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The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced the release of the draft New York State Forest Action Plan for public review and comment. The State Forest Action Plan is a 10-year strategic plan for DEC and New York’s forestry community that provides long‐term, comprehensive, and coordinated strategies for addressing the challenges facing New York’s forests today. » Continue Reading.
DEC Releases Draft New York State Forest Action Plan
APA Board To Consider Development Projects
The Adirondack Park Agency will hold its monthly meeting at its headquarters in Ray Brook on Thursday and Friday, February 13-14, 2020. Thursday’s meeting will begin at 1 pm and Friday’s session will commence at 9:30 am.
The meeting will feature consideration of the installation of two self-supporting monopole towers in Long Lake, discussion of the alleged establishment of a tourist accommodation in the Hudson River Recreational River Area, and more. What follows is the agenda issued by the APA: » Continue Reading.
A Call for Artists From Where Rivers Meet
The Hadley Business Association has announced an open air art exhibition, set to take place at the Maple in April Festival, on April 25-26, 2020.
Artists are invited to capture the essence of “April Spring on the Rivers at Hadley” in their favorite medium on site at the meeting of the Hudson and the Sacandaga Rivers in Hadley. » Continue Reading.
Poetry: Iniquity
Iniquity
So many snows ago.
Deer-tracks marked a journey,
Tear-tracks marked a journey,
As train-tracks grew cold, collected rust, and families
Moved away, never to return.
Too hard to forage, for man and beast alike.
So came this fight for survival, dictated more and more
By the dollar, Almighty Dollar,
Killing life, killing jobs, killing hope,
Pandering for spoils, preying on the innocent,
Robbing the future.
Northern Lights,
How you still explode the sky to silhouette the beauty
Of these mountains,
The power,
With North Star guiding ever true.
We cry to see your light dimmed by such vast iniquity,
Illuminating once-fertile bowers, callously raided.
Helplessly, we stand in the rough-shod, abandoned tracks
Of our forbears,
To inherit an ominous fruition.
Raquette Lake Winter Carnival Next Weekend
The Raquette Lake Winter Carnival is set for Saturday, February 15th, and Sunday, February 16th. It looks as though there will be plenty of snow on the ground and the snowmobiles trails are open.
Activities will begin at 11 am on Saturday with games, including a sack race, sledding, tire obstacle, balloon chase, and tug-of-war. A Ladies Frying Pan Toss will be held at noon, with cash prizes of $75, $50, $25. The Team Ice Golf Competition will be held throughout the day for teams with cash prizes of $75, $50, $25. » Continue Reading.
Guidance to Avoid Coyote Conflicts
The Eastern coyote is found in many habitats, from rural farmland and forests to populated suburban and urban areas in New York State. Coyotes are well adapted to suburban and even urban environments, but for the most part will avoid conflicts with people.
However, conflicts with people and pets may result, particularly during the spring denning and pupping period. If coyotes learn to associate food, such as garbage or pet food with peoples’ homes, they may lose their natural fear of humans and the potential for close encounters or conflicts increases. » Continue Reading.
New Snow! Current Adirondack Outdoor Conditions (Updated)
This 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 adkalmanack@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.
Cauldron Lighting to Mark 1980 Olympics
Forty years ago, Lake Placid lit the Cauldron, signifying the beginning of the XIII Olympic Winter Games. The 1980 Winter Games have long been remembered for the U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team’s improbable win over the Russians, known as the “Miracle on Ice,” speed skater Eric Heiden’s five gold medals, in World or Olympic record time; and the United States figure skating team, dubbed the “Dream Team.” » Continue Reading.
New Olympic Museum Exhibit Highlights 1980
The Lake Placid Olympic Museum, located in the Olympic Center, is set to open a new exhibit, Totally 80, on Thursday, February 13th, and Roni Raccoon’s 40th birthday. The exhibit will commemorate the 40th anniversary of the 1980 Olympic Winter Games and explore how the logo and its graphics created an overall feel and identity for the Lake Placid Olympics. » Continue Reading.
Pileated Woodpeckers: Winter Excavators
Whenever I spy a pileated woodpecker traversing the sky, I pause to watch its weird undulating flight. The jerky rise-and-drop movement of this large woodpecker is endearingly gawky – like a mini pterodactyl visiting from the Cretaceous period. This time of year, the bird’s bold crimson crest flashes in stark contrast to the mostly-muted colors of winter.
Pileated woodpeckers – Dryocopus pileatus – take their common and scientific names from the Latin word for “capped.” Both male and female sport the namesake red crest, as well as black streaks across the eyes. Measuring about 18 inches long, they have wingspans that can stretch past two feet. » Continue Reading.
Rangers Respond To Snowmobile Accident, Injured Hiker
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Rangers respond to search and rescue incidents in the Adirondacks. Working with other state agencies, local emergency response organizations and volunteer search and rescue groups, Forest Rangers locate and extract lost, injured or distressed people from the Adirondack backcountry.
What follows is a report, prepared by DEC, of recent missions carried out by Forest Rangers in the Adirondacks. » Continue Reading.
Clinton Co Suffragist Inez Milholland Talk
Clinton County Historical Association Director Helen Allen Nerska is set to give a presentation on suffragist Inez Milholland, Tuesday, February 18th.
Inez Milholland, buried in Lewis, New York, was a nationally respected suffragist who eventually gave her life in the movement. In 1912, Milholland spoke in Plattsburgh. Her father and sister also worked to help persuade Clinton County voters to approve a 1917 change to the New York State Constitution that allowed women to vote. » Continue Reading.
View’s 14th Annual Chili Bowl Event Set
View’s 14th Annual Chili Bowl Luncheon has been set for Saturday, February 15th from noon to 3 pm, featuring over a dozen chilis and soups made by local restaurants, with a variety of desserts made by View’s volunteers.
Attendees will be able to choose from a variety of handcrafted, ceramic bowls created by local and regional potters in View’s Ceramics Studio. Handcrafted ceramic bowls range in price from $18 to $25. Chili can be purchased without a ceramic bowl at $10 adults and $5 for children. » Continue Reading.
Latest Adirondack News
- Old Forge businesses gear up for reopening
- Downtown Glens Falls closed off after protests
- Rallies against racism take place across NNY
- Being color blind
- Businesses can deny entry to people not wearing masks, governor says
- Businesses call for outdoor dining options
- Fort Drum troops may be deployed to Minneapolis
- The Adirondacks: A bushwhacker's paradise
- Officials urge feds to end jobless bonus
- Cuomo approves North Country for Phase 2
Latest Adirondack News
- Old Forge businesses gear up for reopening
- Downtown Glens Falls closed off after protests
- Rallies against racism take place across NNY
- Being color blind
- Businesses can deny entry to people not wearing masks, governor says
- Businesses call for outdoor dining options
- Fort Drum troops may be deployed to Minneapolis
- The Adirondacks: A bushwhacker's paradise
- Officials urge feds to end jobless bonus
- Cuomo approves North Country for Phase 2
The Adirondack Almanack
The Adirondack Almanack's contributors include veteran local writers, historians, naturalists, and outdoor enthusiasts from around the Adirondack region. The Almanack is the online news journal of Adirondack Explorer. Both are nonprofits supported by contributors, readers, and advertisers, and devoted to exploring, protecting, and unifying the Adirondack Park.
General inquiries about the Adirondack Almanack should be directed to editor Melissa Hart.
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