The 11th Annual Adirondack Habitat Awareness Day is set to be celebrated at the Adirondack Wildlife Refuge at 977 Springfield Road in Wilmington, on Sunday September 2nd, from 10 am to 6 pm. The Theme this year will be the ongoing challenges Adirondack Wildlife face in a changing climate.
The following topics will be discussed at the wolf, coyote and bear enclosures throughout the day: » Continue Reading.
With its two open summits, Catamount Mountain (3,168 ft) in the Taylor Pond Complex, affords spectacular views. In season, the blueberries are nearly as spectacular as the views.
This is a 1.8-mile hike, one way, over moderate to steep terrain. From the trailhead parking area and trail register the hike is flat through semi-open terrain with many wildflowers in bloom in season. At 0.6 mile the trail bears right and begins to climb, dips to cross a brook at 0.8 mile, and then continues a mostly steep climb to the base of a steep chimney at 1.4 miles. This chimney requires some scrambling and may be difficult for small children, dogs, or anyone not comfortable in high places. » Continue Reading.
The 7th annual Ride for the River, a family-friendly road cycling tour benefiting the conservation work of the Ausable River Association (AsRA) has been set for July 14-15 in Wilmington.
The event features multiple route options for Sunday’s main event and an all-new casual group ride, the “Tailgater” planned for Saturday afternoon. All rides start and finish at the Hungry Trout Resort overlooking the Ausable River’s Flume waterfalls. » Continue Reading.
A new documentary film, North Pole, NY is set to premier at the Lake Placid Center for the Arts (LPCA), 17 Algonquin Drive, on Saturday, June 23 at 7 pm. A Q & A with Director Ali Cotterill and Producer Christa Orth will follow.
North Pole, NY is a revealing look at the battle for survival of one of the first theme parks in the U.S., Santa’s Workshop, in Wilmington. The film examines the park’s legacy, the dedicated staff and loyal residents, and its struggles to survive in the larger context of the decline of the American roadside attraction.
The Lake Placid Land Conservancy (LPLC) has installed trail cams on the Three Sisters Preserve as part of their Citizen Science Monitoring Program.
The Preserve includes a rare sandy pine forest habitat and is home to a variety of wildlife, including fishers, one of which was caught on trail cam video April 12th. » Continue Reading.
Three events benefiting the Wilmington Historical Society have been set for June 16th. Events include the annual Whiskey Run, a Wilmington Whiteface Heritage Celebration, and a Speakeasy Soiree at Pourman’s Tap House.
Many of the activities of the Heritage Celebration focus on the area’s historically recurrent theme of whiskey. In its early days, the part of Jay that is now Wilmington was said to have had the reputation for providing daily rations of good rye whiskey to American troops at the Battle of Plattsburgh during the War of 1812. About 100 years later, being a small, quiet Northern village close to the Canadian border, Wilmington became a safe haven for bootleggers and rum runners transporting illicit spirits across the border during Prohibition. Today, Wilmington is home to the whiskey barrel cooperage US Barrel. » Continue Reading.
The Adirondack Land Trust has announced the purchase of Four Peaks, a 600-acre tract in the towns of Jay and Wilmington adjacent to Wilmington Wild Forest’s Beaver Brook Tract (the Hardy Road trails), which is popular for mountain biking.
In Wilmington, mountain biking is powering a revival of small businesses catering to cyclists. In 2017, Wilmington was named one of “America’s 20 Best Mountain Bike Towns” by National Geographic. The community hosts a variety of trail systems built primarily by Barkeater Trails Alliance (BETA) in partnership with the Adirondack Mountain Club and Student Conservation Association. BETA is a volunteer-driven organization that maintains over 100 miles of ski and bike trails across six Adirondack towns. » Continue Reading.
The 2nd Annual Wilmington Mountain Bike Festival has been set for Labor Day Weekend, August 31st to September 2nd, 2018, and registration is now open.
All events takes place on 25+ miles of Adirondack Single Track, rideable directly from the festival base camp at the Wilmington Town Park, which also features dirt jump and skateboard parks.
Wilmington Flume Trail Network located in the Wilmington Wild Forest provides 11.5 miles of trails for snowshoeing and hiking. Those accessing these hiking trails from the Flume Trailhead West will pass a wildlife viewing area overlooking a beaver dam and pond and enjoy scenic views of the West Branch Ausable River.
Flume Knob can be reached on trails traversing at least 2.5 miles, depending on the route taken, and ascending 1,300 feet from the Flume West Trailhead. The peak can also be reached from the Bear Den Trailhead, from which the trail traverses a total of 1.5 miles and ascends approximately 1,025 feet. » Continue Reading.
The Adirondack Park Agency (APA) has announced they are now accepting public comment for a proposed amendment to the Whiteface Mountain Ski Center Unit Management Plan.
Highlights of proposed changes include new intermediate downhill ski trails, widening of some existing trails, an extension and replacement of the existing Bear Lift and a replacement and realignment of the existing Freeway Lift. The plan also addresses parking needs, improvements for vehicular and pedestrian access to base areas and mountain biking trails. » Continue Reading.
The Wilmington Historical Society will present “Whiteface Ski History” at the Lake Placid Olympic Museum, located in the Olympic Center, on Thursday, Feb. 8, at 7 pm.
The free presentation will include an overview of Wilmington’s Whiteface Mountain ski area history from the 1940s to the 1980 Olympics. » Continue Reading.
Whiteface Mountain, in Wilmington opened its third peak for skiing and riding. The Wilmington trail, off Lookout Mountain is now open. The Wilmington trail, the northeast’s longest intermediate run, is 2.5-miles long, overlooking Wilmington’s Wild Forest.
Photo of Wilmington Trail, courtesy ORDA/Whiteface.
Barkeater Trails Alliance (BETA) is seeking volunteers for their Mountain Bike Festival weekend, from September 1-3.
Festival volunteers will serve as a host for the event and a resource for activities in the region.
Volunteers are asked dedicate at least 4 hours to be “on-call” during the specific time slot agreed to fill in order to receive the full benefits. A volunteer schedule can be found here. » Continue Reading.
Why would a climber want to visit something called Moss Cliff? Though the name conjures up some dank, low-angled slab wrapped in a living green carpet, the reality is quite different. This best of Adirondack cliffs is not so mossy. In fact, it’s among the cleanest, driest, most appealing rock walls in the Northeast — in my opinion, the most Adirondack of all Adirondack crags.
The name probably comes from a misreading of the 1953 USGS topographical map that put the unflattering label on a dirty slab about a mile to the west of the clean and elegantly sculpted wall that we now call Moss Cliff.
Moss Cliff isn’t hard to find. You’ve all seen it looming high above the Ausable River on the Sunrise Mountain shoulder of Whiteface. Zooming by at 55 mph, however, doesn’t give you the chance to pick out the climbers, the colorful little dots who have been playing out the evolution of climbing, out of sight, but in plain view if you ever stop to look. » Continue Reading.
The 6th Annual Ride for the River planned for Sunday, July 16 will feature a new format that allows guests to experience the conservation work of the Ausable River Association (AsRA). The family-friendly event is a fully supported road cycling tour featuring three distance options, all showcasing the Ausable River watershed in the heart of the Adirondacks.
Registration is open online.
Ride for the River was created by AsRA in 2012 to celebrate the resilience of local communities following the devastating flooding caused by Tropical Storm Irene. In partnership with Cycle Adirondacks, the 2017 ride will feature new interactive route stops allowing cyclists to learn about the impacts of road salt, invasive species and undersized culverts on Ausable streams and habitat. » Continue Reading.
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