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Tom French

Tom French splits his time between the Adirondacks and the Thousand Islands from his home in Potsdam. More information about his writing can be found at Tom-French.net.

Latest Story by Tom French

group of AmeriCorps members at The Wild Center

Wild Center raises $72K in 10 days for AmeriCorps workers

By Tom French

Unexpected matching gift spurs campaign to 'reinstate' AmeriCorps members after funding was cut

Read more...

All Stories by Tom French

Titusville Triad: Three hiking opportunities in a northern forest

By Tom French

Titusville, south of Malone, offers a triad of hikes including The Ledges, High Falls of the Big Salmon River trail and Elephant Head.

green and yellow historic cabin with "Douglass" on it

Generations of ‘rustic simplicity’ at Corlear Bay Club

By Tom French

The history of a generational community nestled on the shores of Lake Champlain near Port Douglass and Keeseville

Adam Kessel, Jr. (left) with family by fireplace at the Kessel Park Inn. Photo Courtesy of Richard & Zoanne Schnell.

Keeseville’s Hollywood past

By Tom French

Film pioneer Adam Kessel Jr. built a Hollywood empire while retreating to his Adirondack estate, now a historic landmark

Despite over two feet of snow, the ski trail to the Hemlock Hill Lean-to along the Raquette River was well packed as long as you stayed in the track. Photo by Tom French.

Getting to know Coreys: A historic spot and recreation gateway

By Tom French

Explore Coreys: a hidden Adirondack gem with rich history, scenic trails, and winter adventures involving lean-tos.

The Hays Brook Trail Network is popular with skiers as evidenced by two lanes of well-packed track set at the trail register. The network offers three destinations including lean-tos at Grass Pond and the Sheep Meadow. Photo by Tom French.

Where to find perfect snow? Try the Debar Mountain Wild Forest

By Tom French

Sheep Meadow ski trail in Northern Adirondacks boasts good conditions, quiet solitude

a cross-country skier off wawbeek road in tupper lake

Old Wawbeek Road: Original gateway to Upper Saranac Lake

By Tom French

Ski on underused road is solid option for when there is thin snow cover.

The 1.38-mile Golf Course Trail skirts the nearly 100-year-old Tupper Lake Golf Club, though the trail is mostly in the woods. The closed Big Tupper Ski area can be seen in the distance. Photo by Tom French.

How a golf course transformed into groomed ski trails: The backstory behind Tupper Lake’s Frenette trail network 

By Tom French

Free cross-country skiing for all ages, on a wide double track

Sara Mazdzer uses a custom die grinder with special ice carving bit on a “Back to the Future” DeLorean time machine for the 2022 Saranac Lake Winter Carnival. Photo by Kate Mazder

Transforming ice into art: The work behind Saranac Lake’s ice palace

By Tom French

Carvers use both old and new methods to craft annual tradition

Cross-country skier on a snowy trail in the woods

Skiing through history on trails around Adirondack Fish Hatchery

By Tom French

Search for fresh snow leads to winter wonderland of untouched trails

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