Diane Struble, first person to swim the 32-mile length of Lake George in 1958, will once again be bringing international attention to the area. She is being posthumously inducted into the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (IMSHOF, www.imshof.org) with a ceremony to be held at Fordham University, NYC, on May 6, 2023.
Historically found only in the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence River, and Allegheny River watersheds in New York, walleye are now found in more than 140 waters from all the major watersheds of the state, primarily due to stocking and other DEC management efforts. Opportunities to catch lunker northern pike can also be found throughout much of the state, especially in the northeast and west. Visit DEC’s website for information on where to go fishing for walleye, pike and other coolwater sportfish.
Last year, DEC added a new feature to its official HuntFishNY app called The Tackle Box. Fishing regulations, boating access, and stocking information are all available in a map-based interface from the convenience of a smart phone. Other features include driving directions to state boat launch sites and an offline feature that allows a user to access information when cell coverage isn’t available. The HuntFishNY app, which includes the Tackle Box, is free of charge and available through the App store (iOS) and Google Play (Android) for anyone to download on their tablet or smart phone. For more information on the HuntFishNY app and new Tackle Box feature visit the DEC website.
A digital version of the 2023 Freshwater Fishing Regulations guide is available to download on the DEC website. Hard copies of the guide are available wherever sporting licenses are sold. For locations visit the DECALS website.
Photo at top: Marty Pierce took 1st place in Pike at this year’s Long Lake/Lake Eaton Ice Fishing Derby with his 13.63lb 39 inch pike. Photo provided by the Long Lake Fish & Game Club.
Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office announced today a statewide listening tour on the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act. New York voters passed the $4.2 billion initiative in November. A public meeting will be held in the Adirondacks, though it’s not confirmed as to when or where.
Hochul said the listening tour will take place over the next few months. It “will offer an opportunity for the public, municipalities, and other potential applicants to learn how they can leverage these funds to help New York State reach our climate goals while growing our economy.”
It’s time to get out there and clean up Adirondack area towns for the upcoming tourist season. This year, Community Pride Day will occur on Wednesday, May 3. Residents throughout the area will take to the streets with gloves and garbage bags in hand to rid lawns and roadways of detritus left over from fall and winter. All volunteers participating will receive a free shirt to wear with pride while they clean up the streets. The back of these shirts lists all 126 sponsors of this year’s Community Pride Day.
DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos reminded me that this is Earth Week. With most of the snow gone from the roadsides and other traveled trails, it might be good to do a little litter picking to spruce up the area for visitors as they travel here. With record temperatures in the 80s in most parts of the state, the snow took it in the shorts almost everywhere. [The] ice in all the lakes is out, with Blue Mountain and Big Moose Lakes being the last to go out on Sunday [April 9]. Luckily, there was very little wind to move the shifting ice around where it would do damage to docks and boathouses around the lakes. Better catch what water you can now, as the snow runoff is about over and [then] it will take rainfall to fill the Fulton Chain. With the wacky weather, you never know if we are going to get a gully washer or sprinkles.
Tupper Lake, NY – The Wild Center is opening for its 2023 season on Friday, May 5. Off the heels of a USA Today Readers’ Award where it was voted Second Best Science Museum in the U.S., The Wild Center is expanding its offerings and activities with new exhibits and experiences. Among these offerings is Backyard Wilderness – a film that captures the beauty and complexity of the natural world that exists just beyond your doorstep and Birdly – a state-of-the-art virtual reality (VR) flying simulator.
Produced by the award-winning SK Films, Backyard Wilderness offers a stunning cinematic experience that transports viewers into the hidden world of nature in their own backyard. Through breathtaking visuals and engaging storytelling, the film reveals the extraordinary lifecycles and relationships of the plants and animals that surround us every day. The film will be shown daily in The Wild Center’s Flammer Theater, a state-of-the-art cinema with 50-foot screen and advanced sound system, and included with general admission. On-site programming will complement the movie’s content, inspiring visitors to engage and appreciate the natural world in their own backyard.
On April 21, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos announced that the fishing season for walleye, northern pike, pickerel and tiger muskellunge begins on May 1.
“Early spring can be an exceptional time for fishing in New York, with species like walleye and northern pike becoming more active and aggressive as water temperatures rise,” said Commissioner Seggos. “I encourage all anglers to find the time to get out on the water this spring to enjoy, and share with others, the great fishing that can be found here in New York.”
Concerning a proposal for about 120 units of townhouses, “estate” homes, a hotel or clubhouse, associated several miles of roadways, parking lots, driveways, and trails on 385 mostly wooded acres in Jay near Ausable Forks, the applicant has just submitted new information to the APA.
The APA issued their second additional information request of Mr. Stackman last September, 2022. This month Mr. Stackman writes that he has been working diligently to respond. You can find it all on the Agency website. For this post, I’ll focus on just one aspect of that response to the APA’s second request for additional information: biological surveys.
Lake Placid, NY – The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) has begun its efforts to assist local businesses, communities, residents, and visitors in planning for the solar eclipse, taking place next April. The Adirondack region anticipates increased visitation leading up to this celestial event. Solar eclipses have proven to be a significant draw for visitors who travel to experience being in its “path of totality.”
During the afternoon of April 8, 2024, the moon will pass between the sun and Earth, completely blocking the face of the sun and creating a shadow over much of the Adirondacks. Most of the region will be in this “path of totality” meaning that the most significant part of the moon’s umbra, or shadow, will be directly over the region, plunging it into darkness during the normally bright afternoon hours.
The following are only the most recent notices pertaining to public lands in the Adirondacks. Please check the Adirondack Backcountry webpages for a full list of notices, including seasonal road statuses, rock climbing closures, specific trail conditions, and other pertinent information
NEW THIS WEEK
High Peaks Wilderness:
Until conditions improve, hikers are encouraged to responsibly explore low elevation trails or enjoy other forms of recreation
Every day the Adirondack Explorer’s reporting focuses on Earth Day values: The importance of fresh air, clean water, wild forests. And ensuring everyone has access to those essentials. As well as how to strike the balance between human communities and the natural world.
In the Adirondack Park, those issues are front and center. The region serves as a world-class example of the importance of protecting our natural assets. Founded 25 years ago, Adirondack Explorer has served as a “voice of the park.” Since then, we’ve dived deep into reporting on the environment, recreation and human communities. As well as the tensions that can arise in this unique blend of private and public land.
Here’s a look at our team and some of their recent work, published daily on the Explorer website, that embodies “Earth Day, Every Day.” (And if you like what you’re reading, will you show your support with a donation this Earth Day?)
Saranac Lake, NY — Over 1,600 schools and communities across the country will participate in national Bike & Roll to School Day on May 3. This event, held annually along with its fall partner Walk & Roll to School Day, invites participants to celebrate the joy of active commuting while building a sense of community and school spirit.
Latest News Headlines
Latest News Headlines
The Adirondack Almanack is a public forum dedicated to promoting and discussing current events, history, arts, nature and outdoor recreation and other topics of interest to the Adirondacks and its communities
We publish commentary and opinion pieces from voluntary contributors, as well as news updates and event notices from area organizations. Contributors include veteran local writers, historians, naturalists, and outdoor enthusiasts from around the Adirondack region. The information, views and opinions expressed by these various authors are not necessarily those of the Adirondack Almanack or its publisher, the Adirondack Explorer.
General inquiries about the Adirondack Almanack should be directed to editor Melissa Hart.
To advertise on the Adirondack Almanack, or to receive information on rates and design, please click here.Catch up on all your Adirondack
news, delivered weekly to your inbox
Help us keep bringing you the Adirondack information you value.
Email
Twitter
RSS
Facebook
Tales of the Adirondacks, Past & Present: The Beginning of the Lake Placid Center for the Arts (LPCA) by John Huttlinger, Jr.
Our next OurStoryBridge story share is titled, “In The Beginning of the Lake Placid Center for the Arts (LPCA)” by John Huttlinger, Jr. Huttlinger, Jr. from North Elba Narratives in Lake Placid, shares the illuminating story of the creation of the LPCA in the 1970’s, including his personal connection to the project as well as how the arts center has become a beloved and welcome addition to the community.
Listen to In The Beginning of the Lake Placid Center for the Arts (LPCA) in its entirety at the following link: https://app.memria.org/stories/public-story-view/56e1f99c22d74eacaf87f531455ce5d1/
» Continue Reading.