Trip Reviews
Updated: October 13 2024
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- Our starting location was the Bonita Lake trailhead in Moreau State Park for about 6.4 miles with 960 feet of elevation gain. We started at 8:30am and returned to the parking lot at 1:23pm. Originally, this was going to be a loop hike, but after I checked out the conditions on the Waterfall Trail earlier in the week, I opted for an in and out in order to avail ourselves of a much dryer trail with no dicey stream crossings. The hike started off at 8:30 and, as expected, the weather was cloudy and not too cold. Of course, as soon as we put our packs on at the cars, here come the wet snow flakes! Rain jackets on "just in case," and off we went down to Lake Bonita and headed toward the east/south shore to access the trail to Lake Ann. Some wore microspikes on this section, as there was still a small amount of ice. Once at the picnic table at the southeast shore of Lake Bonita, off came the rain jackets and the spikes. The clouds prevailed, but the sun was peaking its way through, and I'm happy to say that by the end of day it was mostly sunny in the low 40s. The trail to Lake Ann and the lean-to was nice, easy on the feet, and even a bit "cushy" as they say. There we had snack and water, and continued on to the Hudson River lookout. Everyone enjoyed a quick lunch overlooking the Hudson, and then we started the return. Everyone did their part picking up small limbs and branches on the trail. Many thanks to Peter B. who had his small folding hand saw that he used to get rid of some of the downed limbs across the trail. We were thinking positively and wanted to have the trail in stellar shape once we finally get some snow! It was a really nice day and a great friendly group. We had some newer folks, as well as some folks re-connecting with others now that they are getting back into the outdoors for one reason or another. Eleven participants included: Kim Brown (leader), Shelly N, Margie L, Donald B, Peter B, Linda F, Bill S, Brenda A, Roseanne E, Cathy F, and Mary Beth W.
Whiteface/Esther Sun, Jan 15, 2023, Doug Fish
- Kimberly and Mark joined me on this trip. Weather conditions were ideal, the trail was hard packed snow with some icy spots, and the winds were whipping atop Whiteface. Car to car, it was just over a 6 hour trip, and we ran into maybe 4-5 small groups along the way.
What's Up Saturday? Sat, Feb 11, 2023, Kim Brown
- Berry Pond via the Overlooks (Noosa's Bluff) Easy to Moderate - Approximately 5.6 miles round trip and 1,100 feet of accumulated elevation gain. We had a great turnout with a dozen participants, several of whom were new to snowshoeing, new to the area, just had new snowshoes, or just out for the first time with our chapter. On Saturday the weather gods were definitely cooperating with a start in high 20s, then into the 30's with sun and no wind. Starting at the Lake George Recreation Center parking lot, we made our way on the hard-packed ski trails with just enough snow for snowshoe use. We took the Algonquin/ 204th Way to intersect the official Blue Trail on the left about 20 minutes in where it starts the up, up. After we finally worked our way to the top of this section, we continued down to the snowmobile road / Berry Pond / overlook intersection where we split into two groups. My unofficial co-lead Don took part of the group up the steeper unbroken snow section directly to the overlooks while the rest of us ventured up the snowmobile road (a little less steep, but a bit longer) past Berry Pond to meet up with the others for lunch at the overlooks. We had a relaxing short lunch in the sun and enjoyed dessert from our cookie lady Cathy. After the short rest, we took group pictures overlooking Lake George, then headed back down the steeper way, which was now all hard packed for the way down thanks to Don and group. Thanks to Jim and Anthony who removed some dead limbs that were crossing the trail, leaving it all better than we found it! Thank you to all for a wonderful day in the woods. Participants: Jim M, George N, Marianne M, Brenda A, Cathy F, Keir and Abby N, Virginia T, Anthony B, Sarah L, Don B, Colleen F. and leader Kim Brown.
Algonquin/Wright/Iroquois Sun, Feb 12, 2023, Doug Fish
- Cancelled due to lack of interest.
Henderson Lake and Wallface Camp/Hike Fri, Feb 24, 2023, Jeff Mans and Jim Zwynenburg
- Cancelled due to sub-zero temps not fit for man nor beasts.
Dix Mountain Sun, Mar 5, 2023, Andrew Meunier and Jen Ferriss
- An ill-timed snowstorm forced us to delay this outing by a day. New snowfall amounts of around one foot meant that we had to break trail on the long approach and our five-person party rotated through ten-minute turns at the front. We made slow but steady progress, occasionally having to stop to find the trail. We snacked at the Boquet River lean-to in preparation for the walk to the base of Dix and the start of the real climbing. At around 3,000 feet of elevation, the amount of snow increased significantly, and our progress slowed to a crawl as we broke through several feet of fresh snow on a relentless incline. It took us almost two hours to hike from the base of the first slide to the junction with the Hunters Pass trail. Having attained the ridge, we were treated to some blue skies and sun, although the wind was blowing strongly. After summiting, we found our tracks had been erased by the wind and some bushwhacking was required to find our way back to the junction. With the trail already broken, we made much better time on the way back, and our final few hours were spent hiking under a beautiful waxing gibbous moon. This outing was especially challenging, but the excellent teamwork and positive attitude of everyone in the party made it a fun and memorable winter excursion. With Kimberly Labrecque, John Acacia, Karen Provencher, Jen Ferriss, and Andrew Meunier.
Cliff/Redfield Sun, Mar 12, 2023, Doug Fish
- Another beautiful day in the Adirondacks. Joe D, Meagan B, Molly C, and Josee B joined me on this 18+ mile hike. There wasn't a cloud in the sky, the trails were pristine, and the temperatures were probably close to 40 degrees. This was an out and back via the Lake Arnold way, with lots of laughs and some butt sliding. Cliff's cliffs were very easy to navigate.
What's Up Saturday? Sat, Mar 25, 2023, Kim Brown
- The expected mixed precipitation kept a lot of folks at home today! We had a small group for our hike from the Moreau / Bonita Lake trailhead to Lake Ann, then return circling the rest of Lake Bonita and back to cars; about 4.8 miles with 625 feet of elevation gain. Some of us wore spikes and others snowshoes. We left at 8:30 am with cloud cover and no precipitation and temperatures in the low 30s. We made our way down to the Lake Ann Lean-to with a few very small stream crossings. The forest old growth in here is very beautiful. After snacks at the lean-to, we enjoyed Cathy's demonstration of (after carefully carrying!) a "Crystal Sound Bowl" so we could hear the beautiful deep sounds while in the woods. The sounds were very soothing and meditative. After we got back to Lake Bonita, it started to snow with big snow flakes which felt like the beginning of winter - not spring! We ended our day around 2:00 before snow changed to rain. Participants: Kim Brown (leader), Dave C, Cathy F, and Brenda A.
Cat and Thomas mountain Mon, Mar 27, 2023, Anthony Szmul
- Well it was a gorgeous hike with just one other person! Fair enough though! The snow was still hard throughout the day and there was no wind on either Cat or Thomas. Virginia and I were the only ones on the mountain, so it was peaceful in the woods.
Buck mountain Sun, Apr 2, 2023, Anthony Szmul
- Well it was a perfect day with no clouds! The snow was a little mushy with some muddy spots, but everyone came prepared. We hogged the views of Lake George! Chandra Geremick and I were the only hikers, but it was peaceful.
Hudson Crossing Springtime Outing Sat, Apr 8, 2023, Rich Crammond
- This was a great little hike because the old hiking buds were together once again. It's really nice to share the great outdoors with other people who enjoy it as much as myself, for as long as we can be out there. We saw bluebirds, cormorants, mallards, Canada geese and many dog walkers, but no eagles. Next time, guys. It was all good and we still had a fine nice day by the river. It "really" didn't get no better. Good luck to Sharon with her ADK outings in the future. Thanks to everyone for spending time with us. Participants: Bob Aspholm, Reg Prouty, Jayne Bouder, Sharon Gavitt, Marilyn Bellafiore, Robert Bellafiore, Rich Crammond.
Black mountain point loop Sat, Apr 15, 2023, Anthony Szmul
- So by far this was the best hike I've led! We went counterclockwise with our first destination on the summit of Black! The views were a little hazy but going down the clouds burned out. There were more views going down on the south side of the mountain. On the way to Black Mountain Point we hung out by the runoff waterfalls, taking pictures. When we got to the point, that seemed to be everyone's favorite including mine. The Lake was so calm and clean we could see the bottom to approximately 15 feet in depth; that was so cool! We all had our lunches there and hung out at the rock. I was brave enough to go swimming - lol - but I didn't stay in long! We then stopped at the lean-tos at the 2 ponds. At Black Mountain Pond there were salamanders and this little freshwater eel swimming at the rocks that we all enjoyed seeing. It was definitely a trip to remember! The participants with me (Anthony Szmul) were Don Berens, Mark Seymour, Dave White, Joe Babcock, Cathy, George Nesbitt.
Trail Work - Tongue Mountain Range Sat, Apr 29, 2023, Tom Ellis and Steve Mackey
- The weather was rainy, and it looked like we might have to reschedule. We decided that if it was drizzling, we would go, if it was pouring, we wouldn't. (On the drive to Panera, as luck would have it, it was sort of in between). Six of us showed up, ready to go, so off we went. We took two cars, and the original plan was to hike from both directions, and swap car keys in the middle. When we actually met, the group headed north had left a couple of big blow downs, so we decided to all head south, and clear those too. We simply had the women hike ahead and go get the car that we had left at the Deer Leap Trailhead. We didn't actually count what we cleared but I would guess that it was at least 20+ blowdowns, plus lots of branches and saplings that were encroaching on the trail. The trail is now in excellent shape, with zero blowdowns left. Great job by everyone! Participants: Tom Ellis, Jen Ferriss, Karen Provencher, Steve Mackey, Mo & Jim Coutant.
Saratoga National Historical Park Sun, Apr 30, 2023, Steve Mackey
- This trip also had possible rain, but it held off until after we were done, so it wasn't an issue. I had downloaded a National Park App, that had Saratoga National Park on it. There was a tour included, that had the stops numbered and would narrate each stop telling what you were seeing, and what happened before and during the battle. I even brought along a bluetooth speaker, to play it for everyone. The first couple of stops were fine, but by about the third stop, we were discovering that the Saratoga part of the app, was to put it mildly "not ready for prime time". When we were all done, we stopped at the visitor center and talked to one of the staff, telling him all the problems we had discovered. It sounded like each park handles their own web sites, so it might be a while before they get it fixed. I suggested that they get one of the web designers from a big historical park like Gettysburg, and give him/her an all expense paid vacation to Saratoga, for a month. Time will tell. It was a nice pleasent ride, and we did learn a lot about all the details of the battles. When we were in the visitor center, we all watched the excellent movie. Participants: Steve & Licia Mackey, Mo & Jim Coutant, Jen Ferriss, Alan Cohen, and Anthony Szmul. Washburn Ridge in Hoffman Notch Wilderness Sat, May 6, 2023, Jeff Mans
- Starting up the south end of the Hoffman Notch trail from Loch Muller, we proceeded to what appeared to be the southeast base of the Washburn Ridge and jumped off into the woods and climbed until we reached the heght of the south ridge where a few tall pines stood sentry and a knob rock outcrop revealed a hidden natural shelter on the other side. We proceeded northward along the ridge and found ourselves climbing and descending several steep little peaks as we bushwhacked north, very similar to the Pinnacle Ridge from Elk Lake that leads to Blake, except that each of those peaks are a bit more work. Along the way we found a few signs of past human excursion, but otherwise it was all wilderness. Although there were cliffs along the way, we never found a spot that afforded us open views, but were rewarded nevertheless with open filtered views of the High Peaks to the northwest, and Hoffman, Blue Ridge and Hornets Cobble to the east. In a col between two of the ridge peaks we found a wet area that was inhabited by a large number of noisy frogs that quickly muted as they sensed our approach. When we reached the last peak on the ridge, I must have been spatially disoriented and was persuaded to drop east towards the northern end of the Hoffman Notch Trail. In the end it worked out fine since our descent was steep and showcased Hornets Cobble, and we reached the trail and were able to enjoy some nice falls on Hoffman Notch Brook as it flowed towards The Branch. Great day, and special thanks to Jen Ferriss who performed unoffical co-lead duty enabling us to complete our adventures. Participants: Jeff Mans, Jen Ferriss, Karen Provencher, Ganesh Nadarajan, George Nesbit, John Sasso and Chris Lincoln.
Saratoga Battlefield / Devils Hollow Sat, May 6, 2023, Rich Crammond
- No participants for this outing so Mrs. Crammond and I went walking along the trail by the Champlain Canal, Route 4 area south of Schuylerville. This looks like a good hike for future ADK outings. We saw many birds of prey and a neat swampy place between the tow path and river. Great place for water birds also. Participants: Debbie and Rich Crammond.
Crown Point walk/bird banding visit Mon, May 8, 2023, Maureen Coutant
- It was great to get back up to Crown Point for the bird banding station. We arrived around 10:30 and learned all about the bird banding process. There was a flock of blue jays that was passing through or hanging around and got caught in the net. After the birds were recorded, you could hold and release a bird. Afterwards, we took a walk around the park, spotting leopard frogs, columbine, fossils, and of course the ruins of the forts that are part of the park. In addition, we walked along the lake over to the lighthouse. We couldn't go up, but it's an impressive building with great sculptures on it. Great day out! Participants: Kim Brown, Mo Coutant, Carmelita DeCicio, Paul Dietershagen, Julie Leonelli, Licia Mackey, Karen Provencher (plus we met up with Barb Bave and Maureen Roberts).
Southern Adirondacks/LG Region Sun, May 14, 2023, Kim Brown
- It was a Mother's Day made to order: clear skies, cool temperatures in the mid 50's when we started out at 8:30am, and not too buggy. Tree leaves were filling out and wildflowers were in bloom. We had several people in our group who had never been to the gazebo or waterfall, and some hadn't been up in quite a while. We were early enough that we had only a few people on the trail on the way up. We had a snack at the gazebo, took some pictures, and headed out to waterfalls. Yes, they were still running, big enough to make the lovely waterfall sound and an easy crossing. We had another snack before crossing and most of us headed up to do upper loop. On our very relaxing return, more people were coming on the trail including many families enjoying the perfect Mother's Day weather. We had a very well behaved mascot for the day thanks to Neil bringing his new rescue, Ripley. Group size 8 including Kim Brown (leader), Neil V, Susan J, Dan H, Jeff L, Heidi M, Katie Y, and Dave C, and of course Ripley. Mileage approximately 3.7 miles with 800 feet of elevation gain.
Crane mountain Sat, May 20, 2023, Anthony Szmul
- The hike was very gradual! It was a nice little morning walk around the Crane Mountain loop! We were lucky to capture views on the top, since we didn't get rained on like the weather report showed. We also enjoyed hanging out at the rocks on Crane Mountain Pond! That was where we had our lunch. It was just three of us including me. Participants besides myself were Cathy Angelo and John Susko. They also enjoyed the hike!
Fairy Ladder Falls, Fish Hawk Cliffs, Rainbow Falls and Beaver Meadow Falls Sat, May 20, 2023, Jeff Mans
- Two stalwart hikers have now joined the GFS charter members of the FLF Club. With a wet and cloudy forecast that beat back most interested participants one-by-one, two of us ventured up Lake Road from the AMR parking area with permit in hand and were rewarded with about as nice a day and views as you could possibly hope for with the exception of blue bird skies, although they both made guest appearances throughout the day. The views of the Ausable Valley and Lakes, steeply tucked between Colvin and Sawteeth, and the High Peaks to the east from Indian Head are always spectacular no matter how often you visit, and we decided to hog some views while grabbing a bite to eat. Descending back to the Gill Brook Trail and continuing our climb towards Colvin, we reached the Elk Pass Trail that takes most people to Nippletop, and found snow, but we were looking for a good spot to descend through the thick woods and thread the needle down steep embancments to reach Gill Brook. Having reached a stream, my intelligence suggested that it was the small tributary that fed into Gill Brook downstream, so across the rather flat and relatively open delta we proceeded, and as if we had radar, came out on Gill Brook about 30 feet from the base of Fairly Ladder Falls in all its glory at 3130 feet according to my GPS. With snow still on the mountains, the flow of water put on a dazzling display as it cascaded over about 100 feet of the ladders hued in rock and formed over the millennia. This seldom visited spot found through a short but dense bushwhack is cause for unbridled delight. My special thanks to Jayne Bouder and Nick Ringleberg who previously led an outing here on 4/22/17, and was the source of my inspiration to find "the elusive Fairy Ladder Falls^ and to my one stalwart companion that day, Virginia Touhey, without whom I probably would not have ventured to this remote spot in the wood where you are likely to imagine finding a skeleton as well as any other place in the deep woods off the beaten track. Oh, what fun we had. Participants: Jeff Mans and Virginia Touhey.
Hadley Mountain Trail Work Sat, May 20, 2023, Steve Mackey
- Most of the regulars had other commitments, so it ended up being just three of us, myself, Licia, and Vicki Rockefeller. We painted the window trim in the cab, as well as most of the floor (we needed a little more green paint to finish). We took off the winter shutters and door, and got the observer's cabin ready for the summit steward. We also cleaned about 25 water bars, so the trail is all ready for any rain storms we get this summer. We got lots accomplished for only a small crew. I'll post a date in a future newsletter for our work day in the fall. It's usually late October, after the leaves have fallen.
Brant Lakes Bike Loop Sat, May 27, 2023, Andrew Meunier
- This turned out to be an excellent day for a ride. Despite a somewhat cool start, the sun warmed us as we rolled out of the Hub. We enjoyed views of Brant Lake and took turns making our voices echo across Beaver Pond. The Adirondack General store offered all manner of muffins, coffee, and breakfast sandwiches (only 13 miles to get there, but fresh, cool air whets the appetite!). Schroon Lake was bustling with folks opening their cottages and contemplating a chilly dip. This was nice ride with a great group of people. With Kathleen Henry, Bill Doran, Bob Bellafiore, Marilyn Bellafiore, Jay Ephraim, Neal Van Dorsten, Valerie Pietrefesa, Chris Baldwin, Rich Indyk, Terri Indyk, Joe Wagner, Ben St. Andrews, and Andrew Meunier.
Southern Adirondacks/ LG Region Sat, Jun 10, 2023, Kim Brown
- Our hike was up Prospect Mountain via the Lake George Recreation Center - approximately 5.2 miles round trip with 1400 feet of elevation gain. We started out going down to the lean-to to cross the brook and up to the ski trails. We followed that for a bit until we left it for the foot bridge and unmarked but easy-to-follow trail up to Prospect. Everyone enjoyed the trail since we had the brook sounds for a good part of the hike. Once on top we had lunch, did some pictures, first aid kit comparisons for fun, map reading for identification of area ponds, and of course picked up some micro trash. We left when the darker clouds started to come in but made it back to the cars before the rain started! Seven participants in all: Braydon J, Cathy F, Laura F, Alan C, Anthony B, Adrienne Z and hike leader Kim Brown. A fun day on the trail.
Glens Falls Ice Cream Ride Sun, Jun 25, 2023, Andrew Meunier
- Forecasted rain led us to start this ride a few hours earlier than planned. We were glad we did, as the day dawned warm and humid (although the rain never materialized) and the sun was intense later in the morning. We enjoyed riding through some of the area's prettiest scenery and laboring up some fairly punchy hills. Since Sprinkles wasn't open when we finished, we rode to Stewart's instead for some post-ride frozen treats. With Susan Kohler, Joe Wagner, Bill Schwarz, Rashna Meunier, and Andrew Meunier.
Evening Ride Tue, Jul 11, 2023, Jen Ferriss
- This was the 3rd evening ride that I have hosted this year. Our pace has not been leisurely, nor an all out ride. We average between 12-13 mph. I make sure no one is left behind and wait at a few locations around the park without leaving as soon as the back of the pack catches up. These rides are a great way to be in a group without riding single file on a busy road. This trip around the park we had to worry about zooming bunnies. They were everywhere and could not make up their minds which way they wanted to exit the scene. Riders included Bill S., Sophia F., Beth P. and myself.
Bike Ride - Feeder Canal Trail and Empire State Trail Sat, Jul 15, 2023, Steve Mackey
- There has been a lot of rain around the past week, but our ride had nice weather. Since half our group had a commitment in the afternoon, we changed our route a little and rode through Fort Edward and came back on Ft. Edward Road and did a loop. We ended up going by about four Stewart's, so we stopped at the one in Fort Edward and all had ice cream. We also stopped at the Underwood Park in Fort Edward. It is kind of a hidden gem, on the Hudson River just off Broadway. I think we did about 20 miles. We ended up having lunch at home after we got back. Nice bike trails, and then reasonable traffic when we were on roads. Participants: Mo and Jim Coutant, Steve and Licia Mackey.
Boreas Ponds Camp and Paddle (Sat-Sun) Sat, Jul 15, 2023, Jeff Mans
- Official trip cancelled due to forecasted rain and thunderstorms over the weekend, but an impromptu unofficial paddle was undertaken on Saturday morning during an unexpected opening in the weather. While I had taken a bicycle in the event that the upper parking lot was full and required a drop off and drive back to the Fly Creek parking area, to our surprise there was plenty of parking available, no doubt as a result of the forecast that had probably resulted in others canceling outdoor weekend plans. After a short carry we put in near the dam and explored all three of the Boreas Ponds with each unfolding magnificent panoramic views of the high peaks, Boreas Mountain, Cheney Cobble and Rist Mountains reflecting mirror images off the lake. Many loons and chicks to entertain us throughout the day. One of the finest spots around, but the overnight will have to wait until another time - rain and thunderstorms returned again later in the day. Participants: Jeff Mans and Doug Fish.
Montcalm Point Hike and Swim Sun, Jul 16, 2023, Neal Van Dorsten
- FUN WITH DICK AND JANE AND STEVE AND LICIA AND MO AND JIM AND NEAL ... . So it was just the five of us. We were not going to cancel, we do not care about no stinking rain, or flooding of bridges being washed out, or trees across the trail! We got a guy with a portable saw and 16 batteries, we got granola bars and cherries and lots of beers. Well maybe no beers, but we got lots of stuff! We are not going to turn around, either, even if someone gets sick or snakebit. We have snake kits! We even saw a big snake, well, actually it was a small snake, and we could probably make someone better if we had to. We got phones that do not work and extra gear that we do not need. Nobody is going to stop us! I bet the other hikers would be impressed, if there there were other hikers. We even got a boat if we make it to the end. And, we don't care about no 100 per cent humidity, we like to sweat, especially when we cross those raging brooks; and we swim with our boots on, too. We don't care about no stinking water, and we like mud, we like to wade in it up to our knees if we can! And bugs, we don't even feel them bitin' us; the're just little buggers anyway! And poison mushrooms, we eat 'em for lunch! WE DONT CARE IF IT'S HOT OR RAINY, OR FLOODED OR BUGGY, OR STEEP OR FLAT OR STORMY OR HARD OR EASY OR LONG OR SHORT, WE GO ANYWAY! HELL, NO ONE REALLY CARES EXCEPT US, AND WE DON'T CARE!
Southern Adirondacks/LG Region Sat, Aug 12, 2023, Kim Brown
- Out hike was at The Saddles in Whitehall, NY, where we went to a couple of The Overlooks. Most of our group had not hiked this before. After the steep car ride up the road to the trailhead, we started our hike. Most donned bug nets and bug net shirts, which made for a more enjoyable outing since mosquitoes were out in full force. Because this trail is relatively new, it is not eroded and mostly has cushy pine needles underfoot, always an enjoyable experience. Tall evergreens kept us shaded most of the hike. We took the Blue trail to the Red trail and up and down for the 2.3 miles up to the second lookout where you can see South Bay and the backside of the eastern Lake George peaks. Then we ate a quick lunch and headed over to the North View Spur where we could see the Ticonderoga / Whitehall bridge. PS: The road in from Route 4 is excellent since it was built recently, but do not take a lower bottom vehicle like a Prius since you will have trouble getting over the water bars. We were back down to the cars around 12:45 after we completed the 4.6 mile round trip with 1,400 feet of elevation gain. A short hike, quick workout, and a fun summer morning. Participants included hike leader Kim Brown, J. Maher, S. Anderson, A. Cohen, G. Stauble, E. Mijuta, M. Golebiewski, D. Colomb.
Evening Ride Tue, Aug 22, 2023, Jen Ferriss
- This was the last evening ride of the season. I scheduled this ride hoping to use different muscles post marathon, but I was still too tired to keep up, let alone lead. I let the riders go ahead and I took up the rear. Somehow I managed to ride faster than I did all season - but as I progressed in speed, so did the others. Wow did our pace get faster. Thank you to everyone who went for a spin or 2 around the park this season. See you next year after we Spring ahead! Riders: Jen F, Beth P, Chris K.
Southern Adirondacks/LG Region Sat, Aug 26, 2023, Kim Brown
- I hadn't been to Hadley in so long i almost missed two turns driving to the trailhead - not a good thing for the hike leader! Started out at 9am and got lucky again and no rain, just cloudy for our hike. Trail was wet, but not too bad thanks to the trail water bar work done in May by Steve, Licia and Vicki. We kept a moderate pace up to the top, then enjoyed a quick lunch, while Anthony took some pics. Then we brought 2 folks in our group that were Hadley first timers over to see the caretakers cabin on the way down. Back to the cars by noon and we had the rest of the day to enjoy. Participants including hike leader (Kim Brown), Laura F, Marcia H, Anthony B, Linda F, Sue A, Cindy P, Scott A. Approx Mileage 3.8 w 1,458 eg.
Hike TBD Sat, Sep 9, 2023, Kim Brown
- Black Mountain Fire Tower Hike - approx 5.6 mi with 1,2450 eg. It had finally cooled down with very little humidity. Cloudy with rain expected only in early afternoon which held true. We did an in out from TH starting at 9am. Several folks were new to hiking group or had never hiked Black so it was a lot of fun introducing new people to the trail. Trail was the muddiest and wettest I had ever seen. Almost like a high peaks trail with a river of water running down the middle of the trail for most of the trip. Our group really enjoyed the day none the less and we were rewarded at the top with a small break in the clouds enough to see the narrows and some islands. Hike Leader Kim Brown with co-lead Chandra Geremick. Participants included: Sophia F, Jamie S, Marcia H, Jim M, Scott A, Linda F and Elaine Y. Really looking forward to another one! We were back at the cars by 1:20 with the rest of the day to enjoy. Hike TBD Sat, Sep 30, 2023, Kim Brown
- We did a short hike up Thomas Mountain in Bolton Landing from the Valley Woods Road trailhead for an in and out on the same trail, approximately 3 miles and 780 feet of elevation gain. The day was cloudy and on the cooler side - low 60's. We made it up to the summit, enjoyed our snacks, took pictures, then headed back to the cars. All in all, it was a nice day for those who wanted to spend a quick morning out on the trail. We had a couple of new people to the club and also first timers for Thomas Mountain. Hike leader Kim Brown and 10 participants: Kathy G, Beth P, Laura F, Sue A, Tony D, Anthony B, Dave C, Jim M, Chandra G, and last but not least our sweep Virginia Touhey and a well behaved 4 legged friend Jake.
Blue Ridge Mountain Bushwack in Hoffman Wilderness Sat, Oct 14, 2023, Jeff Mans and Anthony Szmul
- The weather was better than expected and we even managed to see some blue skies for a while. Blue Ridge Mountain in the Hoffman Wilderness is not easily accessible and requires a long bushwhack through some dense spruce and lots of blowdown as you leave Hoffman Notch Brook. There is some interest out there by people looking to complete the highest 100. Having scouted it out and climbed it before, I decided to keep in Hoffman Notch Brook and its many waterfalls and slides as much as possible on the way up, and we were not disappointed. It's one of the most spectacular waterfall routes out there and worth an outing in its own right, especially since the roundtrip is more like 18 miles instead of 12 - my bad - but I knew from prior experience that if you get back to the Hoffman Notch Trail and Big Marsh before nightfall and have headlamps that work well, you're in good shape. Long day of about 13 hours in total, but now there are 2 new members of the BRM Club. Participants: Jeff Mans (leader), Anthony Szmul (co-lead), and Tom "headlamp" Penders.
Workout Wedesday Wed, Oct 25, 2023, Chandra Geremick
- We had a great time hiking at Moreau Lake State Park in the trails that wind around the park. Unfortunately, the trails were not well maintained and we dealt with some ticks. It was still an unusually warm and very enjoyable trip with attendees as follows: Chandra G., Kaia A., Hassan C., Joe B., Kathy G., and Karen P.
Spooktacular Halloween Hike Sat, Oct 28, 2023, Chandra Geremick
- What a great hike! Ths was a very fun event that I hope to hold annually. We met at the Harris Land Preserve parking lot and enjoyed some time judging costumes and eating goodies before heading up the mountain. There were 6 categories for costumes and everyone won a prize! We had a pirate, Little Red Riding Hood, a princess, Batman, several hikers (LOL), a magic 8 ball, a trail runner, and a woodland nymph. It was a sweaty hike in costume, but we all made it to the top minus one, due to his dog not enjoying the nearby shooting range sounds. The colors were beautiful and the breeze at the top was welcome. Cider and donuts were the prize for making it up. Attendees were as follows: Chandra G., Joe B., Neal V., Paul G., Jarrod F., Prachi O., Christian P., Sarah R., Shannon G., Dave C., and Sarah L.
Peaked Hills Bushwhack in Hoffman Notch Wilderness Sat, Nov 4, 2023, Jeff Mans
- About the best navigation of all three Peaked Hills on a fine day with inspiring views on each Peaked Hill. The climb up towards east Peaked Hill opens with nice views of Pharoah Mountain, with the summit offering open views of Hoffman, south and west Peaked Hills, and northwest towards Macomb and the Dix Range. On to south Peaked Hill and the grassy knoll where we stopped for lunch and took in the lake views south towards Schroon and Paradox, and then over to the west Peaked Hill with its incredible views back towards east and south Peaked Hills. We took a northerly approach to west Peaked Hill and discovered what we were missing all those times before, and on our return hugged the elevation on the north side of east Peaked Hill which led us to some old logging roads and back to the brook leading us out of this bushwhack in record time. Great day and participants: Jeff Mans (leader), John Acacia, Karen Provencher and John Sasso.
Hike TBD Sat, Nov 4, 2023, Kim Brown
- Pilot Knob Lower Summit - A cloudy, but nice dry morning for a hike. We left the Buck Mountain/Pilot Knob trailhead and went up the trail, taking the first turnoff towards Inman. A short ways in, we left the Inman trail for the unmarked, sometimes blazed trail up toward Pilot Knob Lower Summit. Although a short hike, the trail is a good workout because of the degree of the slope/incline for much of the way. On the way we enjoyed stepping over, or for some of us, sitting over the large downed trees, as well as climbing up and over boulders/rocks. We passed the rock that looks like a dinosaur head, complete with teeth and eye. After that we were able to enjoy the multiple vistas of Lake George and surrounding mountains from the various ledges. After lunch at the lower summit we returned the way we came in for a 4.6 mile round trip with 1,670 feet of elevation gain. Thanks to all for a great day! Leader Kim Brown and six participants: Margie L, Meagan B, Debbie V, Alan C, Laura F, and Scott A.
Workout Wednesday Wed, Nov 8, 2023, Chandra Geremick
- We met at the Rush Pond parking lot for a quick but refreshing walk. It was a nice way to break up the week, discuss hiking plans, and get our workout in. We did an out and back to stay within daylight hours and reached the parking lot just in time as the sun went down. Atendees as follows: Chandra G., Joe B., Sarah L., and Kaia A.
Workout Wednesday Wed, Nov 15, 2023, Chandra Geremick
- This was rescheduled.
Workout Wednesday Wed, Nov 22, 2023, Chandra Geremick
- Halfway Brook Trail in Queensbury that was rescheduled: This was a refreshing but short cardio clip. We were careful to watch the sunset time as the trail requires hikers to be off before the sun goes down. All agreed it was nice to get outside. The Queensbury trail system is fantastic for weekday work outs. One hiker rode her bike to the trail, and one met us halfway through. I love the accessibility! We hiked 30 minutes out before turning around to get back in time. I'm definitely going to utilize these trails all year. Attendees as follows: Chandra G., Kaia A., Brooke W., Mark B., Sarah L.
Turkey Trot # 25, Saratoga Battlefield Thu, Nov 23, 2023, Rich Crammond
- For this hike we walked the two miles to the Neilson House for a water break, then headed back to the starting point via the Wilkinson Trail. We didn't see much other than a hawk, one deer, and a half-eaten poor little rabbit along the trailâ€"looked like bad coyote manners to me. I guess the highlight of this outing was hiking along with some real nice people like Wayne Richter and others. We really had a good day in the great outdoors. Didn't get no better for sure. Participants: Peter Bishop, Susan DeFair, Bill Schwarz, Kaia Alderson, Cynthia Tiogar, Kim Wood, Sharon Gavitt, Wayne Richter, Chandra Geremik, Laura Fiske, Rich Crammond.
Hike TBD Sat, Nov 25, 2023, Kim Brown
- Lake George Land Conservancy Bolton Area hike at the Godwin Preserve: Our group did a 4 mile round trip with about 1,000 feet of overall elevation gain. As we drove into the trailhead that had a bit of snow, I'm thinking, "Wow great reminder! I better start thinking about whether these trailheads are going to be plowed in time for a scheduled outing!" We all geared up, some with microspikes and some not. Snow was hit or miss but the spikes also helped on the slippery leaves. We made our way to the first small overlook looking west towards Amy's Preserve area. It was in the high 20s, brisk but with sun peaking in through the trees. Eventually it warmed up a tad to the low 30's. Luckily, we had no wind. After the view we headed toward Pole Pond where everyone enjoyed a quick snack. We then went on up to Walnut Ridge, which included a couple of steep sections leading to several overlooks, and then had lunch. After a quick lunch in the sun overlooking Northwest Bay and the Tongue Mountain Range, we headed back down the way we came. It was a great day and many thanks to my unofficial co-leads, Scott, Anthony, Laura and my sweep, the cookie lady Cathy. 14 attendees including me (Kim hike leader), Margie L, Scott A, Mark B, Cathy F, Don H, Anthony B, Jim and Anne W, Mia E, Trevor H, Sue A, Laura F, and Dave C.
Wilton Wildlife Park Sat, Dec 9, 2023, Rich Crammond
- What a good day for a hike in the park! It was nice to share this outing with three seasoned ADK hike leaders. This was a day to once again enjoy the tall pines and the fire tower that was part of my past in Luther Forest. We didn't see any deer - I think they headed north until after the 25th. We did enjoy mild temperatures and fresh air; good company, also. Good luck to Anthony with the Fire Tower challenge. Didn't get no better for an end of the year outing. Participants: Jack Whitney, Pat Desbiens, Anthony Szmul, Rich Crammond.
What's Up Saturday? Southern Adirondacks Sat, Dec 9, 2023, Kim Brown
- We hiked Buck Mt in Lake George from the Shelving Rock Trailhead - approx 5 miles w/ 1,400 elev gain. At least half the group had not done the hike from this side. Weather cooperated and was mild from high 30's to low 40s and cloudy. We had intros and a quick reminder of how to leave no trace when pooping in the woods in the winter. Off we went after putting on micro spikes. On the way Chandra and Rich noticed a black cat in the woods that was curled up under a tree. He/She seemed in good condition, a bit stressed, and very friendly. (no collar or identification). Cat was left at that point, but discussion ensued about what to do? Back to the hike ...we found the trail dry initially and and then hit small patches of ice and lots of mini stream crossing. A few hundred feet below summit we had 4-6 inches of snow, but trail had been broken out. Finally to the summit which was a bit windy with the only view being each other! Totally socked in with fog. Everyone still seemed to enjoy the outing. During the return hike a plan was hatched by Chandra and Rich. It seemed like the cat needed rescuing ....so that they did! After easily getting the cat in the car they brought the feline to an area home. The owner had spoken to a few people who had seen the cat and thought someone had dropped the cat off. Area shelters were called to let them know about the cat and the Saratoga Animal Shelter took the cat in. The cat has been named "Buckley"! 14 Participants included: Alan C, Debbie V, Linda F, Marcia H, Paula T, Laura F, Beth P, Jeff L, Ann and Jim W, Chandra G, Rich B, Anthony B and hike leader Kim Brown
Luzerne State Campground Walk Thu, Dec 28, 2023, Chandra Geremick
- This trip was canceled.
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... [ The information on this page updated:
January 14 2024 ]
Hike/Snowshoe Sat, Jan 7, 2023, Kim Brown - Our starting location was the Bonita Lake trailhead in Moreau State Park for about 6.4 miles with 960 feet of elevation gain. We started at 8:30am and returned to the parking lot at 1:23pm. Originally, this was going to be a loop hike, but after I checked out the conditions on the Waterfall Trail earlier in the week, I opted for an in and out in order to avail ourselves of a much dryer trail with no dicey stream crossings. The hike started off at 8:30 and, as expected, the weather was cloudy and not too cold. Of course, as soon as we put our packs on at the cars, here come the wet snow flakes! Rain jackets on "just in case," and off we went down to Lake Bonita and headed toward the east/south shore to access the trail to Lake Ann. Some wore microspikes on this section, as there was still a small amount of ice. Once at the picnic table at the southeast shore of Lake Bonita, off came the rain jackets and the spikes. The clouds prevailed, but the sun was peaking its way through, and I'm happy to say that by the end of day it was mostly sunny in the low 40s. The trail to Lake Ann and the lean-to was nice, easy on the feet, and even a bit "cushy" as they say. There we had snack and water, and continued on to the Hudson River lookout. Everyone enjoyed a quick lunch overlooking the Hudson, and then we started the return. Everyone did their part picking up small limbs and branches on the trail. Many thanks to Peter B. who had his small folding hand saw that he used to get rid of some of the downed limbs across the trail. We were thinking positively and wanted to have the trail in stellar shape once we finally get some snow! It was a really nice day and a great friendly group. We had some newer folks, as well as some folks re-connecting with others now that they are getting back into the outdoors for one reason or another. Eleven participants included: Kim Brown (leader), Shelly N, Margie L, Donald B, Peter B, Linda F, Bill S, Brenda A, Roseanne E, Cathy F, and Mary Beth W.
Whiteface/Esther Sun, Jan 15, 2023, Doug Fish
- Kimberly and Mark joined me on this trip. Weather conditions were ideal, the trail was hard packed snow with some icy spots, and the winds were whipping atop Whiteface. Car to car, it was just over a 6 hour trip, and we ran into maybe 4-5 small groups along the way.
What's Up Saturday? Sat, Feb 11, 2023, Kim Brown
- Berry Pond via the Overlooks (Noosa's Bluff) Easy to Moderate - Approximately 5.6 miles round trip and 1,100 feet of accumulated elevation gain. We had a great turnout with a dozen participants, several of whom were new to snowshoeing, new to the area, just had new snowshoes, or just out for the first time with our chapter. On Saturday the weather gods were definitely cooperating with a start in high 20s, then into the 30's with sun and no wind. Starting at the Lake George Recreation Center parking lot, we made our way on the hard-packed ski trails with just enough snow for snowshoe use. We took the Algonquin/ 204th Way to intersect the official Blue Trail on the left about 20 minutes in where it starts the up, up. After we finally worked our way to the top of this section, we continued down to the snowmobile road / Berry Pond / overlook intersection where we split into two groups. My unofficial co-lead Don took part of the group up the steeper unbroken snow section directly to the overlooks while the rest of us ventured up the snowmobile road (a little less steep, but a bit longer) past Berry Pond to meet up with the others for lunch at the overlooks. We had a relaxing short lunch in the sun and enjoyed dessert from our cookie lady Cathy. After the short rest, we took group pictures overlooking Lake George, then headed back down the steeper way, which was now all hard packed for the way down thanks to Don and group. Thanks to Jim and Anthony who removed some dead limbs that were crossing the trail, leaving it all better than we found it! Thank you to all for a wonderful day in the woods. Participants: Jim M, George N, Marianne M, Brenda A, Cathy F, Keir and Abby N, Virginia T, Anthony B, Sarah L, Don B, Colleen F. and leader Kim Brown.
Algonquin/Wright/Iroquois Sun, Feb 12, 2023, Doug Fish
- Cancelled due to lack of interest.
Henderson Lake and Wallface Camp/Hike Fri, Feb 24, 2023, Jeff Mans and Jim Zwynenburg
- Cancelled due to sub-zero temps not fit for man nor beasts.
Dix Mountain Sun, Mar 5, 2023, Andrew Meunier and Jen Ferriss
- An ill-timed snowstorm forced us to delay this outing by a day. New snowfall amounts of around one foot meant that we had to break trail on the long approach and our five-person party rotated through ten-minute turns at the front. We made slow but steady progress, occasionally having to stop to find the trail. We snacked at the Boquet River lean-to in preparation for the walk to the base of Dix and the start of the real climbing. At around 3,000 feet of elevation, the amount of snow increased significantly, and our progress slowed to a crawl as we broke through several feet of fresh snow on a relentless incline. It took us almost two hours to hike from the base of the first slide to the junction with the Hunters Pass trail. Having attained the ridge, we were treated to some blue skies and sun, although the wind was blowing strongly. After summiting, we found our tracks had been erased by the wind and some bushwhacking was required to find our way back to the junction. With the trail already broken, we made much better time on the way back, and our final few hours were spent hiking under a beautiful waxing gibbous moon. This outing was especially challenging, but the excellent teamwork and positive attitude of everyone in the party made it a fun and memorable winter excursion. With Kimberly Labrecque, John Acacia, Karen Provencher, Jen Ferriss, and Andrew Meunier.
Cliff/Redfield Sun, Mar 12, 2023, Doug Fish
- Another beautiful day in the Adirondacks. Joe D, Meagan B, Molly C, and Josee B joined me on this 18+ mile hike. There wasn't a cloud in the sky, the trails were pristine, and the temperatures were probably close to 40 degrees. This was an out and back via the Lake Arnold way, with lots of laughs and some butt sliding. Cliff's cliffs were very easy to navigate.
What's Up Saturday? Sat, Mar 25, 2023, Kim Brown
- The expected mixed precipitation kept a lot of folks at home today! We had a small group for our hike from the Moreau / Bonita Lake trailhead to Lake Ann, then return circling the rest of Lake Bonita and back to cars; about 4.8 miles with 625 feet of elevation gain. Some of us wore spikes and others snowshoes. We left at 8:30 am with cloud cover and no precipitation and temperatures in the low 30s. We made our way down to the Lake Ann Lean-to with a few very small stream crossings. The forest old growth in here is very beautiful. After snacks at the lean-to, we enjoyed Cathy's demonstration of (after carefully carrying!) a "Crystal Sound Bowl" so we could hear the beautiful deep sounds while in the woods. The sounds were very soothing and meditative. After we got back to Lake Bonita, it started to snow with big snow flakes which felt like the beginning of winter - not spring! We ended our day around 2:00 before snow changed to rain. Participants: Kim Brown (leader), Dave C, Cathy F, and Brenda A.
Cat and Thomas mountain Mon, Mar 27, 2023, Anthony Szmul
- Well it was a gorgeous hike with just one other person! Fair enough though! The snow was still hard throughout the day and there was no wind on either Cat or Thomas. Virginia and I were the only ones on the mountain, so it was peaceful in the woods.
Buck mountain Sun, Apr 2, 2023, Anthony Szmul
- Well it was a perfect day with no clouds! The snow was a little mushy with some muddy spots, but everyone came prepared. We hogged the views of Lake George! Chandra Geremick and I were the only hikers, but it was peaceful.
Hudson Crossing Springtime Outing Sat, Apr 8, 2023, Rich Crammond
- This was a great little hike because the old hiking buds were together once again. It's really nice to share the great outdoors with other people who enjoy it as much as myself, for as long as we can be out there. We saw bluebirds, cormorants, mallards, Canada geese and many dog walkers, but no eagles. Next time, guys. It was all good and we still had a fine nice day by the river. It "really" didn't get no better. Good luck to Sharon with her ADK outings in the future. Thanks to everyone for spending time with us. Participants: Bob Aspholm, Reg Prouty, Jayne Bouder, Sharon Gavitt, Marilyn Bellafiore, Robert Bellafiore, Rich Crammond.
Black mountain point loop Sat, Apr 15, 2023, Anthony Szmul
- So by far this was the best hike I've led! We went counterclockwise with our first destination on the summit of Black! The views were a little hazy but going down the clouds burned out. There were more views going down on the south side of the mountain. On the way to Black Mountain Point we hung out by the runoff waterfalls, taking pictures. When we got to the point, that seemed to be everyone's favorite including mine. The Lake was so calm and clean we could see the bottom to approximately 15 feet in depth; that was so cool! We all had our lunches there and hung out at the rock. I was brave enough to go swimming - lol - but I didn't stay in long! We then stopped at the lean-tos at the 2 ponds. At Black Mountain Pond there were salamanders and this little freshwater eel swimming at the rocks that we all enjoyed seeing. It was definitely a trip to remember! The participants with me (Anthony Szmul) were Don Berens, Mark Seymour, Dave White, Joe Babcock, Cathy, George Nesbitt.
Trail Work - Tongue Mountain Range Sat, Apr 29, 2023, Tom Ellis and Steve Mackey
- The weather was rainy, and it looked like we might have to reschedule. We decided that if it was drizzling, we would go, if it was pouring, we wouldn't. (On the drive to Panera, as luck would have it, it was sort of in between). Six of us showed up, ready to go, so off we went. We took two cars, and the original plan was to hike from both directions, and swap car keys in the middle. When we actually met, the group headed north had left a couple of big blow downs, so we decided to all head south, and clear those too. We simply had the women hike ahead and go get the car that we had left at the Deer Leap Trailhead. We didn't actually count what we cleared but I would guess that it was at least 20+ blowdowns, plus lots of branches and saplings that were encroaching on the trail. The trail is now in excellent shape, with zero blowdowns left. Great job by everyone! Participants: Tom Ellis, Jen Ferriss, Karen Provencher, Steve Mackey, Mo & Jim Coutant.
Saratoga National Historical Park Sun, Apr 30, 2023, Steve Mackey
- This trip also had possible rain, but it held off until after we were done, so it wasn't an issue. I had downloaded a National Park App, that had Saratoga National Park on it. There was a tour included, that had the stops numbered and would narrate each stop telling what you were seeing, and what happened before and during the battle. I even brought along a bluetooth speaker, to play it for everyone. The first couple of stops were fine, but by about the third stop, we were discovering that the Saratoga part of the app, was to put it mildly "not ready for prime time". When we were all done, we stopped at the visitor center and talked to one of the staff, telling him all the problems we had discovered. It sounded like each park handles their own web sites, so it might be a while before they get it fixed. I suggested that they get one of the web designers from a big historical park like Gettysburg, and give him/her an all expense paid vacation to Saratoga, for a month. Time will tell. It was a nice pleasent ride, and we did learn a lot about all the details of the battles. When we were in the visitor center, we all watched the excellent movie. Participants: Steve & Licia Mackey, Mo & Jim Coutant, Jen Ferriss, Alan Cohen, and Anthony Szmul. Washburn Ridge in Hoffman Notch Wilderness Sat, May 6, 2023, Jeff Mans
- Starting up the south end of the Hoffman Notch trail from Loch Muller, we proceeded to what appeared to be the southeast base of the Washburn Ridge and jumped off into the woods and climbed until we reached the heght of the south ridge where a few tall pines stood sentry and a knob rock outcrop revealed a hidden natural shelter on the other side. We proceeded northward along the ridge and found ourselves climbing and descending several steep little peaks as we bushwhacked north, very similar to the Pinnacle Ridge from Elk Lake that leads to Blake, except that each of those peaks are a bit more work. Along the way we found a few signs of past human excursion, but otherwise it was all wilderness. Although there were cliffs along the way, we never found a spot that afforded us open views, but were rewarded nevertheless with open filtered views of the High Peaks to the northwest, and Hoffman, Blue Ridge and Hornets Cobble to the east. In a col between two of the ridge peaks we found a wet area that was inhabited by a large number of noisy frogs that quickly muted as they sensed our approach. When we reached the last peak on the ridge, I must have been spatially disoriented and was persuaded to drop east towards the northern end of the Hoffman Notch Trail. In the end it worked out fine since our descent was steep and showcased Hornets Cobble, and we reached the trail and were able to enjoy some nice falls on Hoffman Notch Brook as it flowed towards The Branch. Great day, and special thanks to Jen Ferriss who performed unoffical co-lead duty enabling us to complete our adventures. Participants: Jeff Mans, Jen Ferriss, Karen Provencher, Ganesh Nadarajan, George Nesbit, John Sasso and Chris Lincoln.
Saratoga Battlefield / Devils Hollow Sat, May 6, 2023, Rich Crammond
- No participants for this outing so Mrs. Crammond and I went walking along the trail by the Champlain Canal, Route 4 area south of Schuylerville. This looks like a good hike for future ADK outings. We saw many birds of prey and a neat swampy place between the tow path and river. Great place for water birds also. Participants: Debbie and Rich Crammond.
Crown Point walk/bird banding visit Mon, May 8, 2023, Maureen Coutant
- It was great to get back up to Crown Point for the bird banding station. We arrived around 10:30 and learned all about the bird banding process. There was a flock of blue jays that was passing through or hanging around and got caught in the net. After the birds were recorded, you could hold and release a bird. Afterwards, we took a walk around the park, spotting leopard frogs, columbine, fossils, and of course the ruins of the forts that are part of the park. In addition, we walked along the lake over to the lighthouse. We couldn't go up, but it's an impressive building with great sculptures on it. Great day out! Participants: Kim Brown, Mo Coutant, Carmelita DeCicio, Paul Dietershagen, Julie Leonelli, Licia Mackey, Karen Provencher (plus we met up with Barb Bave and Maureen Roberts).
Southern Adirondacks/LG Region Sun, May 14, 2023, Kim Brown
- It was a Mother's Day made to order: clear skies, cool temperatures in the mid 50's when we started out at 8:30am, and not too buggy. Tree leaves were filling out and wildflowers were in bloom. We had several people in our group who had never been to the gazebo or waterfall, and some hadn't been up in quite a while. We were early enough that we had only a few people on the trail on the way up. We had a snack at the gazebo, took some pictures, and headed out to waterfalls. Yes, they were still running, big enough to make the lovely waterfall sound and an easy crossing. We had another snack before crossing and most of us headed up to do upper loop. On our very relaxing return, more people were coming on the trail including many families enjoying the perfect Mother's Day weather. We had a very well behaved mascot for the day thanks to Neil bringing his new rescue, Ripley. Group size 8 including Kim Brown (leader), Neil V, Susan J, Dan H, Jeff L, Heidi M, Katie Y, and Dave C, and of course Ripley. Mileage approximately 3.7 miles with 800 feet of elevation gain.
Crane mountain Sat, May 20, 2023, Anthony Szmul
- The hike was very gradual! It was a nice little morning walk around the Crane Mountain loop! We were lucky to capture views on the top, since we didn't get rained on like the weather report showed. We also enjoyed hanging out at the rocks on Crane Mountain Pond! That was where we had our lunch. It was just three of us including me. Participants besides myself were Cathy Angelo and John Susko. They also enjoyed the hike!
Fairy Ladder Falls, Fish Hawk Cliffs, Rainbow Falls and Beaver Meadow Falls Sat, May 20, 2023, Jeff Mans
- Two stalwart hikers have now joined the GFS charter members of the FLF Club. With a wet and cloudy forecast that beat back most interested participants one-by-one, two of us ventured up Lake Road from the AMR parking area with permit in hand and were rewarded with about as nice a day and views as you could possibly hope for with the exception of blue bird skies, although they both made guest appearances throughout the day. The views of the Ausable Valley and Lakes, steeply tucked between Colvin and Sawteeth, and the High Peaks to the east from Indian Head are always spectacular no matter how often you visit, and we decided to hog some views while grabbing a bite to eat. Descending back to the Gill Brook Trail and continuing our climb towards Colvin, we reached the Elk Pass Trail that takes most people to Nippletop, and found snow, but we were looking for a good spot to descend through the thick woods and thread the needle down steep embancments to reach Gill Brook. Having reached a stream, my intelligence suggested that it was the small tributary that fed into Gill Brook downstream, so across the rather flat and relatively open delta we proceeded, and as if we had radar, came out on Gill Brook about 30 feet from the base of Fairly Ladder Falls in all its glory at 3130 feet according to my GPS. With snow still on the mountains, the flow of water put on a dazzling display as it cascaded over about 100 feet of the ladders hued in rock and formed over the millennia. This seldom visited spot found through a short but dense bushwhack is cause for unbridled delight. My special thanks to Jayne Bouder and Nick Ringleberg who previously led an outing here on 4/22/17, and was the source of my inspiration to find "the elusive Fairy Ladder Falls^ and to my one stalwart companion that day, Virginia Touhey, without whom I probably would not have ventured to this remote spot in the wood where you are likely to imagine finding a skeleton as well as any other place in the deep woods off the beaten track. Oh, what fun we had. Participants: Jeff Mans and Virginia Touhey.
Hadley Mountain Trail Work Sat, May 20, 2023, Steve Mackey
- Most of the regulars had other commitments, so it ended up being just three of us, myself, Licia, and Vicki Rockefeller. We painted the window trim in the cab, as well as most of the floor (we needed a little more green paint to finish). We took off the winter shutters and door, and got the observer's cabin ready for the summit steward. We also cleaned about 25 water bars, so the trail is all ready for any rain storms we get this summer. We got lots accomplished for only a small crew. I'll post a date in a future newsletter for our work day in the fall. It's usually late October, after the leaves have fallen.
Brant Lakes Bike Loop Sat, May 27, 2023, Andrew Meunier
- This turned out to be an excellent day for a ride. Despite a somewhat cool start, the sun warmed us as we rolled out of the Hub. We enjoyed views of Brant Lake and took turns making our voices echo across Beaver Pond. The Adirondack General store offered all manner of muffins, coffee, and breakfast sandwiches (only 13 miles to get there, but fresh, cool air whets the appetite!). Schroon Lake was bustling with folks opening their cottages and contemplating a chilly dip. This was nice ride with a great group of people. With Kathleen Henry, Bill Doran, Bob Bellafiore, Marilyn Bellafiore, Jay Ephraim, Neal Van Dorsten, Valerie Pietrefesa, Chris Baldwin, Rich Indyk, Terri Indyk, Joe Wagner, Ben St. Andrews, and Andrew Meunier.
Southern Adirondacks/ LG Region Sat, Jun 10, 2023, Kim Brown
- Our hike was up Prospect Mountain via the Lake George Recreation Center - approximately 5.2 miles round trip with 1400 feet of elevation gain. We started out going down to the lean-to to cross the brook and up to the ski trails. We followed that for a bit until we left it for the foot bridge and unmarked but easy-to-follow trail up to Prospect. Everyone enjoyed the trail since we had the brook sounds for a good part of the hike. Once on top we had lunch, did some pictures, first aid kit comparisons for fun, map reading for identification of area ponds, and of course picked up some micro trash. We left when the darker clouds started to come in but made it back to the cars before the rain started! Seven participants in all: Braydon J, Cathy F, Laura F, Alan C, Anthony B, Adrienne Z and hike leader Kim Brown. A fun day on the trail.
Glens Falls Ice Cream Ride Sun, Jun 25, 2023, Andrew Meunier
- Forecasted rain led us to start this ride a few hours earlier than planned. We were glad we did, as the day dawned warm and humid (although the rain never materialized) and the sun was intense later in the morning. We enjoyed riding through some of the area's prettiest scenery and laboring up some fairly punchy hills. Since Sprinkles wasn't open when we finished, we rode to Stewart's instead for some post-ride frozen treats. With Susan Kohler, Joe Wagner, Bill Schwarz, Rashna Meunier, and Andrew Meunier.
Evening Ride Tue, Jul 11, 2023, Jen Ferriss
- This was the 3rd evening ride that I have hosted this year. Our pace has not been leisurely, nor an all out ride. We average between 12-13 mph. I make sure no one is left behind and wait at a few locations around the park without leaving as soon as the back of the pack catches up. These rides are a great way to be in a group without riding single file on a busy road. This trip around the park we had to worry about zooming bunnies. They were everywhere and could not make up their minds which way they wanted to exit the scene. Riders included Bill S., Sophia F., Beth P. and myself.
Bike Ride - Feeder Canal Trail and Empire State Trail Sat, Jul 15, 2023, Steve Mackey
- There has been a lot of rain around the past week, but our ride had nice weather. Since half our group had a commitment in the afternoon, we changed our route a little and rode through Fort Edward and came back on Ft. Edward Road and did a loop. We ended up going by about four Stewart's, so we stopped at the one in Fort Edward and all had ice cream. We also stopped at the Underwood Park in Fort Edward. It is kind of a hidden gem, on the Hudson River just off Broadway. I think we did about 20 miles. We ended up having lunch at home after we got back. Nice bike trails, and then reasonable traffic when we were on roads. Participants: Mo and Jim Coutant, Steve and Licia Mackey.
Boreas Ponds Camp and Paddle (Sat-Sun) Sat, Jul 15, 2023, Jeff Mans
- Official trip cancelled due to forecasted rain and thunderstorms over the weekend, but an impromptu unofficial paddle was undertaken on Saturday morning during an unexpected opening in the weather. While I had taken a bicycle in the event that the upper parking lot was full and required a drop off and drive back to the Fly Creek parking area, to our surprise there was plenty of parking available, no doubt as a result of the forecast that had probably resulted in others canceling outdoor weekend plans. After a short carry we put in near the dam and explored all three of the Boreas Ponds with each unfolding magnificent panoramic views of the high peaks, Boreas Mountain, Cheney Cobble and Rist Mountains reflecting mirror images off the lake. Many loons and chicks to entertain us throughout the day. One of the finest spots around, but the overnight will have to wait until another time - rain and thunderstorms returned again later in the day. Participants: Jeff Mans and Doug Fish.
Montcalm Point Hike and Swim Sun, Jul 16, 2023, Neal Van Dorsten
- FUN WITH DICK AND JANE AND STEVE AND LICIA AND MO AND JIM AND NEAL ... . So it was just the five of us. We were not going to cancel, we do not care about no stinking rain, or flooding of bridges being washed out, or trees across the trail! We got a guy with a portable saw and 16 batteries, we got granola bars and cherries and lots of beers. Well maybe no beers, but we got lots of stuff! We are not going to turn around, either, even if someone gets sick or snakebit. We have snake kits! We even saw a big snake, well, actually it was a small snake, and we could probably make someone better if we had to. We got phones that do not work and extra gear that we do not need. Nobody is going to stop us! I bet the other hikers would be impressed, if there there were other hikers. We even got a boat if we make it to the end. And, we don't care about no 100 per cent humidity, we like to sweat, especially when we cross those raging brooks; and we swim with our boots on, too. We don't care about no stinking water, and we like mud, we like to wade in it up to our knees if we can! And bugs, we don't even feel them bitin' us; the're just little buggers anyway! And poison mushrooms, we eat 'em for lunch! WE DONT CARE IF IT'S HOT OR RAINY, OR FLOODED OR BUGGY, OR STEEP OR FLAT OR STORMY OR HARD OR EASY OR LONG OR SHORT, WE GO ANYWAY! HELL, NO ONE REALLY CARES EXCEPT US, AND WE DON'T CARE!
Southern Adirondacks/LG Region Sat, Aug 12, 2023, Kim Brown
- Out hike was at The Saddles in Whitehall, NY, where we went to a couple of The Overlooks. Most of our group had not hiked this before. After the steep car ride up the road to the trailhead, we started our hike. Most donned bug nets and bug net shirts, which made for a more enjoyable outing since mosquitoes were out in full force. Because this trail is relatively new, it is not eroded and mostly has cushy pine needles underfoot, always an enjoyable experience. Tall evergreens kept us shaded most of the hike. We took the Blue trail to the Red trail and up and down for the 2.3 miles up to the second lookout where you can see South Bay and the backside of the eastern Lake George peaks. Then we ate a quick lunch and headed over to the North View Spur where we could see the Ticonderoga / Whitehall bridge. PS: The road in from Route 4 is excellent since it was built recently, but do not take a lower bottom vehicle like a Prius since you will have trouble getting over the water bars. We were back down to the cars around 12:45 after we completed the 4.6 mile round trip with 1,400 feet of elevation gain. A short hike, quick workout, and a fun summer morning. Participants included hike leader Kim Brown, J. Maher, S. Anderson, A. Cohen, G. Stauble, E. Mijuta, M. Golebiewski, D. Colomb.
Evening Ride Tue, Aug 22, 2023, Jen Ferriss
- This was the last evening ride of the season. I scheduled this ride hoping to use different muscles post marathon, but I was still too tired to keep up, let alone lead. I let the riders go ahead and I took up the rear. Somehow I managed to ride faster than I did all season - but as I progressed in speed, so did the others. Wow did our pace get faster. Thank you to everyone who went for a spin or 2 around the park this season. See you next year after we Spring ahead! Riders: Jen F, Beth P, Chris K.
Southern Adirondacks/LG Region Sat, Aug 26, 2023, Kim Brown
- I hadn't been to Hadley in so long i almost missed two turns driving to the trailhead - not a good thing for the hike leader! Started out at 9am and got lucky again and no rain, just cloudy for our hike. Trail was wet, but not too bad thanks to the trail water bar work done in May by Steve, Licia and Vicki. We kept a moderate pace up to the top, then enjoyed a quick lunch, while Anthony took some pics. Then we brought 2 folks in our group that were Hadley first timers over to see the caretakers cabin on the way down. Back to the cars by noon and we had the rest of the day to enjoy. Participants including hike leader (Kim Brown), Laura F, Marcia H, Anthony B, Linda F, Sue A, Cindy P, Scott A. Approx Mileage 3.8 w 1,458 eg.
Hike TBD Sat, Sep 9, 2023, Kim Brown
- Black Mountain Fire Tower Hike - approx 5.6 mi with 1,2450 eg. It had finally cooled down with very little humidity. Cloudy with rain expected only in early afternoon which held true. We did an in out from TH starting at 9am. Several folks were new to hiking group or had never hiked Black so it was a lot of fun introducing new people to the trail. Trail was the muddiest and wettest I had ever seen. Almost like a high peaks trail with a river of water running down the middle of the trail for most of the trip. Our group really enjoyed the day none the less and we were rewarded at the top with a small break in the clouds enough to see the narrows and some islands. Hike Leader Kim Brown with co-lead Chandra Geremick. Participants included: Sophia F, Jamie S, Marcia H, Jim M, Scott A, Linda F and Elaine Y. Really looking forward to another one! We were back at the cars by 1:20 with the rest of the day to enjoy. Hike TBD Sat, Sep 30, 2023, Kim Brown
- We did a short hike up Thomas Mountain in Bolton Landing from the Valley Woods Road trailhead for an in and out on the same trail, approximately 3 miles and 780 feet of elevation gain. The day was cloudy and on the cooler side - low 60's. We made it up to the summit, enjoyed our snacks, took pictures, then headed back to the cars. All in all, it was a nice day for those who wanted to spend a quick morning out on the trail. We had a couple of new people to the club and also first timers for Thomas Mountain. Hike leader Kim Brown and 10 participants: Kathy G, Beth P, Laura F, Sue A, Tony D, Anthony B, Dave C, Jim M, Chandra G, and last but not least our sweep Virginia Touhey and a well behaved 4 legged friend Jake.
Blue Ridge Mountain Bushwack in Hoffman Wilderness Sat, Oct 14, 2023, Jeff Mans and Anthony Szmul
- The weather was better than expected and we even managed to see some blue skies for a while. Blue Ridge Mountain in the Hoffman Wilderness is not easily accessible and requires a long bushwhack through some dense spruce and lots of blowdown as you leave Hoffman Notch Brook. There is some interest out there by people looking to complete the highest 100. Having scouted it out and climbed it before, I decided to keep in Hoffman Notch Brook and its many waterfalls and slides as much as possible on the way up, and we were not disappointed. It's one of the most spectacular waterfall routes out there and worth an outing in its own right, especially since the roundtrip is more like 18 miles instead of 12 - my bad - but I knew from prior experience that if you get back to the Hoffman Notch Trail and Big Marsh before nightfall and have headlamps that work well, you're in good shape. Long day of about 13 hours in total, but now there are 2 new members of the BRM Club. Participants: Jeff Mans (leader), Anthony Szmul (co-lead), and Tom "headlamp" Penders.
Workout Wedesday Wed, Oct 25, 2023, Chandra Geremick
- We had a great time hiking at Moreau Lake State Park in the trails that wind around the park. Unfortunately, the trails were not well maintained and we dealt with some ticks. It was still an unusually warm and very enjoyable trip with attendees as follows: Chandra G., Kaia A., Hassan C., Joe B., Kathy G., and Karen P.
Spooktacular Halloween Hike Sat, Oct 28, 2023, Chandra Geremick
- What a great hike! Ths was a very fun event that I hope to hold annually. We met at the Harris Land Preserve parking lot and enjoyed some time judging costumes and eating goodies before heading up the mountain. There were 6 categories for costumes and everyone won a prize! We had a pirate, Little Red Riding Hood, a princess, Batman, several hikers (LOL), a magic 8 ball, a trail runner, and a woodland nymph. It was a sweaty hike in costume, but we all made it to the top minus one, due to his dog not enjoying the nearby shooting range sounds. The colors were beautiful and the breeze at the top was welcome. Cider and donuts were the prize for making it up. Attendees were as follows: Chandra G., Joe B., Neal V., Paul G., Jarrod F., Prachi O., Christian P., Sarah R., Shannon G., Dave C., and Sarah L.
Peaked Hills Bushwhack in Hoffman Notch Wilderness Sat, Nov 4, 2023, Jeff Mans
- About the best navigation of all three Peaked Hills on a fine day with inspiring views on each Peaked Hill. The climb up towards east Peaked Hill opens with nice views of Pharoah Mountain, with the summit offering open views of Hoffman, south and west Peaked Hills, and northwest towards Macomb and the Dix Range. On to south Peaked Hill and the grassy knoll where we stopped for lunch and took in the lake views south towards Schroon and Paradox, and then over to the west Peaked Hill with its incredible views back towards east and south Peaked Hills. We took a northerly approach to west Peaked Hill and discovered what we were missing all those times before, and on our return hugged the elevation on the north side of east Peaked Hill which led us to some old logging roads and back to the brook leading us out of this bushwhack in record time. Great day and participants: Jeff Mans (leader), John Acacia, Karen Provencher and John Sasso.
Hike TBD Sat, Nov 4, 2023, Kim Brown
- Pilot Knob Lower Summit - A cloudy, but nice dry morning for a hike. We left the Buck Mountain/Pilot Knob trailhead and went up the trail, taking the first turnoff towards Inman. A short ways in, we left the Inman trail for the unmarked, sometimes blazed trail up toward Pilot Knob Lower Summit. Although a short hike, the trail is a good workout because of the degree of the slope/incline for much of the way. On the way we enjoyed stepping over, or for some of us, sitting over the large downed trees, as well as climbing up and over boulders/rocks. We passed the rock that looks like a dinosaur head, complete with teeth and eye. After that we were able to enjoy the multiple vistas of Lake George and surrounding mountains from the various ledges. After lunch at the lower summit we returned the way we came in for a 4.6 mile round trip with 1,670 feet of elevation gain. Thanks to all for a great day! Leader Kim Brown and six participants: Margie L, Meagan B, Debbie V, Alan C, Laura F, and Scott A.
Workout Wednesday Wed, Nov 8, 2023, Chandra Geremick
- We met at the Rush Pond parking lot for a quick but refreshing walk. It was a nice way to break up the week, discuss hiking plans, and get our workout in. We did an out and back to stay within daylight hours and reached the parking lot just in time as the sun went down. Atendees as follows: Chandra G., Joe B., Sarah L., and Kaia A.
Workout Wednesday Wed, Nov 15, 2023, Chandra Geremick
- This was rescheduled.
Workout Wednesday Wed, Nov 22, 2023, Chandra Geremick
- Halfway Brook Trail in Queensbury that was rescheduled: This was a refreshing but short cardio clip. We were careful to watch the sunset time as the trail requires hikers to be off before the sun goes down. All agreed it was nice to get outside. The Queensbury trail system is fantastic for weekday work outs. One hiker rode her bike to the trail, and one met us halfway through. I love the accessibility! We hiked 30 minutes out before turning around to get back in time. I'm definitely going to utilize these trails all year. Attendees as follows: Chandra G., Kaia A., Brooke W., Mark B., Sarah L.
Turkey Trot # 25, Saratoga Battlefield Thu, Nov 23, 2023, Rich Crammond
- For this hike we walked the two miles to the Neilson House for a water break, then headed back to the starting point via the Wilkinson Trail. We didn't see much other than a hawk, one deer, and a half-eaten poor little rabbit along the trailâ€"looked like bad coyote manners to me. I guess the highlight of this outing was hiking along with some real nice people like Wayne Richter and others. We really had a good day in the great outdoors. Didn't get no better for sure. Participants: Peter Bishop, Susan DeFair, Bill Schwarz, Kaia Alderson, Cynthia Tiogar, Kim Wood, Sharon Gavitt, Wayne Richter, Chandra Geremik, Laura Fiske, Rich Crammond.
Hike TBD Sat, Nov 25, 2023, Kim Brown
- Lake George Land Conservancy Bolton Area hike at the Godwin Preserve: Our group did a 4 mile round trip with about 1,000 feet of overall elevation gain. As we drove into the trailhead that had a bit of snow, I'm thinking, "Wow great reminder! I better start thinking about whether these trailheads are going to be plowed in time for a scheduled outing!" We all geared up, some with microspikes and some not. Snow was hit or miss but the spikes also helped on the slippery leaves. We made our way to the first small overlook looking west towards Amy's Preserve area. It was in the high 20s, brisk but with sun peaking in through the trees. Eventually it warmed up a tad to the low 30's. Luckily, we had no wind. After the view we headed toward Pole Pond where everyone enjoyed a quick snack. We then went on up to Walnut Ridge, which included a couple of steep sections leading to several overlooks, and then had lunch. After a quick lunch in the sun overlooking Northwest Bay and the Tongue Mountain Range, we headed back down the way we came. It was a great day and many thanks to my unofficial co-leads, Scott, Anthony, Laura and my sweep, the cookie lady Cathy. 14 attendees including me (Kim hike leader), Margie L, Scott A, Mark B, Cathy F, Don H, Anthony B, Jim and Anne W, Mia E, Trevor H, Sue A, Laura F, and Dave C.
Wilton Wildlife Park Sat, Dec 9, 2023, Rich Crammond
- What a good day for a hike in the park! It was nice to share this outing with three seasoned ADK hike leaders. This was a day to once again enjoy the tall pines and the fire tower that was part of my past in Luther Forest. We didn't see any deer - I think they headed north until after the 25th. We did enjoy mild temperatures and fresh air; good company, also. Good luck to Anthony with the Fire Tower challenge. Didn't get no better for an end of the year outing. Participants: Jack Whitney, Pat Desbiens, Anthony Szmul, Rich Crammond.
What's Up Saturday? Southern Adirondacks Sat, Dec 9, 2023, Kim Brown
- We hiked Buck Mt in Lake George from the Shelving Rock Trailhead - approx 5 miles w/ 1,400 elev gain. At least half the group had not done the hike from this side. Weather cooperated and was mild from high 30's to low 40s and cloudy. We had intros and a quick reminder of how to leave no trace when pooping in the woods in the winter. Off we went after putting on micro spikes. On the way Chandra and Rich noticed a black cat in the woods that was curled up under a tree. He/She seemed in good condition, a bit stressed, and very friendly. (no collar or identification). Cat was left at that point, but discussion ensued about what to do? Back to the hike ...we found the trail dry initially and and then hit small patches of ice and lots of mini stream crossing. A few hundred feet below summit we had 4-6 inches of snow, but trail had been broken out. Finally to the summit which was a bit windy with the only view being each other! Totally socked in with fog. Everyone still seemed to enjoy the outing. During the return hike a plan was hatched by Chandra and Rich. It seemed like the cat needed rescuing ....so that they did! After easily getting the cat in the car they brought the feline to an area home. The owner had spoken to a few people who had seen the cat and thought someone had dropped the cat off. Area shelters were called to let them know about the cat and the Saratoga Animal Shelter took the cat in. The cat has been named "Buckley"! 14 Participants included: Alan C, Debbie V, Linda F, Marcia H, Paula T, Laura F, Beth P, Jeff L, Ann and Jim W, Chandra G, Rich B, Anthony B and hike leader Kim Brown
Luzerne State Campground Walk Thu, Dec 28, 2023, Chandra Geremick
- This trip was canceled.