The Hanging Spear Falls loop is probably the best backcountry ski tour in the Adirondacks that no one knows about. It’s surprising that it’s not on more cross-country skiing lists, because it integrates some of the best of the southern High Peaks: lots of views of mountains, a ski across the dramatic Flowed Lands, and an exciting ski out along the Calamity Brook Trail.
An urban wildfire, a recovery and a rescue
Forest Ranger John Franceschina responded to two small wildfires caused by phragmites burning in Flushing Meadows Park. The wildfires totaled 1.1 acres and were suppressed by the New York City Fire Department. These were the first reported wildfires in the state, marking the beginning of the 2019 spring fire season.
Micro-grants help farms address social, environment issues
“Sustainable farms, local food and local businesses are essential to the park’s quality of life,” Adirondack Council Executive Director William Janeway said
Tickets for violations decline as rangers focus on rescuing, educating backcountry users
Even as thousands more hikers and campers poured into the Adirondack backcountry patrolled by forest rangers over the past decade, state data show ticket writing has dropped by the hundreds.
Should smartphones be an essential item for backcountry users?
Intern Amy Harff looks at whether smartphones should be an essential item for backcountry users, given how commonly they are used by people who recreate.
Paul Smith’s VIC plans new and improved trails to attract skiers
Paul Smith’s College plans a two-stage trail improvement project that would turn the center’s cross-country ski trails into a competition-class venue that college officials hope can attract would-be Olympians to enroll.
As ticks and disease spread north, monitoring is threatened
For the past five years, biologist Lee Ann Sporn and a team of Paul Smith’s College students and Adirondack Watershed Institute stewards have monitored the rapid spread of tick-borne diseases—especially those rarely found this far north or at these elevations—throughout the region.
Who is next in line?
Research revealed there are 45,633 businesses in the 14-county Adirondack North Country region, which spills out of the park on its northern and western flanks. Taking into account demographic trends, at least 10,000 of those business owners could be getting ready to retire in the next few years.
Housing crunch limits Adirondack economy
The good news is that overall unemployment is low, meaning that a lot of park residents have jobs. The bad news is that economic growth is almost impossible without additional workers to perform the work.
Forest rangers rescue solo hiker who lost trail on Marcy
Forest rangers rescued a woman who was hiking alone and lost the marked trail during a snow squall that delivered white-out conditions. Essex County 911 identified the subject’s cell phone coordinates and instructed her on how to get back on the trail. Due to weather conditions, forest ranger Kevin Burns hiked to the woman’s location to assist her off the mountain.
