Adirondack Almanack

Fall weather has finally hit here in the North Country, with the first frost on Thursday, [September] 21, but it was light enough that my wide leaf plants didn’t get hit. My bed of nasturtiums, which have very big leaves and hundreds of flowers, wasn’t touched. Not too many bees (or other bugs) doing any pollinating this time of the year to make seeds for next year. I did see my last hummingbird on Friday morning [September 22] which gave us a new record for Eight Acre Wood by seven days longer than ever before. We were down Rochester way [on] Saturday and Sunday, [September 23 and 24,] so that record » Continue Reading.

Find Alternate Trails to Enjoy and Prevent Safety Concerns and Construction Delays New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is urging community members, visitors, and recreationists to avoid the Adirondack Rail Trail, to ensure the protection of public safety and assist in timely completion of the project. There is ongoing construction to complete Phase 1 of the project spanning from Lake Placid Depot to Saranac Lake Depot. While some sections of the trail between Lake Placid and Saranac Lake may appear complete, crews are still working on the trail surface, parking areas, fencing, intersections, and more. The area is closed for use and should be avoided until the project is complete. To » Continue Reading.

Anglers Encouraged to Participate; Surveys Conducted through Dec. 31 The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced a pilot River Creel survey is being conducted on the Saranac and Boquet rivers to complement the Lake Champlain Angler Creel survey. The survey began Sept. 1 and is focused on the Atlantic salmon spawning runs in the Saranac and Boquet rivers. Survey results will provide DEC fisheries biologists with a better understanding of angler use, catch, and harvest and angler expectations on major tributaries to Lake Champlain used by Atlantic salmon. Information gathered will be used to develop a bi-annual River Creel survey that will monitor » Continue Reading.

Saranac Lake, NY – The Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation invites one and all to celebrate Common Loons, one of the Adirondacks most fascinating icons, at the Paul Smith’s College VIC (8023 NYS Rte. 30) from 1-4:30pm on Sunday, October 8th . This free, fun-filled, “loony” day will feature activities for the whole family, including:  9am-12pm: Guided Paddle with the experts ($$, space is limited – preregistration is required). 1-4:30pm: Visit with Adirondack Loon Center staff, enjoy delicious food by Chef Humble ($), great beer by Hex and Hop ($), bid in a silent auction featuring beautiful loon-related items, and look forward to children’s crafts, a scavenger hunt, and other activities! 1- 2pm: Live music by Blessid Dirt 2:00-3:15pm: Presentation by Dr. Mark Pokras, » Continue Reading.

By Kristin Kimball, Essex Farm I’ve had my nose in the farm account books all week, and I am ready to stretch my legs and get out there, see what fall has wrought. I hear the winter squash and pumpkins are in, and some of the carrots; potatoes are ready, and when we have time and a dry window to harvest them, we would love extra hands for that. I can see for myself through the window that the maple trees in the sugarbush are starting to turn, and I think » Continue Reading.

The gap between what people earn and the housing they can afford has been widening in the Adirondacks. Add to the problem a shortage of available housing and constraints on development and you’ve got a housing crisis. This summer, Adirondack Explorer launched a series that shows how Adirondack housing issues are connected to other community challenges. As part of the reporting, the articles also highlight efforts underway to offer potential solutions. Adirondack Explorer’s “Taking Stock of Housing” series is wrapping with an event, comprised of individuals and organizations doing housing work across the region. Connect with others who care deeply » Continue Reading.

The following are only the most recent notices pertaining to public lands in the Adirondacks. Please check the Adirondack Backcountry webpages for a full list of notices, including seasonal road statuses, rock climbing closures, specific trail conditions, and other pertinent information. DEC Launches Pilot Mobile Education Station Sept. 22 Fridays through Sundays from Sept. 22 – Oct. 15, a DEC environmental educator will be stationed at a converted shuttle bus at the corner of Route 73 and Airport Road at Marcy Field. Stop by and come on in! NEW THIS WEEK No New Updates LAST WEEK » Continue Reading.

Here’s a look at news from around the Adirondacks this week: Subscribe to the Adirondack Almanack daily news e-mail. Follow Us on Twitter and Facebook.

By Lee Ames All of my life I’ve been surrounded by boxes. It doesn’t matter what, but weaved throughout our world as a whole, there are boxes upon boxes of stereotypes. It could be something as simple as deciding what sport to be a part of, or what job you want to do in the future, how you dress or cut your hair. Some think if you’re a sports kid, then you can’t be a theater kid, it just doesn’t work that way. However, all of these things aren’t necessarily a spoken truth, it’s just an unspoken fact many of us go » Continue Reading.

The Open Space Institute (OSI) has announced the start of investigative and structural work on the historic MacNaughton Cottage, located at the OSI-owned and managed 212-acre Adirondac Upper Works property in the Adirondacks. MacNaughton Cottage is the site from which then-Vice President Theodore Roosevelt began his famous “midnight ride to the presidency” in 1901 after receiving news that President William McKinley had been shot in Buffalo. The first phase of improvements to MacNaughton Cottage will focus on interior demolition and clean-up to ensure stabilization of this important historic structure. All work is designed to » Continue Reading.