Backtracks    

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Mud Season Potluck, April 19
Neal Burdick autographed a number of copies of the new, updated third edition of the anthology of Adirondack stories, The Adirondack Reader. The Reader has been a classic for decades, and the new edition culminates years of selection and editing effort by Neal and his collaborator, the late Paul Jamieson. Copies are available at Brewer Bookstore at St. Lawrence University (SLU), at Weston’s in Potsdam, and on-line via www.adk.org. Neal, a resident of Canton and administrator at SLU, is an active member of the Laurentian Chapter and editor of the ADK’s magazine, Adirondac.
Photo: Tom Ortmeyer.

Red Sandstone Trail Workday, April 19 We accomplished three projects on Sugar Island this pleasant sunny early spring day: a water bar, removal of a rogue campsite, and construction of a high water detour trail. Several walkers and some runners passed us as we worked. John and Susan Omohundro (TLs), Jo Skiff, Bryan & Johanna Shea, Cliff & Gloria Daly, Tim Schwob, David Trithart, Donald Potter, Lisa and Lucas Hanss, Aaron Sala, Alex Weil, David Tisdale.

Leave No Trace Workshop, April 23
Several ADK members came out on a beautiful evening to learn a bit more about how to be a bit less noticeable in the wilds. We talked about the basic tenets of Leave No Trace outdoor ethics, including some great discussions about what they mean for people in the Adirondacks.
L-R: Tom & Ann Ortmeyer, Bryan & Johanna Shea, TL Shannon Fyrberg, Rose Rivezzi, Hollis Easter.
Photo: Hollis Easter.

Everton Falls Cleanup, May 2
Clean up gets easier every year--very little trash, but considerable blow-down across the trails. It was a fine day: 50 degrees, mostly sunny, almost no black flies (appeared only as we were enjoying sandwiches by the falls). We came across two trophies:

1. a TV set with a bullet hole through its screen, and
2. a box of “one dozen Canadian fish worms - not for human consumption.”

We weren’t even tempted!
Shown sorting trash for disposal are Armond Spencer, TL Lois Cutter, and Nature Conservancy representative Doug Munro of Keene.
Photo: TL Duncan Cutter.

Birding at Indian Creek Nature Center, May 2
About ten people joined coleaders Joan Collins of Potsdam and Eileen Wheeler of Canton for a half day of bird observation near Rensselaer Falls; the event was jointly organized by the Indian Creek Nature Center, Northern New York Audubon, and the Laurentian Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club. Many colorful species were seen during a tour of the Nature Center as well as short visits to a handful of other birding hot spots stretching as far away as De Kalb. Shown atop the observation tower at Indian Creek are (l-r) TL Eileen Wheeler, Marianne Hebert, & John Barthelme.
Photo: John Barron.

Lost Pond Hike/Bushwhack, May 2 All day long, while sunshine bathed our faces, water bathed our feet. The Indian Pass trail, cleverly disguised as the Adirondacks’ longest set of cascades, was a mere warmup for our crossing of a Saint Lawrence-look-alike called Indian Pass Brook. We called it a day, submersed (of course!) in knee-high deep, rotten snow, at the bushwhack’s start. Attempt number three will be coming up this fall! Cliff and Gloria Daly (TLs), John and Susan Omohundro, Arthur Boni, Alicia Schatz, Darcy Lacombe.

Catamount Mountain Trail Maintenance, May 3 Cheery “thank yous” from passing hikers were icing on the cake for our hard-working crew as we sawed and lopped our way up the surprisingly dry and snow-free Catamount path. That summit visitors are no longer turning our scree walls into inukshuks was an unexpected bonus! Cliff and Gloria Daly (TLs), Arthur Boni, Bill Stewart, John and Dianne Creery, Ed Moczydlowski

Giant’s Nubble and Washbowl, May 10 Fate was kind. We encountered no worse than drizzle and a few snowflakes on our way to Roaring Brook Falls (lots of water!), the Nubble (views across Rt. 73 to Noonmark and mist-enshrouded High Peaks) and the Giant’s Washbowl. This route is worth repeating. John and Susan Omohundro (TLs), Bill Mueller, Jim Snyder, Marianne Hebert, Bryan Shea

Lampson Falls Cleanup, May 30
Mother Nature shut off the rain tap just as our group headed down to the falls, so we enjoyed a peek of sun here and there while we searched for almost nonexistent beer cans and bottles. A record participation of young folks on this annual clean-up! Afterward, Dick and Joan Kepes as usual provided us with plenty of “people sunshine” at a social in their home. Cliff & Gloria Daly (TLs), Armond Spencer, Shannon Holt & her two babies (Darcy & Colin), John Barron, Niall Barron, and a young family with two children whose names we didn’t catch.
l-r: Cliff Daly, Niall Barron, Armond Spencer.
Photo: John Barron.

Massawepie Mire Nature Walk, May 30, 2009
Joan Collins & Eileen Wheeler led a nature walk in Piercefield’s Massawepie Mire, the largest fen in New York, on a joint trip with Northern New York Audubon. A large turnout of participants, from several North Country communities and as far away as Vermont and the Finger Lakes, came to admire the birds and wildflowers. The former included thrushes, jays, flycatchers, and many species of warblers; two Red Efts were seen as well. The latter included Red Chokeberry (pictured), abundant in sizes from 8 inches to six feet tall; Bog Laurel; Bog Rosemary; and Labrador Tea.
Photo: Dick Mooers.

Catamount Bicycle Tour, June 6, 2009
We assembled at Sunday Rock in South Colton for our 25 mile bicycle tour past several of the power dam reservoirs, emerging on Route 56 and continuing south to Catamount Lodge where co-owner Joe McWilliams welcomed us indoors for lunch sheltered from a brief rainshower. After enjoying a tour of the attractive lodge and an update from Joe about recent developments along the Raquette River Recreation Corridor, we returned via Rt. 56, crossing the flats and making a fast descent past the Snow Bowl to return to the start point. Shown at Five Falls Reservoir are, left to right, Geri Ames, Tom & Ann Ortmeyer, John Barron, Bev Snyder, Jodee Cotey.
Photo: John Barron.

MacNaughton via Wallface Pond, June 13 Questionable weather holds the hiker show-ups to four at the Loj. The 6.3-mile hike and stream crossings into Avalanche Pass and Wallface Ponds are quite wet due to recent rains. The black flies chase us off the view/lunch ledge, but fortunately, the heavy rain holds off until the drive home. A damp 15-mile hike, but participants were tickled to get MacNaughton. Mike McLean (TL), Vasily Cateforis, Dan Monroe, Stuart Kelley, Rob Fisher.

Picnic and Paddle: Higley Flow Reservoir, June 24, 2009
Doug & Nancy Ackley, Ann Aumond & Erin Pratt, Alison Charles, Mary Jane Watson, Terry & Jessica Persons, Justin Merrill, Dick & Peggy Mooers, and Bill Romey paddled from Big Rock boat launch at the Higley Dam about two miles to the State Park, where they enjoyed a picnic supper together. Later, they explored the very green “Black Lagoon” to see scary sights.
Solo boat: Ann Aumond
Picnickers, l-r: Alison Charles, Mary Jane Watson, Erin Pratt, Bill Romey, Doug Ackley, Justin Merrill, Nancy Ackley, Jessica Persons, Terry Persons, Ann Aumond, Peggy Mooers
Photos: Dick Mooers.