News
January 1, 2023
Wilderness Education Students from SUNY Potsdam Repair The Gulch
Blair Madore, Red Sandstone Trail Coordinator
The Gulch, a steep area along the shores of Sugar Island flow, was a trouble spot on the Red Sandstone Trail. As a result of continued erosion, the bridge
in that area was washed away and the stair structures had fallen into disrepair. Most hikers detour around the mess – even though this takes them through private property.
Luckily the landowner is aware and OK with this arrangement, even if it is not ideal. The detour takes people too close to his home and routinely sets his
dogs into a tizzy. We’d like to get the trail off his property.
Therefore, this fall students from the Wilderness Education Program at SUNY Potsdam took on a challenging trail work project for one of their classes. The students developed a plan that required no additional materials. They used bench cuttng to make a moderately sloped trail to ensure hiker safety.
Nonetheless, there is no avoiding the inevitability of continued erosion in the area. It is likely that a large boulder will become
dislodged and a large tree will fall in the next few years. The students’ plan is the most likely to survive these impacts and easiest
to repair. Next spring we will add cribbing or other supports to keep the trail from eroding. Hikers should continue to use caution
in this area but they can now pass more easily without detouring onto private land or disturbing the landowner’s dogs.
In addition to building the new trail, students put in the hard work to pull up the old decaying stairs and bridges and haul the materials up to the road for disposal. As you can see, in such a steeply sloped area this is a major undertaking. We are lucky to have such skilled and hardworking volunteers dedicated to our trail! Participants’ comments:
“Trail work was a first time experience for me, but working hard as well as gettng dirty was so fun, and this type of work made me feel connected to the community which is worthwhile” - Chelsea Wright
“I really loved working with classmates in an outdoor settng, and gettng to see what our hands and hard work did at the end of the day." - Norah Pease
“Working with my hands and being able to see the results of something I helped create was super sick. I liked working together with others and there was a great sense of teamwork and community. " Henry Mueller
“Dirty clean fun” - Mason Fuller
The SUNY Potsdam Wilderness Education Minor was created by chapter member Mark Simon and is now led by chapter member Adam Wheeler. They are regular contributors to our trail work at Stone Valley and Red Sandstone Trail.
News Archive
Jan 1, 2025: 2024 Photo Contest Winners Announced
Dec 8, 2024: 2024 Chapter Nominations
Apr 1, 2024: Azure Mt Friends Scholarships
Mar 2, 2024: 2024 Photo Contest Announced
Jan 1, 2024: Stone Valley Trailwork
Jan 1, 2024: New Chapter Officers
Jan 1, 2024: 2023 Photo Contest Winners Announced
Nov 8, 2023: 2023 Chapter Elections
Oct 1, 2023: Red Sandstone Trailwork
Oct 1, 2023: Fire Tower Lighting
Jul 1, 2023: Racquette River Advisory Council
Jul 1, 2023: Exploring Whippoorwill
Jul 1, 2023: Cascade Center Mapping
Apr 17, 2023: 2023 Photo Contest Announced
Apr 1, 2023: Spring Road Walks
Apr 1, 2023: Armond Spencer 1933-2023
Jan 21, 2023: Red Sandstone Trailwork
Jan 1, 2023: SUNY Potsdam Students Repair Gulch
Jan 1, 2023: College Students Work on Red Sandstone Trail
Jan 1, 2023: 2022 Photo Contest Winners Announced
Oct 18, 2022: 2022 Chapter Elections
Oct 17, 2022: 2022 Officer Nominations
Jul 24, 2022: Fiftieth Celebration
May 13, 2022: In Memorium Lois Wells
Mar 25, 2022: Fiftieth Anniversary Celebrations
Mar 15, 2022: 2022 Photo Contest Announced
Jan 24, 2022: Trailhead Stewardship Program
Jan 1, 2022: Mystery on the Red Sandstone Trail
Jan 1, 2022: Fiftieth Anniversary
Nov 28, 2021: 2021 Photo Contest Winners Announced
Oct 18, 2021: 2021 Chapter Elections
Oct 1, 2021: Trail Registers for the 21st Century
Oct 1, 2021: Laurentian Chapter to Celebrate 50 Years
Sep 9, 2021: 2021 Photo Contest Announced
Dec 10, 2020: 2020 Photo Contest Winners Announced
Oct 26, 2020: Members Choice - 2020 Photo Contest
Oct 15, 2020: 2020 Chapter Elections
Jul 3, 2020: Laurentians Receive Award
Apr 1, 2020: Third Annual Cycle Outing
Apr 1, 2020: Mud Season Hiking
Apr 1, 2020: 2020 Photo Contest Announced
Jan 1, 2020: Ski Trails Groomed and Waiting
Jan 1, 2020: Red Sandstone Trail Maintenance
Nov 16, 2019: 2019 Photo Contest Winners Announced
Oct 1, 2019: Electronic Distribution of the North Wind
Jul 1, 2019: National Trails Day 2019
Apr 1, 2019: Red Sandstone Trail Volunteers Needed
Apr 1, 2019: Recreation Management Plans
Apr 1, 2019: Chapter Member Writes Trails Book
Apr 1, 2019: 2019 Photo Contest Announced
Jan 3, 2019: Invasive Forest Pest Meeting
Jan 1, 2019: Second ADK Cycle Outing
Jan 1, 2019: Outside The High Peaks Region
Dec 6, 2018: Fran Yardley To Speak
Nov 12, 2018: 2018 Photo Contest Winners Announced
Nov 6, 2018: Trail Maintenance Weekend 2018
Oct 1, 2018: First ADK Cycle Outing
Jul 1, 2018: SUNY Potsdam Educational Affiliate Program
Jun 22, 2018: 2018 Photo Contest Announced
Jun 18, 2018: September Acadia Outing
Apr 5, 2018: Military Exercises In Northern Adirondacks
Apr 1, 2018: Who Are Our Members
Apr 1, 2018: Happy Birthday Azure Mountain Fire Tower
Apr 1, 2018: Chapter Representation on Advisory Committees
Jan 5, 2018: E-Letter Editor Wanted
Jan 1, 2018: Paul Jamieson and the Jamieson Fund
Nov 19, 2017: 2017 Photo Contest Winners Announced
Nov 1, 2017: 2017 Trail Maintenance Weekend
Jul 1, 2017: North Country Cycling Guide
May 31, 2017: Marie Fernandez de Alaiza Completes 46
Apr 1, 2017: Great Lakes Water Levels
Mar 15, 2017: Extended New Brunswick Outing Proposed
Jan 1, 2017: 2017 Photo Contest Announced
Dec 2, 2016: Camp Colby Scholarships Available
Nov 29, 2016: Winter 2017 Outdoors-Indoors Schedule Announced
Nov 21, 2016: Wilderness Thru-hiking to Wilderness Advocacy
Nov 16, 2016: 2016 Photo Contest Winners Announced
Oct 1, 2016: Membership Survey Preliminary Results
Oct 1, 2016: John Omohundro Passes The Torch
Sep 8, 2016: 2017 Extended Outings Proposed
Mar 29, 2016: 2016 Photo Contest Announced
Mar 17, 2016: Teen Trail Project Scholarships Available
Jan 6, 2016: Perry Yaw Commemorative Quilt
Dec 2, 2015: Trail Work Day Attracts Huge Turnout
Dec 2, 2015: Outdoors-Indoors Schedule Announced
Dec 1, 2015: 2015 Photo Contest Winners Announced
Sep 17, 2015: Oswegatchie Blueway Open Houses Scheduled
Jul 1, 2015: Ididaride Annual Biking Event
May 5, 2015: SUNY Potsdam Wilderness Education Mountain-A-Thon Training Exercise
Apr 1, 2015: Educational Affiliate Program Expands
Jan 1, 2015: Call for Distinguished Volunteer Nominations
Jan 1, 2015: 2015 Photo Contest Opens
Nov 27, 2014: 2014 Photo Contest Winners Announced
Nov 27, 2014: 2014 Photo Contest Winners Announced - Copy
Nov 17, 2014: St Lawrence Flatlands UMP Hearing
Oct 1, 2014: Chapter Offers Outing Leadership Training Course
Jul 1, 2014: Jean Hardy, 1926-2014
Apr 14, 2014: 2014 Member Nature Poetry
Apr 4, 2014: Stone Valley Management Plan Finalized
Apr 1, 2014: Educational Affiliate Program Gathers Momentum
Mar 24, 2014: North Country National Scenic Trail
Dec 30, 2013: Stone Valley Management Plan Review
Dec 6, 2013: 2014 Photo Contest Opens
Nov 12, 2013: 2013 Photo Contest Winners Announced
Oct 1, 2013: Spring Outing Retrospective
Sep 6, 2013: Finch Pruyn-Essex Chain Action Alert
Aug 22, 2013: Ragnar Relay Race
Jul 1, 2013: New Trails for Stone Valley
Jun 27, 2013: North Country Trails Membership
Jun 19, 2013: Spring Outing A Great Success
Apr 2, 2013: Laurentian Loon Shirts
Apr 1, 2013: Brian Baston, 46r
Dec 21, 2012: New Chapter Officers Elected
Dec 6, 2012: 2013 Photo Contest Opens
Nov 27, 2012: 2012 Photo Contest Winners Announced
Jul 17, 2012: Raquette River Documentary
Apr 1, 2012: Acadia Trip Sept 2012
Jan 21, 2012: Stone Valley Trail Maintenance A Mammoth Undertaking
Jan 1, 2012: 2012 Photo Contest Announced
Nov 19, 2011: Peter Blood and Toni Towle Finish the 46
Nov 19, 2011: Moose Talk At Fall Potluck (1)
Nov 16, 2011: 2011 Photo Contest Winners Announced
Nov 9, 2011: Sherman Craig Nominated To APA
Oct 16, 2011: Mt Arab Vandalised
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Jul 23, 2011: Allegany State Park Action Alert
Jul 2, 2011: Stone Valley Trail Report
Jul 2, 2011: Red Sandstone Trail Report
Jul 2, 2011: Friends of Higley Flow Capital Campaign
Jul 1, 2011: JBL Seeks All-Season Hosts
Apr 29, 2011: JBL Seeks Volunteer Hosts
Apr 1, 2011: Outings Announced
Feb 25, 2011: 2011 Fall Outing
Feb 4, 2011: Tug Hill Winter Outing
Dec 9, 2010: 2010 Photo Contest Winners Announced
Nov 21, 2010: Omohundro Whalen Distinguished Volunteers
Sep 22, 2010: Nominees Announced
Sep 22, 2010: Fall Potluck to Feature Permaculture Talk
Sep 22, 2010: Bylaw Changes Proposed
Sep 15, 2010: Dogs on Chapter Trips
Aug 16, 2010: Raquette River Information Center Opens
Jul 27, 2010: Raquette River Information Center To Open
Jun 2, 2010: Sacred Tools Exhibit
May 26, 2010: Plants of St Lawrence County
Apr 13, 2010: Chapter Basket Donations Needed
Mar 23, 2010: Second Annual Photo Contest Announced
Mar 22, 2010: Laurentians Invited To Colorado
Mar 21, 2010: Spring Potluck To Feature Northern Canoe Route
Jan 1, 2010: Calling Kids For Camp Colby
Nov 8, 2009: 2009 Photo Contest Results
Oct 1, 2009: Brian Mann To Address Annual Meeting
Jul 1, 2009: Raquette River Awareness Week
May 23, 2009: Tom Wheeler Elected 46ers President
Apr 30, 2009: Cutters Receive Award
Mar 29, 2009: Hospitality Coordinator Needed
Mar 21, 2009: Gloria Daly Completes Winter 46
Mar 16, 2009: Lyle Montgomery Completes Winter 46
Dec 23, 2008: Chapter to Sponsor Campers at Camp Colby
Nov 2, 2008: Anna Gerhard-Arnold Recognized
Oct 1, 2008: Roy Horst to Speak at Fall Potluck
Sep 13, 2008: Tom Wheeler Receives Award
Aug 3, 2008: SLC EMC hosts NYS Conference on Environment
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Mar 22, 2008: Winter On The Red Sandstone Trail
Mar 15, 2008: Nancy LaBaff Completes Winter 46
Mar 1, 2008: Environmental Protection Fund Being Raided
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Nov 28, 2007: Hearings on National Scenic Trail
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Nov 28, 2006: Dick Mooers Named Distinguished Volunteer
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Sep 1, 2006: Update on SLC ATV Trail Plan
Aug 30, 2006: Teens Complete Stone Valley Trail Work
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Jan 4, 2006: Chapter at Remington Gala
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Oct 3, 2005: Annual Meeting November 6
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Aug 10, 2005: Executive Director Visits