There isn’t anywhere I’d rather spend the summer than the Adirondacks. But perhaps what I love most about the region is that there’s no shortage of community events  — from local music to farmers markets and charitable events and causes. Last summer I had the chance to spend some time in one of the less explored areas: the Schroon Lake Region. While a bit off the map from where I grew up in Wilmington, the region is full of adventure and not short of beautiful landscapes. 

What to do! 

Schroon Lake might be one of the most beautiful places to watch the sunset, with the lake as the center point of town. The town does an incredible job bringing the community together over the summer — from the Fourth of July celebration, to folk music festivals, to farmers markets (almost all taking place on the water’s edge). 

Here’s a short list of events I’m looking forward to this summer:

4th of July Celebration

Schroon Lake has hosted “the Best Fourth in the North” for more than half a century. The day is all about community and starts off early with events that run until dark: there’s local bands and concerts, barbeques, charitable events, and of course traditional 4th festivities: a downtown parade and fireworks over the lake. Get there early and register for a 5k, or hangout on Main Street where local artists and crafters will have tents set up with plenty of good food and lively activities, from face painting to an obstacle course. 

Adirondack Folk Music Festival

The Adirondack Folk Music Festival takes place later in the summer in August and is open to the community. Folks are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket and listen to live music on the lake, with local artists and musicians — groups like Phil Henry with Mitch Barron; Jeff Kimball and Atwater Donnelly; and Aubrey and Elwood. 

Adirondack Marathon Distance Festival

Another event I’m looking forward to is the Adirondack Marathon Distance Festival, also happening later in the summer. September 21, the first day of the festival, includes a 5k and 10k, as well as a 1K for the kids. It’s a great way to bring family and friends together for a fun challenge outdoors. On September 22, the marathon kicks off. Runners start downtown, run around the lake, and finish at the Schroon Lake Public Beach later in the day. 

These events are just the beginning! The Schroon Lake Region offers plenty of adventure on the lake, in the woods, and downtown. Start planning your trip today.

 

 

A summer morning

It was a warm, drippy, and muggy morning when I stepped onto the Roosevelt Truck Trail off Route 28N the other week. The trail – actually a grassy two-track — is a relatively easy hike for birders in search of boreal species, which is precisely why I was there. The rolling trail (reached 1.6 miles from the Boreas River Bridge and 3.7 miles south of the junction of 28N and Blue Ridge Road) initially rose through a mixed forest and I started my day’s list with Magnolia Warblers which seemed to be the most vocal of the warblers I found on the late summer day. I would soon add the likes of Nashville, Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, Black-and-white, Canada, and Northern Parula, along with quite a few others. 

Such a list is no surprise, as the truck trail is excellent for a wide variety of warblers, and it has even hosted Cape May Warblers during the summer, suggesting that they nest there. But it is perhaps more famous as a place to find boreal birds, and I have found species like Canada Jay and Boreal Chickadee there in the past. During this hike – which lasted a few hours – I didn’t note either of those species, but I kept encountering Black-backed Woodpeckers throughout my time; the coniferous woods are excellent for them.

Plenty of birds

The first Black-backed I saw was in a stand of dead trees (they love them!), and the surrounding woods and brushy understory were full of chattering Black-capped Chickadees, Golden-crowned Kinglets, White-throated Sparrows, Least Flycatchers, and a collection of warblers – such mixed-species flocks are a highlight of any trip during the second half of summer. The flock also held a few Hermit and Swainson’s Thrushes, the songs and calls of which are some of my favorites, leading me along the trail all morning.

Above the trees, I was also led along my route by the flight calls of Purple Finches and Red Crossbills; the truck trail is a good place to look for crossbills when our cone crop is growing, as it has been this summer. Now and then I’d stop to "spish" or give a Barred Owl call in order to spark the surrounding woods to life – soliciting the scolding calls of Red-eyed and Blue-headed Vireos or receiving the ire of Red-breasted Nuthatches and Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers. It is a common technique I use, particularly during the latter half of summer as nesting finishes and song dies down.

But while the drop-off of song does make some species more difficult to find, I enjoy the challenge of pursuing them and the surprise of finding them when they aren’t as obvious as they were earlier in the summer. And late summer is also an excellent time of year to add some botanizing to my hikes, and so as the day began to hush I started to check out the wildflowers sprouting up in the grassy places along the route.

Botanizing and lunch!

As a result, my plant list was soon expanding with new names like New York aster, flat-topped aster, pearly everlasting, closed gentian, Canada goldenrod, and lance-leaved goldenrod. And so I continued botanizing and birding for a couple miles, and explored the small backcountry campsites part way along the trail before deciding it was time to turn around. Of course, I continued to explore on my way back to the car, spooking a Ruffed Grouse from the side of the trail not long after I turned, and bringing my final tally to five species of woodpeckers and between ten and fifteen Swainson’s Thrushes – the trail seemed to be full of them!

I had snacked and drank water while I hiked, but I was ready for something more substantial (I’m always hungry early for lunch on days I get out early) when I returned to the car. But buoyed by another snack, I elected to push lunch off a bit and head up the road to Newcomb. After a brief stop at the Adirondack Interpretive Center – complete with a similar mix of bird species and excellent looks at both Black-and-white and Chestnut-sided Warblers – I headed to Rich Lake Beach where I sat on a rock in the shade and enjoyed a satisfying lunch and the peace that comes after an early departure in search of birds.

I felt as though I could have stayed there the rest of the day – and the water beckoned me to jump in. But I knew I had other things to do, and so I somewhat reluctantly left to head toward home, planning in my mind that I would be back soon.

Late summer and early fall bring with them fabulous birding, botanizing, and outdoor opportunities. Plan your trip today by checking out our dining and lodging pages. And if you are looking for a place to pitch your tent, visit our camping page while you’re at it.

 

 

 

View in seclusion, the Hoffman Notch Wilderness

Jimbo and I had a plan. Well, I had a plan, and Jim was all about coming along for the ride. I have driven by the North Hudson exit off I-87 probably a hundred times now, and over the course of those passings I always feast my eyes on this one particular peak that rests over the top of Palmer Pond. I had always assumed it was Squaw Mountain from a quick look on my topo maps, until the one day I really did some research and found that it really doesn’t have an official name and Squaw Mountain was a small peak just south of it. So, I decided to call it Palmer Pond Mountain for a lack of a better name - who knows? Locals may have a different name already in place, I would be curious to know. It appeared to have some nice rock ledges worthy of a visit.

Now back to our plan. We would start at the Dirgylot Trailhead off Route 9 north of Schroon Lake. This would be our access point to pass over Wyman Hill, Squaw Mountain, and then Palmer Pond Mountain before descending down to Palmer Pond and meeting a second car, making for an epic 8-mile or so traverse in the Hoffman Notch Wilderness. Seemed simple enough on paper, but boy was it going to be hot and humid! The humidity and the heat were almost an identical match at 80 degrees and 85% humidity. It was going to be a sauna of sorts by noon.

After meeting up at the old Frontier Town parking lot, we first spotted a car at Palmer Pond just up the road, and then carpooled the few miles over to the Dirgylot Trailhead. This is an old trail, but the DEC Trailhead is rather new. The trail soon brought us to a car width passage through a culvert under I-87 which directs adventurists into the Hoffman Notch Wilderness. On the opposite side the trail remains very wide, almost like an old road, which it very well may have been considering the size of the culvert we just passed through. Climbing immediately up over a shoulder of Dirgylot Hill on our left we were happy to be on a trail, as we knew it most likely wouldn’t last long. From a previous adventure in this area I recalled that the trail split about a half-mile or so from the culvert (of course it was so long ago, it easily could have been another spot, but sure enough, there was the splitting). The split was more like a T-intersection, left goes behind Dirgylot Hill and Smith Hill. Right headed in the direction we wanted, more of a northerly direction right toward Wyman Hill.

Wyman Hill

This secondary, unmarked trail went on and on and on, from a wide ATV-sized trail to a narrow path, to a wider foot trail and back to what looked like an old road. Overall it was in fantastic condition and only a couple spots required us to hop over a downed tree - this was a gift for sure. As the heat started to bring our internal body temperature to a slow rolling boil, the humidity coated our skin and caused me to start steaming from beneath my pack, a sight I am used to seeing, but generally in the winter where the air temperature is much cooler. We took a short break next to a small waterfall where we splashed a bit of water on our faces, and powered up to finish off our approach to Wyman Hill.

The old road that we were on continued, but as it swung further away from Wyman and closer to the Peaked Hills, we decided it was time to start a bit of cross-country travel. The route toward Wyman was an easy bit of traveling. The forest was open and the brook crossings were a piece of cake. Finally at the base of the peak we could start to do some serious climbing, and by serious I mean wicked steep! We came to the base of a long, very high angled rock slab - closely resembling a rock slide without the debris of downed trees at the base. It could have been a really old one, but I think it was just too steep to support life; hopefully it would support ours. The rock was “sticky” as climbers call it - which is just a term for rough rock with enough features for your rubber soles to grip. As we progressed we started to get some of the finest views I have ever had of Hoffman Mountain, Blue Ridge, and the Peaked Hills. We sat atop the rocks to take in our find. The summit wasn’t far from here and it took us only a few more minutes to find it, although other small viewing areas delayed the quest. The summit was open rock but the surrounding trees blocked potential views. We were now off to Squaw Mountain, a peak smaller than the hill we were on - odd how something gets credited as being a mountain and others not. The descent was thick and scratchy but quick. The climb was almost non-existent at only about 130 feet of gain. The summit was not much to write about; wooded and viewless, buggy and muggy, we moved on.

Palmer Pond Mountain

The descent off Squaw was a bit more than the climb, but again it didn’t take long to reach the base of Palmer Pond Mountain. A nice brook ran through the pass, giving Abby a nice drink, and saving our water supply, that we would so desperately need a bit later. We would now climb up the steep slopes of the mountain in what would be 900’ in under 0.4 miles. The climate was now reaching nearly unbearable temperatures and the exhaustion of the steep climb with temperatures in the 80s was wearing on us. We were sure at some point we suffered from heat exhaustion. Even with plenty of fluids in our system we ended up getting a bit nauseous and light-headed as we climbed, and I am sure it wasn’t elevation sickness. The closest way out was to go up and over to the other car, so we just went very slowly and inched our way higher and higher. Hand over fist - on all fours at times - we pulled our way up with aid of trees and roots.

Open rock and small ledges hindered fast travel, but opened up the forest to small pockets of cool breezes that gave us moments of relief and a bit of a mental vacation to help us continue. Finally at the base of the summit cliff we could stand on flat ground and ponder how we would get around its massive expanse of granite. A shelf would give us route around and up top of the rocky summit. The breeze was a treat, cooling our flesh and drying our clothes. We were almost instantly refreshed, yet in the same token we were drained. The views were astounding, none so spectacular have we found in quite some time; we could live here.

Our residence atop this mountain lasted about 30 minutes until we could get our feet back under us in a more stable form than the Jello-knees we currently had. Cairns marked the summit, showing that this unnamed beauty of the wilderness gets some visitors from time to time. Soon we had to leave; we still had over 1.5 miles to get back to the car which, depending on the terrain, could venture closer to two. We descended slowly as we still felt weak and my water supply was dwindling. Jim offered up some Gatorade, which I knew I may have to take him up on later. We were descending now at a rapid rate, and on the descent my need for water was much less apparent, but my need for salt was not. We rested a bit longer so I could eat some salty almonds I had in my snack bag - which I think gave me a bit more of the electrolytes my body needed - Abby and I finished off the water.

Two small ridges blocked us from the car. So, while unwanted, we needed to climb over them to gain the slopes we desired to reach Palmer Pond far below. We soon hit the state-property line which was still a bit above the pond but followed the side of the final ridge which would bring us down to the edge of I-87 where we would have to cross The Branch at the base of the dam on Palmer Pond. There was no way we would cross this outlet without falling in or wading up to our waist, so we opted for plan B, which was not a favorite of mine, nor one I looked forward to. We needed to walk about 100 feet down I-87 across the bridge, and with a dog, this would not be fun. Jim carried my trekking poles and I hoisted Abby up into my arms, which is easier said than done with a 60-pound wiggle hound. I ran as best I could as she began to slip, it must have been a sight for those driving by. We made it to the other side and onto the grassy shoulder of the entrance ramp with no issues, but it surely was not something I wanted to do again anytime soon. Back at the car we finally stood, exhausted, dripping in sweat and coated in a fine layer of dirt and balsam needles. The car was baking at close to 100 degrees inside; we couldn’t wait for the cool breeze to clean the funk and nature from our bodies.

Parched and ravaged I couldn’t wait to get something in my stomach; a quick stop at Stewarts in Schroon Lake on the way home was just the ticket. Want to learn more about the Hoffman Notch Wilderness? There’s plenty to explore - and many treks that are super user-friendly for those of you that would prefer not to bushwhack! You should hang out in Schroon Lake for a few days and visit the Pharaoh Mountain Wilderness Area as well, trust me you won’t be disappointed.

An amazing time of day

It was a beautiful evening as I unloaded my boat for a paddle on Cheney Pond, one of my favorite little gems to explore in the Adirondacks. The mosquitoes were pestering me as I unloaded the boat, but once I pushed off onto the mirror surface of the lake, I left their annoying hum in favor of the deep, vibrating thrum of the bullfrogs which droned from various places around the shoreline.

The magic of loons

I stopped and listened to the frogs, but I soon found myself distracted by a trio of adult Common Loons not far from the launch. They were swimming and diving together in search of food. I crept closer with my camera handy, hoping for a shot, and the loons calmly went about their business, ignoring me. I pulled in my paddle and let the light breeze push me past them, snapping a few shots now that my hands were free. Then I sat and watched them as they worked a little farther away from me.

Suddenly one of them began to yodel a refrain which was quickly taken up by one of the other two birds, and the two called back and forth from one to the other. The sound reverberated through the hills, amplified as if an entire raft of loons was calling, and I felt strangely transfixed. The anthem transported me to some mystical wilderness paradise. I sat still for a long time listening as their calls echoed loudly all around me, and the loons continued moving along their route in the middle of the pond. They paused from their calling, and then abruptly began again. Paused, then began again. I felt as if I was somehow removed from my own body.

As I sat there I began to notice that the one bird didn’t make any calls – or at least it didn’t seem to do so. I figured it was the odd bird out in the trio and that the other two were likely a mated pair. And although I didn’t see a chick with them, I hoped that perhaps it was quietly tucked on the side of the marshy areas of the pond, or perhaps it was still an egg in the nest. Loons have nested late this year in the Adirondacks.

My musings continued. I saw that the loons were slowly getting farther from me so I quietly paddled a bit closer to listen to their resounding duet at full volume. Had my eyelids the strength, I could have sat there listening to them all night. I was reluctant to move on past this magical performance. But, when the trio slipped into a wide cove, I paddled past them on the far side of the pond, trying not to disturb them. Their tremulous calls punctuated the evening air from time to time throughout the rest of my paddle.

Marshes, birds, and the Boreas River

I began to work around the marshy margins of the pond, hoping to spot an American Bittern out for an evening meal. The high water levels allowed me to probe the reeds and vegetation farther than I usually can, but I came up empty on the bittern-finding endeavor. I did, however, accidentally spook a Great Blue Heron and I watched and listened to a chorus of evening songbirds including Swamp and Song Sparrows, Common Yellowthroats, Blue-headed Vireos, and Chestnut-sided and Magnolia Warblers.

I looped around past the sandy beach on the far side of the pond which looked inviting for a swim, but I chose to remain in the boat rather than to take the time for a dip. I eventually made my way to the outlet of the pond where it links to the Boreas River. For folks who want to lug their boat (a lightweight boat is best), a short, rutted trail connects the pond to the river, but the beavers on Cheney have been quite busy this year, having erected an impressive bulwark, which makes the way more difficult than it has been in the past, particularly with my big canoe.

So I left the boat and simply explored their handiwork, finding the footing of the overgrown trail to be tricky enough without the canoe – the beaver’s work isn’t exclusive to their massive dam. My reconnaissance confirming that I should not attempt to bring my boat to the river (I really didn’t have enough daylight to justify it anyway), so I gingerly walked back to the boat through the vegetation and over the mud and ruts, finding that my biggest mistake of this venture was that I had aroused the local mosquitoes who instantly set up a blood drive at my expense. They were joined by a contingent of black flies and I was swatting myself free of them as I pushed back off onto the water in favor of less bugs in the middle of the pond.

From there I continued to work my way around the edge of the water, looking for wildlife and listening to birds, pausing now and then whenever I’d hear the loons call again. I passed them a short time later – there were only two – and I assumed the third bird had headed back to its own lake. Perhaps it was just feeding on Cheney.

I finally made my way to the take-out with the sunlight beginning to fade and a tail-slapping beaver eager to usher me to shore and off of its pond. I loaded up the boat and once all my gear was back in place, I recalled my desire for a swim at the beach, and so I took a quick dip from the launch, rinsing off the sweat and grime from the warm day before I headed on my way. It was a nice way to top off a beautiful paddle.

Summer time is paddling time and there are lots of places to explore for outdoor adventures. Plan your getaway today with our lodging and dining pages.

 

 

 

 

Schroon Lake Base Camp Gore Mountain Ski Trip 

As a working mom of three, including toddler twins, it's a rare occasion to enjoy time with my girlfriends. More often than not this time is much needed, and helps me refresh to really be a better mom and on top of my game. Traveling is important to my husband and I and we make time for quick jaunts here and there, however the girls trips are few and far between. Let’s face it- my idea of a girls trip is the polar opposite of The Hangover Movies. There are no tigers, mokeys or tattoos and the iPhone photo stream may be silly but we always recall what happened. Most often we find ourselves in constant communication with the kids, slow easy cocktails with water and lemon on the side, and always in bed very early. One of the best parts of traveling for me is the uninterrupted sleep; no bottles or diaper changes, even if for only one night- the little things.

Ski Trip

When my cohort Kelly and I decided to take a trip to Schroon Lake for a Gore Mountain ski trip the timing couldn't have been better. I have traveled to Gore from multiple directions, and chose Schroon as our base camp, only 20 minutes from all the ski action and a lot to do in town. From Lake Placid we took Exit 26 off the NYS Northway per our Google Map and this proved to be about an hour and a half drive to the base lodge- the same distance from Albany. Proximity is very important to me when I plan a quick trip, both for child care and maximizing fun time!

Mid week is always better- Why I love Thursdays

We picked a Thursday for our ski day, completely unaware it was a $12 Thursday- seriously- $12 to ski for the FULL DAY. This is less than my Starbucks order, and will be taken advantage of again. We parked in row 3 and were in the base lodge within minutes getting geared up and ready to go. We shared a table with with a couple up from Saratoga for the day. This was a bi-weekly trip for them and the $12 tickets were a bonus.

Kelly and I were lined up at the Northwoods Gondola in about 20 minutes after unloading from the car. Using the words “lined up” maybe is off target- let’s say “walked up” because there was no line we just walked into our chariot. As you can tell this day has been going rather well, quick drive, cheap tickets, front lot parking with no charge, and no lines; I love Thursdays.

Skiing how it should be- Great!

The trails at Gore Mountain were groomed to perfection with corduroy from top to bottom. If I had a quarter I would have rolled it down the line and picked it up at the bottom, but there was no time for this- only time to ski. The views are spectacular, high peaks and glimpses of both Lake George and Schroon Lake. Run after run Kelly noted how it was like we had our own mountain, there were no crowds just your own line figure eight style. The majority of terrain was open including trails for all abilities, this mountain really does a great job from top to bottom. We were excited to have old school favorite trails like Rumors and Hullabaloo open- these are really solid runs.

Each trip up the Gondola we met cool people, most of whom had traveled up and a few who were staying in Schroon. It was recommended to us by one gondola buddy to head to Sticks & Stones Restaurant in Schroon Lake for our apres fun. This restaurant was on our line up and it was great to get a referral. He said to be sure and ask for Gary, they grew up together back in Albany... to be continued.

We skied for the majority of the day until the light grew dark and it was time to call it a day. It was a tough call for such a fun day- but it was also closing time. We snuck in one last run for good measure and headed on to our next adventure.

Apres in Schroon Lake

Schroon Lake is only about 20 minutes from Gore Mountain and stop one on our list was Witherbees Carriage House Restaurant. Upon pulling up we knew we were in the right spot for some Apres fun, the key indicator being the giant red Gore Gondola hanging above the entry next to the silo and music booming from the outdoor speakers... The entry way was decked out in Gore ski signs, the kind only the patrol can get their hands on. The owners, who have been there for the last seven years have the don't ask don't tell rule- they came with the place, true ski dining decor.

 Kelly and I were hoping to grab a drink and a bite at Witherbees although it happened to be the Town of Schroon's annual dinner. Normally I would have been game to crash any annual dinner, however still in our ski pants and helmet hair we decided it may be frowned upon if we tried to shimmy in and maybe best to move onto destination number two. We did sneak a photo of the upstairs to give you an idea of how cool this place really is. Witherbees, we shall return almost certainly on a Thursday- because we love Thursdays.

Another round please

After leaving Witherbees we headed to Sticks & Stones Bistro and Bar. By this point I had worked up quite an appetite and my lite fair was now going to be an all out dinner. Greeted by a roaring fire outside Kelly and I entered an awesome Adirondack Style restaurant with a modern feel. Newly opened in June of 2013, Sticks & Stones really has their niche defined. From wooden bar games, decorative accents everywhere, a huge stone fireplace, to a purple wood stove for pizzas and creating toasty eats. They also serve a nice selection of draft beers including 2 from the Paradox Brewery, the local brewery in Schroon Lake.

Where's Gary?

Yes, we walked in and immediately asked for Gary. Both Gary and Steve the super friendly owners came out slightly confused and ended up having a good laugh from our gondola story. Gary and Steve gave us the run down of the menu including their Apres specialty Soup to Nuts! They make a variety of homemade soups daily and offer a platter with samplings of three soups of your choice and warm wood fired nuts. This is a treat to be had- not listed on the menu, but ask and you shall receive.

A Great Day and Night

The Food was all delicious and the company was great too. I really felt like this was a great place to visit and I could see myself dining here another night. One of the fun parts- my phone was almost dead from so many photos all day and the bar comes equipped with outlets to plug in and re-charge- very cool unexpected amenity.

After dinner and great conversation it was time to retire for the evening and of course call home to check in on the family. My legs were tired from an awesome ski day and another day was just around the corner. Check back in a couple weeks to see Day 2 of our Schroon Lake trip, including the powder day to follow. Here's a sneak peak of whats next to come from my Schroon Lake visit- you're going to be surprised with all of this powder what we decided to do...

PS. Since our trip I have travelled the Northway a few times and have stopped in to see Steve and Gary, of course to also get a chuckle about the masked man who sent us there- one day we are sure he will be identified!

The 46 High Peaks are awe-inspiring, alluring, and mysterious. The deep valleys between the mountains are wet and mossy green, and boulders punctuate the open forests there, creating an impressive preview of the towering cliffs, rocky summits, and landslide scars found up high. Striking and spectacular, these peaks beckon hikers looking for a challenge — and make no mistake, climbing any one of them is indeed a challenge. 

While the bulk of hikers head to the popular trailheads found in the northern section of the High Peaks region, those aren’t the only places from which to access these mountains. Dozens of peaks can be summited from the two major access points that are off of Route 28, between Newcomb and Schroon Lake. The trails are just as scenic as the northern routes, but they’re often less crowded.

Always be prepared when hiking, even if it’s a short trail. Bring plenty of water and food, keep some extra layers in your pack, and follow Leave No Trace principles. And above anything else, always be prepared to turn around if darkness descends or the weather starts to turn. The mountains will be there, so be safe!

Upper Works

Before we get to the spectacular selection of trails that are available from the Upper Works parking area, we have to talk about the drive in. The road snakes along the Hudson River before entering the site of Tahawus, an old mining town. Only echoes of the town remain, like the enormous blast furnace that greets visitors as they enter this once-vibrant place. Now, old stone chimneys stand in stark contrast to the nearby trees, and most of the buildings have been replaced by informational plaques that give a feel for what this town was like in its heyday. To get a real sense of place, take the little trail up the hill that’s across the street from the blast furnace to get a peek at the nearby mountains.

Don’t get too distracted by the history of Tahawus, though — the Upper Works trailhead is just ahead, and from it there are dozens of miles of trails to explore. The most popular path heads straight to the Flowed Lands, a stunning area with great views of Mount Colden and Avalanche Mountain. Set up your basecamp here, but be sure to bring a bear canister — the area’s popularity with people has also made it popular with black bears. 

Other options include a less-traveled way into Indian Pass, where a 1,000 foot cliff awaits, or a long, tranquil hike to the remote Duck Hole and Preston Ponds.

From the Flowed Lands, a number of hikes are available. Colden is an obvious option — it's the one with all the slides that's front and center when you arrive at the water's edge — and many other High Peaks are nearby, including Marcy, Cliff, Redfield, and Skylight. Keep in mind that “nearby” is relative, though. None of the hikes in this area are easy, and all of them require some serious elevation gain over rough, mountainous terrain. If you’re looking for quick day hikes, there are better places to explore.

Elk Lake 

Elk Lake is on private property, so don’t plan on making that part of your adventure, but there are two trailheads here that get you into some of the most rugged, beautiful scenery in the High Peaks.

The Panther Gorge trail begins across the road from the parking area. From there, hikers can opt for the trail up two High Peaks, Blake and Colvin, or they can continue to the remote Panther Gorge. There are a couple of camping areas in the gorge, and that's good because you’ll need to rest after making the 700-foot elevation gain and descent to get there. Panther Gorge is beautiful, but the real attraction is the trio of peaks. Marcy towers above the head of the gorge, flanked by Haystack on one side and Skylight on the other, making an extremely difficult and rewarding loop possible. In fact, the elevation gain up Haystack from Panther Gorge makes it the steepest trail in the Adirondacks.

The Dix Range trail begins at the parking area, and it’s a beauty. A winding trail leads to an old carriage road that runs along the base of the range, and there are several places to camp along the way. A well-trodden herd path ascends McComb via a rubbly slide from which Elk Lake can be seen far below. From McComb, the path continues, linking South Dix, Grace Peak (formerly East Dix), and Hough in one beautiful traverse. Hearty hikers can continue past Hough and on to Dix to complete the range, but it’s quite a haul. 

Boreas Ponds

OK, so this trail doesn’t quite take you into the High Peaks, but it does end with one of the best views of the Great Range from the shore of the 320-acre Boreas Ponds. This brand new route follows Gulf Brook Road for 6.7 miles to the shore of of the pond. About half of the route will be accessible by motor vehicle, with four small parking areas to choose from. The rest of the way can only be traversed by foot, horse, or bike.

Getting there

All of the above parking areas are located off of Route 28 as it travels between Exit 29 on I-87 and the town of Newcomb.

• Elk Lake: From Exit 29, take Route 28 west for about 7 miles and turn right on Elk Lake Road. Follow that to the parking area, on the right.
• Boreas Ponds: From Exit 29, take Route 28 west for about 7.5 miles and look for the large brown Gulf Brook Road sign on the right.
• Upper Works: From Exit 29, take Route 28 west for about 17.5 miles and turn right on Tahawus Road. Bear left on Upper Works Road after about 6.5 miles and follow that to the end.

After hitting the High Peaks, head into Newcomb, Minerva, North Hudson, or Schroon Lake for food and drinks to help you refuel after a great day of hiking!

 

"We're here to do things the way they’re supposed to be done.”

David Hughes and I had been talking for a while about his new business, ADK Purveyors. He was giving me the history of how he ended up with a subscription box service that specializes in bringing the best quality Adirondack products directly into your home when he laid that simple, yet powerful, statement on me. 

In the summer of 2018 David subscribed to an organic food box but was disappointed. "My box showed up at my door in an insulated box with a gel pack every two weeks. I loved the concept. The only negatives were, one, I wasn’t able to choose what produce went into my box. Two, this produce is coming from California and/or Mexico and three, the food started to go bad in a few days because of the lengthy two week trip across the country by freight train."

David knew he could do better; he had already made a career of fostering good relationships with local producers, first as a manager of a third generation butcher shop, then sourcing products for farm stores, and most recently, bringing local ingredients into his local school district as the manager of its school lunch program (the students call him "Chef Dave"). He knew he could help folks across the Adirondacks access high quality fresh products that were actually produced in the Adirondacks, with the option to choose what you get, and without the long drive to the grocery store.

Two years later, ADK Purveyors can deliver a growing range of great Adirondack products directly to your door, not only locally (which is still at the core of their mission), but anywhere in the lower 48 states. 

How does it work?

ADK Purveyors have gone out of their way to make it simple. You can have a box headed to you in less than 10 minutes with a quick trip to their website (David has even been so kind to extended to our readers a special limited time offer; when you sign up for a subscription and use the code ADKFOOD at checkout, get 50% off your first box!). Their most popular is the Harvest Box, which allows you to pick any five items from their inventory. You can have just one box shipped, or set up a weekly or monthly delivery. There's no minimum number of shipments and you can cancel at any time. They'll even send you a reminder before each order so you can check your box and make any changes you would like for your next delivery. 

What do you get?

Just like any subscription service, you get to pick! And they have been able to put together a great selection from the following producers:

• Nettle Meadow Farm - dairy

• North Country Creamery - artisanal cheeses and yogurt

• Juniper Hill Farm - NOFA-NY certified organic produce

• Sunset Farm - grass-fed beef

• Toad Hill Maple - pure Adirondack maple products

• Reber Rock Farm - pasture raised and organically fed poultry

• Blackberry Hill Farm - heritage bred pork (coming soon!)

They’re always looking for new producers and artisans to partner with, so check back for updated offerings!

But is it really fresh?

The short answer: yes.

If there’s one thing David values above all else, it’s the quality and freshness of the products he’s offering. Each week's orders are processed on Friday, when David contacts the producers to let them know what was sold that week. The orders are collected directly from the farmers and producers by Wednesday, when the boxes are shipped, generally arriving at the customers' doorstep by Friday. So by the time the box gets to your door, the artisanal meats, cheeses, produce, and Maple products inside have only been away from their Adirondack home for several days at most. 

If you’re fortunate enough to live in the southeastern Adirondacks you can even save on the shipping and pick your box up directly from their processing center in Newcomb, NY. 

Sign me up!

Given the interesting times we're living in, you can bet ADK Purveyors is going to be on my radar. Not only to get some of the products I already know and love more easily to my door, but to some family and friends as well! There are oh so many holidays and birthdays just around the corner...

Go take a look at ADK Purveyors; they're "doing things they way they should be done."

And don't forget! If you're signing up for a subscription, use that 50% off code at checkout, 'ADKFOOD.'

 

The Newcomb-Minerva-North Hudson region offers fantastic boreal birding in the Adirondacks. This area has numerous hiking trails through boreal forest, wetlands, and marshes. Easy, roadside birding is also exciting since the main roads traverse boreal wilderness areas.

Some of the Region’s Bird Species

The sought-after boreal “trinity” species - Black-backed Woodpecker, Gray Jay, and Boreal Chickadee, attract birders to the Adirondacks year-round. The Newcomb-Minerva-North Hudson region is one of the best areas to find these species. It is also one of my favorite areas for bird guiding. On a recent tour with a couple who wanted to see a Black-backed Woodpecker, we found 6 during the morning in Newcomb and Minerva! During an early July tour with a group of women who wanted to see a Boreal Chickadee, we found fledglings just out of the nest along the northern end of the Roosevelt Truck Trail in Minerva! Like most fledglings, they lacked tails and had wavy bills. Not only did we have nice views of the Boreal Chickadees, but we were able to spend a long time watching a stationary fledgling on a branch intermittently being fed.

Each year, I find Black-backed Woodpecker nest sites in this area and last year, many of my clients were thrilled to see a young male being fed at the nest hole by the adult male and female. Once again this year, I found a nest site right along the road, so we’ll be able to observe the young woodpeckers as they grow up.

Other year-round species such as Red and White-winged Crossbills and Evening Grosbeaks can be found, with these species a bit easier to see during winter when the crossbills typically nest and grosbeaks are reliably visiting feeders. This past winter, a couple hundred Evening Grosbeaks could be found in the Newcomb area and Red Crossbills nested throughout this region.

This area also hosts 20 breeding warbler species! Cape May Warblers breed along the southern end of the Roosevelt Truck Trail in mature spruce-fir forest with little understory. It is one of only a few known locations to find this species in the Adirondacks.

With a mix of habitats, including wetlands, in the Newcomb-Minerva-North Hudson region, insect-eating flycatcher species are also abundant. Some of the flycatcher species found include: Olive-sided Flycatcher, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Alder Flycatcher, Least Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, and Eastern Kingbird.

Forest dwelling raptor species such as Broad-winged Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, and Northern Goshawk, can also be found. Many rivers (including the Hudson and Boreas Rivers) and lakes are home to Bald Eagles, Common Loons, and waterfowl such as Common and Hooded Mergansers.

The beautiful voices of thrushes can also be heard. Hermit, Swainson’s, and Bicknell’s Thrushes can be found at appropriate elevations.

Some of the Region’s Trails

Roosevelt Truck Trail in Minerva: This 2.5 mile long road-sized trail has fantastic, mature boreal forest. Black-backed Woodpeckers, Gray Jays, and Boreal Chickadees can be found while hiking the trail. Raptors include Barred Owl, Broad-winged Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, and Northern Goshawk. Once again, a Sharp-shinned Hawk has taken up residence along the northern end of the trail. Many warbler species can be found including the rare Cape May Warbler. Yellow-bellied Flycatchers can be heard from the mossy-ground boreal forest. The long, loud song of the tiny Winter Wren is a dominant voice heard while hiking. The lovely, flute-like songs of Hermit and Swainson’s Thrushes can also be heard.

Railroad Bed South on Route 28N in Minerva: Just a short walk south on the Minerva railroad bed leads to huge wetlands including beaver marshes and ponds on both sides of the tracks. Black-backed Woodpeckers and Boreal Chickadees can be found in the boreal forest surrounding the wetlands. Flycatcher species abound in this location including the sought after Olive-sided Flycatcher. Warblers fill the trees. In the marsh, Common Yellowthroats, Song, Swamp, and White-throated Sparrows, and many flycatcher species are active.

Hewitt Eddy Trail in Minerva: This foot-path leads through boreal forest and links to the scenic Boreas River Trail for a possible loop hike. Black-backed Woodpeckers and Boreal Chickadees can be found, along with many other woodpecker and warbler species.

Vanderwhacker Mountain Trail in Minerva: The first mile of the trail (on relatively level terrain) is wonderful for birding with mixed forest and wetland habitats. Many warbler species can be found including Canada Warblers. After the first half-mile, two large marshes dominate the next half-mile. Olive-sided Flycatchers can be found in these beaver-created wetlands.

Cheney Pond-Lester Flow Trail in Minerva: This is a popular cross-country ski trail in winter, but it can also be hiked in spring, summer, and fall. There are Common Loons on Cheney Pond and Boreal Chickadees along the trail to Lester Flow.

Adirondack Interpretive Center (AIC) Trails in Newcomb: There is a network of scenic trails at the Newcomb AIC. The trails wind through mixed forest habitat with White Cedars and along lakes. Common Loons and many warbler and sparrow species can be found. Make sure you check the AIC bird feeders too!

These are just a few of the many hiking trails in this region, but you may find a favorite road-side birding location too. (I’ve found many!)

New York State recently purchased the 20,758 acre Boreas Ponds Tract in North Hudson, so stay tuned for lots more birding opportunities in this beautiful region!

If you visit this boreal wilderness, there are many wonderful lodging and restaurant options nearby!

Hiking the Pigeon Lake Wilderness

Moxham Mountain is a fairly new trail to Essex County and is located in the Town of Minerva in the Vanderwhacker Mountain Wild Forest. The trail was built by the Student Conservation Association (CSA) in July of 2012 to give access to the public to a true Adirondack gem. This trail is a well laid out scenic route of 2.7 miles, on a moderate approach to a partially bald summit.

Moxham you might be thinking would be a very long drive from Schroon Lake, but with its trailhead accessible location it’s a rather short drive, using county roads. Just locate Hoffman Road (CR 24) in the Village of Schroon Lake and follow it all the way to Irishtown, which is a very small hamlet of Essex County. In Irishtown take a right near a graveyard and then a left at the T-intersection onto CR 24A. This will quickly bring you to Route 28N in Minerva. Cross directly over Route 28N onto 14th Road and continue 2.1 miles to the trailhead on the left. In the spring, as it was for me, the final 0.2 miles to the trail was closed due to wet conditions, if this is the case there is a small area to park at the top of the hill.

I had seen this mountain many times from Route 28 as I traveled south toward North Hudson, but never really placed the name with the face, so to speak, but once I summited I soon realized where I was standing. Finally the feel of spring was here and I was looking forward to hiking in warm weather and less layers. The week before I was in Old Forge on a hike, and to my surprise the snow was still very deep, especially on the northern aspect of the mountains, so we didn’t want to take any chances.

What gear to bring???

We decided it would be wise to bring our snowshoes and Microspikes along just in case, if nothing else we could leave them in the car, and we would be traveling up the north side of the mountain ridge. As we arrived at 14th Road and started our drive down, my eyes wandered over at the northern slopes of the mountains in the area and it was quite apparent there was still plenty of snow lingering around. Even with the hard winter snowpack from heavy use, we felt there was a good chance that the snow would be rotten and not support us at all without the use of snowshoes. As much as we didn’t want to bring them, we strapped them onto our packs; if nothing else we could use the added weight for an additional dose of exercise.

We parked at the top of the hill and started the descent along the dirt road for all of 0.2 miles to the new state trailhead on the left. There would be ample parking here, if it were not under water. We started up the trail that still had a bit of ice on it, but no real snow to speak of. We now realized we would be taking our snowshoes for a tour on our backs. We did however decide to slip on the Microspikes, as traction was not at all good. The ice parted in areas where massive amounts of rushing water crossed the trail. It truly wasn’t long before the Microspikes were not really necessary. The trail became clear of snow and ice as we started to crest the first small bump along the ridge and the southern slopes mountain collected more warmth from the sun. We now were giving the tour to a set of Microspikes - if we hadn’t brought them though we would have needed them - it's Mother Nature’s cruel joke.

The views from Moxham

We came to our first view and it was quite amazing. Through the leafless trees we could see the High Peaks around Upper Works, but it was still too obstructed by the forest for any decent photographic opportunities. A long descent brought us to a lower elevation, and a bit of snow started to appear again. As we approached the valley we noticed that we were coming to a small hidden pond that would be on our left, we investigated a bit only to find it was a beaver pond that had all but dried up to a stream running through it. The stream however, maybe small in the summer’s heat was now raging with snowmelt. The trail crossed at a spot not good for the future of our dry boots so we moved slightly upstream and over a downed tree that allowed us to rock-hop a couple well-positioned steps.

Back in the snow we were, as we ascended through a shallow valley. Though the snow was very rotten and water raced beneath it, we opted not to reapply our traction for the short distance it would be needed to gain the ridge again. As we battled a short pitch of slightly steeper terrain and old waterfall ice, we realized we would be once again on a trail of reddened pine needles. The views soon became more and more frequent and my camera would spend more time out of the case than in. The pillow-like clouds above us formed interesting shapes and added to the depth of the views out toward Gore, Blue, and in the distance, Crane Mountain. The unique shape of Snowy Mountain and Indian Lake’s Little High Peaks were even further in the distance, expanding this view for many miles.

We would soon be close to the summit and the nearly sheer cliffs of Moxham would be in sight capturing our imagination and awe. I had hoped that the trail would follow the tops of the cliffs, but even though it didn't, the line accessed them in several locations for additional views, slightly different from the last. We stood atop the summit of Moxham, gazing at the array of different views of the mountainous landscape and the frozen wetlands below. My camera was smoking from the constant shuttering of pictures, as a cool - not all that gentle - breeze pushed through our hair. It was so pleasant to be able to sit on a summit and enjoy its beauty for longer than 5-minutes. The winter had been long and even the most attractive summits of the cold season pushed us off the summits faster than we had preferred. It was nice to not have to wear snowshoes - even though we carried them. Our only regret was not bringing real food for lunch and having to settle for granola and a Clif Bar.

Our descent was fast and agile. With every step we gained three atop the slippery snow. We stepped and glided as much as we could, when we could, and what was to our slight disadvantage on the way up was our life flight on the way out. Soaked from the knees down from running water and wet snow, we wasted no time in changing into dry footwear for the ride home. Now off to Stewarts for a couple dogs and cone.

Just a hop, skip and a jump from New York City is a State Park larger than Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Glacier and the Great Smokies National Parks combined, called the Adirondack Park (the Adirondacks or ADKs). The word Adirondack was a name given by the Mohawk tribe meaning “barkeaters.” The Adirondacks is the largest National Historic Landmark and covers over 6 million acres. The Park is always open, and there's no admission fee.

For generations the Adirondacks has been a source of inspiration. A playground for the adventurous, a source for wellness and healing, a stadium for world competition, a battleground, a canvas to painters, photographers, visitors and artists alike; and to the ever many, a muse. From Albert Einstein, to the Rockefellers and Vanderbilts, to Presidents’ Roosevelt and Coolidge, historically there has been a tradition of inspired minds choosing to spend their time in the mountains and waters of upstate New York. The fresh air, mountains, and miles of trails, water, and winding roads beckon you to experience what the Park means to you.

Into the Woods

One of the longest-standing of these sources of inspiration and tradition comes in the form of song from Seagle Festival. Conveniently located in the South-East side of the Park in the town of Schroon Lake, Seagle has been drawing in talented up-and-coming singers summer after summer. This season the Seagle Festival is celebrating 100 years as the oldest summer vocal training program in the United States, and as a premier opera and musical theatre producing organization.

For a town of less than 2,000 residents it’s unique to say that every summer opera singers from across the country and around the globe contend for a spot among the elite thirty-two who are selected to train, practice, learn, and perform at this prestigious music school. The Colony was founded by Oscar Seagle, a world-renowned baritone. Quickly nicknamed “Olowan,” an Indian name for “Hill of Song,” Mr. Seagle’s reputation made the Colony a magnet for aspiring singers.

For the 2015, Centennial Season

The Seagle Music Colony offers an impressive performance schedule for visitors to enjoy this “Hill of Song” in action all summer long. For the 2015 Centennial Season the audience has the chance to enjoy the timeless classics: Falstaff by Verdi on stage July 1-5, and The Barber of Seville by Rossini from July 15-18, both performed in Italian with projected subtitles in English; Into the Woods[/i] by Sondheim, the fairy-tale classic which hit the big screens in 2014, comes into the mountains from July 29 - August 1; and the season is rounded out from August 12-16 with the highly anticipated and unforgettable, Les Misérables[/i] by Schönberg & Boublil.

Children have the opportunity to laugh, as well as learn, as the Colony presents the children’s opera The Ugly Duckling. This delightful adaption of Hans Christian Anderson’s classic fairy-tale explores and teaches young viewers the important life lesson and message of acceptance. (Sung in English with relatable characters).

Find your muse and indulge in what inspires you!

Considered the gateway to the Adirondacks, Schroon Lake makes a great basecamp to experience and explore all the Park has to offer. Plan a trip to Schroon Lake this summer and see what all the fuss is about. Let the Schroon Lake website help you find what you are looking for.

• Find lodging
• Hire a guide
• Reserve tickets to a show at the Seagle Music Colony
• Check out a class of your own at the VIC Center on the Events page
• Explore what to do

Feeling inspired?

Learn about Teddy Roosevelt’s ride in Spencer's Blog, learn more about the Seagle Music Colony in Sue’s blog, and read about the painter Winslow Homer.