Amazing Grace Happy women’s history month! In a previous conservation minute, I wrote about the namesake for Esther Mountain (High Peak #28). This month I thought that I would bring you the story behind the only other 46er named after a woman, Grace Peak (High Peak #42). Formerly known as East Dix, it was renamed [...]
Strong Commitment to Public Trust and Conservation Excellence Lake Placid Land Conservancy announced it has been awarded accredited status, a significant honor in land conservation. The Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance, granted this notable achievement after an intensive review of the Lake Placid Land Conservancy’s programs and activities, [...]
A Trip to John Brown Farm A few weeks ago, on a snowy and cold Sunday, I decided to take a trip to a place in Lake Placid that I have been meaning to visit since I first moved up here - John Brown Farm, the last home of the 19th century abolitionist. Born in [...]
When I am out and about during winter, I notice many signs of plant life in spite of the cold and the flat, gray and white landscape. Mosses are still out there in the winter, sometimes taking advantage of good sunshine conditions to actively “grow,” plus they are easily observable on tree trunks above the [...]
The Fresh Air Life This year, so many of us have turned to the outdoors. From porches to backcountry wilderness experiences, being in nature has offered a safe respite during these uncertain times. As the weather turns colder and snow starts to fall, many may think their time outside is over until spring. However, with [...]
Architects of the Forest While I have only seen a beaver in the wild once or twice, I come across signs of their work nearly every time I venture out in the Adirondacks. From dams and lodges, to trails and canals, beavers definitely leave their mark on a landscape - and what a mark [...]
For The Sheer Joy Of Climbing These words will likely sound familiar to anyone who has undertaken the journey to become a 46er, as they are inscribed on a plaque at the summit of Esther Mountain, High Peak #28. The plaque was placed on the summit in 1939 by The Adirondack 46ers to honor “the [...]
Autumn Magic Fall is one of the most treasured times of year in the Adirondacks. As our lush, green mountains transition to brilliant hues of yellows and orange, eager visitors flock to the area to take in the incredible scenery. While fall foliage is certainly beautiful, the changing leaves also mark an important part of [...]
Small Marker, Big Impact On many hikes, I never truly feel like I have reached the summit of a peak until I’ve found a tiny metal disc drilled into the rock - as seen in the photo at the summit of Pharaoh Mountain. These small plates of metal are called survey markers and they [...]
Caring About Cairns If you’ve spent any time on trails, particularly on rocky mountain tops or in desert-like environments, you’ve likely come across a cairn. Cairns, pictured above at our Three Sisters Preserve trailhead, are officially-created rock piles that mark a trail. They are often used in areas where there is little vegetation to attach [...]