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January 1 (Sunday) New Year’s Day at Clarkson
The snow coverage was very sparse - too little for either skiing or snowshoeing, so walking was the preferred way to tour the campus trails this year. A half dozen went out despite light rain showers; about 30 people enjoyed the potluck supper. Bob Beckstead of the Courier Observer came to check out the event, and his very informative article about the chapter and its activities appeared in the Watertown Daily Times a day or two later.

January 7 (Saturday) Skiing At Higley Flow
There was barely enough snow, but conditions were good and the weather was perfect - mild and sunny. About half the participants had never skied before, but they learned quickly and all had a good time. After a couple of hours exploring the park’s road network, which becomes a trail system in the winter, the group went to the Hide Away Cafe in Colton.
L-R: Debby Nikkari, Marie Moore, Marianne Hebert, Diana Gim, Sun Woo Gim, Mi Sun Kim, Jeong In Moon.
Not pictured: Cherie, David, and Julian Heuser.
Photo: TL John Barron.

January 21 (Saturday) Ski/Snowshoe to Grassy Pond
Duncan, Lois (TLs) and Paul Cutter, Deborah Nikkori, Marianne Hebert, John Tyo, Rajiv Narula, Mija Yang and 2 sons, Beth Robinson and son Simon, Richard and Susan Arens. Fourteen people of varying abilities and ages skied or snowshoed to the well-kept lean-to at Grassy Pond near Paul Smiths. There was adequate snow cover on the three miles of trails through beautiful woods, including a scenic crossing of the Osgood River. The lean-to is maintained by ADK members Sandra Hildreth and Marilyn Gillespie. There we enjoyed swapping interesting foods as we looked over the snow-covered pond. Many participants were new-comers to ADK and friendships were forged. A last-minute treat was to watch a father-son team hitch their huskies (all rescue dogs) to their sled, heading off to near-by Mountain Pond.

February 5 (Sunday) Winter Climb of Street and Nye
Toni Towle & Peter Blood (TLs), Brian Baston, Alex Terry. Hiker Alex Terry from SUNY-Potsdam was inspired by John Barron’s ADK-Laurentian presentation at his college in the fall, so decided to join us. Leaving the parking lot by 8AM we reached Indian Pass Brook which was unfrozen, but easy to cross. We summited Street Mt. around 12 PM with a reading of 12F at the summit. Nye’s summit was reached in about 20 minutes. For Brian,these are his 26th and27th high peaks on his way to 46, and the 8th and 9th for Alex.

February 11 (Saturday) Gothics & Armstrong via Beaver Meadow Falls
Mike McLean (TL), Susan Soboroff, David Charles, and Dan Scatena. We hit the trail on a much warmer than predicted day with temperatures in the teens and traction devices on our feet from the start due to glare ice. We exchanged crampons and micro-spikes for snowshoes at the large boulder a few hundred feet below the Gothics-Armstrong junction and enjoyed powder snow to the summit of Gothics. There we saw only close-up views of clouds and snow. Back at the junction we decided to throw in Armstrong as two of us had never climbed it. The views from the Armstrong summit ledge the same as from Gothics. We returned the way we came making our way back over the tricky ladders, carefully down the ice and crunched our way back to the parking lot. A nice 12 mile hike with wonderful company.

February 12 (Sunday) Owl’s Head Mt. (Long Lake)
Forecast was for cold, and it was! With traction devices on foot and snowshoes, we headed up on a well-traveled and clearly-defined trail. The grade was gradual until the last half mile or so where it became steep with some icy spots. There was much more snow here than at the trailhead, and to our delight, much more sun. Wonderful view from the summit. Could not have asked for a better day for a winter climb.
On tower: Carolyn Kaczka
Not pictured: Dana Chudzinski (TL), Tom Ortmeyer
Photo: Brian Baston

February 26 (Saturday) St. Regis Mt. Snowshoe
Blair Madore (TL), Jeff and Rebecca Miller, Mija Yang, Tom Ortmeyer, John Barron. A snowstorm in the days before the trip left us with plenty of fresh snow and a remarkably sunny day. The younger hikers headed up before their elders and did most of the trail breaking. It was still arduous especially on the steep pitches. Glorious views from the summit made up for all the labor. We could easily discern Mt. Marcy, the McIntyre Range, Big Tupper, and the lakes of the St. Regis Canoe Area. On the descent we were treated to a remarkable view of Whiteface. It was a challenging but classic Adirondack trip, thoroughly enjoyed by all. For Mija, a student from Korea and a chapter member, this was her first hike on snowshoes - well done!

March 25 (Sunday) MacKenzie Mt. Snowshoe / Hike
L-R: Brian Baston, TL Dana Chudzinski, Bruce Brownlee.
Photo: Brian Baston

March 25 (Sunday) McKenzie Mt Dana Chudzinski (TL), Brian Baston, Bruce Brownlee. Hit the trailhead about 9:00 to overcast skies. First part of the trail followed the jackrabbit ski trail. Wet in spots but overall trail was in good shape with gradual grades. Trail started to steepen when we turned onto the McKenzie trail, a small increase in grade at first but increasingly steep. By the time we summited, visibility was near zero. Having a great group more than made up for it.

April 7 (Saturday) Church Pond Bushwhack

We hiked in from Rt. 56 at the old trail entrance (now overgrown) near Fox Marsh, following state land to the head of the marsh and crossed a wet area into the big hemlocks, spruces and yellow birches of the Church Pond tract. Over a few more hills and valleys, following the compass, we reached Church Pond with its big white pines and a sheltered spot for lunch. After lunch, an exploratory trip took us along an esker south of the pond and into a firm bog with some frozen pieces. Along the way were many bear scats full of beech nuts (so at least some of the beeches are still surviving). Backtracking, we passed through more beautiful groves of hemlock, birch, maple and spruce. The trip just whetted the appetite for more exploring.
Left photo, L-R: Doug Dominy, TL Tom VandeWater, Duncan Cutter, David Katz, Brad Lapoint, Bill & Pat Mueller, Doug Chamberlain, Anne Burnham, John Wood, Tom Ortmeyer. Foreground: Anne’s dog, Freddy. Photo: John Barron.
Right photo: John Barron. Photo: David Katz

April 21 (Saturday) Spring Wild Flower walk Tom & Ann Ortmeyer (TLs), Marianne Hebert, Dan Foster. We braved a cool rainy day and walked the Clarkson woods. Sightings included trout lily, red trillium, white trillium, painted trillium, dutchmen’s britches, Canada mayflower and bluets. We also found a pileated woodpecker who was intent on his bugs and paid us no attention. We then stopped at the observation tower from which we saw heron’s nests but no herons yet.

April 22 (Sunday) Catamount Earth Day Hike
On top of foggy Catamount we found some snow. Half the group gave their nature reading there. Then we visited the shore of Carry Falls Reservoir, which was almost full, and the other half gave their readings there. The rain held off. Several participants were glad to discover these trails.
Back row, L-R: Gene Kaczka; Jean Giblin; Carolyn Kaczka; Jaeyoon Yang; Bill Mueller; Dan Foster; Eugene Li; Martha Orologio; Dorothea Gelb; Mia Yang; Simon & Beth Robinson; Jaehyun Yang.
Front row, L-R: TLs Susan & John Omohundro; Yuzhuo Li; Connie Martin; Tom Ortmeyer.
Photo: John Barron.

April 28 (Saturday) Everton Falls Cleanup with the Nature Conservancy - Duncan & Lois Cutter (TLs), Carolyn Kaczka, Richard & Susanne Arens, Bill Mueller, Terri Persons, Doug Munro. We usually plan the Everton Falls cleanup for the last Saturday in April to avoid snow and black flies. No black flies, but there was a late snowfall that hindered pickup of roadside trash. All of us enjoyed walking the Hardwood Trail, and as the temperature crawled above freezing the snow moved from powdery to crunchy. We lunched on a fallen spruce log that was out of the wind on this beautiful sunny day. There was talk of canoeing opportunities from or to this site, including the 18-mile trip from the outlet of Meacham Lake to Everton Falls.

April 29 (Sunday) Red Sandstone Trail Work Day John & Susan Omohundro (TLs), Niall & John Barron, Ron Johnson, Tom Ortmeyer, Jeff & Rebecca Miller, John Dewar & Sandy McCloy, Dick Mooers, eight students from Canton College’s Outing Club and four students from Potsdam College’s Circle K. We formed seven separate project crews, each headed by a veteran trail worker, and all finished their tasks in about two hours. Switchbacks, rock hops, bridges, and side-cutting. The weather was perfect for work: blue skies and cool breezes and no bugs.

April 29 (Sunday) Spring “Mud Season” Potluck Party
A couple of dozen people enjoyed the traditional spring potluck dinner at Potsdam Presbyterian Church. Betsy Robinson gave a very informative presentation about the career and accomplishments of oceanographer and environmentalist Rachel Carson. On a recent visit to Cambridge, MA Betsy came upon a mural paying tribute to Rachel.
The mural memorializes women activists killed by cancer (including Rachel Carson), celebrates political activism against cancer, condemns environmental carcinogens, and insists on the right to a clean environment.
Photo: Betsy’s friend Erica Chilson.

May 5 (Saturday) Azure Mountain Hike and Spring Clean-Up Mike McLean (TL), Carolyn Kaczka, Marianne Hebert, John Wilson. A nice day for a hike and a bit of trail work. Reorganized the sign-in register, brushed in some false herd paths, put up new trail markers, and with the help of some Potsdam boy scouts we ran into on the summit, moved most of the rock pile on the summit to areas needing erosion protection.

May 6 (Sunday) Downerville State Forest Hike
The group explored a newly-developed network of hiking and mountain biking trails in Downerville State Forest along the north branch of the Grasse River. The trails were constructed by volunteers, most of whom were students and faculty of St. Lawrence University or members of the St. Lawrence Mountain Bike Association, with the cooperation of the New York State DEC.
L-R at Harper Falls: TL Marsha Akins, John WIlson, Carolyn Kaczka, Janice Lee and Mike Secone (foreground), TL Jim Akins (background).
Photo: John Barron.

May 12 (Saturday) Peavine Swamp Trail Hike
The “Peavine Nine” (if you include the two dogs, Max and Heidi) enjoyed ideal weather for a short outing. The palette of spring greens (some closer to yellow) displayed their youthful exuberance; the forest floor was carpeted with trout lilies, trillium (painted, in particular) and more. The group split in two, with one cohort taking the long side of Loop 3 from the Ranger School to the lean-to (about 4.7 miles round trip) and the other the short side (3.0 miles RT).
L-R, at the Ranger School boat launch near the Peavine Swamp trailhead: Junko Geddes, Neal Burdick (TL), Marilyn Levitan, John Wilson, Dan Foster, Marianne Hebert.
Photo: John Barron.

May 19 (Saturday) Lampson Falls to Harper Falls Bushwhack Ann & Armond Spencer (TLs), Ken Williams, Ron Larsen, John Wilson. It was a nice (warm) day and the falls were in great form. We achieved our goal after some rough going along the river. One participant, however, was heard to say “There I’ve done it twice, I don’t have to do it again.”

May 20 (Sunday) Dial and Nippletop TL Dana Chudzinski, Alicia Schantz, Paul Strobell, Paul Etu. The hike began at 7AM on a day that forecast “clear and hot.” We began to climb steady for the first mile or so. Then a lot of up and down to the summit of Dial with great views. After a quick break, down the col then up to Nippletop, again with great views. Temperature on top was 86 degrees, no breeze, clear as a bell. Great day.

May 26 (Saturday) Big Slide and the Brothers
We had perfect weather for this very scenic loop with unfolding vistas of the Great Range. We met several people we knew from the Long Island Chapter out on a trail maintenance sweep; so far as we could tell the trail needed no maintenance that day - the conditions were excellent. Several of us stayed overnight to celebrate Peter and Toni’s receiving their finisher’s certificates at the 46ers banquet on Sunday.
L-R on a ledge of The Brothers: TL John Barron, Lenka Halamkova, Brian Baston, Alicia Schantz, Peter Blood, Toni Towle.
Photo: June Fait.

May 27 (Sunday) Third Annual Spring Waterfall Hike Blair Madore (TL), Margaret & Cole Madore; Cherie, David & Julian Heuser; Lila & Charlie Hunnewell; Suzanne, Donnie, Monique & Hunter Bosjolie. Our third annual waterfall hike went off without a hitch. The Copper Rock Falls trail follows the south branch of the Grasse River along continuous rapids, rocks and waterfalls. Although the water level was not high it was still spectacular. Everyone enjoyed lazing by the waterfalls in the warm sunshine. There was a very social atmosphere to this hike as we all made new friends. Especially impressive was 3 year-old Hunter, who hiked the whole way (1.4 miles) by himself without getting cranky - well, not until he fell into the water! A special treat for all were the many (50+) Pink Lady Slipper orchids we saw along the trail.

June 2 (Saturday) Orchid Hunt at the Ranger School: Pink Lady Slipper Adventure Bill & Pat Mueller (TLs), Richard & Susanne Arens, Ellen & Emily Woodworth, Tyler Sweeny. Pink Lady slippers were indeed in abundance on the Esker Trail on this cloudy, slightly drizzly but pleasantly cool day. Many other wildflowers were spotted, including clintonia and jack-in-the-pulpit. We were treated to a view in the Ranger School’s main classroom of the wonderful new forest/wildlife mural commissioned for the 100th anniversary of the school.

June 10 (Sunday) Goodnow Mountain
Six adults and two children enjoyed this moderate hike. There was a fire tower to scramble up, a possibly haunted barn near the summit, and a great view. We could identify some small mountains and water features to the south and a great many of the High Peaks to the north. We deemed the water too cold for a swim afterward, but ice cream was popular.
On rocks, L-R: Brian Baston, Sylvia Haq.
On platform, L-R: Liang Zhang, Jan Halamek Sr, Jan Halamek Jr, Vojtech Halamek, Lenka Halamkova.
Photo: TL John Barron.

June 16 (Saturday) Cranberry Lake - Newton Falls - Wanakena Bike Ride
We had good weather and a good group for this 28-mile road cycling trip. We started at the Cranberry Lake Civic Center and followed the Oswegatchie River to Newton Falls, a nice scenic route along the river. From Newton Falls we cut over to Route 3 and back to Wanakena for a catered lunch in the gazebo. We enjoyed the view of the Oswegatchie coming into Cranberry Lake from the historic footbridge. We finished with ice cream and/or a quick swim in the lake after we completed the loop.
L-R: TL Tom Ortmeyer, Marilyn Levitan, Peter Blood, Toni Towle, Jan Halamek, Gene & Carolyn Kaczka.
Photo: John Barron.

June 17 (Sunday) Rocky Peak Ridge
After arranging cars to make this a one-way trip we started out on the Zander Scott trail. From Chapel Pond the “climbing” started with spots along the way for great views. The day was clear and perfect for a climb. Before long we were at the junction to Rocky Peak Ridge. All in the group had climbed Giant so there was no need for a side trip. Down the col we went and enjoyed an incredible ridge climb with great views. After lunch we headed down the East Trail to New Russia.
L-R: Brian Baston, Lenka Halamkova, Peter Blood, Toni Towle, TL Dana Chudzinski.
Photo: hiker from another party.

July 7 (Saturday) - Cycling from Malone to Mountain View Lake
The ongoing heat wave broke the evening before our trip, giving us perfect weather conditions. Our route featured several long, very steep climbs, and also some fast, exhilarating descents. There was fine mountain scenery throughout. Peter and Toni used the trip as a training run for the upcoming Ididaride, whose colorful jersey Toni sported during our tour.
L-R: Marilyn Levitan, Peter Blood, Toni Towle, Tom Ortmeyer.
Photo: TL John Barron.

July 11 (Wednesday) - Raquette Evening Paddle/Picnic in Potsdam Tom Ortmeyer (TL), Alison Charles, Marianne Hebert, Terri Persons, Richard & Susanne Arens, and Karen Wright. We launched on the Raquette in Potsdam just after 5 pm in strong sunlight and paddled as the sun moved toward setting. We explored the inlets of Oak and Sugar Islands, and saw great blue herons, kingfishers, and frogs. We picnicked at the Red Sandstone Trail canoe launch, then paddled back to Ives Park accompanied by a symphony of songbirds.

July 14 (Saturday) - 1000 Islands Paddle Toni Towle, Peter Blood (TLs), Holly Doughty, John Barron, Bill Sommerfield, Phil Ibbotson, Marilyn Levitan. Seven of us put our kayaks in by the marina in Gananoque and paddled through the scenic Admiralty Islands. Weather was great and not too windy as we paddled through the more protected islands for a few hours. We found the wind quite a bit stronger, though, as we left the shelter of the islands, so we played in the waves for a while before seeking out a sheltered spot for lunch and a swim. We then meandered back, exploring the mouth of the Gananoque River on the way to our put-in. It was a long day on the water, so afterwards we took some much-needed refreshment at the Stonewater pub.

July 22 (Sunday) Bike Canton to Heuvelton Rose Rivezzi and David Trithart (TLs), John Barron, Carolyn Kaczka.We saw lots of Amish buggies, fields of hay, corn, and many fine views of the Oswegachie River. A warm, breezy day on the rural backroads that should make St. Lawrence Co. a biking destination.

July 25 (Wednesday) - Raquette Paddle/Picnic near Hannawa Falls John & Susan Omohundro (TLs), Duncan & Lois Cutter, Richard & Suzanne Arens. On a not too hot, not too sunny, not at all windy afternoon, we practically drifted from Brown’s Bridge to the start of the Red Sandstone Trail, where we grilled burgers. We heard and saw numerous birds and chatted with children swimming by the shore.

July 28 (Saturday) - Historic Walking Tour in Stone Valley
In celebration of Raquette River Awareness Week, Evelyn Riehl provided stories of early industries and memorable events in the lives of early settlers as we hiked the Stone Valley trail. Evelyn’s son Bill Riehl added explanation of some of the geological features of Stone Valley and even some tips on fishing in the Raquette.
L-R:Bill Riehl, TL Evelyn Riehl Not pictured: Lorraine Gowling, Carolyn Kaczka, Lila & Charles Hunnewell, Lorie Gruneisen, Debby Nikkari. Photo: TL John Barron.

July 29 (Sunday) - Official Opening of Canoe Access Trail to the Raquette River near Moody Falls
A lively group of people with interests in conservation and wilderness paddling came out to celebrate the opening of the new access trail to the Raquette. Besides those who could take part in the opening, credit is due to Blair Madore, who organized the work party that brushed out the portage trail, and Jim Sheppard, faculty advisor of the SUNY Canton Outdoor Adventures Club and his students and supporters who did most of the work. The DEC deserves high praise for establishing the conservation easement and constructing the road, parking lot, and signs. It was a signature event of Raquette River Awareness Week.
L-R, near the put-in point, a short distance above Moody Falls: John Barron, Pat Whalen, Mary Jane Watson, Mike Prescott, John Omohundro, Ruth McWilliams, Walt Paul, Peter O’Shea.
Photo: Carolyn Kaczka

August 11 (Saturday) - Canoe/Kayak Moose Pond Duncan & Lois Cutter (TLs), Charles & Lila Hunnewell, Kathryn Benham. Because of adverse weather on August 11, the trip was rescheduled for the 16th. Under sunny skies with a light breeze, we enjoyed lunch and a swim at one of five shelving rock areas that afforded views of Whiteface Mt. and the McKenzie Range. Accompanied by a pair of loons, we crossed the lake to a narrow sandy beach and thence to an elevated peninsula, giving us a view of this gem of a lake only a few miles south of Bloomingdale.

August 26 (Sunday) - Rock Dunder
The weather was ideal - warm and sunny. We paused for a refreshing swim in Whitefish Lake. Lunch in the shade proved a good decision - the view from the summit of Rock Dunder was very impressive but it was quite hot in the sun up there. Afterward we drove to Jones Falls Lockstation of the Rideau Canal, where we admired this marvel of 19th century engineering and watched large pleasure boats locking through. The day ended with a fine supper at the dining room of the Hotel Kenney, located next to the locks.
Front row, L-R: Judy Green, Marianne Hebert, Toni Towle, Peter Blood, Carolyn Kaczka, Sylvia Haq, Charles Hunnewell, Lila Hunnewell, TL John Barron.
Middle row, L-R: Ann Spencer, Tresa Wilson.
Back row, L-R: Armond Spencer, Tom Longridge, John Wilson, Gene Kaczka, Brian Baston, Jim Kurtz.
Photo: Hiker from another party

September 1 (Saturday) - Snow Mt Blair Madore (TL), Carin & Kevin Hotte, Jeff & Rebecca Miller, Marianne Hebert, Brian Baston, Sylvia Haq, Kathy Colarusso. The parking lots were overflowing, yet we did not see another person on the trail. Perfect 75-degree sunny weather greeted us. Due to Hurricane Irene the flume walk up Deer Brook was closed, so we started from the Ausable Club and followed multiple lovely trails to Snow Mt. We climbed over 1300 feet, but only the last few pitches were steep and scrambly. From the summit of Snow Mt. the views of Giant, Noonmark, and Chapel Pond pass were stupendous. We took a detour on the way back to avoid yellow jackets we encountered on the way up, showing us more of magnificent Deer Brook and a nice waterfall. It was Carin and Kevin’s anniversary and it was sweet to see them holding hands as we headed out of the woods at the end of the day.

September 8-15 (Saturday to Saturday) Acadia National Park - Mt. Desert Island, ME Duncan & Lois Cutter, Dick & Peggy Mooers, Bill & Pat Mueller, and John & Sue Omohundro ran Acadia ragged with their constant motion: Hiking to Great Head and to Acadia, Beech, Champlain, Conner’s Nubble, Flying, Gilmore, Gorham, Penobscot, St. Sauveur and Sargent Mountains; kayaking and canoeing on Long (twice) and Seal Cove Ponds, and the salt water of Somes Sound; and cycling miles on the carriage roads. We sat still only long enough to gobble 16 popovers at the Jordan Pond House while being tempted by The Bubbles (small peaks) looming over the Pond. Well, yes, we did sit still as our cars climbed Cadillac Mountain to catch the sunrise. We admired Thunder Hole, Wonderland, and Beech Cliff. Some did go shopping in Bar Harbor, and some walked to Bar Island while low tide exposed the bar. Yes, we had lobster. I thought you’d never ask. We sat for that too.

September 15 (Saturday) Stone Valley EAP “Leave No Trace” Hike John Barron (TL), Ashley Oxenford, Jasper Syrig, Jordan Tabolt, Joshua Wheeler, Yusuke Aoki, Marianne Hebert, Brian Baston. An introduction to students in our new Educational Affiliate Program (EAP) on how chapter events work and on Leave No Trace principles. Five students and three experienced chapter members enjoyed a half-day hike in Stone Valley, following the East Side Trail from Colton as far as Lucy’s Hole (The Gut) where we stopped for lunch at a campsite before retracing our steps. There was fine, sunny late-summer weather. Water levels were low but some of the falls and rapids were still impressive.

September 22 (Saturday) Hike September Farm, South Colton Bill & Pat Mueller (TLs), John and Niall Barron, Duncan and Lois Cutter, Tom Lockridge, Ellen Woodworth, Joann Ferris, Eleanor Rosenthal, Nina Katz. We began with a semblance of sun and breeziness that turned into gentle rain about halfway through the walk. We examined fungal life, towering pine trees, the rushing stream cascading from the previous night’s rain, while walking two miles through forest punctuated with former beaver meadows and remnant ponds, then enjoyed chili, cornbread, pie and hot coffee in the 19th century farmhouse while we dried off.

September 29 (Saturday) Paddle Middle Saranac Lake to Lake Flower Dick Mooers (TL), Ken Coskran, Marilyn Fayette, Ellie Menz, Jim Plumley. This “nearly annual” 14-mile paddle trip offered a long, cool, misty autumn paddle in peak colors. It was really two trips in series: seven miles of the old days of paddlecraft, featuring wild shores and a hand-powered lock, followed after the lunch stop at Second Pond DEC launch ramp by modern-day camps and transit of the hydraulic lock into Oseetah Lake and the busier world of camps and motor boats for the second seven miles. We eagerly await next September’s rerun of the “14-Miler.”

September 29 (Saturday) - Bog River Paddle and Lows Ridge Climb Nikki Coates and Ron Johnson (TLs), Jim Murray, Debbie Nikkari, Bill & Pat Mueller. On a misty day with temperatures in the low 50s, after a leisurely paddle from the lower dam on the Bog River to the upper dam at the end of Hitchens Pond, we beached our canoes and kayaks and enjoyed some food and conversation. We then climbed 1.1 miles to the top of Lows Ridge. Although views were limited by the mist and the sun failed to make an appearance, the peak fall foliage added color and light to the day. We returned to the welcome warmth of our car heaters.

October 7 (Sunday) - Wakely Mt. Marianne Hebert (TL), Joe & Kathie Colarusso, Anne & Armond Spencer, Lisa Weismiller, Brian Baston. The group had a lovely hike on a warm, slightly overcast Fall day. Leaf colors were beautiful, just slightly past peak. We started with an easy 2 mile hike to the abandoned beaver dam. The last mile was typically Adirondack--very steep with slippery slides, and the leaf cover presented plenty of challenges. We ended the day with a fine dinner at the Adirondack Hotel on Long Lake.

October 13 (Saturday) Ampersand Mt.
We climbed on a clear and cool October day, encountering a bit more snow and trail ice than anticipated. As the trip leader told a group of passing hikers, he didn’t fall but he did sit down quickly on more than one occasion. By and large we did get over these challenges to enjoy great views from the summit.
L-R: TL Tom Ortmeyer, John Wilson, Charlotte Ramsay, Brian Baston.
Not pictured: John & Susan Omohundro.

October 20-21 (Saturday-Sunday) Stone Valley Trail Maintenance
Organizer Mark Simon (front row, wearing orange vest) led about 16 volunteers from ADK Laurentian Chapter, the St. Lawrence Mountain Bike Association, SUNY Potsdam, and others spent the weekend maintaining and improving trails in Stone Valley between Hannawa Falls and Colton. Projects included trash removal from the county forest near Lenny Road, construction of stairs on the east side river trail, and improvement of mountain bike trails and the ledges loop #3 on county land. Many of the tools were donated by Brookfield Renewable Power.
Photo: John Barron.

October 27 (Saturday) - Sargent Ponds Loop Armond Spencer (TL), John & Susan Omohundro, Tom Wheeler. Undaunted by the predictions of Hurricane Sandy’s effects, we had a fine, sunny, almost perfect October day with pretty ponds and a messy lean-to. The participants did gnash a bit at the leader for the uphill road walk to complete the loop.

November 3 (Saturday) - Map and Compass Course John Barron (TL), Mike Greco. Scattered showers and wet snow flurries did not prevent us from enjoying a day practicing off-trail navigation techniques in the backcountry of Higley Flow State Park. Mike is currently taking a course in woody plant biology at SUNY Potsdam and contributed a lot in tree identification.

November 10 (Saturday) Gatineau Park Hike
We followed a stream valley route up the Eardley Escarpment to a viewpoint. Then we took a compass bearing through the woods leading past several attractive backcountry ponds. We retraced our steps to regain a path along the escarpment and followed it east to “The Yellow Box,” a spectacular and historically significant viewpoint. From there it was a steep 700-foot descent to our starting point. It was a cool, sunny day, and we saw no other hikers.
L-R: Toni Towle (left) and Peter Blood (right) on a ledge of the Eardley Escarpment.
Photo: TL John Barron.

November 18 (Sunday) Fall Pot Luck and Annual Meeting
Chapter chair John Barron presents a memento to guest speaker Mary Coffin of the Onondaga Chapter in thanks for her presentation about the North Country National Scenic Trail.
Photo: Gene Kaczka.

December 8 (Saturday) Higley Flow State Park Hike and Cookout. Blair, Margaret and Cole Madore (TLs), Jeff and Rebecca Miller, Lila and Charlie Hunnewell, Marianne Hebert, Mary Jo Whalen, Mike Keane, Andrew White. It was a soggy day, which may have kept some people away, but 10 brave souls were up for a good walk. The late afternoon mist was eerie and beautiful among the pines. On the way back to the Beaver Pond we spotted a mink, his snow white coat standing out against the rusty brown forest ground. At the Beaver Pond lean-to we had a great fire, shared snacks and roasted sausages, the walk out in the dark illuminated by flashlight.

December 9 (Sunday) Loon Lake Mountain Climb
We popped out above the clouds and sat beside the fire tower for our lunch. The peaks of mountains around us looked like islands in a foamy sea. A thin layer of snow obliged us to wear spikes. We checked out the new boardwalk to Grass Pond across the road from the trailhead: a paddling possibility.
L-R at the summit: TL John Omohundro, Ron Johnson, Marianne Hebert

December 22 (Saturday) Grassy Pond Ski and Snowshoe Duncan & Lois Cutter (TRs), Biwan Liu, Marianne Hebert, MiSun Kim, Dianne and Elizabeth Kim, and Lila & Charlie Hunnewell. Our first great snow found us in consensus that the roads were too treacherous to continue to Grassy Pond. So we enjoyed trails from the Cutter’s home just outside Nicholville, across treebordered meadows along and above the St. Regis River, snow-draped evergreens, a trail-side spring and a giddy view from Eagle Rock to the river 100 feet below. An hour later, lunch commenced around the Cutters’ table spiced with lively conversation and a special treat, Marianne’s oatmeal cookies with walnuts, white chocolate chips and dried cranberries.