Paul Smith’s College Visitor Interpretive Center provides visitors with 25 miles of trails, including six miles of interpretive trails on their 3,000-acre property.
The trail system weaves through diverse ecosystems allowing visitors to immerse themselves in nature. The trail system traverses every habitat type found in the Adirondack Park (with the exception of alpine vegetation) and includes extensive boardwalks through wetland ecosystems. » Continue Reading.
There is 4-8 inches of snow across most of the Adirondacks, with deeper snows – about 6-10 inches – across the Northern Adirondacks, and at higher elevations in the High Peaks, and nordic, downhill and some backcountry skiing has begun around the region.
Whiteface Mountain, in Wilmington, and Gore Mountain, in North Creek opened for the 2019-’20 season on Friday. They will remain open through the weekend, but may close during the week until Friday after Thanksgiving. Both mountains have begun using direct-to-lift radio-frequency identification (RFID) for Ski 3 Card holders. There’s a new cabin at the summit of Burnt Ridge Mountain at Gore. » Continue Reading.
Champlain Area Trails (CATS) has published two new trail maps that cover hiking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing opportunities in the Champlain Valley, from Ticonderoga and the nearby Pharaoh Lake Wilderness north to the Canadian Boarder.
The Central Champlain Valley Trail Map is the latest update of the trail map first published 12 years ago, which covers a geographic area from Peru south through Ticonderoga and into northern Warren County. New this year, the Northern Champlain Valley Trail Map expands north from Willsboro Point to Canada. » Continue Reading.
Champlain Area Trails (CATS) has announced plans to preserve 35 acres in the Town of Essex, NY, on land that features 400 million-year-old fossils — part of an ancient coral reef — as well as a type of forest considered globally rare and an historic stone quarry.
The Essex Quarry Nature Park will be located on the southern edge of the hamlet, a short distance from the Essex – Charlotte, Vt. ferry landing. » Continue Reading.
According to a press release issued by New York State Police, on June 9, 2019 the New York State Police received a call that an individual had caused damage to trails at the Cascade Ski Center with a vehicle. » Continue Reading.
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.
Black Bear Mountain Ski trails are in the part of the Moose River Plains Complex which lies West of Route 28, between Fourth and Eighth Lakes in the Fulton Chain of Lakes.
Black Bear Mountain Lower Ski Trail extends 3 miles from private land along State Route 28 to the Bug Lake Trail. The trail follows for 0.4 miles along an easement over private land and continues easterly for 2.6 miles. Wet areas make portions of the trail unsuitable for use during non-winter seasons. » Continue Reading.
Tupper Lake is combining my love of skiing with a micro-brew experience and I don’t even have to leave the trail. It isn’t an après ski experience, but more “pendant” skiing. I’ll be experiencing sampling of various local beers during a cross-country ski or snowshoe.
On Saturday, February 23, Tupper Lake Cross-Country Ski Center is grooming their trails for two events, Brew-Ski and its annual Ice Golf Tournament. Both activities sound fun, but my family is going to be hitting the Brew-ski trail. » Continue Reading.
The Tupper Lake Chamber of Commerce is set to hold their annual Brew-Ski on February 23rd, from noon to 4 pm, at Tupper Lakes Groomed XC Trails, 141 Country Club Rd.
The event will be held simultaneously with the Lions Club Annual Fire & Ice Golf Tournament. Brew-Ski will transform cross country ski trails into a local brew tasting trail. Distributors and breweries are invited to set up sample stations along the trails. » Continue Reading.
Every winter there are conflicts between backcountry hikers and skiers. While skiing I try my best to educate hikers on the trail, but it isn’t a time when people tend to be very receptive.
I realize there are many hikers who are naïve to the world of backcountry skiing. While there are those who will never alter their behavior, I believe that with considerate education most will realize that there are a few simple things they can do that will improve trail use for all users.
I thought a quick summary of the backcountry downhill skiing situation in the High Peaks Wilderness in particular might be helpful. » Continue Reading.
When I’m skiing or skating across a pond, I observe the shoreline, surrounding hills, islands, maybe a woodpecker or blue jay winging its way to the opposite shore. I look up at the sky, the clouds, swirling snowflakes. But there is a world beneath my feet that I don’t see, in what Henry David Thoreau called “the quiet parlor of the fishes.”
Beneath a layer of ice up to three feet thick, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and tiny invertebrates are going about their winter business. For most of these creatures, this means slowing their metabolism down to survive with reduced light and oxygen. They move less, eat less, and breathe more slowly than in warmer months. » Continue Reading.
Dewey Mountain Recreation Center and Mt. Van Hoevenberg have announced an introduction to skate ski clinic with Marijke Ormel-Cook, Randy Young, and other special guests, set for January 25-27, 2019.
Participants can learn the skills and techniques necessary to skate skiing through a three session instruction course. Equipment will be made available for participants courtesy High Peaks Cyclery. Previous cross country ski experience and pre-reregistration is required. » Continue Reading.
This weekly report of outdoor recreation conditions in the Adirondacks is compiled each Thursday afternoon and fully updated by Friday afternoon.
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. Carry out what you have carried in. Do not leave gear, food, or other items at lean-tos and campsites. Do not litter. Take the free online Leave No Trace course here.
BE PREPARED! Start slow, gain experience. Always carry proper safety equipment – including plenty of food, water, flashlights, space blanket, emergency whistle, first aid kit, fire making tools, extra clothing layers and socks, and a map and compass – inform someone of your itinerary, and be prepared to spend an unplanned night in the woods in freezing temperatures. Just 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.
Three Winter Weekend events will be held for the sixth consecutive year at Camp Santanoni in Newcomb.
The events will take place during the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend, January 19-21; Presidents Day holiday weekend, February 16-18; and the weekend of March 16-17.
These Winter Weekends have grown in popularity in recent years as cross-country skiers and snowshoers access the historic great camp property to rest, tour the buildings, and view interpretative displays. » Continue Reading.
The 39th running of the Empire State Winter Games is being run from January 31 through February 3, 2019 with over 2,300 athletes of all ages expected to participate in more than 30 sports. » Continue Reading.
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