The Pharaoh Mountains

If seven-packs actually existed, this would be a forerunner in the Adirondack Park. My chum Jim and I had no idea what we were in store for when I dreamed up this wilderness traverse. The only thing we knew was that one of the hills would be at least a decent payoff, according to what we have read and researched, but the other six were total mysteries.

The Dam Hill to No. 8 Hill to No. 7 Hill to Franks Hill to No. 6 Hill to Orange Hill to Pine Hill: that’s how it would play out. Of course, the route was a bit different at the start of the day, but you can’t tunnel yourself in; you need to be able to make decisions on the fly and make your day pliable, especially when bushwhacking. Oh, and yes, it’s actually named The Dam Hill.

We met in Schroon Lake early the morning of and caravanned over to the Pharaoh Lake trailhead and stashed Jim’s car there; as I mentioned, this would be a two-car traverse. We then drove over to the other Pharaoh Lake trailhead that accesses Mill Brook. The prior thought was to do this traverse from west to east, but we opted for the reverse — it just seemed like less car jockeying, even though it really wasn’t.

Stepping out of the car, we were welcomed by a cluster of deer flies. I actually used bug repellant, or bug dope to us old-school outdoor enthusiasts. I figured I would put some on my bald spot; I mean what’s the worst that could happen — I grow hair?

Off we set, following the old forest road that would lead us through the wilderness abyss of trees, wetlands, ferns and rocky terrain.

Adirondack Mountain Wilderness

We followed the narrow and soft-topped trail as it passed by an original wilderness sign, beat up by time and a .22 caliber rifle. Soon we stood slightly above Mill Brook looking up at the Dam Hill and over the vast field of speckled alder. We needed to get around this beaver flow and cross Mill Brook to access the hills we wanted to explore. When we finally stood next to the brook, we quickly came to the realization that we would not remain dry. It was time to ford the fast-moving waters. The recent rain seemed to have made this small stream closer to that of a raging torrent, but at least it was a narrow crossing. Jim went first, mainly because I feel he wanted to record me falling in; I was happy to disappoint. Abby, my four-legged hiking partner, was not so ambitious. As a boxer/pit-bull mix, she is not all that fond of water. Through a bit of coaxing and a little nudge, she finally found herself on dry ground once again.

Almost immediately, we started our ascent of the Dam Hill; open forest greeted us and a soft forest floor cushioned our seasoned feet. We climbed in hopes of a reward, and as we switchbacked over the steeper slopes we saw open rock to our left; we had to check it out — our first view, and on the first mountain, too. We had decent views back to the south and Park Mountain resting high above us. The summit would be only a short distance away but would not add to our prize; we were satisfied. Now onto No. 8 Hill. Our descent into the valley below was minimal and we soon found ourselves at the steep slopes on the south side. Our rather old USGS map had what we call stacked contour lines, meaning steep slopes and possible cliffs; we went right for them without hesitation. It didn’t end up being anything vertical, but more of a boulder-strewn rock slide area. Making course up the steep terrain, we hopped from boulder to boulder and blueberry field to blueberry field, finding ourselves at different views around every corner. Up slightly higher, we could see the rock forming what we thought was the summit, only to find it to be a continuation of the rocky ridge with the true summit even farther away along additional viewing platforms. The summit, well, that was a different story — open rock with Pharaoh Mountain right there to grab and the High Peaks jagged the skyline in the not-so-distant background. The white flowers of the mountain ash trees added a bit of white to the deep greens of the forest and the blues of Pharaoh’s mountainside. The High Peaks were layered in different shades of blue depending on how far they were away, adding layer upon layer of rugged features.

We stayed about as long as our time would allow us. We could have napped and hung out even longer if this were all we had planned, but with five peaks left for the day, we needed to push on. Off to No. 7 Hill, almost directly west of us. Well more than 200’ lower than our current position, we knew we had a large descent ahead of us, and it was a steep descent. The cliffs and odd rock outcropping not only distracted us with more views, but we had to take it very slow to make it down safely; efficiency was not our friend. Finally down, we started a mellow climb through more open hardwood forest stands and atop a shallow ridge. We then stood atop No. 7 Hill. No views were to be had here, but if we had no more views for the day, that would be OK too; No. 8 was our trophy.

An unexpected view

Franks Hill rested only 0.3 miles away along an obvious gentle ridge, we figured we would be there in less than 30-minutes; it ended up being more like 15. The going was cake with nothing slowing us as we approached and passed over the wooded summit to a surprising vista back to the south. We could look right over no. 6 Hill (our next destination) to Park Mountain, once again as the backdrop. It was time for a short break as it was nearing noon, and the lunch monsters in our bellies were getting restless.

After our break, we descended toward No. 6 Hill, which was a tad over a half mile away in a straight line. No. 6, as with the other two numbered hills, was named after the townships they resided in at the time. We didn’t have high expectations for No. 6 to give us any views, but already today we had been proven wrong. We could see on the map what looked to be a rather sizable pond below; we figured why not add to the day’s adventure and check out a pond rarely visited by human eyes. The pond ended up being a beaver creation, rather sizable, and quite attractive. Massive frogs and a colony of beavers seem to be using this as their No. 6 Township; the local pileated woodpecker broke up the silence with its deep thumps against a nearby snag.

After our short hiatus from the mountains, we started up No. 6. The climb was nothing more than a short stroll from the ponds below, even with being slightly off course. There were no views, as we suspected, so we snapped a couple pictures of the treed summit and off we went toward Orange Hill. Our previous plan was to reclimb Franks Hill and use the upper ridge to access Orange, but rather than add an additional climb just to descend the other side of it, we went right back down to the pond — this time the western side — and headed directly toward the summit.

Not much to tell here. The climb was a typical bushwhack through open forest over steep terrain with some usual rocky suspects in the way. But how did it get its name? Orange is such as interesting name. We didn’t get to enjoy any views on this one either but we still had one more to explore: Pine Hill.

Pine Hill, a destination in itself

Again we altered our traverse a bit and, rather than going over two smaller bumps in between, we went right for the summit. The summit wasn’t all that far away, just over 0.8 miles. The forest remained open as expected and as we made course for Pine, we stayed high on the contours as to not lose too much elevation. Finally we climbed steeply to the wooded summit — foiled again, we thought — as we stood amongst closed forest. Then, as we started to make our final descent to Jim’s car, we found a couple peekaboo views from small rock outcroppings in the blankets of Red Pines. We descended a bit farther and there it was, some serious open rock. We couldn’t pass it up, even though we were a bit tired. We felt like we had to take a detour to the rocks, even if it meant we had to climb a bit to reach it. The shelves of open rock gave us an area perspective and a close second in views for the day. Overlooking Schroon Lake and the western portion of the Pharaoh Mountain Wilderness, we were again in awe of our surroundings. The blueberry bushes were now nearly knee deep, especially on Jim, and we had a ball working out the ledge puzzle of how we would safely descend the cliffs. One ledge to the next, one narrow shelf to another, one 5-foot butt slide over a lip to another, and one rock boulder hop to the next, we made our way down to the open hardwoods and onto the Pharaoh Lake Trail, just a mere 0.5 miles from the trailhead.

This called for a celebration, of sorts. We didn’t have any champagne — heck, we didn’t even have a can of Genesee — but what we did have was a Stewart’s right in town, and they had hotdogs and chocolate milk; that would do. The long ride home for me actually doubled up the Stewart’s stops as a cup-of-caffeine-induced alertness was required to make the final stretch home. Thank you, Stewie’s!!!

The Essex Chain Lakes in Newcomb, N.Y., the heart of New York's Adirondack Mountains, is the ultimate outdoor wilderness experience. This 7,000-acre NYS DEC Primitive Area is the newest destination for year-round recreation. You will decompress, relax, see wildlife, and escape all of today's chaos. Depending on the season, you can paddle, fish, primitive camp, ADA compliant camp, mountain bike, hike, ride horse trails, hunt and trap, cross-country ski, and snowshoe. No matter what season you decide to visit the Essex Chain Lakes complex you will enjoy the scenery and serenity of this special place. 

Paddling

Did you know that the Essex Chain Lakes complex offers up 18 unique bodies of water of all sizes and skill levels? The chain (nine lakes total, including Deer Pond and Grassy Pond), the most popular of the bunch, are accessed from the Deer Pond parking lot (via Goodnow Flow Road). The chain will give you the peace and solitude that one can only dream about. The Hudson River (which flows south from Newcomb - east of the complex) connects to the Cedar River (along the southern border of the complex) for miles and miles of adventure. There are multiple entry/exit points along all the different sections of both rivers. Paddlers of all skill levels are certain to have a good time. There are portages throughout the entire complex (chain and rivers). A good rule of thumb…travel light (boat and your essential gear). 

Fishing

All bodies of water in the Essex Chain Lakes complex are open to fishing. Depending on the body of water, one can catch salmon, trout, bass, pike, and/or the beloved pan fish. Fishing licenses are required and all NYS DEC freshwater regulations apply. 

Mountain biking

There are over 20 miles of dirt roads at this hidden gem (this network of roads is not suitable for road bikes/slick tires) that can be accessed from both locations here in the Town of Newcomb (Essex Chain Lakes North and Deer Pond Parking). Electric bicycles of any class are not allowed. Grab your camelback, some snacks, and your repair kit. Adventure awaits!

Camping

There are over 30 designated camping sites inside the complex. There are 11 sites alone that are scattered along the shore of the Chain Lakes. A brand-new lean-to has been built this summer, at the site of the inner Gooley Club, on Third Lake. Designated sites are marked by a yellow “camp here” disc. All sites are first come, first served. Good news…campfires are now allowed in designated fire rings at all designated sites! Campers that wish to stay longer than three nights must contact the local Forest Ranger for a permit. 

Hiking

The Essex Chain Lakes complex has an endless network of old logging roads/trails that are excellent for hiking of all skill levels. The restoration of Goodnow Mountain Fire Tower is currently in progress. These family-friendly trails are the perfect cure for hikers that are looking to explore alternate locations to the High Peaks.  

Horseback riding

Over 20 miles of dirt roads inside the complex are open for horseback riding. Parking for horse trailers is located at the Essex Chain Lakes North parking lot. 

Hunting and trapping

Just like fishing, all the lands and waters in the complex are open to hunting and trapping. Thousands of acres of land between the Chain Lakes and the Hudson River are available. These seasonal access roads may be rough and muddy. Four-wheel drive vehicles are recommended. Seasonal rules and regulations apply.

Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing

Back country at its finest. This network of roads is open to everyone for skiing and snowshoeing. These trails are not maintained nor marked during the winter months. 

Long story short

The Essex Chain Lakes are Newcomb’s best kept secret. The off-the-beaten-path keeps most of the crowds away. This remote destination speaks to those looking for peace and solitude in a primitive setting. We’d love for you to come visit and experience it for yourself. Please remember to recreate responsibly, practice the Leave No Trace philosophy, carry bear canisters, and properly extinguish campfires. 

 

Spend an unforgettable 72 hours in the Adirondack Hub this fall

The days are becoming shorter, leaves are changing color, and crisp autumn air is rolling in. Fall has arrived in the Adirondack Hub, and it's time for you to plan your next family getaway to revel in the season. Nestled in the Southern Adirondacks, the Hub is the perfect location for an escape to the mountains. With towns like North Hudson and Schroon Lake situated directly off the Northway, traveling to the Hub has never been easier, especially for anyone from the Capital Region. Load the kids up in the car and make your way to town for a relaxing long weekend! Gear up for an unforgettable roadtrip filled with days spent on the water gazing at colorful shorelines, cozy local shopping, and adventurous outdoor exploration. 

Looking for a place to stay during your Adirondack getaway? The Lodge at Schroon Lake offers an amazing variety of options and experiences located right on the shores of Schroon Lake. Enjoy their 36-acre property and choose from one of their many accommodations including hotel rooms, "upscale" glamping sites, and standalone cabins and chalets.  

Day 1: Experience Schroon Lake

Launch your first day in the Hub with a boat rental from The Lodge at Schroon Lake. Start your trip off right with an easy going afternoon on the water and enjoy fall from a new perspective. Get comfortable while viewing shorelines dotted with fall leaves. Kayaks and paddleboards are also available to rent for those looking for some added adventure. Whether you're cruising or paddling, Schroon Lake is the perfect place to kick off a family weekend of fall fun in the Hub.

After your day on the water, head into the town of Schroon Lake for dinner at the Trail Break. This American style restaurant is the perfect place to refuel after a day of fall activities. With outdoor dining options and a cozy rustic interior, you're sure to enjoy this dining experience.

Day 2: Discover local shops and hiking trails

Start your morning with breakfast from Pitkin's Restaurant and enjoy coffee, blueberry pancakes, or any of their classic menu items before heading into town to explore Schroon Lake's Main Street. Spend the rest of your morning perusing the charming local shops and businesses that make Schroon Lake so unique. Make sure to stop by Pine Cone Mercantile where you'll find traditional Adirondack furniture, candles, bath & body products, and even a bread shop, North Woods Bread Co, located in the back of the store! If you're looking for the perfect Adirondack general store, swing by The Schroon Lake Department Store for souvenirs, gifts, apparel, or outdoor items. Once your morning on Main Street is complete, get geared up and ready to explore one of the Hub's many hiking trails.

For an afternoon of fall adventure, head to the Adirondack Interpretive Center (AIC) in the town of Newcomb. The AIC is the perfect place for family activities with programs and workshops offering environmental education opportunities as well as a variety of hiking trails! Enjoy the forests, lakeshores, and wetlands of the AIC before hiking over to the Great Camp Santanoni Preserve, or you can even venture over by riding the wagon! This attraction is great for those wanting to discover the history of the Adirondack camps through a unique outdoor experience. To facilitate accessibility to Camp Santanoni Historic Area for people with disabilities, the Department of Environmental Conservation is offering a Mobility Device Reservation Pilot Program for qualified individuals with disabilities to reserve and use a power wheelchair device free of charge. The Great Camp Santanoni and AIC provides endless ways of exploring fall in the Adirondacks, so gather up the family and head to Newcomb for an afternoon of autumn exploration!

What better way to end an eventful day in the Hub than sipping on independent craft brews? Finish your day by traveling over to North Hudson where you'll dine at Paradox Brewery. Enjoy high quality drinks in a lively atmosphere paired with any items from their tasting room menu. Order a specialty pizza, delicious sandwich, or any of their mouthwatering appetizers that the whole family can enjoy! 

Day 3: An all day adventure in the Pharaoh Lake Wilderness Area

A fall trip to the Hub wouldn't be complete without a visit to the Pharaoh Lake Wilderness Area. Located in the towns of Schroon and Ticonderoga, this wilderness area has around 70 miles of trails and an abundance of lakes and ponds to explore. The Pharaoh Lake Wilderness Area is one of the most outstanding parts of the Adirondacks, making it a travel destination for many visitors. Hike one of the more popular trails like Pharaoh or Treadway Mountain, or choose a quieter, scenic hike to one of the ponds. With so many trails varying in terrain and difficulty, you truly can't go wrong picking an adventure in this wilderness area!

After your day in the wilderness, head into Schroon Lake for dinner at the Sticks and Stones Wood Fired Bistro & Bar. Their warm, rustic interior is sure to be the cherry on top of a cozy fall weekend in the Adirondack Hub.

Start your Adirondack getaway this fall!

We've got you covered for your next roadtrip to the Southern Adirondacks, so load up the car and begin your fall adventure just in time to watch the leaves change! Whether you're a family that likes to hike, shop, eat, or relax on the water, the Adirondack Hub is the perfect place for an autumn getaway in the mountains. 

The Schroon Lake Ice Fishing Derby will be in its 27th year on the weekend of March 2-3, 2019. This annual celebration of the joys of ice fishing is equally welcoming to those new to the sport, or anyone else who is curious about these "ice towns."

Ice fishing derbies spring up on the thick ice during the sunny days of March. It's not just about the hardwater fishing. It's the social aspects, too.

Sudden communities

Everyone visits the different camps on the ice, which range from wooden shanties with curtains on the windows to pop-up tents. Many of them will have a stove or portable fire pit going, to keep hot beverages handy. While some ice fishing is of the man-and-his-bucket variety, one of the enjoyable aspects of derbies isn't just the competition, i's about the meet and greet, too.

The host of the derby, Schroon Lake Fish & Game Club, was founded in 1927, with eighteen men united in their goal of nature conservation. They also became community contributors. In the late 1970s, women became eligible to join the club, and many did. They were valuable and essential to the growth and prosperity of the Schroon Lake Fish & Game Club.

In addition, the club supports philanthropic causes, especially for the children of the community. There are holiday activities, a Little League ball field, and sponsorship for two boys and two girls to attend Camp Colby. They provide a scholarship every year to a Schroon Lake Central School graduate who is planning a career in conservation or a related course of study.

The club's Ice Fishing Derby highlights the joys of the outdoors, something they wish to pass down to each new generation.

The rules

The derby allows competition for lake trout, perch, pickerel, landlocked salmon, and northern pike. It's a glimpse at the excellent fishing available on Schroon Lake, which has a surface area of 4,000 acres and a shoreline length of almost 24 miles. Every year the lake is stocked with 10,000 landlocked salmon and lake trout, keeping these populations steady.

Schroon Lake has all the Adirondack fishing advantages of rocky areas, weedy patches, and deep water. Ice fishing in the winter is a favorite time to catch the biggest pike. During the derby, competitive anglers can fish from daylight on Saturday until 4 p.m. on Sunday.

Lake trout are known for their energy in the deep, clear lakes of the Adirondacks. Because these lakes have less biomass than warmer waterbodies, the trout will cruise more in search of food. They are in great shape and known to strike on lures that are lively in sight, sound, or scent.

As the days grow longer, the chances of getting those big pike increase. Warmer temperatures pulls them from their deep winter waters into shallower bays as their instincts ready them for spawning, and also for the abundant scavenging possibilities. Optimistic anglers drill big holes.

The derby's cash prizes are based on the weight of the fish, but there are also door prizes that everyone is eligible to win.

Après fish

Head for the club's fish fry dinner on Saturday, from 5-7 p.m. It's only $10 a person, and is held at the clubhouse on 25 Game Club Road, near the ball field.

Another reason this is such a popular derby is that Schroon Lake is right downtown, steps away from all kinds of refreshment.

Take a walk and sample Schroon Lake's quaint downtown, where everyone has their favorite breakfast or lunch spot like Shirley's Diner or Pitkin's Restaurant. There are favorite pubs, like Flanagan's Pub & Grill for an Irish twist, or Timberwolf Pub for a hometown feel.

Anyone interested in expanding their fishing horizons beyond the soft water variety, a derby is a fun way to dip a toe in. Even if you do have to drill a hole to do it.

Pick a cozy place to stay. Explore all the local dining. Watch the video on the event listing for the Schroon Lake Ice Fishing Derby to get a sense of what it is like to be there.

Exploring a New Place

I’ve wanted to hike into the recently acquired Boreas Ponds Tract since the state bought it over a year ago, and the other day my friend and I were able to explore the area for the first time. We first checked out the access points off Ragged Mountain and Sand Pond Roads, but our plan all along was to walk in along Gulf Brook Road, which allows the easiest entry into the site. Be aware that if you go, parking along Gulf Brook Rd. to Boreas Ponds is allowed in designated parking spots at parking areas only. Parking along the roadway is prohibited. If the Four Corners Parking Area is full, users must back track to the next available parking area.

We drove better than 3 miles along the dirt road, spotting a few Wild Turkeys and stopping for a couple of mixed flocks of birds, which included species like Least Flycatcher, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue-headed Vireo, and Yellow-rumped and Black-and-white warblers. But the day was windy and cool after a fall cold front had pushed through the region, and many of the birds seemed to stay hunkered down as a result – or else they had raced south on strong north winds.

A Nice Hike

The weather made for a comfortable hiking day, and we reached the farthest parking area along the road, loaded up, and began the 3.5 mile hike into the Boreas Ponds themselves, marked by a dam. Wren led the way with her nose on the ground, and we chatted as we listened for birds in the windy forest. More interesting than the birds was a set of moose tracks that followed the road for probably close to a mile – many animals use roads as an easy route through the forest. After all, the road made for easy walking for us, too, and we made quick time of our efforts.

Amazing Views

As a result, we soon arrived at the bridge at about 2.5 miles into the hike. It offers canoe access to LaBier Flow and it's the first place paddlers can put-in in the complex. We paused and sat on the rocks, taking in the views of Wolf Pond Mountain and Boreas Mountain. Wren took a dip in the water and chewed a few sticks.

From LaBier Flow, the habitat became more coniferous and boreal in nature, meaning that earlier in the summer the air would have been filled with the songs of species like Magnolia and Nashville Warblers, among many others. We contented ourselves with a few Red-breasted Nuthatches and White-throated Sparrows, spying an adult Bald Eagle soaring in the sunlight in the distance.

The junction just past the flow allows hikers to go a few different directions in the complex, but we kept heading toward the dam to see the Boreas Ponds themselves. That mile went quickly, and we were soon in awe of the view of the High Peaks to the north. By this point we were quite hungry and we took lunch on the rocks overlooking the water, admiring the view while a stiff breeze zipped across the water to our faces. Adding a touch of ambience, a Belted Kingfisher perched along the side of the pond, and a Common Loon fished in the dark, wavy waters. Not one to be dissuaded by rolling water, Wren did her characteristic swim, exploration, and stick chewing before getting a few snacks from our lunch and suddenly just curling up to sleep on the rocks. From where I was sitting, her position looked uncomfortable, but the rocks were warm in the sun and she had been active during the previous days – clearly she was tired.

While we were eating, we met a few folks looking over the site as they considered management questions for the enormous tract. We chatted with them, gaining a better understanding of the area and how the land might be managed going forward. Our scenic – and educational – lunch over, we continued further along the road beyond the dam, perhaps exploring another mile before we decided to turn around.

The hike out was much like the way in – with stops at the overlooks of the Boreas Ponds and LaBier Flow, where we spotted two Hooded Mergansers and watched them fish and poke their way along the edge of the water in search of food. A third merganser flew overhead as we stood there, and we saw two Red Crossbills as well – I was hoping we’d find some during our hike. Another Belted Kingfisher chattered as it flew along the edge of the water.

As nice as the hike was, we were happy to finish the walk and to get back to the car, where we snacked as we drove the dirt road back out to Blue Ridge Road. We would look for a place to stop for dinner on the way home.

Fall is a great time in the Adirondacks for birding, hiking, and outdoor adventure. Don’t miss your chance to explore the region, and check out our lodging and dining pages to learn more!

The ten-mile round trip cross-country ski to Great Camp Santanoni is a classic Adirondack journey to a storied destination.

Open House during Three Winter Weekends at Great Camp Santanoni

This year, my husband George Yellott, and friends Pat and John Thaxton, and I skied to Great Camp Santanoni during the first of three New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (NYS DEC) “Winter Weekends at Great Camp Santanoni.” These open house weekends are co-sponsored with Adirondack Architectural Heritage (AARCH), the Town of Newcomb, and the Adirondack Interpretive Center. Each year, the popular winter weekend open houses are scheduled during Martin Luther King weekend in January, President’s Day weekend in February, and the weekend closest to St Patrick’s Day in March.

A Heated Building with Refreshments!

The Adirondack Interpretive Center offers free snowshoes, and staff and volunteers of Adirondack Architectural Heritage are on hand to answers questions and lead tours of the Main Lodge. Best of all, the Artist’s Studio is heated by a woodstove during these open house weekends! Skiers and snowshoers can warm up before the return trip. Coffee, tea, and hot chocolate are also available!

The Ski

We chose to ski on Sunday of Martin Luther King weekend, avoiding the bitter cold forecast on Saturday. (Surprisingly, over 80 people braved the elements to ski in on Saturday!) The ski conditions were perfect on the old road leading to the camp.

Our trip began in late morning, with lunch planned at the Great Camp. After a mile, we reached the farm. We stopped to read the interesting interpretive signs, of which there are many along the way.

When our two sons were very young, they learned how to cross country ski on this trail, and the farm was our destination until they grew older. Their main interest was the fascinating, huge old barn, which tragically burned down in 2005. There are still several old buildings at this location and it makes a nice destination for families with young children.

As we took a break at the farm, I spotted a woman skier who was pulling a sled, the kind that attaches to your hips, with her young twins and her baby on board! It was impressive! They were making good use of the picnic table at one of the old farm houses.

It was great to see many families along the way, and we met yet another woman skier pulling a sled behind – this particular woman did the entire 10-mile round trip pulling her young daughter in a sled!

There were so many dogs making the trip to Great Camp Santanoni the day we skied, we wondered if they rivaled the human numbers that day!

A second break was taken at the intersection with the trail to Moose Pond reached at 2.2 miles along the road. (The ski to Moose Pond is 14 miles round trip on a typical foot trail after the intersection.)

We continued skiing on toward the Great Camp, stopping along the way when we ran into people we knew, or meeting new people, many from out of state. Well over 100 people skied to the Great Camp that day.

The nearly 5-mile road to Great Camp Santanoni has gentle hills with one steeper hill near the end, but is considered a moderate level ski trip due to the mileage.

A short distance from the Great Camp, I took a fall when my left ski headed too far left! As I lay on the ground, I heard another skier approaching from behind and as he skied past me, I recognized the familiar ponytail belonging to Jim Brundage of Newcomb. Jim is an expert skier who has often given ski lessons in my Town of Long Lake. He works for the NYS DEC and was patrolling that day. I said hello and picked myself up wishing that I’d fallen in front of a stranger rather than a ski expert! We finished the ski to the camp together.

The Main Camp Complex

Staff from the Adirondack Architectural Heritage greeted skiers and snowshoers as they arrived at Great Camp Santanoni.

We headed for the Artist’s Studio to have lunch in a heated building. The studio was a beautiful one-room building with a large window overlooking Newcomb Lake. A rack was hung over the woodstove so folks could hang wet items to dry. It was extremely humid in this building as water boiled for coffee, tea, and hot chocolate. Steven Engelhart, Executive Director of Adirondack Architectural Heritage, was available to answer questions. Matthew W. Shepherd, a volunteer for AARCH, was offering refreshments. He and several staff members came in with all the supplies on Thursday and were camped in the Artist’s Studio through Monday. I could see that a great deal of work goes into the open house weekends.

After hot chocolate and lunch, we walked around the buildings, which were all open. This is not usually the case during winter, so it is another added bonus of skiing in during the open house weekends.

The History

Great Camp Santanoni was built between 1892 and 1893 by Anna and Robert Pruyn of Albany. They purchased 12,500 acres and employed the distinguished architect Robert H. Robertson to design the camp. The complex of 45 buildings is grouped in 3 different clusters. The Gatehouse Complex near the parking area includes a caretaker’s cottage and the monumental stone gateway arch.

The Farm Complex is located a mile from the Gatehouse and was considered the largest farm operation ever associated with a family estate in the Adirondacks. There were 20 buildings and 200 acres of cleared land that produced vegetables, meat, fruit, and dairy products for the Pruyn family, surrounding community, and their extended family in Albany.

The Main Camp, located nearly 5 miles from the Gatehouse, consists of six separate buildings connected by a common roof and porch system overlooking Newcomb Lake. Separate buildings include the Artist’s Studio and Boat House. Many of the architectural features have been described as Japanese in their influence. Robert Pruyn had spent a great deal of time in Japan working for his father who was minister to Japan under President Lincoln. The Main Lodge features birch bark wall coverings, log grill work on the eaves, hand hewn beams, half log decorative patterns on doors and walls, and impressive field stone fireplaces. All of these features make Great Camp Santanoni one of the most outstanding examples of Adirondack rustic architecture.

Great Camp Santanoni was sold by the Pruyn heirs in 1953 to the Melvin family who enjoyed the camp for nearly 20 years. In 1971, the Melvin’s 8-year-old grandson, Douglas Legg, was lost on the property and never seen again. The Melvins did not want to return to the scene of such a tragedy and sold the property to the Adirondack Nature Conservancy. In turn, the Nature Conservancy sold the property to New York to be incorporated into the State Forest Preserve.

The property sat vacant for nearly two more decades, but still a fascination for hikers and skiers. In 1990, there was a renewed interest in preserving Great Camp Santanoni due to the efforts of Adirondack Architectural Heritage, the Town of Newcomb, and the Preservation League of New York State. New York State announced support for preservation in 1992, and by 2000, the Camp Santanoni Historic Area was officially created and a unit management plan was adopted. A Friends of Camp Santanoni group was formed in 1998 to provide ongoing financial and volunteer support for the Camp. Restoration projects are ongoing.

Many Ways to Travel to the Great Camp

In the summer, you can hike, bike, or travel to Great Camp Santanoni by horse and buggy! Visitors can also camp in the area. In the winter, visitors can ski or snowshoe to the camp, and there is now a new winter method of travel – sled dogs! The sled dogs can pull visitors to the Great Camp in a sled, or wheeled cart when there is no snow.

Two More Winter Weekends Left!

If you would like to ski or snowshoe to Great Camp Santanoni during one of the open house “Winter Weekends,” there are still two more to go this winter! The next Winter Weekend is scheduled for February 14, 15, and 16 (President’s Day weekend), and the third Winter Weekend is scheduled for March 14 and 15.

If you plan to visit, there are many wonderful lodging and restaurant options in the area to make your stay warm and comfortable!

Submitted by guest blogger Julianna Carattini

Give a girl a fish and you will feed her for a day. Teach a girl to fish and you will give her memories that last a lifetime. I have been fishing for as long as I can remember and probably even before that. Family vacations to Paradox Lake included my mom and dad, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins. When my father tried to find a small reprieve from the chaos of our extended family under one roof, I often hijacked his quiet mornings on the lake, tagging along with a red Mickey Mouse fishing pole. Little did either of us know that those mornings on the lake would change the rest of my life. 

Learning to fish on Paradox, I watched my father reel in pickerel, rainbow trout, largemouth and smallmouth bass. We would talk as I waited for my bobber to plunge beneath the surface; the anticipation of catching a big one making it hard for a five-year old me to sit still. Most trips I was too impatient to appreciate the stillness of the mind that fishing brings. Combing through tackle boxes, slowly my own collection of lures, hooks, and sinkers began to grow. When other girls were learning to french braid, I was learning to bait a hook with the cool and wiggly earth worms we purchased from the Sunoco Station or the bait shop in Schroon Lake.   

Returning to the dock, I often fished for the small sunnies that lived in the river behind our cabin. As the years went on, our dock grew in importance. I’d face my fear of spiders for an hour or two of independence to practice my cast. Casting did and still does make me nervous; as an uncoordinated person I have fear of “catching” myself. I lost more worms on those casts than I caught fish, yet I’d return to the spot when I craved a place to think or appreciate the beauty of this place. 

Family vacations to Schroon Lake continued and my collection of fishing gear grew as I did. Annual trips to Walmart gave me a chance to purchase new rods, lures, and anything else I thought was missing from my tackle box. Then one day, a group of boys I had met asked if I liked to fish. My affirmative answer got me an invitation to go out on the Schroon River the next day. With tackle box and fishing pole in hand, I arrived ready to spend an afternoon on the water. This trip began as many would over the following years, walking to an aluminum row boat, affectionately named Lucy. We caught small lake trout and began friendships that will last the rest of our lives. 

A few years later, one of those boys introduced me to a family who vacations here every summer.  Once again, fishing provided me with new connections and a new experience. During their stays, I would tag along on trips to the mouth of the Schroon River, standing in the shallow waters fishing with frogs or small bait fish purchased at Crossroads in Brant Lake. Another tradition was born and my favorite place grew a little bigger as I explored other fishing spots like Crane Pond. 

Fishing in Schroon Lake became less about catching a big fish and more about spending the day with the right people. It was a bonding experience that gave us the chance to talk, sing along to the radio, and sit in silence with one another. Now living in Schroon Lake, fishing has given me the stillness needed after a long day of work, friends to call no matter what, and time with my father.  As one of my friends would always say, “A bad day of fishing beats a good day of anything else.” He was right. The days spent on the water with my family and friends far outweigh the fish I will catch over my lifetime. 

OH, a foraging we will go, a foraging we will go, through the woods and by the creek, a foraging we will go. A little tune similar to that of, “99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall”,  plays in my head over and over when strapping on my boots and heading outdoors to explore the land for mushrooms. I certainly do not have to travel far before I find any mushrooms.

Now I am no professional, and I do not know much about forging except all the little brown mushrooms are called.. Ding Ding Ding, you guessed it, little brown mushrooms. And no, this is not a scientific term. 

My mother is the true expert and guide on these expeditions, I simply tag along to take pictures. She often leads small group tours at the Adirondack Interpretive Center and informs fellow mushroom lovers of what's what. Which mushrooms are poisonous and which are edible. If you eat a foraged mushroom and it makes you sick, chances are you ate poisonous mushrooms.

*Disclaimer: please do not go out and start eating random mushrooms after reading this, do your homework, hire a guide, also don't be that person that just puts things in their mouth they know nothing about, thank you! 

However, this blog isn't about foraging wild mushrooms. Foraging for us, comes in a slightly different form. Now for those of you that are unaware, my mom has a mushroom farm. A micro mushroom farm, but a farm nonetheless. She grows log-grown shiitake mushrooms, dabbles in oyster mushrooms, and occasionally grows a wine cap or two.

When I was younger, like any teenager, I HATED mushrooms. Up until she started growing them I absolutely despised them, and then I had my first Adirondack log-grown shiitake mushroom and thought wow these are good, “am I a mushroom girl now?”

My mom started her micro-farm, High Peaks Shiitake, roughly 6 years ago with a few hardwood logs and a dream. A dream that now has well over 100 logs that fills up part of the front yard. Each year she adds more and more to the fleet. Now growing mushrooms is not necessarily a tough process, but it is a long one. Starting from the beginning, we cut down 20 or so hardwood trees, my father’s a logger so cutting down trees is an easy task, and then cut them into smaller sections roughly a foot in diameter and three feet long. And drill 30 or so holes in each log.

Then it's time to inoculate the logs, fill each hole with the mushroom spores and sawdust mixture, seal it with food-grade wax, and you're good to go, for next year that is. Yes, that’s right, a whole year it'll sit outside. Each log is then labeled and logged into Excel and placed on top of wooden pallets in a cool shaded area low to the ground. They need to be in a place to receive natural rainfall throughout the following year, maintaining moisture during this time is crucial in the growing process of the mushroom. Living in the great white north doesn't matter either, the snow does not hurt them at all, if anything it helps! 

So, if you want to start growing mushrooms from scratch you’ll have to do prep the first year so you can yield mushrooms the following year. After you've waited a year it’s time to start mushroom growing. To grow your mushrooms you’ll have to submerge the whole log in water for 24 hrs to “activate” the spores and then set them in a cool damp shady section and wait roughly a week and you’ll have delicious mushrooms. 

Here are some things to remember:

• Mushrooms love moist climates, so watering your logs frequently in the summer is helpful 
• The warmer the weather the faster the mushrooms grow, typically production slows down as the temperatures begin to drop. June-August are the best months.
• Start Inoculating your logs in the spring so they're ready for the following year.
• Mushroom logs can keep reproducing year after year. We have logs still producing Shiitake mushrooms from 5 years ago! 
• Always use a hardwood like maple or oak to grow your mushrooms.
• Have fun and experiment there are plenty of different ways to grow Shiitake mushrooms! 

You can find High Peaks Shiitake at local farmer's markets, our property in Newcomb, and at Cloudsplitter Outfitters in the summertime. They are a very hot commodity and oftentimes sell out very fast! And sometimes they don't even make it off the property! We usually make a delicious meal that very night with fresh mushrooms. One of our favorites is a shiitake mushroom wood-fired pizza with asiago, parmesan, and mozzarella cheese. It is just divine.

And last but not least I will leave you with a simple question, where do baby mushrooms grow before they’re born?

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In the mush-womb!!!

To me, summer means long treks into the backcountry. As any serious outdoors adventurer can attest, there isn't a single "correct" way to do that, although there are some guidelines worth adhering to. Those aside, outdoor exploration is a realm of self-sufficiency, an endeavor where tricks are acquired through conversation and experience.

Long days outside means there's no easy way to get food or water. A small, pump-style water filter makes filling up on the trail easy. The filter is lighter than carrying several liters of water, and the streams here are ice cold year-round.

For food, I rely on things that don't go bad. I also consider weight, as a day spent hiking a dozen miles over several summits requires energy, and food isn't necessarily light. That's where dehydrating comes in. The early spring months are a great time to stock up on dried food, and since the prep time is minimal it's easy to do yourself.

Dying to dry

To dry food, all you really need is a food dehydrator and a couple of basic kitchen items, like a mandoline or power slicer, which will ensure everything is the same thickness. That's important to get uniformly dried results.

There are differing opinions on how to prep fruits and vegetables for dehydrating. Some foods, like potatoes, always require some prep before being dried. Typically, blanching — that's a brief plunge in boiling water — or steaming is all that's necessary. But there is a debate about whether or not to prep other foods, like carrots and bananas, and it seems to center around two things: How old your machine is and whether you care about what the finished product looks like.

The age of the machine seems to be the main issue. Older machines took longer to fully dry foods, so many iterms had to be pre-treated to prevent them from spoiling before they were fully dried. Ascorbic acid or sodium bisulfate dissolved in water was often used.

Lightly colored items, like apples, tend to brown a bit when dried unless they're treated. The browning doesn't affect anything but the look of the apple chip, which is why food purists opt not to use them. And therein lies the debate: If pre-treatment isn't necessary, why do it?

A chip on my shoulders

I've never been a big fan of potato chips, but veggie chips are a totally different thing. They don't taste exactly like the veggies they're made from. Eating a beet chip isn't the same as taking a bite out of a beet. The sugar-filled root vegetable actually has a sweet taste in chip form. I've found things like carrots, turnips, and radishes to have a similar sweet taste when dried.

Veggie chips are easy to make. Simply slice them to the same thickness — no thicker than a quarter inch is best — and lay them on the tray of the food dehydrator so they aren't overlapping. Flipping or rotating the food isn't necessary; the spaces in the trays will alleviate that. Set the temperature to 125 degrees and walk away for four to eight hours, depending on the humidity in the air. The higher the humidity, the longer foods will take to dry. The best way to gauge humidity is to check your local weather online. There should be a humidity percentage on the web page that you can use.

The nice thing about dehydrating is it isn't tricky to do successfully. Much like crock pot cooking, there's a huge margin of error. In other words, things don't go from almost done to burnt in 10 seconds like they do when stir frying. Keep an eye on the food and set a timer. When it's dry, it's done. It's as simple as that.

Get creative

I love veggie chips, but that's not all a food dehydrator can do. Fruits can be sliced or cubed, whole green beans cut to uniform length make a great dried snack, and fruit roll-ups can be made by pureeing fruit, spreading it on a nonstick sheet, and drying it like the chips.

And then there's jerky. Chewy, delicious jerky. It's easy to make. Simply whip up a marinade, slice the meat — beef, chicken, venison, fish, ham, turkey — and marinate it overnight. The next day, pull the strips out of the marinade, let the excess liquid drip off, lay them on the trays, and dehydrate at 155 degrees until dry.

Don't be intimidated by the marinade. The basic components are water, salt, and some kind of flavoring. Liquid smoke adds a great taste to the meat, as does cracked pepper, garlic, ginger, and Tabasco sauce.

You can go classic

Marinate 3 to 4 pounds of meat in the following:

• 1/2 cup tomato sauce
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp. onion powder
• 1 tsp. garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp. cracked pepper
• 1/2 tsp. liquid smoke

Or try something different

• 1 cup soy sauce
• 2 crushed garlic cloves
• 2 tsp. ground ginger root
• 2 tbsp. brown sugar
• 1 tsp. pepper
• 1/2 tsp. salt

The best method is to follow a recipe then adjust accordingly until it suits your taste. Dried meat is an excellent, lightweight option for long day hikes and backpacking trips. Spend a few nights making batches in the spring and you'll have plenty for your summer hikes.

A full spread?

I haven't delved into the world of making dehydrated main courses yet, but I know it can be done. I've seen recipes for things like dehydrated beef stroganoff and pad Thai that probably taste like a thick slice of heaven around a backcountry campfire. It makes sense — dehydrated foods can be reconstituted by soaking them in boiling water and some things, like herbs and leafy greens, don't even need to be soaked. Simply add them to anything that contains hot water and they'll bounce right back.

Looking for a vitamin packed beverage at the end of a long hike? Dehydrate some spinach or my favorite spicy green, arugula, break it up, and add it to warm water for a nutritious trailside tea. Want to make it more like soup? Stir some powdered bullion into the water along with a couple of dried minced vegetables. Onion and parsnip come to mind.

Be careful when trying any of the above suggestions, though. Once you begin dehydrating, it's difficut to stop. Happy drying!

There are plenty of hikes in the Schroon Lake Region to bring your deydrated food on. When you're finished and ready for something more substantial, swing by one of our restaurants and treat yourself to a well-deserved meal.

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The Adirondacks Spring Into Action this week:

Top tips for 3 cool activities

Couch to ouch to 5k

Paddling Q & A

Run through history

Easy storage steps for winter gear

5 trails to reach your goal

2 wheels, countless routes

 

Arts are a vital component of the Schroon Lake Region’s summer calendar. As a matter of fact, the oldest summer music school in the United States has its home in Schroon Lake. The beauty of the landscape and the clean mountain air could have a little bit to do with inspiring artists, whether they reside here or visit. Some of America’s most acclaimed painters have spent time capturing the Adirondack landscape and fallen in love with the region in the process. One of the most well-known, impressionist Winslow Homer, spent a great deal of time painting Adirondack landscapes and personalities in the mid-1800s. The Winslow Homer painting below depicts two Adirondack guides, which was completed around 1875.

People flock to the Adirondacks, especially in the summer, to enjoy hiking, the outdoors, boating, and the cultural offerings that have attracted so many before. For those wanting to be entertained we have several ongoing programs in the summer months.

SEAGLE MUSIC COLONY

2015 is an important year for Seagle. It’s their 100th anniversary this year and they’re celebrating with a blockbuster performance schedule! Locations include Seagle’s home stage in Schroon Lake, as well as performances throughout the Park during the summer season. Seagle’s forte is opera and they do it incredibly well. A couple of the opera performances this season include Rossini’s The Barber of Seville and the children’s opera, The Ugly Duckling. Other performances include Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods and Schönberg & Boublil’s Les Misérables. There are several more you won’t want to miss, so check out the full schedule for dates and times.

Below: ADIRONDACK SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL'S historic Scaroon Manor outdoor amphitheatre

SHAKESPEARE IN THE ADIRONDACKS

The Adirondack Shakespeare Theatre also has a full schedule, with many performances on their outdoor home stage at Scaroon Manor State Campground on Route 9 just south of town. From The Merry Wives of Windsor to the locally-inspired Songs of the Iroquois: Turtle Island, you’ll want to check out their performance schedule in our events lineup so you don’t miss something truly awesome.

ADIRONDACK ARTISTS & CRAFTERS

Every Thursday on the grounds of the Schroon Lake Town Hall, right in downtown Schroon Lake, you can find some of the Adirondack's finest artists and crafts people gathered in one spot selling their wares at the Adirondack Artists and Crafters show. From now until September 3 this gathering of talented folks will give you the opportunity to shop for that perfect souvenir art piece to take home for yourself or as gifts. What the heck, get a little early Christmas shopping in! Don’t miss this weekly event.

JAMMIN’ ON THE LAKE

For some really great, laid-back music jam, stroll on down to the Schroon Lake Boathouse Theater right in downtown Schroon Lake and take in the weekly Monday Night Acoustic Music Jam. Every week some of our most talented musicians gather for this fun and always changing jam session. Have an early dinner on Main Street and plan to join in. From now until Sept. 7, on every Monday evening the air is filled with great music.

A LITTLE FOLK MUSIC

One of the most anticipated events in Schroon is the Annual Adirondack Folk Music Festival, now in its 26th year. The Adirondacks are full of folksong writers and musicians, including Roy Hurd, Frank Orsini, The Jamcrackers, and many more. Many of these talented folks will fill the stage for this highly acclaimed music event. Don’t miss it on Sunday August 9th.

There’s a lot more happening in the arts world in Schroon, so make sure you check out our events calendar for all the events. Stay a few days and enjoy the lake activities while you visit our attractions and restaurants. Hope to see you at one of these great cultural events this summer!