Schroon Lake is one of the most beautiful lakes in the Adirondack Region. It's also home to approximately 1,500 year-round residents, and in the summer that number swells to nearly 5,000 with summer homeowners.

Schroon Lake is also renowned for its therapeutic qualities, having hundreds of visitors come from around the world to sit on its shores and rejeuvenate. These vistors are mostly individuals or families that want to escape the fast-paced life of urban America; however, at times A-listers frequent Schroon Lake. Some of the first A-listers that influenced or visited came as early as the dawning of the town.

Schroon Lake was established in 1804. The origin of its name is still a topic discussed at many dinner tables. There are two versions of how Schroon Lake recieved its name. The first is that the local Native Americans, the Iroquois and Algonquians, named it. It has been noted that the Iroquois gave the name Ska-ne-tah-no-wah-na to Schroon Lake, while the Algonquians called it Skoo-na-pus. The first syllable of Skoo-na-pus is reflective of Schroon.

The second version of Schroon Lake's naming occurs during the 1700s, when French soldiers and officers were encamped in the region. During scouting expeditions, the soldiers found the beautiful lake, which was full of trout and salmon and provided much-needed protein for their diets. Due to the beauty of the lake, the officers gave it the name "Scarron" in memory of the widow of French dramatist and poet Paul Scarron.

Paul Scarron was a poor, crippled poet who was married to a young and beautiful woman who, after his death, secretly married into royalty, thus becoming the wife of Louis XIV. This young lady captured the hearts of many who were entertained at the home of her late husband, Paul Scarron. Schroon Lake may very well take its name from Madame Scarron.

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So who was Madame Scarron? Local historian Gary Glebus explained that Madame Scarron’s maiden name was Françoise d’ Aubigne. Her grandfather was a very close associate of Henry IV and her father, Constant d’ Aubigne, was imprisoned for killing his wife and her lover. While in prison he married Jeanne de Cardilhac, who was the daughter of the governor of the prison. Before completing his term of sentence Jeanne had several children, including one who was named Françoise.

After Constant was released from prison he traveled to the Virgin Islands, where he later died in sheer poverty. Françoise and her mother returned to France and took up residency with the Countess de Neuillant, the godmother of Françoise. There she lived as a peasant caring for the poultry and other farm animals. Little did she know the poet Paul Scarron lived on the same street and would someday ask for her hand in marriage. Having wealth at the time, Scarron offered to give Françoise enough money for her to be able to finish her education at a convent. Along with being indebted to him, her beauty and charm soon captured Paul’s heart.

At the young age of 17, Françoise married Paul. He was 34 years of age. Many intellectuals and French philosophers were entertained at their home. Françoise always captivated her audience, even royalty. Unknown to many, Françoise became the secret governess of the children of Louis XIV by Madame de Montespan. It became a competition between her and Madame de Montespan to win the heart of the king, who had every intention of making Queen Maria Theresa of Austria his mistress. Theresa's death influenced Louis to marry the widow, Françoise, instead. Madame de Montespan had brought embarrassment to the king earlier and thus he had no desire to ask her hand in marriage.

The wedding between Françoise and Louis XIV took place at midnight in June 1684 at the Palace of Versailles, and thus Françoise became the queen of France. The uncrowned queen became known as the Marquise de Maintenon, a title bestowed on her by Louis XIV, who placed her in charge of his estate Maintenon. For many years thereafter she continued to have an influence over the history of France.

Thomas Cole paints Schroon Lake

Thomas Cole, a famous landscape artist who worked with and inspired many famous American landscape artists during the early 1800s, was the founding father of the Hudson River School for artists. Born in England in 1801, he emigrated the United States with his family when he was 17 and first worked as a wood engraver in Philadelphia before going to Ohio, where his father had established a wallpaper manufacturing business. Not happy working in the wallpaper business, Cole began working with an artist in Ohio, learning to paint portraits and landscapes.

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Once he gained self-confidence, Cole set out to seek his fortune. By 1825 he had moved to New York City and soon thereafter made a trip up the Hudson River to stay at the Catskill Mountain House Hotel, located in the Catskill Mountains. This young painter was a very talented artist who had a gift for painting breathtaking American scenery. Cole caught the attention of various art buyers and quickly was included as part of the inner circle of the cultural world of New York City. He soon became one of the founding members of the National Academy of Design in 1826.

Cole expanded his travels and subjects to include scenes of Schroon Lake, other Adirondack towns and landscapes, and the White Mountains of New Hampshire. He later did illustrations for James Fenimore Cooper’s popular novel The Last of the Mohicans. By 1829 his success enabled him to take a tour of Europe, where he lived for many years painting nobles and landscapes.

Movie stars ascend on Schroon Lake

Schroon Lake is unqiue and has bragging rights most other Adirondack lakes don't have. A Hollywood movie was even filmed on the lake.

In 1957 Scaroon Manor, a very popular resort and playground for vistors from New York City, became the set of the Hollywood film Marjorie Morningstar, which was based on the bestselling book by Herman Wouk. The soundtrack of the film was by Max Steiner, the same composer for the hit films Gone with the Wind, Casablanca, and Wouk's The Cain Mutiny. The director was Irving Rapper, who had also directed The Glass Menagerie, The Corn is Green, and Rhapsody in Blue.

The leading actor was Gene Kelly, who played Noel Airman, and sang A Very Precious Love, a song that became a hit that year. Kelly's co-star was the young and beautiful 19-year-old actress Natalie Wood. Wood was an experienced actress who started in the business at the young age of four. Her best-known roles were West Side Story, Splendor in the Grass, and Rebel Without a Cause.

Not only did Natalie bring her beauty to Schroon Lake; she also brought her hot romance with actor Robert Wagner. During the fiming of Marjorie Morningstar, Wagner stayed at Scaroon Manor to be near Wood and was often seen out boating and skiing on the lake.

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Marjorie Morningstar was a film about a young Jewish woman from New York City who worked at a girls camp and fell head over heels in love with Noel Aimran, the musical director at a glamorous hotel across the lake from the camp. Airman was handsome and charming but the wrong man for Morningstar. Their romance does not end happily, and Airman tries to make it big on Broadway, but fails and returns to the hotel in upstate New York to continue to be the in-house Casanova.

Not only did this film bring Hollywood to the shores of Schroon Lake; it gave the local residents a chance to have a role in a Hollywood film. A few of these extras are still with us today to tell the story of how Marjorie Morningstar was made. If you are lucky you may meet up with one and hear a tale or two.

Nationally known opera singer resides on our shores

In recent years, famous and internationally known opera singer Patrice Beverly Munsel and her husband came to live on the shores of the beloved Schroon Lake during the summer and soon year-round.

Patrice Patrice Beverly Munsel was born May 14, 1925 in Spokane, Washington, and became a famous American soprano and the youngest singer to star in the Metropolitan Opera. Munsel first sang at the Metropolitan at age 17 in March 1943. She made her official Metropolitan debut on December 4, 1943, at the age of 18, singing Philine in Mignon. Perhaps best known for the role of Adele in Die Fledermaus, she performed 225 times at the Metropolitan. Her opera roles included Rosina in The Barber of Seville and Despina in Cosi fan Tutte.

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Munsel's late husband Robert C. Schuler developed and produced the ABC-TV primetime variety series The Patrice Munsel Show, which starred his wife and was broadcast during the 1957–58 season. Munsel appeared on many other TV shows during her career, including the role of Marietta (Countess d'Altena) in the January 15, 1955 live telecast of the operetta Naughty Marietta. She also portrayed the title role in the 1953 film Melba, which chronicled the life of the great opera singer Dame Nellie Melba.

Munsel made frequent television appearances on The Bell Telephone Hour, and was the central singer in the Camp Fire Girls' famous TV commercial and song "Sing Around the Camp Fire (join the Camp Fire Girls)," which aired in the mid-1960s. Munsel ended her career as an opera singer in 1981 and began to perform in musical comedies.
Munsel's husband Robert C. Schuler was an advertising and public relations executive and producer for 55 years until his death at age 90 in 2007. They were blessed with four children. Munsel still supports schools for students that are studying opera, including the Seagle Music Colony.

Schroon Lake is loved by so many, from all walks of life. Staying in Schroon Lake is considered a peaceful heaven away from home for many. Come and enjoy our clear cool spring water, the breeze in your face, the beautiful views, and the fresh crisp air. Whether you want to relax at the beach, go on an adventure, or shop and dine in style, Schroon Lake has something memorable to offer. Come find out for yourself why so many stars have called it home!

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Information for this blog was gathered from a number of sources: Header photo of Patricia Munsel from Wikipedia; the history of Schroon, Paul Scarron, and Madame Scarron, as well as pictures of Madame Scarron and King Louis, are from Gary Glebus, town historian and Glebus Realty website; information and photo of Thomas Cole from Adirondack Museum; film photo from Warner Bros. site.; information on Marjorie Morningstar from Schroon Lake Chamber.

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In related Fame In The ADKs news:

No joke. Will Rogers has seen its fair share of famous entertainers.

Dewey’ing it with decimals.

The Adirondack hermit.

A star-studded past with more stars on the horizon.

Lighting the way for the rich and famous.

Meadowmount: Multiple strings attached.

Wheeler goes to Washington.

When it comes to exploring there isn’t much I won’t do to find that hidden gem or secluded view, and in doing so I sometimes don’t use my best judgement. Of course most days start out with a solid plan, and that plan usually works out to be a good one and we go with it, BUT...

Simply put, the winter of 2016 has not been all that predictable and snow conditions have varied quite a bit. We had a plan to head south of Schroon Lake, back into the Lake George Region for this little outing. The peaks we eyed weren’t far from Schroon Lake, so the drive was an easy one and we quickly found ourselves at the Deer Leap Trailhead, our meeting spot.

Arriving in the Lake George Wild Forest

Back to the plan: We were going to hike up and over a couple of mountains and finish off on Bloomer Mountain, which is right near our meet-up spot. Once we started going to the other trailhead we found out it was not plowed and this would add some distance to our hike. I decided rather than rush the day, which was getting older, we would instead venture up onto Indian Mountain and maybe over toward Spruce Mountain if things went OK.

Parking the car along the end of the plowed section of Split Rock Road, we started our trek. We left the snowshoes in the car, placing high hopes that the thick January crust layer would suffice. There was a wonderful contrast between the sky and the snow, and the projected heat of the day was starting to settle in. We arrived swiftly for the meeting at Jabe Pond Road, which was the other road we had hoped would be plowed.

Continuing down Jabe Pond Road on foot, we crossed a hollow and started to climb to a height-of-land. This was our leap-off point for Indian Mountain. This Native American inspired mountain was certain to please as we pondered the rock opening in front of us. We scramble up the slopes, out onto the open rock, and within a couple minutes of leaving the road we were rewarded with an outstanding view of Lake George and the Green Mountains of Vermont. Perched high above the valley we soaked it all in. The sun was starting to soften the snow and we started to leak as well, so removing a layer or two was in perfect order.

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The remaining distance to the summit of Indian was not overwhelming in the least, and along the way we happened to enjoy additional small views in all directions. This summit consisted of a narrow ridgeline with gnarly trees dotting its slopes, a unique atmosphere indeed. Views became slightly screened but we could see our surroundings as the irregular system of mountains they were. We wanted more.

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Beavers love the mountains too

Due to our rapid ascent of Indian Mountain we had time to head over toward Spruce Mountain, but upon further inspection of our map the summit seemed to rest on easement lands. It was unclear if those easement lands were open to the public for recreation (come to find out later they don't appear to be). Nevertheless, we would head in that direction and follow the col out back to the car if need be. During our steep descent off of Indian we gandered at Spruce and noticed an open rock wall with stellar viewing potential well below the summit and well within the state land boundary. We decided to go for it.

The descent continued to be steep, then ridiculously steep, and then a sheer drop. We didn’t expect such conditions on this little guy but with the unexpected comes the adventure. We navigated the top of the cliffs with care and precision, and then eventually we found a safe opening down. The col in between these two peaks of the Lake George Wild Forest was nothing short of breathtaking. A beaver clan had made a small village down there and the flowage looked deep beneath the sheet of ice. I am not a fan of walking on ice, even when I know it is safe enough for a truck, but a truck doesn’t have the luck I tend to have on frozen liquids.

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I hugged the shore as I passed over beaver canals and dead trees. Around each bend its openness and picturesque settings were worthy of nothing less than two dozen pictures. I think Jim’s camera caught on fire at one point. Finally I reached a beaver dam — the one causing all my mental chaos — whose structure I trusted. As the ice cracked along the side from my weight prying up on the sticks, I knew I had made the right choice. Jim, on the other hand, didn’t like the security of solid ground and used the ice for a final section. We could hear the cracks beneath him, disconcerting as it was. Clenched up he hurried to shore, dry this time.

Some of the best views around

We had a steep climb ahead of us, and as the cliffs started to grow closer and closer the terrain began to become an ‘all-fours’ ordeal. We looked ahead to see if we could find a shoot through the rock structure or if we would have to go around. My sense of adventure found a small possibility and we went for it.

Upon wary footing on steep, frozen slopes we slowing reached what looked like an ideal spot from below. I now doubted my intentions. My full winter pack was pulling me back as I fought to get purchase with my boots. Only a small lip aided me in this and that was not all that promising or secure. My camera bag at my hip hindered me and pushed me back from the rock shelf, leaving me unbalanced. I had to remove it. I handed it to Jim, whose property value was a simple foot hold on a tree root. He was not so enthusiastic either. I am not a rock climber, nor do I pretend to be one, but at times the adventure of a tough scramble clouds my good decision. A slip would have meant the production of a Jimbo pancake and a steep tumble of tens of feet to the valley below. A tumble for which I would be truly sore for days, one for which I avoided as I finally had enough grip to push off and step up to a secure location.

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It was now Jim’s turn; he would have none of that. He handed up my camera case using our trekking poles and began walking the base of the cliffs looking for a smarter approach to the top. I continued on to complete two smaller scrambles, which were easy in comparison. Upon the rocky ridge I finished off my attack to gain the view, and what a view. Jim found a gully, loaded with snow and a gentle grade, that was a much easier approach than mine.

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We hung around this rocky outcropping for nearly an hour with the sun warming our skin and the view warming our hearts. We listened to the raven cawing below us and off in the distance the rat-tat-tat of a woodpecker looking for food filled our ears. With hot beef bouillon inside me warming that portion of my body we had to head off.

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We used the state land boundary to guide us off of the mountain. It was hard to locate in most areas, but we did our best not to intrude. Eventually it became easy to follow with tree harvesting right up to the boundary. We continued with moderate descents over welcoming footing, and then came the exit from the forest onto the unplowed portion of the back road. It was a flash for us as we arrived back to the car, grateful for what we were granted — not only wonderful views, but a safe return home. Our rambling in the woods had come to an end and we gabbed about returning for more adventures in the Lake George Wild Forest very soon.

There's plenty to quench your thirst for adventure in the Schroon Lake Region. Go horseback riding, snowmobiling, or downhill skiing!

 

A love affair with an outdoor activity all comes with time and it often starts out simply - y'know, with hanging out with friends, then a first date, then the dating scene, and then all out true love and for a lack of better terms, “a long lasting marriage.” Oh...I remember it like it was yesterday.

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Hanging out with friends

It all starts out with some fun and games; you hike around on local trails, climb some popular peaks, take a dip in some of the cool mountain waters, and maybe venture into a bit of the unknown. For me it started with the smaller mountains of the Adirondacks and then the High Peaks. Friends and I would plan days out to flirt with the forest but never venture out into the unknown. I would keep it safe, stay in the familiar, and maybe put out some feelers about that attractive forest resting over there in that corner of the park. The forest would be so striking with its wavy figure, sweet smell, and look so inviting, just beckoning me to venture over; but I was still too shy. I would continue to venture out and slowly invite other friends, but we would always sit on the edge of our perch and just flirt with her. Sometimes my love would be dressed and painted in all sorts of lavish colors, other times subtle in her dress of white, then other times nearly completely naked, and almost never in the same mood. It would be so tempting, I knew one day I would walk over and strike up that first conversation, step beneath her veil, and discover her secrets, and maybe she would invite me back.

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Our first date

I did it. I finally walked over and planned our first date. I feel ashamed I can't remember where or when it was, but I am sure it was a good one —full of adventure, adversity, wonders, and awe. I was still scared though, I didn’t want to go alone on the first date, so we had a chaperone, one with a bit more experience on the whole first date thing. We held hands. She kissed my cheek, brushed against my arm, massaged my feet, and left a lasting impression upon my soul and delicate exterior.

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The dating scene

The first date was behind us, we felt much more comfortable with each other, now we needed to get to know each other. We would go out often and enjoy the company of one another. I would call in sick to work to spend more time with her, I would make lame excuses why I couldn’t do things with others, just so we could see one another. I would learn more about her around every corner of our time together: her beautiful complexion; her thick black hair; her soft delicate side; as well as her coarse nature. In time she would get to know me too: my quirks and my temperaments; when I needed alone time; when I was grouchy; and when I was joyous. We went on several dates and hung out in many different areas, in all kinds of weather, with all sorts of promise, but often alone in our thoughts and dreams. We often went on double dates - and even triple dates. We hung out at all different times of the day and even spent the night together a few times, innocently cuddling under the stars. I would protect her by not taking more than what I was offered and capturing only pictures. She would protect me by placing here coat over my head during the rain, or blocking the wind on cold winters day. I think I was falling in love.

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Marriage

I was in Love, it’s true. The forest and the trees, the birds and the bees, the waters and the rocks, everything about her — I was in love. But it wasn’t until I really dove into her being that I would truly learn all there was about her. We would have our moments and we will continue to have our arguments and share impolite words of wisdom. She will slap me; I will push back. I will fall; she will pick me back up. I will have a rough day; she will make it nice again. She would be bullied by the elements; I will help her heal. When I need peace and quiet she’s silent. When I need an adventure she delivers. We are one, for the love of bushwhacking.

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Oh, the stories we could tell from all our years together... here's a taste of one of recent epic adventures.

Ready to start your own love story? Need a guide to show you the way? Not ready to commit to spending the night in the unknown? Schroon Lake makes a great Adirondack Base Camp - check out our lodging options, and plan to fall in love with hiking in the Adirondacks.

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This week: Fall in love with the ADKs

In sickness and in health (literally)

Getting closer, playing harder

14 outdoor dates that don't suck

The heart of the ADKs

Signs of love

Peak of endearment

Coasting into romance

 

It’s been a while in the waiting to reach my 800th Adirondack peak, and sifting through the 900 or so that I have not climbed I focused on Texas Ridge in Schroon Lake. Located just north of the Loch Muller trailhead, the ridge stands diligently waiting at more than 3,000 feet. I chose this peak because of its massive expanse and my deep curiosity of such a name in northern New York.

It would prove to be an interesting start to the day as we waited at Stewarts in Schroon Lake for our final hiking partner to show. I won’t mention any names to protect the guilty. Come to find out he was at the Blue Ridge trailhead for Hoffman Notch waiting for us; our plans for the day definitely got twisted and unfortunately he never joined us, but did manage to get a peak of his own.

Arriving at Loch Muller

Loch Muller from the village is not a hop, skip and jump — it takes a bit of time to get there. Since 9 a.m. had come and gone and so had 9:30 a.m., we arrived at the not completely plowed access road. The end of the plowed area is a snowplow turn-around with a “no parking” sign and a guy with a shotgun. So to save any hassle we managed to nudge our vehicles off the road enough to give a small plow enough room to maneuver. The guy with the shotgun disappeared and we felt clear to go; he might have been a figment of my imagination.

We opted to leave the snowshoes in the car and went for the bare-booting method and Microspikes if needed. The crust was quite solid and we didn’t see it as an issue, but I did not take my size into account. More on that in a bit. The trailhead was about another 0.3 miles down the unplowed road, so the added walk wasn’t all that much and in no way a demanding feat.

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Upon reaching the trailhead, we signed into the trail register and started our descent along the trail. I soon started to doubt my decision to leave the snowshoes warm and dry in the car. The trail unfortunately descends for a while on the way in, making the realization set in that we would need to climb at the end of the day and if any of you know, that can be bad!

It was soon 10 a.m. but the dark cloudy day made if feel as if it were already late in the afternoon. I would have to win over my lack of vitamin D and dig deep down for the energy and move on. We quickly chewed up the first mile and a half to the Big Pond Trail intersection and at this point I had to make a decision, and since no one in the party wanted to voice their opinion I went with my original plan to taking the southern ridge up and the western face back down. It was honestly a tough decision. Michael, Corenne, John, Melissa and I charged at the final section of trail before we would venture into the mysterious Hoffman Wilderness.

The climb of Texas Ridge

This section of trail was a steady climb as we passed through spruce forest and into the hardwoods, ending on the shoulder of the ridge. While we moved along quite well, I knew time was not on our side and the late start made it even less affordable to monkeying around. The crust off the trail was just as unstable; I led the initial attack on Texas. Fortunately though there wasn’t much snow beneath to battle. However, each and every step was a chore as I had to stomp through the crust; trying to walk softly only delayed the inevitable crack, making it even more tiring.

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We took turns breaking trail for a while and John stepped up next to get us steeply up the slopes to the first bump along the ridge. The ridge was a pleasant surprise as the open hardwoods parted even more. Still in a land without shadows, we moved unfaltering through the open forest and started our climb up to the second bump of the ridge, where we hoped a view could be obtained. It was unfortunate as none were found, but what we did start to find were a spattering of spruce trees. We knew soon we would be in the thick of it. A couple of thick pockets made us push and pull a bit more, but once we came through unscathed on the other side we were rewarded with more uncluttered hardwoods.

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Looking right, the trees were coated in a layering of white; looking left was a scene of brown. The movement of the previous storm was obvious and the beauty the moving clouds gave us was a welcoming sight.

We continued to use the ridge as a handrail to the summit and it worked fine for the most part, but the other part that wasn’t the most part were the thick stands of spruce. It wasn’t so much the spruce but the mixture of steep terrain and constant snow bombing the back of our necks with every push we made. This was the moment I realized that my 8-year old waterproof shell was no longer a viable part of my winter hiking gear. By the time we reached the third bump along the ridge my engine was starting to sputter. I am not sure what my personal falter was on this day but I was whooped and my legs felt like tubes of concrete. Thankfully the third bump gave us a nice view and took my mind, if even for a slight moment, off my fatigue. We could see Hoffman Mountain and the final bump — the summit of Texas Ridge. It was about 0.4 miles away, which could have been on the moon for how I was feeling, but I would press on.

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Thankfully, at this point John and Michael were all about breaking trail. I never argue with someone who has that passion. The terrain now had moments of very dense growth and even steeper terrain. Inching our way closer we finally passed the final contour line on the GPS. The upper portion of this ridge is a bit flat, so I pressed on until I was sure we topped out on the highest point of the mountain. I think it was three or so small knobs later when we stood where we all felt comfortable that we were there. Eight hundred done was such a great feeling, but the summit area didn’t allow for much room to relax and celebrate.

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Getting back to the trailhead

I switched out my liner gloves, put on dry mittens and tucked a fresh pair of hand warmers onto the back of my hands. We were all ready for a quick exit off of this beast and to do so we would need to drop off of the western side of the mountain, which appeared to be a steep undertaking. Corenne led the way, and without falter she dropped off of Texas Ridge on a rapid descent. We were aiming for the Hoffman Notch trail and the closest route to it. It was unclear by looking at the map if we would come across any cliffs on our retreat but we figured we would deal with them if they appeared.

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We missed one right off the top as we skirted its tall ledges, dropping even further in elevation. The spruce was thick in spots, but overall this side of the mountain was pretty easy in comparison to the upper portion of the southern ridge. Fully immersed in nature, we continued to collect needles down the backs of our shirts, and like the opening of a curtain we arrived in the hardwoods. The forest edge was so sharp at this point there was no gentle transition.

Now in the deciduous forest we moved very quickly, and as the features of the forest passed by in a glimpse we came to the dreaded crossing of Trout Brook. It’s a big brook as brooks come in the Adirondacks, and we had no idea what it would take to get across. Something must have been smiling upon us as we hit it just right. The brook was shallow enough to cross with only a couple of steps in the open water. Corenne didn’t like those conditions as much, and she decided to step in water that was up to her knee. Luckily the gaiters stopped her boot from being filed with liquid ice.

The trail was right there and we were all very happy to see it. We finally saw evidence of humans, as fresh tracks led us along the brook and quickly back to the Big Pond trail. The sun was reaching the horizon but it was obvious we'd be back at the cars without breaking out the headlamps. One of our goals was to make it back to the trail before dark but then again, that's always the goal at the end of the day. However, the true goal overall is not to just get a peak, but to enjoy the trip is some way and to do it safely, and when you can do that with a group of awesome people it's pure Adirondack gold.

After the hike, be sure to head into Schroon Lake for dinner and shopping!

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Submitted by Guest Blogger: Brooke Clark

The ride to Schroon Lake was always far too long when I was heading up to ride snowmobiles with my dad. I would wait for him to pull into the driveway, only to run out at top speed to climb in and go! He had the most beautiful sled with a leopard seat, and the smell! Oh, how I loved the smell when he got that machine started. I am so fortunate that I married someone who shares this love of winter, snowmobiling and sharing it all with family.

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The recent cold temperatures certainly went a long way in helping firm up what we had on the trails, and we were fortunate to have our groomer out this weekend. We are hoping that the reports of snow ring true and head our direction!

Plan ahead to sled!

We have annual events in Schroon Lake that ensure sledding is fun for the whole family. A few years ago, we lost a good friend and avid snowmobiler. The 5th annual Mark Heinzelman Snowmobile Poker Run is on Saturday, Feb. 13 this year. We raise money in his name to donate to either a local family or charity.

The following weekend is the Schroon Lake-North Hudson Snowmobile Club poker run. This is also an annual event. For both, we register and then ride in groups from place to place, getting a card stamped. Then we gather at a local spot — usually the Fish and Game Club or a restaurant — and pull playing cards to make a hand of poker. The best hand wins, and there is usually something for the lowest hand, too! We share laughs, memories and make plans for families to get together to plan more snowmobiling. Close to 100 people enter the runs. It certainly makes for a fun-filled day for everyone.

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In addition to the poker runs, the majority of people who live and visit Schroon Lake in the colder months enjoy getting out and riding. We ride to go out to dinner and to get to the grocery store; my daughter has even been asking if she can ride her sled to school. It certainly is a great form of transportation when the roads get scary and you need to be somewhere. We also ride on the lake, when it is safe. Ask a local fisherman you see on the ice and he or she will be more than happy to tell you how much ice is on the lake.

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Safety First!

General guidelines regarding ice thickness are:

• 2" or less — STAY OFF
• 4" — safe for ice fishing or other activities on foot
• 5" — safe for a snowmobile or an ATV
• 8" - 12" — safe for a car or small pickup truck
• 12" - 15" — safe for a medium-sized truck

I generally wait until I see vehicles driving about before I venture out onto the ice. I have driven my jeep, snowmobiles and have spent a lot of time fishing on our lake without incident. There is always someone that thinks it’s safe before it is, and they wind up going through the ice, so ask questions, be safe and don’t be that guy…

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Where to begin?

Schroon Lake has one of the longest trail systems in New York state. There are 6 main trails, and all interconnect. Trail 1 begins at the Schroon Lake Municipal Golf course. It is the longest trail, with a variety of terrain and the widest trails. Be careful on the golf course, which is wide open to ride, due to the fact you may not be able to see another sled coming at you through the dips and valleys.

You can access the lake about a quarter mile down Hoffman and across state Route 9. Trail 6 provides the best access to local restaurants, gas, service and other amenities. The North end is located at Paradox Lake. If you take the trail south you can reach the Fish and Game Club, Sticks and Stones, Witherbee’s and other trails that continue south into the Warren County system.

The state is currently working on connecting our local trail systems so we can travel to points we haven’t been able to access in the past. Remember when you join a club you can register your sled at a discounted price. You can find all kinds of information by following the links here. Questions come up often about age to ride and courses available. We offer a snowmobile licensing course annually at our local Fish and Game Club.

Here are a few of the basic guidelines:
The New York state Office of Parks and Recreation website states that, "Youth ages 14 through 17 years old may operate a snowmobile, on lands upon which snowmobiling is allowed, without adult or other supervision if they have completed a snowmobile safety training course recognized by the State of New York. If youth ages 14 through 17 years have not completed the training course, they may operate a snowmobile if accompanied by (within 500 feet of) a person who is at least 18 years of age.

Youth ages 10 through 13 may operate a snowmobile, on lands upon which snowmobiling is allowed, if they have completed a snowmobile safety training course recognized by the State of New York and are accompanied by (within 500 feet of) a person who is at least 18 years of age.

Children less than 10 years old or less than age 14 without a safety certificate may operate a snowmobile only on lands owned or leased by their parent or guardian."

Visit the NYSSA website for a detailed reference to the New York state laws pertaining to or affecting snowmobiles, including OPRHP Law § 25.19, operation by youthful operators.

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Photo credit: Patricia Strickland

Our trails wind for miles around beautiful snow-covered trees, along frozen streams and through quaint communities. I consider Schroon Lake one of the best places in the Adirondacks to snowmobile in New York. There are other amazing places to ride, but I think the combination of our trail system, restaurants, access to the lake and our tight-knit community make it a truly special experience. See you on the trail! Ready…set…ride...

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The Adirondack Mountains — and the townships within them —are beautiful places to live and visit. Travelers come from around the world to spend time here because of the scenery, the outdoor activities, the hospitality of the local people, and the unique businesses that are scattered throughout our region. However, the reality of the Adirondacks is this: it is sometimes a challenge to live here year-round! With a lull in tourism during the late fall and early spring, many business owners become creative and find interesting secondary ways to make their income. One business owner, who lives in the mountains outside of Schroon Lake, has managed to to meld two of her favorite things with great success.

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True Adirondack spirit

Laura Donaldson had been a seamstress/tailor for well over 35 years. She wasn't your typical small-town seamstress; her business plan was unique because she would travel to her clients' homes, place of business, or any other location they needed her. She often found herself working in Newcomb, Schroon Lake, Minerva, Olmstedville, North River, Warrensburg, Glens Falls, Chestertown, Pottersville, Thurman, North Hudson, and Adirondack to name a few! Her business thrived, and she was doing well. Unfortunately, in 2001 Laura was faced with the challenge of taking care of an entire household due to the passing of her husband.

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Faced with new challenges, Laura stepped up to the plate like any other tough and rugged Adirondack woman, and she started a bed and breakfast at her home. She knew it wouldn't be easy, but she drew on her years of experience as a caterer, election office worker, school substitute, headstone digger, movie theater attendant, house cleaner, and as an employee of the Schroon Lake Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center. This was yet another new challenge, an endeavor with great potential.

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Taking a chance

It was by chance during her summer work at the Schroon Lake Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center that Laura met a woman that was desperately looking for a place to stay. It was 4th of July and all the local motels and B&Bs were booked. The lady really needed to come for a family vacation, so Laura explained that she had been considering the possibility of starting a B&B of her own. Laura told the lady that if she was willing to stay at her place it would give Laura the opportunity to feel it out and see if it is something she really wanted to do.

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This chance meeting was a great fit; Laura loved fussing while making coffee and muffins for her first guest. And over the next fifteen years, Rocky Acres Inn grew. Laura has been blessed to have had many wonderful guests that continue to return each year to stay in her home. She works hard to make every guest's experience unique and comfortable, and her breakfast is divine. With sprawling yards at this beautiful property, guests are sure to witness wildlife and nature at its best. Besides her regular B&B rooms, over the last couple of years Laura has added a screen house that people can stay in that has a heater and curtains that can be pulled to keep the heat in on a chilly night for that "Airbnb" feel. During the winter her yard is a great place to cross-country ski.

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Today, both Laura's B&B and sewing business are thriving due to the fact that she melded them together (they even share a website!). Laura has had the pleasure of having guests bring their items to be tailored while they stay at her B&B. Where else is that an option!? She happily gets to do two of her favorite things at once — fuss over her guests, and take care of their tailoring needs. With the success of her unique business, she was honored recently by Trip Advisor for her growing 5 star reviews. But the most rewarding compliment Laura gets is generous and kind comments and gifts from her guests. She has had guests take her to dinner and send her unexpected gifts such as an embroidered pillow case, a hat and shirt for organ donation (in honor of her late husband), an outfit sent for her to use as mother of the bride, and a beautiful signed plaque in honor of guests that stayed in her Wolf Room. All these kind acts of generosity enforces Laura's will to succeed.

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The personal touch

You can not book a room at Rocky Acres B&B online, and there is a reason for that: Laura believes in good old-fashioned one-on-one customer service. She would rather speak to her guests in person so that she can cater to their individual needs.

As of 2022, Rocky Acres has been in business for 18 years now, and the future is bright! Page after page of TripAdvisor and Google reviews are the result of Laura's hard work and dedication. Ready to plan your vacation? Contact Rocky Acres Inn today!

 

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This story was written by Tammy Whitty-Brown and was originally published in 2016. It was updated in 2022.

“Birds can nest in winter?”

This is a frequent question I receive when I mention that Red Crossbills are currently nesting in several locations in the Adirondacks — including Newcomb and Minerva. Red Crossbills (Loxia curvirostra) and White-winged Crossbills (Loxia leucoptera) are finches that can nest at any time of year, but they most frequently nest during winter in the Adirondacks. Crossbills feed their young conifer seeds, so they can nest even in the depths of winter if the cone crop is large enough, which is the case this year.

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Canada Jays begin nesting toward the end of winter, usually in late February or early March, and their young fledge in late April. With nesting out of the way in early spring, this allows the year-round Canada Jay to spend late spring and summer caching enough food to make it through the next winter.

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Great Horned Owls nest in winter also, usually during February. Young are born after a month of incubation. The owlets remain with their parents for a long time compared to other species – until early fall. By nesting in winter, Great Horned Owls give their young enough time to learn how to survive on their own before the following winter.

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It’s all about food

Birds are warm blooded animals and much of their behavior, including nesting, migration, and other movements, is all about finding enough to eat. A common misconception is that cold weather is responsible for some bird species migrating. It’s not the cold temperatures, but the changing food sources as a result of those temperatures (especially the effects on insects), that are the impetus for some birds’ movements. Many waterfowl species will stay north as long as they have open water for foraging, and with our rapidly warming climate, the birds are staying longer and longer as the lakes ice over later and later each year.

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Interesting Red Crossbill facts

As their name implies, Red Crossbills have bills that are crossed. Roughly half of Red Crossbills have upper mandibles that cross to the right, and half to the left. This unique physical characteristic allows the birds to open cone scales so their tongue can reach the seeds. If a cone is closed, the crossbills will bite off the cone and hold it with their toes as they open it. If the cone is already opened, the birds will use their bills and feet to hang, parrot-like, in all kinds of positions in order to access the seeds.

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Male Red Crossbills are red (sometimes orange) and females are greenish-yellow. Both have dark wings and tails.

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During nesting, the female Red Crossbill does all of the incubation, and then all of the brooding of nestlings. Red Crossbills are monogamous and the male feeds the female during courtship and incubation, and he feeds the young after they hatch. By the time the young are 5-days-old, both parents feed them. By the end of winter or early spring, it is wonderful to see the heavily striped Red Crossbill fledglings!

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The Red Crossbill is considered a mostly western U.S. species as you can see by its range map.

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Red Crossbills are “nomadic” birds. They move from place to place based upon the variable nature of cone production, sometimes all the way across the continent. Unlike most migratory birds that nest in one location, winter in another, and then return to the same place to nest, Red Crossbills only show up to breed and forage based on the size of the cone crop.

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Both Red and White-winged Crossbills spend a lot of time “gritting” - taking sand and salt from the roadways. Unfortunately, they are often killed by vehicles since they don’t fly out of the way in time. If a Red Crossbill’s upper mandible points to the right, the bird will turn its head to the left to grit, and if the bird’s upper mandible points to the left, it will turn its head to the right to grit.

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Whenever I’ve observed Red Crossbills drinking, they are always positioned upside down!

Scientists believe there are at least 10 different Red Crossbill sub-species based on the differences in their calls and songs, and differently shaped bills. Red Crossbills specialize on particular coniferous trees for feeding – some preferring various spruces, pines, or hemlock, etc. Their bills are the perfect size for the particular coniferous tree cones on which they feed. The calls have allowed the scientists at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to separate Red Crossbills into different “Types,” which are likely different species. I often record calling birds and send the recordings to Cornell for identification. Most of the birds in Newcomb and Minerva are Type 2 birds which have a loud call note. The Red Crossbills recorded in Long Lake are Type 10 birds, which have a softer call note. Multiple “Types” of Red Crossbills will often nest near each other, but they do not inter-breed. If scientists decide to separate, or “split,” Red Crossbills into multiple species, it will be tricky for birders to distinguish them since they all look alike!

With an excellent cone crop on most coniferous trees, this is a terrific winter for observing beautiful Red Crossbills. In Newcomb and Minerva, watch for this species along Route 28N from the scenic overlook in Newcomb to a mile or two east of the Boreas River in Minerva. Listen for their loud, “jip, jip, jip” calls. The best time to look for Red Crossbills is early in the morning just after a new snowfall when the plows have recently salted and sanded the highways. The crossbills will be gritting in the road.

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It always seems like such a gift to have Red Crossbills singing and nesting during the heart of the Adirondack winter!

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In addition to great roadside birding along Route 28N, there are many trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the area. And after your outing, there are wonderful places to dine and spend the night.

 

 

Well, we’ve achieved official Adirondack winter temperatures. That means crisp air, gorgeous snowy landscapes, and….. ice.

And given the amount of lakes and ponds in the Schroon Lake region, there is potential for a tremendous amount of frozen water. I’m sure many have favorites, but here are MY top picks for places & ways to play on the ice!

1. Ice skating

Ok, so this was a no-brainer. A safely frozen lake or pond just beckons you to put on your skates and glide. Hockey skates, figure skates, they all work. But have you tried nordic skating?

Last winter, I got to explore Paradox Lake when it had frozen to perfection for an outing on nordic skates. I ventured out there with my husband and a couple of friends and we enjoyed hours of exploration - it is a perspective one can only get from the frozen surface.

Paradox Lake is a great destination for skating as it is easily accessible via the boat launch site off Route 74.

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Nordic skate blades are fitted with bindings that match your cross-country ski boot bindings, typically either NNN, NNN BC or traditional 3-pins. The blades have a free heel, just like cross-country skis, and come in a few different lengths; the longer the blade, the longer the stride. For these Adirondack lakes and ponds, there’s no better way to get around!

Though I haven’t yet skated them, I have a couple of ponds in the region on my to-do list for skating in the future, too.

One is Oxshoe Pond in the Pharaoh Lake Wilderness (home to 39 bodies of water in itself!), I have hiked here in the past during winter, finding a perfect surface for skating when I arrived - without skates. I’d like to travel the 4 or so miles back to that pond again and remedy that situation.

The other is Moose Mountain Pond in North Hudson, an easy 3-mile hike in to a beautiful pond with a lean-to. If the conditions are right, I bet it would be a tremendous place to set out on skates!

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2. Ice Climbing

Ice climbing is a bit more extreme than skating, and requires experience and/or a guide. I’ve done quite a bit of both rock and ice climbing, but not in the Schroon Lake Region.

When I have a question about outdoor adventure, I go to the experts. For an ice climbing question, I headed straight to The Mountaineer in Keene Valley, and got my answers just minutes after walking in the door.

Some of the waterfalls in the Adirondacks become popular challenges for ice climbing in winter. The ice routes are climbed using specialized ice axes and crampons on your boots to “stick” to the ice and ascend. The gear continues to be improved, and the Mountaineer always has a huge selection of the latest technology in both ice axes, crampons, ice screws and belay devices and ropes.

They also have a huge book section, and that’s where I found Nick, checking inventory. He pointed out the latest rock climbing guide book, “Blue Lines, An Adirondack Ice Climber’s Guide” by Don Mellor. Apparently, Mellor has an update coming soon, but the book, in combination with some insider information from Nick, provided me with the most important ice climbing destinations in the Schroon Lake Region.

The first is a classic. Before I ever headed over to The Mountaineer, I asked my husband, an experienced climber, about ice climbs in the region, and he confirmed that Pharaoh Mountain is simply the best moderate route in the entire Adirondacks. It’s a 500’ long route up a waterfall that one can see from far away, but it’s a 10-mile round trip, made easier if there’s enough snow to ski.

The second might be lesser-known until the next edition of “Blue Lines” is published. There are a series of walls in the Hoffman Notch Wilderness that are accessed from the Blue Ridge Route (County Route 84) from Exit 29 on Interstate 87. Once at the trailhead, the hike into the Hoffman Notch is about 45 minutes on snowshoes. But you didn’t hear that from me.

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3. Ice Fishing

If you’ve ever been to Schroon Lake itself during winter you’ve noticed the groups of little houses that dot the surface of the lake once it’s frozen. The big lake is a super fishery in both warm and cold weather, and a favorite for locals and visitors fishing for perch and a long list of other types of fish.

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and 1/2: Ice Cold Beer

Ok, this isn’t really exclusive to winter, but it doesn’t hurt to stop in to the tasting room at the Paradox Brewery after a long day of ice skating, climbing or fishing, does it? Or, check out the warm atmosphere at Flanagans Pub & Grill, Witherbee's Carriage House, or the great food and drink at Sticks & Stones Bistro and Bar. Trust me, these are ALL good choices for an apres ice adventure!

 

I never know where the mountains will take me from one week to the next, but I am almost always guaranteed an adventure of some sort or another. This week brought me to the north end of Hoffman Notch in the Schroon Lake Region. The snow-free aesthetics of our current winter are not normal, but that tends to happen from time to time. Snow is a wonderful addition to the harmony of the wintery mountains and without it we will be left with the dull ambers of the rotting leaves and the damp chill in the air around us. But we would not let that get us down as we can make the best out of almost any situation.

Driving down Blue Ridge Road, the multiple humps of the Hornet Cobbles has intrigued me for many years, and all I had to do is pull the pin and just climb them. In an early morning mental muddle we arrived in Newcomb to carpool down to the Hoffman Notch Trail. Saving fuel, money and energy is important in our pursuits.

The Hoffman Notch Trail is a gateway between the Hornet Cobbles and the massive expanse of Washburn Ridge which rests to the west, a future endeavor, for sure. The initial portion of the trail heads through private land so we could not venture off the trail until we made that obvious step into the Forest Preserve. The Hornet Cobbles consist of four distinct bumps. We first ventured to the one furthest north, called #4, the smallest of the lot. The trail brought us through the forest, past the wreckage of an old, deceased car — a Studebaker, I think.

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We then crossed a wonderful structure over Sand Pond Brook and quickly came to a much more rudimentary crossing consisting of an old ladder laid down over a wet segment. From there it wasn’t too far to state land. Once we were sure we had crossed the border we started our bushwhack to Hornet Cobble #4. The terrain was nice and open but was going to get steeper. The mixed forest gave us an easy attack on the small summit, and even with challenging conditions we reached the ridgeline quickly. The ridge offered what we call a “filtered view” through the trees, but it was a nice early treat. The summit was not much further along the ridge and it was positioned atop a large boulder that we needed to scramble upon.

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Next in line was Hornet Cobble #3, the third tallest of the lot and about 100 feet higher than our current position. The ridge didn’t require us to descend too much off of #4, which we were grateful for as we knew later that would not be the case. As we started to climb up the next summit, so did the balsam and spruce forest. There is not much to report on the summit of #3 except for the fact that we were standing in some pretty thick growth with barely room to turn around. We didn’t hang out and headed right for the tallest cobble.

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As we descended, the forest started to open up and allowed us a nice view of our destination. We tinkered with the thought of heading over a smaller high point along the ridge that was in the way, but to avoid any unneeded thicker growth in our faces we opted to stay low to the east and evade it.

The summit of Hornet Cobble #1 came quickly, much more so than we had anticipated, and avoiding much of the thicker growth was surely a factor of our success. In fact, the final stretch was pretty open and the summit was, too. Unfortunately the open summit was also wooded, giving us seasonal views through the leafless trees.

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It was now off to Hornet Cobble #2, the final summit along the ridge and quite a ways away, too. We descended off of #1 and at times it felt as if we were falling off the face of the earth. It was steep and very unstable in the area we chose, but it was fast and it delivered us in the high col at a rapid pace. The saddle was fairly flat with an elevation change that was easy and not steep at any point. We climbed the remaining 100 feet or so to the summit and with a bit of exploring we found a small window view of Hoffman Mountain to the east.

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The ridge was not as thick and slow as I anticipated, so with our extra time we decided to visit a hidden pond to the southeast of the ridge to see what we could find in the lowlands. The descent was long and continuous, and in a slow forward progression we made tracks through the open hardwoods and eventually onto the shoreline of the hidden pond. The pond looked to be receding back further and further from the trees making for a wide, open shore. It was a bit of a mucky walk but a pleasant one. This was surely the payoff for the day. The scenery out from the valley and up the mountains was spectacular. Deer tracks dotted the shore, as did fallen trees with decades of being submerged.

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We were now in a slight conundrum — should we climb back over the shoulder of the Hornet Cobbles or follow the drainage to the Hoffman Notch trail? We started along the creek and enjoyed a couple small waterfalls, but the shore was not all that friendly and we soon decided to climb up and over the shoulder. It wasn’t very challenging, but we were still not all that thrilled.

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We eventually made the trail but in all reality it wasn’t that long, and we still had enough time to visit Big Marsh. Big Marsh is a large body of water that resides near the top of the notch. From our location it was about 1 mile away along a wet and faintly marked trail. The vistas out over the Marsh, which is truly more of a large lake, were wonderful. Texas Ridge shadowed us from across the open waters, and as the shadows of the day grew long we needed to hastily get hiking back to the trailhead. We wasted absolutely no time in our exit and only paused long enough to snap a few pictures of the boulders along the trail and the vintage logging machine park along the way. We were tired and ragged woodsman as we emerged from the forest, but excited about what we had found and excited in the thought of what other adventures we could ponder up in the Hoffman Notch Region.

There's plenty to do in the Schroon Lake Region after you've finished your hike in the Hoffman Notch Region. Go horseback riding, visit a museum or go shopping.

 

 

A couple of weeks prior to this jaunt in the woods, Jim and I found ourselves pondering the idea of doing a hike in the Hudson River Gorge, but the ill-weather forecast caused us to choose a different hike, which brought us in the region near Balfour Lake. The weather prediction for the day, which I fully believe is determined behind the scenes with a roll of the dice, was projected to be partly sunny with a 20 percent chance of rain. We could live with that.

Jim wasn’t exactly sure where to go, so we met at the corner of Route 28N and North Woods Club Road. We then caravanned down North Woods Club Road, spotted a car at the railroad tracks and continued on to the trailhead for Blue Ledges. It had been a few decades since I had been along this trail but I had fond memories of hiking it with my dad to do a bit of trout fishing. I was fairly sure the trail hadn’t changed much, but who knows over the turning of the years if reroutes had taken place or if the trail was deeply eroded. In all actuality it wouldn’t matter — it was just nice to be there once again.

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The trail to Blue Ledge

We quickly passed along the muddy trail that skirted the shore of Huntley Pond. The sun was just casting its shadows over the water. We made fairly quick work of the 2.5 mile trail as it routed us up and over rolling terrain. We were welcomed by a flock of geese ushering in the fall season as we reached a high point of land with the Blue Ledges just slightly beyond. It was a sobering note that the warm weather would soon be leaving us for six months, but today would not be the day. The warming rays of the sun were finally increasing the temperatures and it wouldn’t be long before we would shed the morning jacket. We descended to the Hudson River. Standing on a lovely sandy shore, we looked across a deep pool in the Hudson to the Blue Ledges as they glistened with running water.

From here we would look to head up Kettle Mountain, a popular little trailless peak for those who enjoy off-trail adventures. We had never been to this area in such a context and we couldn’t wait to get rolling. We followed the shore of the river, rock hopping as needed, but a decent herd path leading to campsites aided our travels. Soon the path would all but end before us, and we were presented with steep slopes and open hardwoods to get us up on the ridge. High above the Hudson River, the ridge runs through the Hudson Gorge Primitive Area.

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Kettle Mountain

The terrain was steep, almost too steep to get decent traction on the moist soil and slippery leaves. We remedied this by heading on more of a side slope to gain the ridge. It wasn’t really that far to get up high, and in relatively no time we started to see potential viewing areas. I say potential because they never really worked out to offer much. However, just as we started to feel skunked on sights we popped out on an open ledge with great outlooks down the gorge. Kettle Mountain was getting closer and closer by the step, but our curiosity between here and there was focused on two streams that looked to be cascading over the steep side of the ridge. Would they provide some decent waterfalls? Well, the first one actually did have a small one up higher on the ridge, but to seek out others downstream would mean descending dramatically, and that was not an option for today. The second brook came much later in a deep dell, once we made our way through the forest.

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Crossing over the second stream, which at the point of crossing offered no dramatic whitewater, we started to climb Kettle Mountain. It wasn’t much of a climb from here as we did most of it to just gain the ridge from the Hudson. We summited rather quickly and ended up pushing our way through a bit of thick spruce. Once on the upper works of the mountain the views started to appear and around each corner they got better. This was sure to be our lunch counter with the spectacular views of Starbuck Mountain, P Gay Mountain and a unique view of OK Slip Falls deep in the valley below.

Pine Mountain, another beauty

Now it was off to Pine Mountain, the next summit along the ridge. It was quite a ways away, and even as the crow flies it was well over a mile. The other thought we had was that we needed to avoid a very deep basin between us and it, and to do that we would have to deviate from any straight line course of attack and follow its perimeter.

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We dropped off of Kettle's summit to other viewing areas, and even more excellent views awaited us atop a small southern summit of the mountain. The descent from here was a tad steep and the mass expanse of the area was starting to set in. We didn’t want the extra distance of skirting the deep cut in the mountainside but we wanted the elevation change even less. We stayed atop the edge of the precipice in what we would describe as fields of gold, which were more clearly defined as wheat grass. The openness of the area was welcoming and even more importantly at this point, easy to travel through. We eventually reached the top of the abyss and simply hopped across the flowage, where a small wetland was above us.

We climbed the slopes of Pine Mountain to see what fortune was awaiting us there. The forest started out moderately easy and quite open as we passed through maples, beech and an occasional white birch tree, but this would only flirt with us as the summit was rimmed with some tight-knit spruce. The top came swiftly as we pushed harder and faster toward the red-pine-covered summit ahead.

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The views were not quite as spectacular as Kettle Mountain but they were still worth a visit. With a closer look at Harris Rift Mountain, Black Mountain and Middle Mountain, we decided to hang around for a while and marinate in the views. Eventually we had to move on, so off to Forks Mountain we went. Forks Mountain was actually quite close to where we were standing, but we would need to descend a fair amount of elevation to reach its base.

Forks Mountain and the railroad

The descent as we followed the mellowed slopes of Pine came swift and the steeper portions even swifter. This peak is not as stately as the prior two, with its flanks barely cresting the tree line before us. We could see that we wouldn't have a time of it, but it was important to us to not only see what was up there but to access the railroad on the other side. The railroad tracks were imperative to an easy walk back to the car we spotted on the way in.

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In some sort of violent exercise we broke through the thicker spruce waves and into the more open balsam stands. The summit was much more open and to our delight, the northeast slopes were as well. At this point we had just about chewed up our reserves of energy and wanted to just get down to the railroad tracks where we could walk upon a smooth surface. The shadows were getting longer and after only about 15 minutes of an anarchy descent we stumbled upon the old Delaware and Hudson Railroad line. Many of the railroads are being restored and I imagine this one is one of them. What gave it away? Well, the widening of the corridor for one. Some sort of machinery or maybe even a few loggers had come through and leveled about 10 feet of trees and bushes on either side of the tracks. Secondly, there is talk of Tahawus being accessed once again to remove tailings, which have apparently been awarded some sort of value.

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We only had about a half mile of railroad line to walk, which after the prior conditions would be a piece of cake even with the oddly spaced ties. Remnants of the old railroad line littered the sides of the tracks, provided an interesting walk through history and quickly brought us back to North Woods Club Road.

If you're looking for something to do after the hike, head to Schroon Lake for shopping, dining and more!

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