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.


Tuesday, June 27, 2017

E.coli Testing Continues At Reopened Million Dollar Beach

Million Dollar Beach reopened again Saturday, June 24, after E.coli tested at a level safe for swimming, according to a DEC press release that also said if the levels rise again, signs will be posted at the beach letting swimmers know of a closure. Daily sampling of the water will continue.

The town, village, DEC and a number of other local organizations concerned with the lake water continue to try to identify a possible source of E.coli affecting the beach.

Patrick Dowd, director of communication for the Lake George Association, said the agencies have had some success eliminating potential sources. For instance, dye-testing was completed on some of the main lines on the east side of the lake on Beedy Road, Rose Point Lane and Front Street. The town and village also used a closed circuit camera to rule out breaks and cracks in storm and sanitary lines and approved a contract to continue the testing of more lines. » Continue Reading.


Wednesday, June 21, 2017

Lake George ‘Million Dollar Beach’ Closed Again by E coli

Lake George Village from Prospect Mountain courtesy Diane Chase of Adirondack Family Time. After several false starts this season, Million Dollar Beach in Lake George is closed again — just two weeks from the Fourth of July holiday — as a number of concerned towns and agencies run tests to determine the source of E. coli in the lake.

“This is an unprecedented occurrence on our lake that demands a swift response,” said Lake George Mayor Robert Blais in a news release from the state Department of Environmental Conservation. “The Village of Lake George has committed all available staff and resources and is working closely with DEC to resolve the problem and protect our beautiful lake.” » Continue Reading.


Sunday, June 18, 2017

Spur Trail Demonstrates Hut-to-Hut Possibilities

Hamlet to Hut demonstration project in Long LakeThe Adirondack Community-based Trails and Lodging System Tuesday advanced its “demonstration project” to build a spur trail in the Town of Long Lake offering hikers on the Northville Placid Trail the opportunity to get off the trail and go into the town for a hot shower, meal, and place to sleep for the night. Leaders of the project visited the potential site.

They hope to have the trail finished by fall and ready for use next year. » Continue Reading.


Friday, June 16, 2017

A New Nonprofit Is Born: Adirondack Hamlets To Huts

Hamlet-to-hut demonstration project in Long LakeThe Adirondack Hamlets to Huts project, which incorporated in November, received its 501c3 status in April, making it an official nonprofit, Joe Dadey announced at the Adirondack Community-based Trails and Lodging System advisory committee meeting Tuesday. The organization’s mission is to create, manage and promote a world-class Adirondack hut-to-hut system that advances sustainable communities, conservation, and wellness.

This opens up new grant opportunities for the project, and once a website is developed and the group is registered with the New York Charities Bureau, it can begin reaching out for memberships, gifts and donations, Dadey said.

“It will help us advance our mission,” he said. » Continue Reading.


Wednesday, June 7, 2017

Hotel Saranac Listed Among Historic Hotels of America

The Hotel Saranac, which first opened its doors in 1927, has been recognized by the Historic Hotels of America, an official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. It is one of 295 hotels listed.

In order to be recognized by Historic Hotels of America, a hotel must be more than 50 years old and have “faithfully maintained their authenticity, sense of place, and architectural integrity.” The hotel is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. » Continue Reading.


Tuesday, June 6, 2017

For Your Adirondack Calendars

APA Building in Ray Brook NYMark your calendar with these upcoming events, public meetings and next steps in ongoing Adirondack issues.

    • June 8-9: Have something to share with the Adirondack Park Agency? The next APA meeting is 9 am June 8-9 at the agency headquarters in Ray Brook. Check the agenda here. Public comment periods are at the beginning of the meeting on Thursday and again at the end on Friday.
    • June 16 : This is the public comment deadline for the following:

» Continue Reading.


Sunday, June 4, 2017

First Adirondack Hut-To-Hut Route Slated For 2018

Rafting would be part of the North Creek to Indian Lake hut-to-hut routeAlthough most of the Adirondack hut-to-hut discussion lately has focused on Boreas Ponds as the state considers the classification of the Forest Preserve land, another route is much closer to becoming reality: the North Creek-Indian Lake traverse with a Hudson Gorge rafting trip.

Jack Drury of Leading E.D.G.E, who with Joe Dadey and Duane Gould prepared the 2015 hut-to-hut plan for the five towns of Long Lake, Newcomb, Indian Lake, Minerva, and North Hudson for the Department of Environmental Conservation, called it the low-hanging fruit of the report and believes it will be ready by summer 2018. » Continue Reading.


Friday, June 2, 2017

Black Bear Count Needs Citizen Scientists

American black bearHere’s an opportunity to be a scientific researcher, even if you have an English degree. New York Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Unit at Cornell University and the Department of Environmental Conservation are launching a project that enlists citizen scientists to collect data about black bears.

Using the iSeeMammals app, which you can download here, participants go on hikes and record signs of bears through photos, by setting up a fixed camera and recording information. You can create an account online or on your Apple or Android phone. » Continue Reading.


Wednesday, May 31, 2017

For Your Adirondack Calendars

Adirondack Experience Adirondack MuseumNational Trail Day June 3: Many of us enjoy the trails through the Adirondacks. Here’s a chance to show our appreciation. The Adirondack Mountain Club invites us to come celebrate National Trail Day by participating in one of ten different trail projects that vary in difficulty.

Meet at Adirondak Loj, just outside of Lake Placid.  ADK is partnering with the Forty Sixers, Barkeater Trail Alliance, and Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Region 5. Trail projects will take place in the High Peaks Wilderness and Saranac Lake Wild Forest. » Continue Reading.


Saturday, May 27, 2017

Indian Lake Osprey Make Home On Utility Pole

Indian Lake ospreyThey’re a bit like the guests who overstay their welcome in your home, leaving their sheets rumpled in the bed, eating your food, and inviting more family members to join them.

Something like this has been happening to National Grid on one of their power poles across Route 28 from the Chain Lakes Road in the hamlet of Indian Lake. Osprey built a nest a year and a half ago in this desirable location near Lake Abanakee. Osprey like to build their “stick nests” on channel markers, dead trees, and poles like the ones National Grid uses for their power lines across New York State.

So last fall National Grid, working with the Department of Environmental Conservation, removed the Lake Abanakee nest. And this spring, the birds returned to the pole and rebuilt. » Continue Reading.


Tuesday, May 23, 2017

E Coli Gone, New Access At Million Dollar Beach In Lake George

Lake George Beach – or as absolutely everyone knows it, Million Dollar Beach – will safely reopen this season after a not-so-great bout with unsafe bacteria levels last summer determined to come from sewage waste. The good news, aside from safe, now-clean water, is the beach will reopen with some new amenities also – lighting, a new entrance and another entrance through which people can enter the beach. It opens May 27.

“The first thing to consider is the health and safety of the public,” said Bob Stegemann, regional director for the DEC’s Region 5. “These are all good moves to improve the experience at Lake George for the public.” » Continue Reading.


Tuesday, May 23, 2017

Photo Contest: Adirondack Paddles

Don’t forget to dig out those photos of paddling from previous years or get out in your vessel and snap a new one and submit it for our Adirondack Explorer Views of the Park photo contest. Details here. » Continue Reading.


Monday, May 22, 2017

Reserve A Spot In An Adirondack Campground

DEC photo of Lake Eaton CampgroundI grew up down the road from one of the state’s premier Adirondack campgrounds, Lake Eaton, and spent time there as a kid or when friends or family would go there to camp.

It has a large beach, a few boats to use, hot showers, and fireplaces – all the stuff you’d expect. But the community that forms over a week in a tent (or McMansion motor home) is a wonderful thing to experience. People put out wooden signs with their family names, walk their dogs or ride bikes through the campground, use it as a base camp for their Adirondack hikes, fish and make friends with their “neighbors.” Because just about everyone is friendly and happy when they’re in the woods with sunset views of Owl’s Head Mountain. » Continue Reading.


Sunday, May 21, 2017

For Your Adirondack Calendars

Honey bee by Larry Master24th Annual Conference on the Adirondacks May 24-25

Wow, there have been 23 of these conferences already. The next one is titled: “Transitions and Connectivity in the Adirondacks and the Northern Forest.” The two-day conference will be at the Conference Center in Lake Placid.

Keynote speaker is Aaron Mair, president of the Sierra Club, who will talk about the Veterans Memorial Trail from Fort Drum to the Adirondacks. Other topics on the agenda include a look at and discussion of uses for the Adirondack Atlas Project, recreational uses on public and private lands and clean water. Register here. » Continue Reading.


Sunday, May 21, 2017

It’s Mud Season in the Adirondacks: Get Into It

Adirondack Mud SeasonWhen it comes to mud and the Adirondacks, you really need to think like your children, according the experts (Adirondack Mountain Club and Department of Environmental Conservation), and hike directly through it! When you walk around it, you are actually widening the trail, and that’s a problem.

Both the ADK and DEC have advice for us right now as ice and snow are melting and making trails slippery and vulnerable to erosion by hikers. The two organizations ask that we avoid the higher elevations (DEC says trails above 2,500 feet; ADK says over 3,000). » Continue Reading.



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