, specialty programs, behind-the-scenes VIP Tours, and hands-on workshops.

Guests can now explore Fort Ticonderoga during what was traditionally the “Winter Quarters” season for armies of the 18th century. Groups of 15 or more are welcome to schedule a visit to have the entire property to themselves and a dedicated historic interpreter for a group tour. » Continue Reading.


Sunday, November 17, 2019

Adirondack Health Cutting Ribbon On New Surgery Unit

Adirondack HealthAdirondack Health has invited the public to a celebration of its new Ambulatory Surgery Unit at Adirondack Medical Center.

The event runs from 5 to 6:30 pm, on Thursday, November 21st. Attendees should meet in the main lobby at Adirondack Medical Center, 2233 State Route 86 in Saranac Lake. » Continue Reading.


Saturday, November 16, 2019

Help Digitize A Trove of Bird Nesting Records

Blue Jay by David MagersSecrets hidden in more than 300,000 index cards with hand-written information about nesting birds are gradually being revealed. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is partnering with Zooniverse, an online people-powered research tool, to digitize this valuable collection and create the largest database of nesting bird information in the U.S. This new effort is called “Nest Quest Go!” » Continue Reading.


Friday, November 15, 2019

Featured Hike: Mount Arab, Tupper Lake

Mount Arab TrailLocated in the 17,123-acre Horseshoe Lake Wild Forest is the popular Mount Arab Fire Tower. The Wild Forest also provides easy access to Tupper Lake and Horseshoe Lake for fishing and boating.

The Mount Arab Trail ascends 700 feet to the Mount Arab fire tower and observer’s cabin on the summit of Mount Arab and is 1 mile long, with the first 0.7 miles located on the Conifer Emporium Conservation Easement and the rest on the Wild Forest. » Continue Reading.


Friday, November 15, 2019

The Adirondacks Around The Web This Week


Friday, November 15, 2019

Adirondack Skiing Has Begun: What’s Open

Snowmaking on Bear Mountain Summit courtesy Gore MountainThere is 4-8 inches of snow across most of the Adirondacks, with deeper snows – about 6-10 inches – across the Northern Adirondacks, and at higher elevations in the High Peaks, and nordic, downhill and some backcountry skiing has begun around the region.

Whiteface Mountain, in Wilmington, and Gore Mountain, in North Creek opened for the 2019-’20 season on Friday. They will remain open through the weekend, but may close during the week until Friday after Thanksgiving. Both mountains have begun using direct-to-lift radio-frequency identification (RFID) for Ski 3 Card holders. There’s a new cabin at the summit of Burnt Ridge Mountain at Gore. » Continue Reading.


Friday, November 15, 2019

This Week’s Big Adirondack News Stories


Thursday, November 14, 2019

State Police Investigating Tree Stand Incident

individual involved in a larceny provided by NYSPNew York State Police have announced that on November 8, 2019, State Police responded to a report of a larceny and criminal mischief at a hunting tree stand located in Handsome Pond Hunting Club, off of State Route 30 in Long Lake, in Hamilton County.

Police say their investigation revealed that on October 12, 2019, an unknown white male tampered with a tree stand and stole two memory cards from trail cameras. » Continue Reading.


Thursday, November 14, 2019

Snow Is Here! Skiing Has Begun! Adirondack Outdoor Conditions (Nov 14)

adirondack conditions 11-14This weekly report of outdoor recreation conditions in the Adirondacks is compiled each Thursday afternoon and updated on Friday.

Contribute Your Knowledge: Add a comment below, or send your observations, corrections, updates, and suggestions to adklmanack@gmail.com.

Learn and practice the seven Leave No Trace principles. Plan ahead and prepare. Carry out what you have carried in. Do not leave gear, food, or other items at lean-tos and campsites. Take the free online Leave No Trace course here.

BE PREPARED! Start slow, gain experience. Carry proper safety equipment and weather protection and bring plenty of water and lights, and a map. When on the trail, stay together, monitor the time, and be prepared to turn back. Be prepared to spend an unplanned night in the woods in cold temperatures. Accidents happen to the most experienced people. Always carry food, a space blanket, emergency whistle, first aid kit, fire making tools, extra clothing layers and socks, a map and compass, and the knowledge to use them. Inform someone of your itinerary and before entering the backcountry or launching a boat check the National Weather Service watches, warnings, and advisories here. Follow Adirondack weather forecasts at Burlington and Albany and consult the High Elevation, Recreation, or Lake Champlain forecasts.

November 14th, 2019 – SPECIAL NOTICES » Continue Reading.


Thursday, November 14, 2019

Adirondack Diversity Initiative Hires Director

Nicole Hylton-PattersonThe Adirondack Diversity Initiative (ADI) has hired its first director. Nicole Hylton-Patterson of Bronx, N.Y., will take on the leadership position for the Initiative, which aims to make the Adirondack region a more welcoming and inclusive place for all residents and visitors.

Hylton-Patterson, acting director of a Westchester County college’s social justice center, will begin serving as ADI’s diversity director on December 2, 2019.  She will be based at The Adirondack North Country Association’s office in downtown Saranac Lake. » Continue Reading.


Monday, November 11, 2019

Study Finds Gender Bias in Bird Conservation Plans

male Golden winged Warbler by Jack HruskaAfter pairing up and raising chicks, males and females of some bird species spend their winter break apart. At the end of their journey to Central or South America, you might find mostly males in one habitat, and females in another.

Yet conservation strategies have typically overlooked the habitats needed by females, putting already-declining species in even more peril, according to a new study in the journal Biological Conservation. » Continue Reading.


Sunday, November 10, 2019

Wood Products Promotion Proposals Sought

northern forest centerThe Future Forest Economy Initiative has announced they are looking for new ideas, products and markets to increase demand for wood across the northern New England and New York. The deadline for concepts to considered in the first round of funding in 2020 is Dec. 2, 2019.

The initiative — a cooperative effort of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities, and the Northern Forest Center — grew out of a congressional mandate to support the development of markets for wood products. Over the next three years, the Initiative cooperators are expected to invest $2.6 million in sub-grants to expand innovation, create market demand and create conditions that will allow businesses and communities to benefit from these innovations. » Continue Reading.


Sunday, November 10, 2019

New Trail Maps for Central, Northern Champlain Valley

CATS trail mapsChamplain Area Trails (CATS) has published two new trail maps that cover hiking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing opportunities in the Champlain Valley, from Ticonderoga and the nearby Pharaoh Lake Wilderness north to the Canadian Boarder.

The Central Champlain Valley Trail Map is the latest update of the trail map first published 12 years ago, which covers a geographic area from Peru south through Ticonderoga and into northern Warren County. New this year, the Northern Champlain Valley Trail Map expands north from Willsboro Point to Canada. » Continue Reading.


Saturday, November 9, 2019

Exploring Adirondack Climate Change Impacts

Temperature data from four international science institutions. All show rapid warming in the past few decades and that the last decade has been the warmest on record. Data sources: NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies, NOAA National Climatic Data Center, Met Office Hadley Centre/Climatic Research Unit and the Japanese Meteorological Agency. (Graph produced by Earth Science Communications Team at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory | California Institute of Technology)On the whole, processes that contribute to the accelerated climate change we are currently experiencing are a threat to the Adirondack Park, our national security, and the world’s human security.

Here are a few stories about the impacts Climate Change is having on the Adirondack Park.

» Continue Reading.



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