About Gwendolyn Craig

Gwen is an award-winning journalist covering environmental policy for the Explorer since January 2020. She also takes photos and videos for the Explorer's magazine and website. She is a current member of the Legislative Correspondents Association of New York. Gwen has worked at various news outlets since 2015. Prior to moving to upstate New York, she worked for a D.C. Metro-area public relations firm, producing digital content for clients including the World Health Organization, the Low Income Investment Fund and Rights and Resources Initiative. She has a master's degree in journalism from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. She has bachelor's degrees in English and journalism, with a concentration in ecology and evolutionary biology, from the University of Connecticut. Gwen is also a part-time figure skating coach. Contact her at (518) 524-2902 or gwen@adirondackexplorer.org. Sign up for Gwen’s newsletter here.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Aleksandr says

    perhaps economically this is correct, but not for the soul. without the past there will be no present. It is necessary to preserve and destroy

  2. Stu says

    So you published an article on the same day that all public comments should be submitted via snail mail. Sounds about right.

    I’m tired of seeing and hearing the same song and dance. Removing heritage and destroying ecology for the sole purpose of bringing little amounts of revenue all under the guise of “improving” the area.

    The timber companies are crooks but for some reason their word is what we are supposed to listen to.

  3. Bluto says

    Why not do both, keep the camp, find a way to adapt it for public use…perhaps renting it for events…nice place for a wedding and create a day use area.

  4. JerseyGrrrl says

    Where on earth will the state, SIX BILLION DOLLARS IN DEBT PRE-COVID, find the money for this extraneous project? For Pete’s sake, DON’T JERSEY THE ADK’S! (and I’m born and raised there)

  5. Lynne says

    Why can you relocate it? Or offer to sell it with must move in the sale or give it away to for free if it can be removed asap?

  6. Lisa West says

    “Primitive tent” sites? A tent in the Adirondacks?! How ridiculous!! Let’s get those foolish tents out of our State Park! I guess they would prefer a glass and steel A-frame…LEAVE OUR BEAUTIFUL, PERFECT PRIMITIVE TENT SITES ALONE!! Thank you.

  7. Bill N says

    This is one of the most beautiful and peaceful spots in the Adirondacks. I hate to see it turned into an amusement park. The Lodge is gorgeous and it should stay. The lumber companies have been cutting the nearby Loon Lake area and they have destroyed thousands of acres. These preteen areas now look like a nuclear bomb was dropped. We don’t need more of this in the Debar area.

  8. Karen McGee says

    I am a owner of 2 places on Mt.View Lake. I go often to Debar to swim and wander around. The lodge is not fit to be restored, nor is the care takers cottage and “out” buildings.
    They need to be removed, the gate needs to come closer to the pond so I can carry my kayak to the lake without going up a hill and then down.
    I do not want ATV’s buzzing in right up to the lake but we can figure this out! I am for only day use.
    These improvements will NOT destroy the surrounding community but only add to people to be able to enjoy such a “joyful, natural beautiful place”.
    We have a park ranger who lives just down the main road. If, designed right, it can happen.

  9. Jill Barnes says

    Day use at Debar Pond is a Terrible idea. I guess I don’t understand what the APA is for. The agency won’t allow a functional cell tower in Duane but then you propose opening up a lesser known (it was) wilderness site to hundreds of visitors, many who don’t even appreciate actual wilderness. The landscape and glacial pond will be spoiled, the flora and fauna will be adversely affected… that’s just common sense. When People move in, forests and pristine water features lose, period! Why does the APA/ DEC need to make Everything Easy for Everybody? Could you just leave it alone for some outdoor enthusiast to luckily happen upon?
    What happened to the lodge being placed on the National Historical Registry? Can you just tear it down? I would like to know the companies that performed the resource reviews, please.
    Finally, let me offer you a reference, located outside Fulton, NY. Ten years ago there were four hundred acres with some deer trails along the Oswego River. Few people knew about it and enjoyed it. After a few do-gooders thought they knew best, that four hundred acres is inundated with tourists and the woods are ruined. Thanks for asking for my opinion.

  10. Marty says

    Leave Debar Pond alone. It works just fine as a “day use” area as it is no need for expanded facilities. The buildings for the time being should be left as is albeit stabilized and info signs erected similar to what is at Moss Lake telling the story and history of the camp. At 73 years of age I can carry my canoe to the lake with no problem the gate does not have to be moved closer and doing so would ruin the tranquility and serenity of the lake. If people choose to buy heavy plastic kayaks that’s their problem but the road is very suitable for wheeling your boat if you so choose. Enough ADK history has been destroyed leave this site alone. If the state really wants to spend money let it spend it on the Whitney estate.

  11. issaquah semiahmoo says

    The building can be preserved and if a day use area is designed and managed well it will be a unique area in the state .

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