Backtracks
Backtracks
2008
New Year's Day Outing. Tom & Ann Ortmeyer, Duncan & Lois Cutter, organizers. The snowstorm that made driving difficult also made very nice trail conditions. About a dozen intrepid souls braved the weather - most hadn't traveled far - and took to the trail on either skis or snowshoes. We then gathered in the lodge for late afternoon snacks and tales. It was an excellent way to bring in the New Year.
Peavine Swamp Trail Ski, January 5, 2008
Fresh powder snow in early January created outstanding skiing conditions on this trail near the SUNY Ranger School in Wanakena.
A few downed trees and branches made for short, tricky bushwhacks. Thanks to Blair for fixing the trip leader's frozen
binding and letting her ski out rather than walk.
l-r: John Barron, Jean Gilbin, TL Ann Spencer, Blair Madore, Joel Foisy, Nancy Skiff.
Photo: Anonymous snowshoer (Blair Madore's camera).
Jan. 19 - Ski to Grassy Pond. TL Duncan & Lois Cutter. Very little snow in flatlander country, and maybe that's why no one signed on for this trip. But we found 2 to 3 inches of new snow over a firm base, all the balsams decked out in the intermittent snow showers throughout the day and a lovely dazzle off the snow-covered pond when the sun poked through as we picnicked at the lean-to (Nicely cared for by Sandy Hildreth & Marilyn Gillespie). A trip through mature pines and the crossing of the Osgood river in a "Christmas Card" setting.
Pinnacle Mountain Snowshoe, January 26, 2008
Weather and snow conditions were perfect for an enjoyable ascent to the summit. This is an excellent short trip needing a
relatively short drive to the trailhead yet giving the feel of the higher mountains.
l-r: Carol LaDue, Art Boni, Geri Ames.
Photo: TL John Barron.
Mt. Marcy Climb, January 27, 2008 (postponed from Jan 20).
You couldn't have asked for better weather to climb New York's highest. The trail was in such great condition with weather
going from cloudy to sunshine. It started out around 12 degrees and got up to 27. There was no wind until we started to
ascend and then it was strong. The views on the trail of the top were picturesque. I was also fortunate to spend some
alone with a Pine Marten looking down at me from a tree while I waited for the others. At the end of our hike I could
tell by the smile on everyone's face that it was a day to remember. A great supper at the Downtown Grill in Lake Placid to
review such an eventful day.
l-r: TL Nancy LaBaff, John Tyo, Lyle Montgomery.
Photo: Nancy LaBaff.
Cascade and Porter, February 2, 2008
Cascade's summit was fierce with howling winds that drowned our voices and threatened to knock us over
with each strong gust. Crampons were required to ascend the rocky summit covered in ice. Porter's summit was a
contrast -- eerily still and quiet, the dwarf summit trees barely visible through the heavy fog.
On Cascade, l-r: TL Lyle Montgomery, Nancy Skiff, John Tyo.
The Broadleaf/Conifer Trail at Higley Flow, February 9, 2008
A slightly overcast day at about 30 degrees F and a good snow cover made almost
ideal conditions for a lovely snowshoe hike, winding above Warm Brook through conifer plantations, down through marshy
lowlands and up across ridges covered with a variety of broadleaf trees, and down again into a hemlock forest before returning
to our start amid pine plantations. Good conversation and company along the way.
l-r: Alex Neubert, Ann & Tom Ortmeyer, Pat & TL Bill Mueller, Armond Spencer.
Photo: Ann Spencer.
Bushwhack a Little Mountain, February 29, 2008
A cold start quickly warmed up with the sun shining brightly and no wind. We snowshoed across Mountain Pond to a place
where we started climbing. The round trip took 3 1/2 hrs. With only views through the pines we did not stay too long.
Great powder snow!
l-r: Eloise Leedom, TL Geri Ames, George Leedom.
Photo: Wayne Ratowski.
Stone Valley Snowshoe, March 1, 2008
It was a very nice day. We went up the west side of the valley from Brown's Bridge, on a trip that included
two recently rerouted sections of trail, and had great views of the river. We lunched overlooking Lucy's Hole, and then enjoyed a
nicely-packed trail on the way back.
Front row, l-r: Kathy Conway, Aviva Panona.
Back row, l-r: Gene Kaczka, TL Tom Ortmeyer, Alex Neubert.
Photo: Carolyn Kaczka.
Mount Gilligan, March 15, 2008
The Ides of March did not prove ominous, as it turned out. The six of us climbed resolutely over steep pitches
and down dips on wet snow. We lunched at a viewpoint from which we could see
the lower portions of Macomb and Rocky Peak below the cloud cover. Fortified,
we dropped into the last col and climbed to the wooded summit. Descent on snowshoes
had its own difficulties. The leader, ever an educator, gave several demonstrations
of how to fall on snowshoes. Coffee and spicy soup at the deli in Saranac Lake
revived us nicely. Rain held off until the drive home.
Front row, l-r: Ann & Armond Spencer, Art Johnson, Gene & Carolyn Kaczka.
Photo: Duncan Cutter.
Owen and Copperas Ponds Snowshoe, March 22, 2008
The wind made it a chilly day but the sunshine
was glorious. We started at the western trailhead and visited Owen pond before
heading up and over to Copperas pond for a magnificent view of Whiteface. After
hot chocolate with lunch at the leanto we headed up over and down steeply to
the eastern trailhead. Winch pond will have to wait for a summer visit. A beautiful
trip on a beautiful day.
Photo: Blaire Madore.
Not pictured: Betty Peckham, Gretchen Koehler, Joel Foisy, Gaetan Foisy, Sylvain Foisy, Blair Madore, Gromit the dog.
Pitchoff Mountain Snowshoe, March 30, 2008
On a perfect day of brilliant sunshine and relative warmth, we traversed Pitchoff ridge over
many little summits in deep snow. Frequent panoramic views south to Marcy and
nearby High Peaks, west toward Lake Placid, north toward Whiteface, and east
into Vermont provided many photo ops. We concluded tired but elated, agreeing
that on a scale of 1 to 10, this was a 10.
Front row, l-r: John Barron, Darcy La Combe, Alicia Schantz, Tom Ortmeyer.
Back row, l-r: Hollis Easter, TLs John & Susan Omohundro.
April 19 Lampson to Harper Falls. TLs Armond & Ann Spencer. Participants: Bill Mueller, Debra White, Susan & John Omohundro, Ed Moczydlowski, David Katz. We had an excellent day. The falls were spectacular, and the wild flowers were starting to appear. The bushwhack was fairly easy, but imagine our surprise when we came upon a newly-flagged trail down to Harper Falls.
Everton Falls Cleanup, April 26, 2008
TL (& photographer): Duncan Cutter. Participants: Lois Cutter (pictured), Armond Spencer, Doug Munro.
Roadside and trail clean-ups can produce surprises. Last
year it was a white goat. This year a TV with a bullet hole square in the middle
of the screen. We wonder who aimed at whom, and why. High water enhanced the
falls. Doug pointed across the falls to a mink humping his way along the far
shore. No black flies! A few hard snow banks, but it would be difficult to recall
a nicer day to be with friends sprucing up one of our favorite landscapes.
Birding in the Clarkson Woods, April 30, 2008
Participants: Eleanor Rosenthal (l) and Nina Katz (r).
Lots of great blue herons and Canada geese gave us a lively
background for viewing the pair of wood ducks, the iridescent common grackles,
an American kestrel, a black-throated green warbler, some crows, and a couple
of Clarkson whatzits (where are the good birders when you need them?).
Photo: TL Dick Mooers.
Catamount Mountain Hike, May 10, 2008
Catamount offers variety and views, and shad bloom. First we hiked on the level through balsam then through birch and scrub pine
before embarking on sometimes steep rises, through mixed hardwoods to mostly bare rock and the open summit, from which there are
excellent views of Whiteface, Union, Taylor, and Spring Ponds, and across Lake Champlain to Mt. Mansfield. The most fun on the trip
is squeezing through the “chimney.” Couple that with hiking stories that Armond shared with us and you have a perfect
ADK outing.
Pictured (l-r): TL Lois & Paul Cutter, Pat DeJoy, & Armond Spencer.
Not pictured: John & Susan Omohundro.
Photo: TL Duncan Cutter.
Heuvelton Bicycling, May 10, 2008
It was a great day for a relaxing 23-mile trip over mostly quiet roads. We went south from Rensselaer Falls to Kendrew Corners,
then down Stevenson Road where there were flocks of white trillium. We then angled west and north to Heuvelton through the Amish
country, where we saw both a barn-raising and a five-horse plow hitch. We had lunch and a short shopping break in Heuvelton, and then
took the River Road back to Rensselaer Falls, with a short stop on the banks of the Oswegatchie.
l-r: John Barron, Deb Bullock, Bill Mueller, Carolyn Kaczka, TL Tom Ortmeyer.
Photo: Ann Ortmeyer.
May 21 Azure Mountain. TL Joan Collins. Participants: Ann Spencer, Joan Howlett. The temperature was 50 degrees, 40 degrees on the summit (~2500') with strong winds. We had light rain while on the summit, but most of the hike was dry. Thirty-six species were tallied including 14 warbler species. We stopped at three different wetlands along Blue Mountain Road before reaching the trailhead. The SW winds were very strong so conditions did not allow us to hear blackpoll warblers on the summit. Other than the common ravens, we did not observe any other species soaring off the cliffs in the rain/wind. Joan Howlett was the only one to brave the firetower in the wind!
Newton Falls Mine Tailings Reforestation, May 24, 2008
The participants included two people who grew up in the Benson Mines area and a county legislator. We were ably instructed by Dr. Mike Bridgen of the Ranger School on the history and functioning of the iron mine and the reforestation project. Atop the man-made “Sahara” formed by the tailings, we marveled at the views of nearby hills and ponds. Most impressive were the lovely dark-green red pines, among other species, growing in a properly littered Adirondack forest on what in 1995 was a sandy wasteland.
Dr. Bridgen explained how sludge from the Newton Falls paper mill was used to neutralize the acidity of the site, provide organic nutrients, improve moisture retention, and regrow a forest including red pines like the one shown with Dr. Bridgen. Further rehabilitation will depend on obtaining approval from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).
Photo on left: Dr. Michael Bridgen, SUNY ESF
Middle photo, l-r:
Carolyn Kaczka, Glen Harris, Richard LaDue, Ann Ortmeyer, Carol LaDue, Tom Ortmeyer, Ann Spencer, Andy Refici, Pat Mueller,
Lyle Refici, Mark Lowell, Gene Kaczka, Neal Burdick, TL Bill Mueller, & Armond Spencer.
Photo on right: St. Lawrence County legislator Fred Morrill, near abandoned mine buildings
Not pictured: Peter Smith.
Photos: John Barron.
May 28 Picnic and Paddle. TL Dick Mooers. Participants: Doug Ackley, Alison Charles, Chris Murphy and Jim Plumley. The trip was switched to Blake Falls Reservoir because of the west wind, because Carry Falls Reservoir is a rough body of water in a blow. The leader’s bad instructions for the put-in disappointed Mary Jane Watson and Marilyn Fayette, who tried to find the group. We paddled on a circuit from the McNeil campground beach to the southern end of the lake, visiting the old Raquette River inlet and also the tailrace channel from Stark Reservoir’s generating station. We all paddled up the tailrace to the dam against the considerable current and enjoyed the free ride back to the lake. We were accompanied on our down-channel trip by an annoyed beaver, which swam mid-stream all the way, repeatedly surfacing, tail-slapping when he saw us again, and diving. We also saw a pair of common loons.
June 7 Debar Mountain TL Nancy Skiff. Participants: Ron Dumoulin, Caroline Durant, Carol LaDue, Richard LaDue, Peter Smith, Justin Bland, Phil Carusso, and dog Zena. The day was very hot, muggy, sunny, and buggy. The sky was blue all day and wonderful views and refreshing breezes on the summit caused us to stay up for nearly an hour.
June 8 Massawepie Paddle. TLs Gene & Carolyn Kaczka. Participants: Mary Jane Watson, Marilyn Fayette, Christine Murphy, Debra Mitchell, Mary MacKinnon, Ken Coskran. Despite a weather forecast that threatened thunderstorms and showers, we decided to explore Massawepie Lake. Though dark clouds regularly threatened, we were treated to bright sunny skies and modest breezes rippling the waters. A duck family and a heron were the only wildlife sighted.
June 19 Lampson Falls Cleanup TLs Cliff and Gloria Daly. Participants: Marlene and Alex Marcon, Jim McCulloch, Donna Fay Mailhot, Jan Jancar, Shannon, Darcy and Marlene Holt, Armond and Ann Spencer, Sam Conzone. Flocks of squawking cedar waxwings at the top of the falls swooped in celebration as we efficiently removed the usual mess of broken bottles and cans. The cleanup was easy compared to the usually easy hike north along the river to the rapids, much of which is now a nettle-infested bushwhack caused by blowdown blocking the former path over much of its length. Afterward, on the sunny porch of the Kepes's, our scrapes and scratches were easily forgotten courtesy of oodles of Dick and Joan’s humour and hospitality.
Jun. 25 Birding at Clarkson Woods. TL Dick Mooers. Participants: Ann Spencer, Kathie Batson, Sheila Cerwonka. Chicks the size of chickens were on the great blue herons’ nests, colorful green herons were in the air, and swallows were busy catching insects over the lush wetland vegetation of early summer. We also saw or heard grey catbird, brown creeper, Canada goose, eastern phoebe, wood peewee, yellow-bellied sapsucker, downy woodpecker, black-throated green warbler, great crested flycatcher, wood thrush, red-eyed vireo, and Baltimore oriole from the wetland observation tower and along the two-mile woodland trail.
Stark Falls Reservoir Paddle, June 25, 2008
The group paddled about five miles in a light breeze, exploring the lake's southern and eastern areas.
This was a first paddle for Karen and Adeline. The wildlife sighting highlight was
a solitary adult common loon. The relaxed pace and sociable group made
for a nice evening on the lake.
L-R: Nancy Ackley, Karen Murray, Ron Morrow.
Not pictured: Michel & Adeline Clayton, TL Dick Mooers, Tom Ortmeyer, Clark Warner.
Photo: Doug Ackley.
Jul. 1 Low's Ridge - Upper Dam Trail TL Joan Collins. Participants: Ann Beaulieu, Denise Griffin, Joan Howlett, Fuat Latif, Emily & Jim Pugsley. The weather was partly cloudy, with no rain and little wind. The conditions were perfect for the thousands of mosquitoes that fed on us, but we did our best to ignore them! We hiked to Hitchens Pond where we had lunch at the picnic/canoe take-out area. Two people went swimming in the pond. Five of us hiked up Low's Ridge after lunch. We found 56 species during the trip including 16 warbler species. The Low's Ridge - Upper Dam Trail continues to be one of my favorite birding destinations.
Jul. 5 - Osgood Pond/Outlet Paddle TL Larry Master. Participants: Jim & Emily Pugsley. It was a very slow morning - no black-backed or three-toed woodpeckers, just a bunch of warblers, sparrows, and a few other birds. We had a nice paddle to near where the Osgood River becomes impassible a few miles downstream from Osgood Lake. The weather was very cooperative.
Mount Marshall Hike, July 19, 2008
On this rather hot, humid day we hiked in from the Upper Works to climb
Marshall. We chose the ascent via the unmarked trail that follows
Herbert Brook. The views from the summit were limited due to the haze
and cloud cover, but satisfactory and well worth the trip. We met
several groups of hikers both on the flowed lands and summit trails.
L-R: Molly Mott-Tracy, TL Charles Tracy, and David Tracy
Jul. 30 Birding in the Clarkson Woods TL Dick Mooers. We saw a few herons still on nests, the others perhaps off fishing on a pleasant summer morning. Our entertainment consisted of cedar waxwings, red-winged blackbirds, eastern phoebe, and some swallows, everyone eating at the buffet of insects spread before them on the marsh. Wood thrush and red-eyed vireo were singing unseen in the forest cover. Dick, Larry and Judy enjoyed a stroll and chat around the two-mile ski trail.
Evening Paddle & Picnic at Rainbow Falls Reservoir, July 30, 2008
We took a chance on the weather and were
pleasantly surprised with clearing skies and a zephyr, made magic by
three adult common loons swimming together and a female common
merganser with her brood of six. We paddled for about an hour
and a half and enjoyed our picnic supper at the launch before heading
to The Hideaway for dessert.
L-R: TLs Peggy & Dick Mooers, Tom Ortmeyer.
Not shown: Nancy Ackley, Karen Murray.
Photo: Doug Ackley.
Cranberry Lake Paddle, August 9, 2008
We launched in Wanakena
near the Pine Cone Restaurant and paddled down the Oswegatchie and
into Cranberry Lake at Flatiron Point. We crossed the lake to Black
Duck Hole. The weather was good and the scenery beautiful through the
entire trip, and we had plenty of time to explore, relax, and enjoy.
L-R near Black Duck Hole: Debra Mitchell, Kevin & Laurie Toomey, TL Tom Ortmeyer.
Not shown: Eleanore Menz, John & Susan Omohundro.
Photo: Jo DenBleyker.
St. Lawrence River Paddle, August 13, 2008
The sun came out after a rainy day, and we had an excellent evening paddle on the beautiful Saint Lawrence River,
leaving from Whalen Park and exploring the shoreline of Sand Island. We took a dinner break at the island, but stuck to
paddling rather than swimming.
L-R, at dinner on the Sand Island boat ramp: Doug & Nancy Ackley, Kathie Colarusso, Sandy Heister, Kevin Toomey,
Allison Charles, John Tenbusch, MaryAnne Durant, TL Ann Ortmeyer.
Photo: TL Tom Ortmeyer.
Colvin & Blake Hike, August 16, 2008
The day started with very nice hiking weather, but
it would change when we reached the summit of Mt. Colvin. A
thunderstorm with hail made our summit stay very brief and we left
Blake peak for another day. We met a family of "Colvins"
on our descent. One of the Colvin family members had his truck stolen
the night before but still made the hike. Tom Wheeler kept the group
interested throughout the hike with his knowledge and experiences. It
was greatly appreciated.
L-R: TL Charles Tracy, David Tracy, Alicia Schantz, Marianne Hebert.
Photo: Tom Wheeler.
Mt Arab Hike, August 22, 2008
A morning
climb of Mt. Arab under clear skies. We talked to Maridee, the fire
tower steward from SUNY Potsdam's environmental studies program, on
the last day of her 9-week internship, climbed the tower, looked at
the exhibits in the cabin, took photos, picked blueberries, enjoyed
the scenery.
L-R: TL John Omohundro, Maridee Rutledge, TL Susan Omohundro
Photo: John Barron.
Gothics, August 23, 2008
Ed Moczydlowski (left) and John Barron (right), the only two on the trip, were favored with perfect
weather, perfect visibility, and spectacular views, such as this one from Pyramid Peak, situated on a spur of Gothics not
far from the summit.
Aug. 23 The Man-Made Forest of Colton TL Bill Mueller. Participants: Pat Mueller, Marsha Shifman, Ron & Mary MacKinnon, Louise Bixby, Peter LaVine, Neal, Barbara & Melissa Burdick. The participants include a man born on the headwaters of O’Malley Brook, which we later visited on our walk, and two people for whom this was the first ADK hike. The day was beautiful. We started on County Route 58 on the shores of the ancient Lake Algonquian, whose sandy deposits provided the ideal soil for the scotch and red pine plantations, now 60-80 years old. We walked a labyrinth of forest roads, dodging debris from the June microburst, marveling at the beauty of the stately pines, and arrived at O’Malley Brook and a foot trail that followed the gorge through natural forests of beech, maple, hemlock and eventually oak trees. On our 300-foot descent to the north end of the trail, hikers collected award-winning amounts of trash left by anonymous travelers. A return up Lenny Road with another dodge into the forest completed the 3+ mile trip.
Aug. 27 Birding in the Clarkson Woods TL Dick Mooers Participants: Sheila Cerwonka, Mary Ann Cateforis. We enjoyed a still, crisp morning’s blue sky, seeing oriole, black-capped chickadee, red-breasted nuthatch, green heron, eastern phoebe, blue jay, wood duck, grackle, starling, and too many crows, and hearing red-eyed vireo, eastern wood peewee, and various Clarksonian Whatzit off in the foliage. Mary Ann counted 25 heron nests in the rookery, all with "Vacant, For Rent" signs.
Picnic & Paddle at Five Falls Reservoir, August 27, 2008
Mary MacKinnon, TLs Peggy & Dick Mooers, Mary Jane Watson, Geri Ames, Doug & Nancy Ackley, Ron Morrow, Karen Murray,
and Clark Warner spent a pleasant and sometimes exciting hour on this smallest of the power development reservoirs. All five
falls were explored, we had the company of a very tame Canada goose, and an American bald eagle posed for us for so long that we paddled
away while it was still up there at the top of a dead tree near the shore. It was fun to poke our bows into the quick water running
out from the rapids and to learn the technique of ferrying across a current in a sea kayak. Celebrating Nancy’s birthday was
literally the icing on the cake.
Photo: Doug Ackley.
Aug. 30 - Bushwhack to Lost Pond Mountain
This unnamed mountain in the High Peaks is eponymously nicknamed Lost Pond Mountain,
for the unusual pond located in its summit bowl. This off-trail hike provided
solitude on a crowded Labor Day weekend, plenty of exercise, and a route finding
challenge amid cliffs.
The participants reached one of a ring of minor summits and were rewarded with
distant views of other ranges.
Shown in the woods on the summit ring are: foreground, John Omohundro; background
from left, Susan Omohundro, TL Tom Wheeler,
Ann Spencer, John Barron.
Photo: Armond Spencer.
Sep. 6 - McKenzie Mountain TLs Ann & Armond Spencer. Participants: Tom Ortmeyer, Ken Coskran, Caren Hotte, Nancy & Paula Skiff, Marianne Hebert, Caroline Durant. It was a gloomy day with a promise of rain, and we got what was promised. We returned the way we went up, and promised to do another trip with the full loop.
Sept. 13 - Saranac Chain of Lakes Paddle, September 13, 2008
We had a perfect day on the water for the 14-mile trip starting on Middle Saranac Lake, continuing on through the
self-operated lock to island-studded Lower Saranac Lake, down the river to the State lock into Oseetah Lake, and finally to
the Village of Saranac Lake on Lake Flower. Paddling conditions were ideal: flat calm all day, and Loons and Mergansers were seen.
L-R, on Middle Saranac Lake: Jim Plumley, Doug Ackley, John Tenbusch, Ellie Menz,
Marilyn Fayette, Ken Coskran, Peggy Mooers, Chris Murphy, Mary Jane Watson.
Photo: TL Dick Mooers.
Higley Flow Paddle, September 24, 2008
Participants: Doug and Nancy Ackley, Geri Ames, Amanda, Miciah (age 1+) & Mike Balonek, Chris Murphy, Jim Plumley, Susan Omohundro,
Mary MacKinnon, Peggy Mooers, Elizabeth Taylor, and Don & Jan Govreau from Texas. We paddled the length of Higley Flow from
Brookfield Power's Big Rock boat launch. All “survived” the fun of campy, creepy Black Lagoon to complete the summer
series of Wednesday evening paddle events. The Texans were delighted with the beauty of autumn on the lake and the warm companionship,
light-heartedness and great paddling of the outing.
Photo: TL Dick Mooers.
Little Porter Hike, September 28, 2008
John Barron and Marianne Hebert sized up Hurricane Kyle, decided it was not a threat, and went ahead with the hike as planned.
The morning was surprisingly pleasant: excellent long views from Little Porter, with mixed high clouds and bright patches and low clouds
covering some peaks creating a very dynamic sky. The fall colors were at their spectacular peak, there was no rain, and there was even a
sunny break. Then they climbed into the clouds, where mist and light rain were their companions for the rest of the day. An excellent
trip and a reminder that the mountains are enjoyable even in wet weather. Photos at Little Porter, by each other.
Oct. 4 - Round Lake Paddle TLs: Duncan & Lois Cutter. Pretty cool (40’s) pretty windy (lily pads tipped up) but pretty color still on the hills. Loons were still in residence and calling to us, reminding us that mid-summer is the ideal time to head our canoes for that lovely stretch of white sand beach.
Oct. 5 - Leonard Pond Trail TLs Peter O’Shea & Joan Collins. Participants: Ann Beaulieu, Joan Howlett, Judy & Larry Lasman, Liz Martens, Kelly & Mike Noble, Jo Skiff, Ann Spencer, and Uta Wister. Our group found 20 bird species while hiking the Leonard Pond Trail. The most abundant species was red-breasted nuthatch (other than the hoards of Canada geese). The nuthatches were found throughout the hike, including several flocks. There were some wildflowers still growing in the woods, and mushrooms are still abundant - many different colors and sizes (some huge). Peter O'Shea identified animal scat, most of which was left by berry-eating coyotes, but he also found bear scat in the woods.
Oct. 18 - Tour of SUNY Ranger School
Fifteen participants, some from as far away as Montreal, Ottawa and Watertown,
enjoyed a perfect, cool fall day, visiting four of the many main trails, including
Reservoir trail, Little Haystack, Micro-burst trail, “The Frost Pocket”,
and Cathedral Rock, of the 2800-acre forest of the Ranger School. We also enjoyed
the restored fire tower and a side bushwhack to a 125-year old white pine.
Front row, L-R: Denise Deslauriers, Suzanne Liberty, Nicolette
Nolan, Amber Meyers, Mindy Loucks.
Back row, L-R: Sung Lin, Niall Barron, Charlotte Lin, Josephine
Sheff, Darcy LaCombe,
Alicia Schantz, Pat Mueller, TL Bill Mueller, John Barron.
Photo: Paul Loucks.
Oct. 31 - Catamount Mountain Trail Maintenance TLs Cliff & Gloria Daly. Catamount was a fright on Friday: while the St. Lawrence valley basked in the fifties, the first viewpoint on Catamount, just below the chimney, was at freezing and accompanied by 30 mph winds. We lunched and turned around there, for we were very tired and soaked, having taken out about 30 to 50 saplings while hiking through 6 to 18 inches of wet snow.
Nov. 2 -Fall Potluck and Annual Meeting
Betsy Tisdale (right) presented a gift basket and a speech of appreciation on behalf of the
Chapter to Anna Gerhard-Arnold (left). Anna, now a noted North Country artist, was the
winner of a contest held in 1986 to design a symbol and logo for the Chapter. Long-time members recall
the reasoning of Paul Jamieson, who declared that Anna's loon design was not only beautiful and artistic
but portrayed a creature associated more with St. Lawrence County than with any other part of New York.
The Laurentian Loon, now recognized as one of the most distinctive symbols from among the ADK's chapters,
is used on web sites, the Chapter's newsletter, T-shirts, coffee mugs, backpack patches, and similar items,
including the shirt Betsy is wearing in this photo.
Dec 20 - Whiteface Toll Road Ski David Trithart (TL), Willie Trithart, Bruce Brownlee, David Brouwer, Jim Allott. Five fortunate skiers found a fine day amid a series of storms. The temperature didn’t rise above 5 F at the start, but the clouds vanished and the wind dropped to nil. From the “castle” they scrambled up the icy rocks to the rime-encrusted summit. On the descent they saw an amazing “sun pillar” over Lake Placid - a first for all of them. The ride to the bottom was a rush, as usual.