Almanack Contributor Tracy Ormsbee

Tracy Ormsbee is the publisher of the Adirondack Explorer. When she’s not working – and it’s not black fly season – you can find her outdoors hiking, running, paddle boarding or reading a book on an Adirondack chair somewhere.


Friday, July 28, 2023

Join us for a discussion about diversity, inclusion

anti-rascism sign

Be part of a conversation about news coverage of diversity, equity and inclusion in the North Country.

The Adirondack Explorer and North Country Public Radio are teaming up to do deeper reporting on diversity and inclusion issues across the region.

Join us at 12:30 p.m. Monday, July 31 at the Adirondack Center for Writing, 15 Broadway in Saranac Lake, for an informal, open discussion that will serve to launch our collaborative reporting on diversity and inclusion in the Adirondack region. We’ll also be joined by Tiffany Rea-Fisher of the Adirondack Diversity Initiative.

» Continue Reading.


Tuesday, June 27, 2023

Dam truths

indian lake dam

Between March and May, we published a series on the riskiest dams in the Adirondacks. Before the Explorer’s stories, these structures that we pass by every day, that contain the pristine lakes we enjoy, hadn’t received much public scrutiny. Reporter Zachary Matson’s research and reporting was extensive, often seeking out information that those who monitor these dams don’t make readily available.

Stories explored dam ownership and who is responsible for costly repairs, how dams are vulnerable to climate change, and whether dams in wilderness areas should be maintained or left to nature’s whims.

Journalism like this takes time and is expensive. And the Adirondack region needs it. We shine a light on issues important to this region because good journalism often leads to important change. Just the act of asking questions can encourage better practices. Join a community of people who care about rigorous, fact-finding reporting by making a donation today.

» Continue Reading.


Thursday, January 5, 2023

More ways to stay connected

explorer decal

We’re thrilled to be kicking off 2023 with a bit of good news. Thanks to readers like you who donated to the Adirondack Explorer, we surpassed our goal of $50,000, matched by a challenge from Explorer Board members, and now we’ll be able to give you even more of the reporting you count on. By investing in us, you showed that you value our Adirondack journalism, and we promise not to let you down.

The funding we generated through this special challenge is critical to producing stories that empower our readers with information about the Adirondacks and its communities.

We couldn’t do this work without you.

» Continue Reading.


Thursday, July 28, 2022

ADKs all day, every day…. with your support

explore with us

By now you know the Adirondack Explorer is publishing news daily, not just every two months.

In addition to the solid reporting and interesting features you’ve come to expect in our bi-monthly magazine, we’ve made it a priority to put more resources into stories we’re publishing online.

To put some numbers on it, we give you nearly 500 stories to read on our website each year, and even more photos. We send out 12 email newsletters each week, (1 daily and 5 weekly ones) with links to more information about the Adirondacks. And on top of all that, we post event notices and commentary 3-4 times a day to this site, where readers from both inside and outside the region join a wide range of conversations about everything Adirondack.

Each of those stories takes time and effort to produce. And we make them available to everyone, every day.

» Continue Reading.


Monday, November 9, 2020

Explorer launches $100,000 match challenge for year-end fundraising campaign

Heading into the final weeks of 2020, we’re reflecting on what an unpredictable year it has been. From the pandemic, to civil unrest, to extreme storms and wildfires fueled by climate change, 2020’s impacts have been far greater than anyone could have anticipated. These impacts have, of course, been felt locally and globally, at an individual level and also organizationally for us here at the Adirondack Explorer/Adirondack Almanack. And yet, one thing is certain: the hunger for news is stronger than ever before.

» Continue Reading.


Monday, June 15, 2020

Support Adirondack journalism

A message from the publisher:

We’re grateful for readers like you who understand the indispensable work of our nonprofit news organization, work that couldn’t be accomplished without support like yours.

Today is the last day for us to meet a $50,000 Emergency Challenge issued to readers by the Adirondack Explorer’s Board of Directors, who will match each donation made until midnight tonight.

Your gift supports the Adirondack Explorer’s independent journalism and this community forum at AdirondackAlmanack.com

Will you consider on this last day making a recurring donation at an amount that works for you? An ongoing gift helps sustain our work and allows us to plan for the future.

» Continue Reading.


Monday, May 4, 2020

A day for giving

Over the past few weeks and months, our Adirondack region, the nation and the entire world have been coming together to stand up, help out, give back, and heal.

In recent weeks, the Adirondack Explorer and its companion site, the Adirondack Almanack, have kept you up to date with stories of some of this good happening in our community,  like these COVID-19 response grants and emergency food baskets of locally made meals, as well as the effects on daily life. We also started a list of Adirondack attractions, camps and events that sadly won’t be happening this summer.

» Continue Reading.


Thursday, August 15, 2019

Bill McKibben On Adirondack Climate Action

The Adirondack Explorer asked Vermont author, environmentalist and former Adirondacker Bill McKibben to discuss the climate-crisis arguments in his new book, Falter, and how the issue affects the Adirondacks.

McKibben spoke about climate change at an event hosted by the Explorer and The Wild Center in August, 2019.

In its July/August 2019 issue, the Adirondack Explorer asked McKibben to discuss the climate-crisis arguments in his new book, “Falter,” and how the issue affects the Adirondacks. Following is a transcript of the questions and answers.

» Continue Reading.


Thursday, June 27, 2019

Trailblazer Ruth Kuhfahl: Years of Trail Work, Community Service

Ruth Kuhfahl is known by many in the environmental community in the Adirondacks for her trail work and more.

During an afternoon lunch at the Adirondack Mountain Coffee Café in Upper Jay with Ruth Kuhfahl, there is hardly a face in the place she doesn’t recognize, though, she tells me, at 95 she often has to say to some, “Now, help me remember where our paths have crossed.” » Continue Reading.


Friday, September 14, 2018

Trailblazer: John Van Alstine

This story originally appeared in the Adirondack Explorer. Read more here.

World-renowned stone sculptor John Van Alstine’s interpretation of nature’s interaction with the manmade world extends from his art to his home to his appreciation of the world around him.

Large-scale abstract sculptures of found stone with steel and bronze surround and occupy many of the six buildings on his nine-acre complex — the former Adirondack Lumber Company mill along the Sacandaga River. » Continue Reading.


Monday, April 9, 2018

Trailblazer: Kathleen Suozzo

kathleen suozzoKathleen Suozzo’s work is at the heart of one of the more difficult issues facing the Adirondacks today: upgrading aging waste-water and drinking-water treatment facilities in small communities where the cost is borne on the backs of local residents, though the heaviest usage is when tourists and seasonal residents come to visit. At stake are the lakes, rivers, and streams of the region.

“After the summer tourists leave, we have infrastructure we need to maintain,” says Suozzo, an engineer who lives in Bolton Landing. She commends the people who work on skeleton crews managing the facilities and “just do what needs to be done.” » Continue Reading.


Wednesday, April 4, 2018

Photo Contest: Show Us Your Adirondack Hometown

Downtown Tupper Lake by Mike LynchThe Adirondack Explorer‘s next “Views of the Park” photo contest highlights towns, hamlets, and homesteads you love in the park.

Post your photos on the theme “My Adirondack Town: photos from the place you call home – seasonally or year-round – in the Adirondacks” to Facebook and Instagram using the hashtag #adkexplorerpix.

Explorer staff will choose their favorite photos to be included on the Adirondack Explorer website and highlighted in the bimonthly magazine. If yours is chosen, you’ll receive a free one-year subscription to the Explorer.

Don’t worry, you don’t need to be a professional. Just get out your phone and snap a pic. Or send one from a previous year. » Continue Reading.


Thursday, February 1, 2018

Photo Contest: Dramatic Adirondack Skies

The Adirondack Explorer‘s next “Views of the Park” photo contest takes a look upward for dramatic sky photos.

Post your photos to Facebook and Instagram using the hashtag #adkexplorerpix.

Explorer staff will choose their favorite photos to be included on the Adirondack Explorer website and highlighted in the bimonthly magazine. If yours is chosen, you’ll receive a free one-year subscription to the Explorer.

Don’t worry, you don’t need to be a professional. Just get out your phone and snap a pic. Or send one from a previous year.

Plus a People’s Choice

We will post our favorite few photos to Facebook and let readers vote for a “People’s Choice” to be recognized in the magazine.

And thank you to all who sent in photos for the last contest: “Winter views.” We loved them all so much it was hard to choose. Check out the final five winners.


Tuesday, January 16, 2018

Trailblazer: Wendy Hall of Adirondack Wildlife Refuge

Photo of Wendy Hall of the Adirondack Wildlife Refuge by Mike LynchSomewhere around the age of five, growing up in Westchester County, Wendy Hall noticed that whenever the developers came in and clear-cut an area for construction, the wildlife would disappear. What was once a beautiful, wooded area quickly became developed after the addition of a train station, a story she has watched repeat itself many times. You can read about Wendy’s favorite place in the Adirondacks in the latest issue of Adirondack Explorer.

“I would say man’s greatest assault to the ecosystem is his lack of patience,” Hall says. » Continue Reading.


Friday, January 5, 2018

10 Hopes for the Adirondacks in the New Year

Boreas River headwaters. Photo by Phil Brown 9/5/16.It’s January, time for a fresh, blank sheet on which to start our new year. Plenty of us are making renewed attempts at weight loss or looking to get better organized or at least vowing to break our addiction to twenty-four-hour cable news.

Here at the Explorer, we’re renewing our hopes for smart decision-making in the Adirondacks and more chances to work together to ensure that the Park that we all love so much is protected for generations to come.

Here are ten hopes we have for 2018. » Continue Reading.



Wait! Before you go:

Catch up on all your Adirondack
news, delivered weekly to your inbox