The only independent, nonprofit news organization solely dedicated to reporting on the Adirondack Park.
Mike Lynch has been the Explorer's climate reporter since January 2025 and has worked for the publication since 2014. In addition to writing about climate change, he covers issues related to wildlife. Mike has also worked as a licensed outdoor guide and thru-paddled the 740-mile Northern Forest Canoe Trail. He is the author of 12 Short Hikes on Preserves near Lake George. He can be reached at [email protected].
By Mike Lynch
The Hotel Saranac in Saranac Lake re-opened in January after being closed for renovations for the past several years. Built in 1927, Hotel Saranac had fallen into disrepair under the previous owners, the Arora family, and out of favor of both locals and visitors. The family bought the hotel from Paul Smith’s College in 2007.…
By Mike Lynch
Thirty-four forest rangers and a dozen volunteers saved a hiker’s life after he injured his leg on an icy cliff on the remote Saddleback Mountain in the High Peaks Wilderness in early February.
By Mike Lynch
Construction of the ice palace for the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival started on Wednesday, as volunteer crews took advantage of the chilly weather. Above are photos from Friday, January 26.
By Mike Lynch
Explorer Editor Phil Brown skis to the summit of Dewey Mountain during his lunch break.
By Mike Lynch
Heavy rains and melting snow in the mountains caused ice to break up on the east, west, and main branches of the Ausable River today. Moving downstream, the ice became jammed in sections of the Ausable rivers near Lake Placid, Jay, and Ausable Forks. The jams resulted in flooding that closed several roads. Drastically changing…
By Mike Lynch
Snowy peaks in the Lake Placid region were on full display Sunday, January 7, a day when temperatures final went above zero degrees Fahrenheit after a frigid weekend. (Click on the above photos to see the full images.) See more mountain photos Snow covered St. Regis Mountain Fire Tower
By Mike Lynch
People living in the Adirondacks woke up to frigid temperatures Friday morning. In Saranac Lake, the temperature hovered around -10 degrees Fahrenheit and gusty winds. The National Weather Service in Burlington reported wind chills at about -30 in the northern Adirondacks and have issued a wind chill advisory until Saturday night. “The dangerously cold wind…
By Mike Lynch
Last summer the state Department of Transportation and The Nature Conservancy partnered to create New York state’s first-ever critter shelf for wildlife. Installed inside a large culvert under State Route 12, south of Boonville, in the Black River Valley, the suspended walkway provides a two-foot wide platform for wildlife to scurry through the culvert instead…
By Mike Lynch
I visited the Lake Clear Lodge & Retreat on Friday, December 15, for to get photos for an article about the wellness tourism economy that is to appear in the January issue. Temperatures had recently dipped in the single digits, causing Lake Clear to freeze over. A fresh snowfall also covered the ground in this quiet…
By Mike Lynch
Environmentalists, scientists, and public officials in the Lake George region are stepping up efforts to reduce road-salt contamination in the lake’s watershed. Eric Siy, executive director of the Fund for Lake George, said at a conference in October that thirty years of research has shown that the lake is getting more salty. “It’s an issue…