The Adirondack Almanack -

Lake Placid, NY – The New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (Olympic Authority) announces record visits of more than one million to its venues during the 2022-2023 year that concluded on March 31. The Olympic Authority estimates this is an increase of more than 15-percent from pre-pandemic visitation.

Olympic Authority venues include the alpine ski resorts of Belleayre Mountain, Gore Mountain, and Whiteface Mountain, along with the Olympic Center, Mt Van Hoevenberg, and Olympic Jumping Complex. The average number of admissions to the venues over the previous three years was approximately 828,000, which was below the pre-pandemic average of approximately 840,000 per year. Conference Center events, custom groups, non-ticket events, and functions are not included in any of these calculations, which would reflect an even higher number of visits.

Thursday, April 27, 2023

Depot Theatre Academy first to perform Camp, A New Musical

Westport, NY — The Depot Theatre Academy is pleased to announce that the summer 2023 program will be the first to produce CAMP, A NEW MUSICAL since its award-winning Off-Broadway debut. Academy Junior (ages 8-11) and Senior (ages 12 and up) programs will run concurrently for a three-week program that runs from July 17-August 6, 2023, at the Whallonsburg Grange Hall. The program will culminate in three performances of CAMP, A NEW MUSICAL on Friday, August 4 at 7 p.m., Saturday, August 5 at 7 p.m., and Sunday, August 6 at 2 p.m.

Wednesday, April 26, 2023

Adirondack Rail Trail construction underway between Lake Placid and Saranac Lake

by NYS DEC

27 Comments

On April 21, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Office of General Services (OGS) announced the start of 2023 construction on the Adirondack Rail Trail between Station Street in Lake Placid and Broadway in Saranac Lake. This trail segment is now closed to all users during construction.

The world-class Adirondack Rail Trail is a 34-mile multi-use recreational path for outdoor adventurers between Tupper Lake and Lake Placid. OGS is leading the trail‘s design and construction with the intent to make it accessible to people of all abilities to the maximum extent practicable. Upon completion of construction, DEC will assume day-to-day management of the trail working closely with stakeholders and municipalities. Estimated timing to complete the Rail Trail is dependent on multiple factors including contract approvals, permits, and coordinating with State, Federal, and local entities. Construction of the compacted stone dust surfaced trail will be undertaken in stages. The work now underway is part of phase one of the Rail Trail project and is anticipated to be completed in the fall.

Read more about final construction of a segment of the Adirondack Rail Trail between Lake Placid and Saranac Lake by checking out Tim Rowland’s Adirondack Explorer story at this link: https://www.adirondackexplorer.org/stories/adirondack-rail-trail-work-resumes

Wednesday, April 26, 2023

SUNY-ESF Adirondack Interpretive Center announces roundup of May/June events

The SUNY-ESF Adirondack Interpretive Center (AIC) has announced a variety of events set for May and June that is sure to appeal to a wide array of nature and outdoor enthusiasts. All of the below programs require pre-registration.

Wednesday, April 26, 2023

Rangers help Mount Marshall hikers descend summit

by NYS DEC

4 Comments

Village of Oriskany
Oneida County
Training: On April 18 and 19, Forest Rangers Kennedy, Martin, and Virkler attended a two-day Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) training in Oriskany. The training was held in conjunction with the Flood Incident Strike Team “FIST,” a multi-agency team equipped and trained to respond to a variety of swift water and flood events.

UAS pilots refreshed swift water skills and terminology before being embedded with FIST teams for a full-day exercise on the Moose and Black rivers. UAS pilots provided FIST teams with assistance locating subjects, scouting river conditions, and monitoring deployed resources. UAS pilots from New York State Police, New York State Fire, New York State Park Police, and DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement all participated.

Tuesday, April 25, 2023

Poetry: When The Rain Stopped

by Guest Contributor

1 Comment

By Annette Pisano-Higley

When The Rain Stopped

Today the rain stopped, for a moment,

Yet, it did stop.

It left the air lighter, cleaner, brighter.

For a moment, I remembered

When the air was always that way.

Tuesday, April 25, 2023

Temporary Boat Launch Site Closures at Lake Flower, Lake Placid

by NYS DEC

1 Comment

On Tuesday, April 25, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced temporary closures of Lake Flower and Lake Placid boat launch sites over the next two weeks for routine maintenance and cleaning.

The Lake Flower boat launch will close from April 25 to 27 and the Lake Placid boat launch will close May 8 to 12. Boaters can access Saranac Lake at the Upper and Lower boat launches. For more boat launches nearby, go to DEC’s website.

Photo at top courtesy of the NYS DEC/Adirondack Almanack archive photo.

Tuesday, April 25, 2023

Firm to host public meetings around High Peaks use

by NYS DEC

37 Comments

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced that Otak, Inc., is facilitating the first round of public meetings in the Adirondack High Peaks and Catskills for the Visitor Use Management (VUM) project. Public and stakeholder input will play a key role in helping DEC and Otak develop appropriate sustainable management strategies for the High Peaks and Kaaterskill Clove areas.

“DEC’s sustainable use initiatives require public participation to be successful,” said DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos. “Listening to public and stakeholder perspectives about the High Peaks and Kaaterskill Clove project areas will provide DEC with the important data to support successful strategies for balancing conservation and public access in these popular Forest Preserve destinations.”

Monday, April 24, 2023

Tales of the Adirondacks, Past & Present: The Beginning of the Lake Placid Center for the Arts (LPCA) by John Huttlinger, Jr.

by Guest Contributor

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/

Monday, April 24, 2023

Marathon swimmer achieves new recognition

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.

Monday, April 24, 2023

Walleye, Northern Pike, Pickerel, Tiger Muskellunge Season Opens May 1

by NYS DEC

2 Comments

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.

Sunday, April 23, 2023

Bond Act on the road

by Gwendolyn Craig

4 Comments

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.”

Sunday, April 23, 2023

Community Pride Day set for Adirondacks, May 3

1 Comment

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.

Sunday, April 23, 2023

Weekly news round up

by Melissa Hart

A collection of interesting reads:

Saturday, April 22, 2023

In Loving Memory: Brother Bob joins Dad at family’s deer camp

by Gary Lee

3 Comments

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.