By Phil Brown I was disappointed that Saranac Lake saw little snow from the pre-Christmas nor’easter that tore up the East Coast and dumped 3 feet in places. We still didn’t have … [Read more...] about When ice is deeper than snow, it’s Nordic skating time
A different approach to Hurricane
Finding solitude on a snowy trek By Phil Brown I don’t need to heap up superlatives for the views from Hurricane Mountain. Breathtaking, spectacular, magnificent, etc. You’ve heard them all before. And you’ve seen the photos. Hell, you’ve … [Read more...] about A different approach to Hurricane
Erasing discriminatory climbing route names
Rock-climbing community faces reckoning on offensive labels By Phil Brown Open any rock-climbing guidebook, peruse the route names, and you’ll find loads of bad puns (and some good ones), raunch, wacky humor and references to sex, drugs and … [Read more...] about Erasing discriminatory climbing route names
Biking Loon Lake Loop
A July bike outing uncovers a new favorite route By Phil Brown Fourth of July, hordes of tourists, a pandemic—I would have to put on my thinking cap if Carol and I were to escape the crowds and mitigate the risk of contracting the … [Read more...] about Biking Loon Lake Loop
A motor tour of the Sable Highlands
By Phil Brown In earlier articles for the Explorer, I wrote about exploring the Sable Highlands by bike, on foot and in a canoe. It’s also possible to enjoy these little-visited easement lands in the comfort of your car. Two good logging … [Read more...] about A motor tour of the Sable Highlands
Figure 8: A Sable Highlands destination in need of long-planned road improvements
By Phil Brown One of the biggest easement tracts in the Sable Highlands open for recreation is the Figure 8 Public Use Area, situated in the hills west of Lower Chateaugay Lake. Earlier this year, I biked through this tract on a good logging … [Read more...] about Figure 8: A Sable Highlands destination in need of long-planned road improvements