Stop me if I’ve already told you this story:

When I was in elementary school growing up here in the Adirondacks, my art teacher shared with our class the fact that she disliked telephone poles. Not that I knew anyone who necessarily loved them, but until she mentioned it, I hadn’t really noticed the fact that those miles of tall, uniform-looking posts connected by wavy lines of wire really mucked up the gorgeous landscape.

About a kazillion years later, I’m STILL annoyed almost every day by how those utility poles ruin some of the potentially award-winning photographs I could have taken with my smartphone on the commute to work.

Similar to the day that I was made aware of the utility poles, it took just one day to entirely change the way I experience hiking, or even walking in the woods, too.

[img:slrtelephonepoles.jpg]

Remembering to See the Trees for the Forest

Shortly after waking up one recent morning, I looked outside at a large pine tree near our house. It had a strange abnormality - a scar, if you will, and I thought to myself, “What caused that scar? A fungus, maybe?”

This is a departure from my typical method of operation in the morning. Not long ago, I’d look out that window merely to determine how late I’d slept via the amount of and height of the sun - and neglect to see any of the trees for the forest.

This remarkable change occurred because of a one day hike in the Pharaoh Lake wilderness.

It wasn’t any old hike - it was the first time that I had hiked along with a licensed Adirondack Guide, and one that is a naturalist, at that.

I’ve done a bunch of hiking in the Adirondacks and beyond - we live in our very own paradise, and getting out onto the trails provides an opportunity for total immersion in our beautiful landscape. Typically, however, it seems that the goal of the hiking I’ve done has really been to climb just as fast as possible to get to the top and “bag a peak,” stopping infrequently to drink water or catch my breath.

I was thrilled one early spring to have the opportunity to join a guided hike led by N.Y.S. Licensed Adirondack Guide and naturalist Elizabeth Lee. It was to be a full-day’s adventure with four other women on a trail I’d wanted to explore for years.

And it was about to change the way I experienced hiking forever.

 

Hiking to Oxshoe Pond

The Pharaoh Lake Wilderness Area in the Schroon Lake region contains 39 bodies of water covering 1,100 acres, 62.8 miles of foot trails, and 14 lean-tos.

On this particular day, we set out from the trailhead on Route 74 to hike the Long Swing Trail to Oxshoe Pond, an out-and-back hike of about 9-10 miles total with an elevation gain of less than 500 feet. I knew we were in for a nice, rolling hike.

We hadn’t gone more than 100 feet when we stopped. A naturalist, Elizabeth pointed out the first of many details that we might (would) have otherwise missed. Now, I thought I had a good understanding of the food chain and ecosystem, but seeing the forest through Lee’s eyes provided me with a whole new perspective.

She pointed out the difference between the seeds in what turns out to be a wide variety of cones from the equally varied trees, and explained just who had been eating them. The faint scrape on a tree was actually where a deer had rubbed its antlers, likely a couple of years before. The fur that was all that was left of a snowshoe rabbit (apparently numerous in this region). It was likely taken by a coyote, who are equally numerous, based on the number of tracks we could see in a variety of locations throughout the day.

We stopped at one point and all walked off trail to see a strange formation on a tree. Nature’s art, Elizabeth called it. And it is...a large hole formed by a fungus, surrounded by small fungi of another sort.

[img:slrpharaohtree.jpg]

We analyzed and debated about the type of trees that could have shed certain fallen leaves (an ash leaf warranted the longest debate), solved mysteries about animal and bird scat (droppings), sighted old and current beaver lodges, discussed fungi and both their negative effects and complimentary contributions to trees. And a few times, we stopped just to listen to the sound of the forest.

The Pharaoh Lake Wilderness is a lake- and pond-riddled forest. We passed Blue Hill, Pyramid Lake, Alder Pond, Glidden Marsh, Crane Pond, through a forest with primarily a high canopy and little underbrush. After about three and a half hours, we reached the lean-to at Oxshoe Pond for a lunch break where we refueled on a combination of healthy food and chocolate.

 

Lasting Impact

On the way back, I found myself looking at the minute details - I recognized small seeds from yellow birch trees on the trail, the scattered pattern of cone debris that indicated squirrel, as opposed to bird, activity, and yes; scat from a variety of small animals. In fact, I correctly identified weasel scat on the trail just a mile before we arrived back at the trailhead.

This was a beautiful walk in the woods with a variety of water, swamps and small hills that - in contrast to the fairly flat terrain - looked bigger. I have returned to explore numerous trails within the Pharaoh Lake Wilderness, which offers easier rolling terrain such as that Oxshoe Pond hike, and more challenging hikes such as the trail up Pharaoh Mountain itself.

I took with me from this one introductory experience a newfound appreciation for the small details and nuances of the flora and fauna in our Adirondack woods, and that perspective inspires me every day as I explore my own backyard.

As a bonus, that appreciation even extends to those landscape-disrupting telephone poles. Now, I merely think of them as perch locations for a variety of raptors and songbirds.

 

Tradition of Adirondack Guides

 

From wildflower hikes, to fishing, to rock climbing and wildlife tracking I’ve now enjoyed a number of New York State licensed guide-led experiences at all different times of the year, and I’m an outspoken advocate for taking advantage of their expertise.

After all, Adirondack Guides have been helping us non-woodsmen to explore the Adirondack wilderness since the early 1800s. Early trappers, hunters and writers used local guides and their guideboats to navigate this landscape. Today, they are licensed by the State of New York after a rigorous and difficult training period, which also includes current certification in First Aid, CPR, and Water Safety.

Take my advice: Hire a licensed guide for your next Adirondack adventure. It changes your perspective for the better!

 

—Kim Rielly is the director of communications for the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism, and didn’t exactly pursue a career in art.

 

Hiking the Elk Lake Preserve, Chillin’ at Elk Lake Lodge

Part 1 of 3

It has been a long time coming that Corenne and I were to stay at the Elk Lake Lodge. We have talked many times, over a cold beer, about hiking a bunch of their trails and revisiting the 100-highest peaks that reside on the property. You see, the trails on Elk Lake Property are only open to guests of the lodge, which in my opinion make them quite unique and as you may have guessed, very quiet. It was Corenne’s birthday, or soon to be, so I thought I would put out a little surprise for her. Except what was I going to do, pack her bags, blindfold her, throw her in the trunk and let her out once we got there? As you can see the thought had crossed my mind, but I opted to wait till the last minute to clue her in.

[img:DSCN2113.jpg]

Boreas Mountain

Once we got checked in at the lodge they were kind enough to set us up with a property map with all the trails outlined – this is important you see; their trails are not on other maps. We decided to go for Boreas Mountain as our day one hike of choice. While I am not super familiar with their trails and the map they gave us was a bit busy with the trails leading from the lodge, I decided we should start along the Marcy Trail until we intersect theirs.

We hiked back up the road for a bit to the state trailhead located there and made our way as the trail descended back down to Shore of The Branch. This crossing was over a swinging bridge, which did just that, along with a little bouncing. We then crossed Nellie Brook over a solid wood bridge which was along an old woods road. This woods road would be our route to the base of Boreas Mountain. Just over the bridge the state trail to Panther Gorge and Mountain Marcy exited sharply uphill, we remained low on the road. The mosquitos were out in the low areas of the road where wet features surrounded us. It was very odd this late in the season to see or get bitten by those blood-thirsty microscopic vampires, but we were.

The soft woods road under our feet would soon end as we came to a massive intersection with another foot trail and logging road that has been recently developed. Unfortunately, we had to use the logging road. While the road was not attractive it was easy to walk and got us where we needed to go in right fast fashion. On a good note there were several moose tracks along the road, maybe we would get a glimpse of the allusive Adirondack moose, that dream kept us motivated too.

[img:Location_of_Observers_Cabin.jpg]

The Fire Observer’s Cabin

We knocked off the logging road quickly, mainly because it was pretty much all downhill along a gentle slope, that I am sure won’t feel as gentle later in the day. Now back in the forest under a tight canopy of green we started our climb. After a short stint on a narrow footpath we had to climb ever so steeply up an embankment and onto an old woods road, which essentially was the access road to the observer’s cabin. The old road was a delight to be on, ever so soft under our feet, even better than the one from earlier. The road climbed steadily as the brook babbled down past us on the left. Hopping a couple smaller washed out stream beds we came upon an attractive grassy field which was the location of the fire observer’s cabin, so long ago.

The route was now a narrow foot trail, not all that dissimilar to those found in the High Peaks Region. Once we crossed a small stream it was all uphill and at times very uphill! While still quite soft and seemingly unused by the masses we had only one small section of wet, muddy terrain. Leaves littered the trail, showing signs of autumn knocking on the door, but yet it was very humid and hot in the air around us. We could smell the decaying leaves and the moist odor of mushrooms that lined the trail. We could hear the squirrels dropping pine cones from the tops of the evergreens, foraging for winter’s pantry.

[img:DSCN2112.jpg]

Summiting Boreas Mountain

Much of what the Adirondacks had to offer was right in front of us and then we stood atop Boreas Mountain, where the fire tower once stood, where only a concrete block and some metal anchors remain. The views are fantastic, even lacking the fire tower, we only imagined the sweeping views the tower must have opened up in its time. We could see the Dix Range as it towered high over Elk Lake. Clear Pond glistened below. Another viewing area called my name a bit further left and it was a gem of a view. Standing atop a small split rock we could see the entire sweeping ridge of the Great Range all the way to Allen. It was getting late; we had spent a lot of time on the summit and wanted to get back to the lodge for tea that would be waiting for us in the lounge.

[img:Elk_Lake_and_Macomb.jpg]

Back at the lodge

A quick shower relieved us of all the pine needles down our back and cobwebs in our hair, now we would relax with a hot cup of tea, a cold glass of infused water, and raisin bread. Once that was done, they served cheese, fresh fruit, and crackers in the lounge to get our appetites ready for dinner. My dinner was a New York strip, Corenne had the trout, they had even catered to our gluten intolerance and they had gluten free bread and dessert ready for us. It was so nice not having to worry about anything other than relaxing on the porch sipping a nice white wine. Relaxing soon turned to looking at old photo albums, which turned to slight nodding in the chair. We retired and looked forward to our next day on Sunrise Mountain.

Read part 2 of our Elk Lake adventure.

 

As the high season winds down in Schroon Lake Region, the leaves are the big show coming up in the next few weeks. Come enjoy Mother Nature’s spectacle and while you’re in the region plan to attend a couple of our noteworthy events.

[img:bandshellfall.jpg]

Fall Events

The Adirondack Shakespeare Festival is still going strong with some fun performances planned. At the Grange Hall in Schroon Lake join in a celebration of the harvest with food, wine and beer at the 2nd Annual Farm-to-Table Harvest Festival, followed by a performance of Macbeth. It all starts at 6 pm on Friday, October 3, with the performance scheduled for 7:30 pm.

.

[img:scaroonmanor.jpg]

Adirondack Shakespeare Festival

The Adirondack Shakespeare Festival is a notable acting company in Northern New York, whose home is in Schroon Lake. Many of their productions are presented at the historic Scaroon Manor Amphitheater in the Scaroon Manor State Recreation area just south of Schroon Lake.

The Shakespeare Company also has some additional performances of both Macbeth and Taming of the Shrew. Check the events calendar for more complete details.

[img:shakespeareco.jpg]

Adk Marathon Festival

Schroon Lake’s big fall event is the Adirondack Marathon Distance Festival on Sept. 27 and 28, featuring both a full and half marathon race, and many other festivities all weekend. Additionally, a 1-K Kids Fun Run, 5-K and 10-K races will be run during the weekend. Both the half and full marathons take place on Sunday, September 28th with the marathon start at 9 a.m. on Main Street in Schroon Lake and the half at 10 a.m. at the 13.1 mile marker of the marathon. Read all about one race volunteer's experiences at the Adirondack Distance Marathon during the early years of the race, with additional details about this year's weekend.

The route winds around the hills and valleys surrounding Schroon Lake at the most spectacular time of year for the region. Don't miss the mass start on Main Street!

[img:finish-line.jpg]

Visit Schroon

Plan a getaway to the Schroon Lake Region during foliage season. Check out all the great lodging options and the rest of our events in the region while you're here.

Piece of the past

If you combine all of the gifts we’ve received, travel souvenirs we’ve collected and event swag we’ve been given, we have about 26.2 million t-shirts at our house. Though I have some favorites that I refuse to give up, older shirts eventually become painting garb, then rags before outlasting their usefulness and being thrown away altogether.

The other day, though, I was surprised to find a survivor that I hadn’t seen in eons. Though obviously my husband had added it to his workshop wear of late, it had gone unnoticed by me for 17 years - that is until it became the first t-shirt I grabbed from the dryer to go running that day. When I saw the logo on it, I realized that I had donned a piece of history.

The shirt is from the Inaugural Adirondack Marathon, which was held in 1997 in Schroon Lake. Seeing it brought me back at least 18 years to a meeting that I attended with about 6 other people one evening. Someone in the group had circumnavigated Schroon Lake itself in a car and noticed that the drive was almost a full marathon distance.

Thus began a community’s quest to create an annual event - the Adirondack Marathon, with the tagline: “The most beautiful 26 miles 385 yards you’ll ever run.”

Evolution of Race

The first year, I was one of the many volunteers who supported the sanctioned event. My t-shirt categorized me as “emergency personnel”, and my post was to help with traffic detours. Though I wasn’t issued a flashing light or anything, I’m sure the bright red shirt that has more recently been used as a painting smock helped to identify me as a person of great importance and top-notch emergency services caliber.

In 1997, 421 runners finished the Adirondack Marathon. Last year, over 1,500 runners registered for the weekend’s events, supported by over 700 volunteers.

Participation numbers continued to increase following that first successful event. Hand cycle and wheelchair divisions were added, and in 2001, a half-marathon was added, too.

In 2003, 5k and 10k races were added to the Festival weekend, and in 2009 a 2-person relay was added. A 4-person relay was added in 2012.

Right now, over 400 runners are registered for the 2014 marathon (the cutoff is at 500), and 650 are registered for the half marathon. 36 states are represented, and a number of countries from around the world, including Mexico, Brazil, Sweden, Germany and Canada.

 

[img:schroonlkview.jpg]

Those beautiful miles and yards

That marathon begins with an exciting mass start on Main Street in Schroon Lake. The Half marathon starts at 10am at the 13.1 mile marker, so that both races finish at the scenic Schroon Lake Town Beach on Leland Avenue.

The course begins heading north on Route 9 to a right onto Alder Meadow Road, (which is also the road to Crane Pond and some of the Pharaoh Lake Wilderness hikes I’ve enjoyed.) Runners take a right off Alder Meadow Road to East Shore Drive along the eastern shore of the lake. The course stays relatively flat for the first three and a half miles but quickly gains elevation to 1,100 feet by the six mile mark.

Miles 4-12 feature some short, challenging climbs - this is the hardest part of the race. The good news is that they are very SCENIC challenging climbs, with nice views of Schroon Lake. The course eventually goes through the town of Adirondack and around the southern end of the lake back to Route 9 and rolling terrain that goes north again to the town of Schroon Lake and the finish line at the scenic town beach.

Festival

The race has become a full weekend of activity, earning its moniker as a “Festival”, with the 5k and 10k and Kids Fun Run on Saturday, followed by the Full and Half Marathons on Sunday.

One of the great features of the marathon itself is the Pace Bears. These are leaders who will support runners who want to meet their finish time goals. For instance, if a runner is aiming to finish in 4 hours and 15 minutes, there is a Pace Bear at the race start assigned to that finish time with whom they can run the race. The Pace Bear keeps people on pace to meet their goals, provides support and encouragement, and can be a great social aspect to the race.

There has always been a fundraising aspect to the Adirondack Marathon. This year, event organizers are pleased to offer the “Racing for Good” fundraising campaign, which supports organizations that serve individuals and families who face catastrophic circumstances. Donations via the online Crowdrise site will benefit 6 carefully selected organizations in the region. Learn more (and donate!) on the Adirondack Marathon Distance Festival “Racing for Good” page.

In addition to the races, the Festival features a Race Expo on both Saturday and Sunday that features running retailers, clubs, events, and health and fitness specialists, and is open to the public.

[img:slradkmarkids.jpg]

Here’s the full schedule:

Friday, September 26

6-8 p.m. - 5K/10K packet pickup

 

Saturday, September 27

7-8:30 a.m. - 5K/10K registration

9:30 a.m. - 5K/10K start

10 a.m. - 5 p.m. - Race Expo & Packet Pickup

2 p.m. - 1K Children's Fun Run

3 p.m. - Strategy Session with former Runner's World shoes & gear editor Jeff Dengate, a 6-time finisher of the Adirondack Marathon.

4:45-6:30 p.m. - Pasta Dinner

 

Sunday, September 28

6:45-8:15 a.m. - Packet pickup

7 a.m. - Early Bird marathon start

8:40-9:05 a.m. - Half-marathon and relay buses depart

9 a.m. - Marathon and relays start

1 p.m. - Half-Marathon awards ceremony

2 p.m. - Marathon awards ceremony

2:30 p.m. - Course closes

4 p.m. - Postrace party at Witherbee's

 

Race or Ride

The 18th Annual Adirondack Distance Festival is set for September 27-28, 2014. Visit the Adirondack Marathon Distance Festival website for more information and to register for any of the races!

And/or, like me, perhaps you’d like to review the course map and try this route via bicycle. I plan to wear my newly-found old but bright-colored t-shirt for the occasion!

 

Kim Rielly is the director of communications for the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism

… on an 8+ Mile Lake

It’s a gorgeous late summer morning as we head out of the High Peaks toward the beautiful lower Adirondack tracts, specifically to Schroon Lake. One of my favorite spots to swim, I have never actually been out on Schroon by boat. I’m excited.

This is an exploration expedition I am taking with my co-workers Kelly and Shaun. We live only an hour from Schroon Lake, but know very little about the actual body of water - we are going to change that. Kelly is generously driving her boat and I am traveling with her. We are meeting Shaun in town as he headed down a bit earlier to document a few of the stores.

Munchies and Magic

Since we were heading down from the north, we took Exit 28 - which put us in a perfect spot to pick up our picnic lunch at the Mount Severance Country Store (now closed, but try out the Adirondack General Store in Schroon Lake). Located on the outskirts of town (probably a mile or so from the main retail stretch), this has always been one of my favorite stops. Somehow on long trips I always find an excuse to take a break right around this point - I am 100% sure it has everything to do with the many choices of homemade baked goods they offer; from muffins and donuts to cookies, bars, and what I like to call 'magic bread' - so nicknamed as I have no idea how they get this delicious bread to be so light and fluffy, but I will buy a loaf every single time. Every time.

[img:magic-bread.jpg]

Walking in we are cheerfully greeted by a few locals that are standing around chatting over their morning snack. We looked over the generous sandwich menu and ordered a couple of wraps for ourselves and a sub for Shaun. As our food was being assembled, we took a couple of minutes to peruse the fun and odd (candied crickets!?) offerings at this all-purpose camp store; it’s almost a bit overwhelming to be able to buy your fishing gear, next to your cereal, water guns, magazines, and propane. We grabbed a few cookies, a couple of bags of chips, and - yes, a loaf of magic. I then got into a bit of a debate with the gentleman behind the counter: he likes his bread crusty and a bit harder; after I took my turn extolling the virtues of the loaf in question - he finally conceded, this bread (that I love!) would be okay with spaghetti and sauce. By now, our order was ready and we had to laugh when the sub was handed over - it could’ve fed all 3 of us, well worth the price (around $7 if I remember correctly). Our picnic basket was ready, the temperature outside was climbing, the water was calling.

Boats, Beaches, Bays, Boards

Heading into town, we took note of the Marina down a long driveway on our left, and then headed down to the Town Boat Launch, conveniently located adjacent to the public beach, just a block from town. By the time we got the boat in the water and Kelly had toyed with the motor a bit, Shaun joined us, and we were ready to explore - well, explore our picnic anyway - it was after 1pm by now. We headed out past the beach and decided that was a good place to drift and eat while we formalized our plan of action. A couple of cocky seagulls thought this was a good idea as well, and hovered nearby doing lazy circles as they awaited any scraps that might not make it into our mouths - they were sadly disappointed.

[img:schroon-boat-launch.jpg]

Sunblock applied, stomachs filled, a sort-of plan in hand; we headed north toward the Marina. Finding it was quite a bit easier by land than by sea - or by lake - as the case may be. We followed a set of buoys into a smaller bay at the end of the lake, and then just as we were starting to wonder if we missed it, a channel opened up to our left and we came across the full-service Schroon Lake Marina. The place was hopping - obviously, summer on the lake is a big draw in Schroon. We stopped for a moment to take a few photos, then decided it was time to actually head back out and test the water.

[img:schroon-marina-lake-ahead.jpg]

Leaving the channel, we noted what was obviously a local’s hot spot - on the far side of the bay, next to the entrance of the river, a beach only accessible by boat. Families, dogs, guys playing football, teens exploring - this is what we came in search of! Kelly and I took the opportunity to dive in and cool off. The water was awesome, still spring-fed, but warmer than our high-peak mountain lakes. We spent a few minutes chatting with folks and found out that the Marina is actually the only one on the lake - good fact to know.

[img:schroon-swim.jpg]

Now, I am not a water-skier or wakeboarder (I’m not even cool enough to know if those are the hip terms… yes, I said, hip) but my companions were itching to strap on their gear, so off we went to search for an open stretch of calm water.

[img:schroon-lake-view.jpg]

Schroon Lake is beautiful. I mean, beautiful. Plenty of open water, surrounded by picturesque landscape, mountains peacefully looming in the distance. We are passing boats of all sizes & makes - from sailboats to party barges, and everyone is smiling - really, how could you not be? I can not wait to take a tour in later September or October - the foliage must be absolutely outstanding from this vantage point.

[img:ready-to-ride.jpg]

Okay, so, we find the perfect spot and Kelly is first up on her board. Shaun is driving the boat, I’m spotting; and, this is new, I’m given a very quick lesson on how to use one of Shaun’s cameras with the instructions to try to get a few shots. Now, I’m nervous. We are on a boat, with waves, I’m holding a camera that is infinitely more expensive than anything I own, and… I’m clumsy. I do not point this out - I just hold on for dear life and hope for the best.

[img:kelly-on-board.jpg]

Kelly takes an awesome ride, and it’s time for Shaun to strap on his ski. We head down the lake to find another calm bay, with 8 miles of water at our disposal, there are plenty of choices and we can afford to be picky. I am still on camera duty - I have still not dropped anything. The sun is shining. This is a good day.

[img:schroon-wakeboard-k.jpg]

After a couple more rides each, we are at the far end of the lake - literally, within site of the end. About as far away from our starting point as possible. It’s almost 3pm now, time for us all to jump back in for a last swim and then head back to the dock. Our plan is to be back on the road between 3:30-3:45, as I have to pick up my son at 5pm, and we have to factor in an hour drive. Ambitious, true - but totally doable.

[img:schroon-ski-s.jpg]

Our Intentions Were Good… Our Boat - Not So Much

3pm… Hmm. The boat won’t start.

3:10… Hmm. The boat still won’t start.

3:15… Hmm. I am getting nervous.

3:18… Shoot (that’s the polite way of putting it)

3:20… Placing calls to people we know that may be in the area and available to save us.

[img:engine-problems.jpg]

3:25… Is that a dock? A Public Campground? Yes, it is… and it looks pretty nice. We should camp here sometime. Can we swim to it? Tow the boat? I have a couple of broken ribs, but I can probably do the side-stroke - it can’t be more than a quarter-mile or so. Google it. Call it.

3:30… Yup, it’s Eagle Point Campground. Sadly, they do not have a dock that’s accessible for a ski boat, and they don’t recommend pulling it into shore - lots of jagged submerged rocks.

3:35… Hmm… Still won’t start. We need to be saved. Let’s call the Marina.
* Note to all: This is amazing - we all had great reception on our phones. A strong signal in the middle of a lake in the Adirondacks. Awesome and lucky.

[img:stuck-on-schroon.jpg]

We can not say enough about the Schroon Lake Marina. We called, gave our location - which was greeted cheerfully with something to the effect of, 'wow, chose the absolute furthest point to break down, huh? We’ll head out soon, but it’ll take a few to get to you.' (me: cursing and shaking my fist at the sky! why, oh why, did I not set up a child-care backup? why, on this beautiful day when I normally would be ecstatic to be stranded on a lake, do I actually have a deadline? why did I leave the magic bread in the car??)

3:35-4ish… Drink all available liquid. Eat cookies, chips, and leftover sandwiches. Call and arrange for childcare. Accept the situation and the forced relaxation. Wait patiently. Apply more sunscreen. Wave at passerby. Stare at the beautiful sailboat floating peacefully under the blue sky. Relax. Enjoy the fact that we are stuck in one of the most idyllic situations possible.

[img:schroon-lake-marina-rob.jpg]

4:00-4:10… Rob from Schroon Lake Marina arrives with gas, jumpers, a big smile, and a willingness to shoot the breeze and answer all our random questions about town; while he worked out the problem. We are up and running within minutes, and he graciously followed us back to the dock, mile after mile - we wanted to see this lake, and I can honestly say, mission accomplished.

[img:skirackpano.jpg]

4:40ish… We loaded the boat, parted ways with Shaun, and then decided to take a spin (via car) down to the Marina. What an awesome place. Definitely worth a stop if you are in the area and looking for any gear. They have recently refinished the main building, and they sell everything from boats and gear to t-shirts and mugs. Plus… as seems to be the case in most places I’ve visited in Schroon, you’ll be greeted at a family-owned business by friendly outgoing folks.

[img:schroon-town-dock.jpg]

5:00ish… We decide our adventure is over, and we really should get on the road. Only an hour or so later than we planned. Could have been worse by all means.

[img:friendly-marina.jpg]

It is almost, almost, a blessing that we broke down - it afforded us extra time to take in our surroundings, research the town, and mingle with the locals. Foliage Season is about to hit, and Schroon Lake deserves another visit: while it might be getting a bit chilly to dive in, I hear we need to take a hike up Mt. Severance, and there are a few restaurants I can’t wait to try out - I’m open to suggestions, send me your favorite spots, maybe we’ll get a chance to swing by! Next time, we’ll plan for a full day (and daycare) - that much I guarantee.

Schroon Lake, New York, has long been known for the incredible gathering of artistic talent during the summer months. Artists from far and wide gather at some of our most amazing music and art colonies here.

IN LOVE WITH SHAKESPEARE

So you thought William Shakespeare died decades ago eh? Well, deep in the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains Shakespeare is alive and well. The Adirondack Shakespeare Company is a mainstay in the cultural scene of Schroon Lake and the entire Adirondack Park. They are not just a summer program either. The company works year round and stages productions in the Spring, Summer and Fall of the year.
[img:SLR_BlogShakes.jpg]

The summer of 2014 for the Shakespeare Company is alive with 3 full productions of The Tempest, the original children's production of David and Goliath, as well as the conclusion of The Kingship Cycle. The company not only performs in Schroon Lake, but tours all over the Adirondack Park and then some! The Schroon Lake home of the company is the spectacular amphitheatre, Scaroon Manor, former home of an important area resort and now a part of the New York State Campground system. In its former life, the amphitheater hosted many famous entertainers, including the filming in 1957 of the movie Marjorie Morningstar, starring Natalie Wood and Gene Kelly. Visitors are lucky indeed to have the opportunity to see live productions there in the amphitheater.

[img:ScaroonManor.jpg]
The Shakespeare production schedule is extremely ambitious with far too many dates to list here. There are productions in the Scaroon Manor Amphitheatre, The Boathouse Theatre in Schroon Lake, and many venues in the surrounding towns. The Schroon Lake event calendar lists current shows being performed this summer.

Seagle Music Colony

Another mainstay in Schroon Lake is the Seagle Music Colony, a summer music camp for vocalists. It is the longest running summer vocal training program in the United States, with students performing on the Seagle stage and around the Park during the summer months. Earlier this summer I wrote a blog all about Seagle. Many of the Seagle events are listed in that blog. Also check the Schroon Lake events calendar.

Schroon Lake Arts Council

The Arts Council is dedicated to cultivating and promoting the visual arts in the community. On Mondays they sponsor a weekly jam night (free) at The Boathouse Theatre beginning at 7 pm. Every Tuesday evening brings a different contemporary music concert, also at The Boathouse, with $15 adult and $5 student admissions.

Folk Music Fest

On August 10th, for the 25th year in a row, Schroon Lake welcomes the Adirondack Folk Music Festival. From noon on, enjoy the best of Adirondack folk music talent. Well known regional musicians such as Roy Hurd, Jamcrackers, Boxcar Lilies and many more will headline this years schedule. An all day fun day of awesome Adirondack folk music not to be missed, and the best part - it's FREE!
[img:14243313551_b6ba3089fa_z.jpg]
Events in the Schroon Lake Region will keep you busy all through the summer months, so take a look at the calendar and plan to take in some awesome culture while visiting the Adirondacks.

The Dix Range

5 Mountains over 4,000 feet

Known for its namesake Dix mountain, the Dix Range is home to five mountains over 4000 feet; East Dix, South Dix, Macomb, Hough and Dix. Of the five peaks only Dix has a maintained trail and the other four have herd paths that lead to each of the summits. The paths, while not official trails, are maintained fairly well and not too difficult to follow with some experience in navigation. There are multiple routes to the peaks - one from Elk Lake and two from Route 73 at the Boquet River and Round Pond. Our group of six hikers chose to complete a traverse of all five peaks in a day starting at the Boquet River on Rt. 73 and finishing at the Round Pond trailhead. The traverse from this route is close to 18 miles and over 6000 feet of elevation gain.

How our trail begins

We left two cars at the Round Pond trailhead and used another to ferry our group over to the start of our trek at the Boquet River. We started off around 6:30AM to stormy skies and a forecast of rain. The path for this section is not officially maintained and had a few spots that were washed out. Generally it follows the river all the way to the slide on East Dix (now officialy known as Grace). Grace is a relatively low angle slide and not too exposed making it a great first slide to learn on. When we reached the slide the weather, which had been starting to clear up, changed and we had a slight misting of rain. Luckily for us the rock is very good on the slide and there are almost no slippery spots to worry about even when wet. To be safe we wore microspikes to provide additional traction.

[img:dixtraverse1.jpg]

A change in weather = change in scenery

As we climbed the weather changed for the better and we even had a few appearances of the sun and a small rainbow to accompany it.

[img:dixtraverse2.jpg]

As we approached the top of the slide there were a few more exposed sections where we helped some of our less experienced climbers along with the assistance of a rope.

[img:dixtraverse3.jpg]

 

Shortly after we reached to top of the slide and the cliffs. The weather had really cleared up and it started to get very warm. We enjoyed the views of our first summit of the day and moved on to the true summit a few hundred yards from the cliffs after a short break in the sun.

[img:dixtraverse4.jpg]

From the summit of East the path progresses down to a col and back up to the summit of South Dix (Carson). The trip took us about 40 minutes. The true summit of South Dix is in a wooded section but there are some great views a short distance away in an open rocky area.

[img:dixtraverse5.jpg]

From the summit of South Dix the path descends an open rocky area and then continues up Macomb. From here the views are amazing - you can see Macomb, Hough and Dix nearby along with Nippletop and much of the Upper Great Range in the distance.

[img:dixtraverse6.jpg]

As we moved on from the openness of the rock we descended into a forested area before leveling out and beginning our climb up Macomb. The weather changed yet again and it started to rain and we could hear the rumbling of thunder off in the distance. We moved quickly, hopeful the storm would not reach us, and reached the summit of Macomb where we made a brief stop and headed down. We backtracked over to South Dix and just before the summit took the turnoff to Hough.

Hiking to Hough

The path to Hough takes you down from South Dix and over a false summit before heading back down and then climbing steeply to the summit of Hough.

[img:dixtraverse7.jpg]

From Hough through the clouds we could just make out the Beckhorn, a feature on the side of Dix, which would be our next destination. The path descends steeply after leaving Hough’s summit and then begins to ascend close to 1000 feet. Near the top there is a tight spot between two cracks known by some as the Beckhorn Crack. There is a short length of rope that was left by other hikers to assist on the way up, but if you are feeling ambitious you can climb through without use of the rope. Here the path meets up with the DEC trail over Dix Mountain. From the top of the Beckhorn you can see the true summit of Dix a few hundred yards down the trail.

[img:dixtraverse8.jpg]

Looking back at the Beckhorn from the summit of Dix you can see Elk Lake off in the distance.

[img:dixtraverse9.jpg]

After a few pictures on the summit of Dix we headed down the trail. The trail down Dix is known as one of the steepest in the Adirondacks but we descended quickly and without any issues.

[img:dixtraverse10.jpg]

A popular lean-to

Near the bottom of Dix the trail merges with the Dix slide and there is a view of the valley with Noonmark in the distance. From here the trail leads out to a Lean-to which proved to be quite a popular spot this weekend with several large groups making camp as we passed though. As we approached the trailhead we made a quick stop off at Round Pond to take in the view.

[img:dixtraverse11.jpg]

After round pond it’s a short hike back to the cars for some well deserved rest and relaxation.

Interested in a hike like this?

Check out the Schroon Lake hiking page, and find a great places to stay and dine.

 

 

[img:antiqueswaterskis.jpg]

As summer winds down in the Adirondacks, the days get shorter, the temperatures cool some and we look forward to the events of fall. But don’t forget there’s still some summer left, so enjoy the remainder with some of our ongoing events while you wait for fall to set in a bit later in September.

In the art & workshop departments, there are still plenty of events on the calendar:

Shakespeare in the Park

The ADK Shakespeare Company will delight with its “Kingship Cycle” - Richard II, 1 & 2 Henry IV, and Henry V during August. According to their website, you’ll be able to see all four Kingship Cycle productions beginning on August 28 and concluding with the first ever Labor Day Festival. Their extensive schedule can be found online at Adirondack Shakespeare Company.

Artist in residence

The Adirondack Interpretive Center in Newcomb still has lots of ongoing events and programs. Don’t miss catching their summer artist in residence, Frances Gaffney, at work on the trails. She’s there to chat and exchange tips and techniques in the summer Art Along the Trails program. Gaffney also conducts some regular painting workshops, so make sure to check out the Schroon Lake Region events calendar for all of AIC’s ongoing, year-round events.

[img:gaffneyaic.jpg]

Did someone say fishing?

For those wishing to hone their skills or learn how to fly fish, there’s a workshop at the VIC just for you - The Adirondack Fly Fishing Retreat. No experience is necessary and gear will be available. No excuses now to finally learn the fine art of fly fishing during this 3-day workshop beginning on September 12th.

[img:flyfishing.jpg]

Arts, crafts and farmers

Don’t forget the 4th Annual Adirondack Artists & Crafters weekly expo, which continues through September 6. The tents go up each week at The Schroon Lake Town Hall and they’re open for business from 10 am - 3 pm each Thursday. There is a terrific representation of local artisans and craft folks every week. Go home with something special from the Adirondacks!

On Mondays, through September 1, the Schroon Lake Farmers Market is open from 9 a.m. - 1 pm at 15 Leland Avenue. This is one of the Ausable Valley Grange's “producer-only” markets. This means vendors must sell only items that they or their employees have produced (they can’t buy in bulk and re-sell, or sell someone else’s product). These markets are the only ones in the Eastern Adirondacks. Remember there is much more than just produce at the market. Offerings include fresh breads and pastries, meats, cheeses, artwork, crafts and ready-to-eat foods. You can shop and have a little lunch at the same time. Don’t miss these last markets of the season!

Antiques galore!

Two of the much anticipated Adirondack events of the late summer season are the Adirondack Mountains Antiques Show in Indian Lake and the Adirondack Museum Antiques Show and Sale in Blue Mountain Lake. The Indian Lake event is a town wide sale of all things Adirondack you won’t want to miss, with vendors scattered all about town. The Blue Mountain Lake event is as famous as the location at which it’s held annually, The Adirondack Museum. These events are less than an hour drive from the Schroon Lake Region and make for a great day trip.

[img:adirondack0914-1.jpg]

Whatever events you participate in during your stay in the Schroon Lake Region, you’ll be delighted with your experience. Summer’s still in full swing, so don’t miss out on any of the action. Plan a vacation or a weekend getaway today!

On the Trails

On a typical good weather weekend you’ll see plenty of hikers at the popular trailheads such as the Giant Mountain Roaring Brook Trailhead. When we arrived at the trailhead after a short drive from where we were staying in Schroon Lake, we parked on the side of the road since the parking lot was full of other hikers.

Here we met up with a few friends to take one of the less frequented routes up to the summit of Giant Mountain. We wouldn’t see another hiker the rest of the day on one of the most popular mountains in the Adirondacks.

Our plan, which would take us off the beaten path, was the climb the Bottle Slide. A slide is a term used to describe an area where a landslide occurred and stripped the mountain clear of vegetation. Slides usually occur during periods of intense rain. The Bottle Slide was formed during a downpour in June of 1963. Giant is known for its slides, which cover much of the face of the mountain and give it a distinct appearance. Slide climbing is a close cousin of rock climbing and a much more dangerous and difficult activity than hiking but can be very rewarding.

[img:bottleslide1.jpg]

The Bottle Slide is a 1300-foot long section of open rock at an approximate angle of 30 degrees. The approach to the Bottle Slide starts at the Roaring Brook Trailhead on Route 73. After about 1 ¾ of a mile on the trail there is a small cairn on the left side of the trail. There is a very faint path that leads off from there. After a few minutes though the forest you will come to the drainage for Roaring Brook.

The drainage while open can be difficult to navigate due to all of the debris that has washed though from the slides. It is littered with boulders, trees and vegetation.

[img:bottle-slide-2.jpg]

As you progress up the drainage it clears out and there are numerous sections that involve scrambling over small boulders and rock ledges. The drainage splits shortly in and the path to the Bottle Slide is the left most choice. While the navigation may be a bit more challenging than the typical trail the views of the surrounding area can be amazing due to the openness.

[img:bottle-slide-3.jpg]

Progressing upwards the base of the slide is reached around 3500 feet. The rock on the slide provides plenty of traction and you can make your way up with good footing avoiding the wet areas that may be slippery. Sticky rock climbing shoes or approach shoes are not required but will give you much better grip on the rock inspiring more confidence.

[img:bottle-slide-4.jpg]

The views of the surrounding valley and peaks are breathtaking from this seldom seen vantage point.

[img:bottle-slide-5.jpg]

There are some areas that require climbing using both hands but the rock provides great traction.

[img:bottle-slide-6.jpg]

Near the top of the slide approaching the cliffs of the summit there are some more rock climbing like sections but they can be navigated safely for a climber with some experience.

[img:bottle-slide-7.jpg]

One at the top of the slide you are faced with an 80-foot cliff that will take you up to the trail and then the summit. A rock climber with the appropriate gear can climb the cliff easily but we chose to traverse parallel to the cliffs for an easier approach to the summit. After a bit of bushwhacking and a few challenging scrambles using a short length of rope to assist the less experienced climbers in our group we reached the summit.

[img:bottle-slide-8.jpg]
Schroon Lake is close to amazing trails and is easy to get to. Learn more about Schroon Lake.

Schroon Lake Adirondack Region Paddling

Early this spring I hiked the Short Swing Trail from Rte 74 to Tubmill March while there was still snow and ice under foot. At the beginning of the trail there is a little bridge that crosses the outlet of Eagle Lake and I resolved to come back and check out the paddling. Last week I was able to put together a trip and we had a great day.
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation maintains a small boat launch about a mile west of the hamlet of Eagle Lake. A small parking area accommodates about six vehicles. On the day we went there were two other cars--one with an empty kayak rack. Someone else was already on the water. We took quick advantage of the easy put-in and loaded up.

Eagle Lake

There is nothing like the first truly sunny day when the it's-probably-going-to-be-cold-later layers of clothing come off and there is nothing between bare arms and the warm sunshine. Hearing the paddle strokes in the cool water breathes new life into those of us who count down between enough snow to ski on and ice out on the lakes and ponds. We easily found a nice steady rhythm, heading east along the shoreline which was lit up by the beautiful flowers of the shadbush.

[img:eagle-lake-2.jpg]

Eagle Lake has interesting rocks along the shoreline. We stopped several times to check out different formations before heading around the corner that leads to the main lake. From the boat launch there is a small, protected corner of the lake which is connected to the main lake via a culvert under a causeway on Rte 74. The water level was sufficient to allow us an easy float underneath without disturbing the swallows who continued to dart around nearby. I loved this kind of tunnel as a child and still feel a pinch of excitement going under a road in a boat.

[img:eagle-lake-causeway.jpg]

Once under the causeway the main lake opens wide. Eagle Lake is about 2.5 miles long and about 40 feet at the deepest. On this day we could not see another boat. Later the kayaker turned up but for most of the trip we paddled on our own. The lake is stocked with brown trout and is known by some local guys as a good place to catch black bass. We hadn't brought fishing gear so continued toward two little islands at the east end of the lake.

The leaves were not open on the trees yet and we had nice views of the surrounding hills. No boats on docks and no swim towels on porch railings--all was quietly waiting for the summer residents whose houses ring the lake. A gentle tail wind took us toward the first island, the bigger of the two we checked out. As we got close to look at the sculpted, rocky shore we found the island was posted so continued on, noticing a bright orange spot of color from a very early Columbine in a pocket in one of the ledges. Whoever owns the island has a perfect private place for camping and enjoying the water, and an interesting contraption that may be for jumping off the cliff when it's swung out over the water. There is also a great opening in the rock at the end of the island that looks like a mold of a whale's tale.

[img:eagle-lake-whale-tail.jpg]

We headed for the small island and found a perfect place to take in some sun. The flat rock on the north side allowed us a gentle landing and we pulled up the canoe beneath a stunning shadbush at the peak of flowering. A sign cautions against damaging the rugged little trees that endure winter on the tiny island. I needed a geologist to identify the minerals that sparkled in the sunlight. With the lichen that grows on the rocks there is a pretty mosaic of color. After some chocolate, almonds and an orange we sat absorbing the sunlight until the breeze raised a few goose bumps and we got back to work, expecting a firmer paddle back. We were lucky --the wind had swung around, making the return easy and relaxing.

[img:eagle-lake-5.jpg]

Great Day with another visit planned

If we'd had more time I would have headed for the end of the lake to check out the lean-to that's noted on an old map I have. A post on adkforum says, "yes there is a lean-to there. I believe it's accessible by boat only. The old topo maps show a trail, but it crosses private land and I don't think there is legal public access."
There is also a nifty half mile trail that leads from the west end of the lake to a tiny pond called Otter Pond. The combination short, protected paddle and quick hike would be perfect for families with young children or adventurers in light solo canoes. On this outing we never made it to the outlet of the lake to explore the bog plants I've heard are there but as the season gets warmer there will be more to see.
As we turned back toward Schroon Lake and the Northway we did take a minute to explore Pyramid Road. There is a beautiful beaver flow where red-winged black birds were vying with a few ducks for territory but I noted that the road and Pyramid Lake at the end of it are surrounded by private property--best left off the itinerary for travelers.
Eagle Lake is a destination that could be lengthened or shortened depending on the pace of your paddling and the time of year. It's nearness to the road makes it very quickly accessible when you're looking for convenience and beauty and don't mind some surrounding signs of civilization.

[img:eagle-lake-4.jpg]