Embark — Winter 2022

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Contents

10 Opening day at Whiteface

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The Ultimate Ski Destination..........................2 The right purchase for better purchase.............4 Embark at Nori’s..........................................5 St. Regis Sunrise..........................................6 Adirondack Ice Fishing Tips and Tricks...............8 Above the Clouds..........................................9 Whiteface rains skiers on opening day..............10 CAT Opens Spirit Sanctuary Trail..................11 Perspective on St. Regis................................12 Do yo u ha ve a n a m a zin g p ho to o fa n o u td o o r a d ven tu re in the Ad iro n d a cks?

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and The Lake Placid News ADE Managing Editor: Elizabeth Izzo LPN Editor: Andy Flynn Designer: Parker O’Brien Email: news@adirondackdailyenterprise.com Produced by Adirondack Publishing, P.O. Box 318, 54 Broadway, Saranac Lake, NY 12983 Cover Photo: Adventure snowshoeing in Keene Valley Photo by Justin A. Levine Although Embark is free, some of you may want to get a subscription if you live outside the circulation area or just want to guarantee yourself a copy. To have a subcription mailed to your home or business, call 518-891-2600

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Open Tuesday-Saturday 3478 State Route 3 • Saranac, NY 12981 518-293-1600 Winter 2022

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Paul Smith’s VIC

(Provided photos —Paul Smith’s College)

The Ultimate Ski Destination

The Paul Smith’s College Visitor Interpretive Center Winter trails

The Paul Smith’s College Visitor Interpretive Center, known locally as just the PSC VIC or V-I-C, is the perfect winter destination to mix outdoor recreation with environmental education.

It’s a natural fit that Paul Smith’s, the college of the Adirondacks, would run a Visitor Interpretive Center in the Adirondacks.

College programs focus on hospitality, recreation management, sustainable forestry and ecological research. The VIC functions as a showcase for the college, providing visitors with unrivaled recreational opportunities, food service, concerts, and an outdoor living classroom for students.

If you haven’t been to the VIC in a couple of years you will be surprised and very pleased with the changes. The winter trail system has expanded and there is now a cozy ski lodge feel indoors. Paul Smiths has always been known as a ski school, with numerous National Champions and All Americans.

Jenkins Mountain, which sits at the north end of the VIC, was a public alpine ski center in the 1950s. The engine that powered the rope tow is still there and interpretive signage is being prepared to tell the story of that bygone era. Today the VIC is a first-class Nordic center with 2

groomed classic and skate tracks.

The newer trails were designed

by John Morton and are designed to meet the needs for ski races.

We now host numerous races, including during the Empire State Games. These trails have adequate elevational changes and width to meet international competition standards where nine meters are needed so three

skiers can skate side by side.

A state-of-the-art groomer goes over the terrain almost every day keeping the trail system in the best condition possible with 20 km available for skate or classic skiing and an additional 40 km set with a classic track.

The snow is what really makes the PSC VIC an exceptional ski destination. The PSC VIC has

the first snow, the last snow, and, for most of the winter, the best snow in the Adirondacks.

Geographically, the PSC VIC is situated to the northwest of the High Peaks region. It sits on the windward side of the mountains so an approaching weather front quickly drops in temperature, Continued on page 3

Winter snow shoe trails

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Winter 2022

Continued from page 2

depositing snow in the winter.

Some skiing is often possible in November but good conditions arrive by early December.

The VIC is a great family ski destination as well because of the modest grades, beginner friendly trails and affordable prices. The prices are low, about half that charged at Mt. Van Hoevenberg.

Day passes are $7.50 for children and $15 for adults. Winter season passes are just $125 for adults or $250 for a Family Pass.

Gear rental is available. A ski setup is $15/day and snowshoes are just $10. We also frequently hold free ski lessons. To get you all set for a winter of skiing, we have scheduled free ski lessons on Sundays from December 12th to January 10th. Group sizes are kept small for quality instruction.

You will want to register early for these popular clinics before they fill.

For those looking for a more primitive experience, primarily for snowshoeing, we don’t groom our renowned “Boreal Life Trail.” This trail heads north from the facility and into a peatland complex that is part of the Barnum Pond outlet. This ecosystem is home to many species more commonly found in Canada. Here they are at the southern extent of their range. It is a particularly good spot to find the friendly Canada jay, which actually nests during the winter.

Most Saturdays this winter those who are interested in finding a Canada jay and other birds that winter here can participate in our free Winter Birding program which starts at 9 a.m.

Once you have finished your outdoor excursion on the VIC trails come back inside and warm up. We have a limited food menu, live music on Saturdays from 2

The summit of Jenkins Mountain

to 4 p.m., a gift store, exhibits and an art gallery. Children love our classroom, interacting with our stewards, watching movies in our theater, using our playground and meeting our educational animals when available. We don’t charge an entrance fee for the building; all those services are free. The winter season trail pass is required for trail use only and allows us to fund the grooming.

We also have winter camping opportunities and you don’t have to fight for a spot. At the PSC VIC, we have three waterfront lean-tos that can be reserved for

Connecting outdoor recreation, experiential education, and the arts ... naturally.

Winter 2022

overnight trips. A lean-to provides a dry platform in the winter. We allow campfires and tents to be utilized inside the lean-to, something that is not allowed on the Forest Preserve. If you have never tried winter camping but want to learn and practice those skills, we will be hosting a winter camping program. Participants will learn from retired forest rangers about the principles and techniques needed for a warm, fun and safe experience.

Want to give ice climbing a try? Renowned local guide Kevin MacKenzie will be instructing

clinics for beginners. This is another very popular program with limited slots available so we recommend early registration.

To learn more about the PSC VIC, follow us on social media, sign up for our weekly e-newsletter and visit our website to see program schedules and register online. Our trails are open from dawn to dusk 7 days a week. This winter, the building will be open Thursday through Sunday. Trail Passes and rentals can still be obtained when the main building is closed via our self-service terminal found in the foyer.

518.327.6241 paulsmiths.edu/vic @thepscvic

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@pscvic

@pscvic 3

Buyer’s Guide

The right purchase for better purchase

(Enterprise File photos —Justin A. Levine)

Nanospikes

Yaktrax Run

Hillsound Trail Crampons Black Diamond Contact

Microspikes

Stabil Walk

By JUSTIN A. LEVINE Former Staff Writer

(Editor’s note: This story was first published in the February/March 2017 issue of Embark.)

Whether you want to walk on a slippery sidewalk, tread out to your ice shanty, go for a run in February or climb a High Peak, there are no shortage of options when it comes to gaining traction on slick surfaces.

There are a few brand names that most of you are probably aware of—like Yaktrax and Microspikes—but the diversity of traction devices for your feet has widened considerably in the past decade or so.

Although there is a wide range of devices, it pays to choose ones that will suit your needs. If you’re just going to the mailbox or walking in parking lots, you probably don’t need 12-point crampons, and if you’re climbing Mount Marcy, basic Yaktrax aren’t going to cut it.

So, where to start?

You will likely be best served by visiting a store like EMS in Lake Placid or The Mountaineer in Keene Valley, both of which stock a selection of traction devices for almost any use, from running to ice climbing. There are local gear stores around the Adirondacks that will likely have a selection to choose from since, you know, it’s a long winter in these parts.

One of the most basic and earliest mass-marketed devices was Yaktrax, with a rubber booty that slips over the outside of 4

pretty much any shoe and has metal coiled along the sole to help you gain purchase on the ice.

Yaktrax are great for not-so-demanding excursions, but are unsuitable for extended hikes of more than a mile or two.

Kahtoola, the company behind the famous microspikes, has become synonymous with traction among hikers. Microspikes, whether EMBARK ~ Get Up, Get Out

they’re brand name or not, are practically required equipment for spring, fall and winter hiking.

Much like the Yaktrax, microspikes have a rubber part that slips over your boots. The difference is that microspikes are like a crampon-lite, with small chains holding a series of Continued on page 5 Winter 2022

Continued from page 4

Embark at Nori’s

metal spikes in place.

Microspikes offer fantastic traction in a wide variety of circumstances, and because the spikes are small, they are comfortable to walk in for extended periods of time.

In between microspikes and Yaktrax is another Kahtoola product called Nanospikes.

Again, the Nanospikes are probably not suitable for long hikes, but the small carbide tips protruding from the sole offer exceptional traction on very icy surfaces - like walking out to the ice shanty or taking a stroll around Mirror Lake.

Yaktrax has also come out with a product specifically for running, called the Yaktrax Run. The Run offers carbide tips under the ball of the foot and the metal coils under the heel. While obviously designed for runners, this could be an all-around good traction device for areas in the forecountry, but are unlikely to be of much use on any sort of serious slope.

Stepping up from the Microspikes are actual crampons.

Although crampons are commonly known to be used for ice climbing, many people like to carry the heavier duty crampons on hikes in the High Peaks, on particularly steep trails and when the ice is expected to be thick and hard.

There are plenty of options for ice climbing crampons out there, but they probably shouldn’t be used for simple hikes. Many also require specialized boots to be attached to.

Luckily for us nonclimbers, several companies have developed trail crampons. While not intended for actual ice climbing, the 10- or 12-point crampons can literally be a lifesaver if conditions get bad enough.

Trail crampons have much larger spikes than the microspikes, often

Are you ready to Embark on an adventure? Or have you just returned from one?

Welcome to Nori’s! We are a natural food store and cafe, and we have a little bit of something for everyone.

From being a full-service grocery store to having a cafe serving a wide array of beverages and quick grab and go meals we basically have you covered when it comes to food. Nori’s is located along the Riverwalk in Downtown Saranac Lake on Church Street, and we also offer a comfortable dining room and several restrooms.

When we say Recharge You Adventure, we mean that we have the stuff that provides energy and quality nutritious provisions for whatever it is you are doing.

Nori’s has an extensive bulk foods section where you can buy items such as nuts, seeds, snacks, dried fruit, granola, grains, rice, spices, and a wide array of other foods. On the grocery side we carry a full selection of fresh organic produce, artisan cheese, meat, gluten free foods and so much more from near and far. From the cafe beverage menu, you can order a whole variety of espresso drinks, chai, hot cocoa, and fruit smoothies. Our grab and go foods include pastries, sandwiches, breakfast burritos, salads, soups, dinner specials and more.

Lots to check out, lots to explore at Nori’s. We hope you get out there and Embark on the adventure our region has to offer. Have Fun!

Winter 2022

three-quarters of an inch to an inch long. The longer, thicker spikes offer better purchase on steep or hard ice, and most models have toe spikes that allow you to dig in while going up steep sections.

In addition to the added traction, trail crampons can be used with virtually any boot. While ice climbing crampons require specialized boots, products like the Black Diamond Contact have a strap system that will accommodate anything from a sneaker to a

steel-toed work boot.

If you shop for traction online, it can easily become overwhelming with the number of options available, so your first stop should be to a store that has knowledgeable folks who can point you in the right direction.

Once you’ve figured out where and how vigorously you’ll be using your traction the most, you can narrow it down to a couple of products that will suit your needs, and hopefully your budget.

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St. Regis Sunrise

By Justin Levine, Adirondack Council Communications and Outreach Assistant

The alarm went off at 2:30 a.m., and I rather angrily sat up in bed knowing, that if I hit snooze, I wouldn’t actually get up again. Stumbling downstairs in the dark, trying not to wake up the rest of the family, I started the coffee pot and looked at the thermometer. It read a disheartening 39 degrees.

I’ve climbed St. Regis Mountain well over 100 times in the last 20 years, and it’s by far my favorite hike. But this was the first time I planned on hiking up in the dark (I’ve hiked down in the dark quite a few times), and with sunrise just a few

6

hours away, I didn’t have time to dawdle. Or so I thought.

I pounded coffee like it was the Nectar of the Gods on the short drive to the trailhead and thanked the past me for being smart enough to pack everything I needed – including a headlamp and extra batteries, extra clothes, food, and water, and microspikes for traction just in case - and put it in the car the night before. I threw on my pack, fired up the headlamp, and double-checked to make sure I had a thermos of coffee for the summit before starting out.

Even with vast experience on this one particular mountain, hiking in the dark can be a little unnerving. Was that a stick that fell behind me or a blood-thirsty black bear trying to fatten up before winter? Was that reflection up ahead the eye of an animal stalking me or just a trail marker? Despite the mild heebie-jeebies, I made my way up the trail in the dark, honestly worrying more about slipping on some wet leaves than any maniacal killer.

After making it to the top in good condition, I set my pack down and gulped some more coffee. It was cold and windy but pretty much clear as a bell with just some wispy clouds moving across the sky as an almost full moon shone brightly.

I figured I would have a little time at the top in the dark before the sun came up, but I ended up having more than an hour. I climbed the tower and walked around a little, and then set up my camera to take some night shots, all while still enjoying that coffee and thankful that I had gloves, a winter hat, and an extra fleece shirt to put on.

At about 6:15, the sky in the east started to get a little lighter, and I didn’t need my headlamp to move around. I went up in the fire

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Winter 2022

clouds.

As the sun’s rays grew brighter and the air warmed up, the women said goodbye and began their descent, while I stayed at the top to watch the sun go up more and more. After about three wonderful hours on the summit, I packed up and made my way back down the mountain, satisfied with some great pictures and a new experience in an old favorite place.

The Adirondack Council is a proud Community Partner of the Leave No Trace Center for tower again and after a few minutes heard a Outdoor Ethics. Please recreate responsibly, and couple of voices. Two women emerged from help us protect the Adirondack Park for future the trees and celebrated reaching the top before generations. sunrise. I said “Hi,” and we all eagerly awaited the cresting of the sun over Whiteface and Esther mountains - me moving around to keep warm and take pictures, they snuggled cozily under a blanket.

The sunrise was incredible, as expected. The leaves weren’t quite at peak fall foliage yet, but they were red, yellow, and orange. There was a layer of clouds filling all the valleys around St. Regis while the sky above had few, if any,

IT’S NO SMALL FEAT, to preserve the Park for small feet.

Together we can preserve access to wilderness for current and future generations to explore.

103 Hand Ave., Elizabethtown, NY 12932 342 Hamilton St., Albany, NY 12210 518.873.2240 | 518.432.1770

LEARN MORE AT ADIRONDACKCOUNCIL.ORG Winter 2022

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Ice Fishing Tips

Adirondack Ice Fishing Tips and Tricks

By EVAN BOTTCHER Owner of ADK Ice Fishing and Hungry Trout Fly Shop

The Adirondacks are some of the most scenic and fertile fishing grounds on the east coast. It is no surprise that it is a favorite pastime for many locals as well as a popular destination for ice anglers from all over the northeast. Check out these tips and tricks from the guides at The Hungry Trout Fly Shop and Adirondack Ice Fishing to ensure a safe and successful outing on the Ice!

1. Safety First

(Provided photos —Evan Bottcher)

Before you enjoy any winter outdoor activity, you should be familiar with the inherent risks of the sport and have educated decisions steering your every move. When ice fishing we are always prepared for an emergency and have safety plans in place. Making sure that a change of warm clothes, warming blanket, first aid kit, extra gloves, throw rope, cell phone or even better — ­ an ‘in reach’ GPS device, are always available. Try to implement a buddy system so you are not on the ice alone and always let people know where you are going and when you will return.

2. Early season Ice - Know before you go.

Before you travel onto the ice it is imperative to know that the ice is safe for travel.

We do not travel on ice unless there is a minimum of four inches. Use an Auger or a spud bar as you work your way on to the lake to measure for varying thickness. Remember this: Black or blue/clear ice is strong and opaque or cloudy ice is weak. Opaque ice or non-transparent ice means there are air bubbles and impurities in the ice causing a weaker bond therefore, less support. When in doubt call your local fishing shop or hire a guide.

3. Study Up

There are thousands of lakes and ponds in the Adirondacks which can make choosing which one to fish a challenge! To help

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narrow that down, pay close attention to the NYS state regulations and familiarize yourself with the area you are hoping to fish. Many bodies of water are closed to ice fishing, and others have special regulations regarding the use of tip-ups and the number of lines an angler can use. Use this information to help guide you toward the right body of water where you can focus on your target species with the tactics you prefer.

4. When, Where, How

Whether you are fishing ice, open water, or fly fishing your success rate is driven by a few simple questions. When during the day are the fish biting? The rule of thumb is that

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the first few hours of daylight and the few hours before and after sunset are the best feeding times. Where are the fish feeding?

Fish-like structure. Use a topographic map or software like Navionics to get familiar with the contours below the ice. How am I going to use to catch them? This is the million-dollar question. Having the right tackle, knowing the feeding routine of the fish you are targeting, and implementing the right tactics is crucial to the equation. Also knowing if you can use tip-ups, live bait and how many lines are legal per angler will help you maximize your chances. Obviously, there is so much more to be discussed and the best way to get up to speed is to Hire a local fishing guide!

Winter 2022

(Provided photo — Jonathan Zaharek)

Above the Clouds

“Above the Clouds,” taken by Jonathan Zaharek, a local landscape photographer and guide in the Adirondacks

By JONATHAN ZAHAREK Special to Embark

Despite the Adirondack High Peaks only having a max elevation 5000 feet, from time to time they still produce some of the most immaculate weather that you can find in this country. You would think with them being “short,” that they would have a hard time being above the clouds when in fact these mountains rise up above the earth higher than half of the Colorado 14er’s. Because of this, we find these mountains producing extraordinary weather systems.

In December 2020, we had a historic record of “inversions.” An inversion is when cold air, little to no wind, and high barometric pressure allow the clouds to settle well below the summits of these mountains. Out of ten

THIN ICE CAN BE FATAL

days in a row, eight had this incredible weather phenomenon. Myself and many others were able to go up above the clouds on any given morning or evening to witness the spectacular show! Many people found themselves at Whiteface skiing under the sunlight at the summit chair.

I took advantage of one of my days off to venture up to the summit of Whiteface to watch the spectacular sunset above the clouds. Instead of trying to learn all the fancy weather data, Whiteface has a WebCam on its summit which is a great tool to know if the peaks are above the clouds or not. I think this should be a bucket list goal for any avid Adirondack hiker to witness.

You can find more of my work at www.jonathanzphotography.com 2022 calendars are also available with this image as well!

Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation Art Gifts Books T-shirts Exhibits & More!

We are committed to public safety and providing a safe recreational experience. Use extreme caution around rivers, lakes, and streams when snowmobiling, ice fishing or hiking.

75 Street,Saranac SaranacLake, Lake,NY NY 15Main Broadway, info@adkloon.org 518-354-8636

Visit us online at www.adkloon.org!

Winter 2022

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9

Opening Day

Whiteface rains skiers on opening day

By LAUREN YATES Staff Writer

A snowboarder takes a break at Whiteface Mountain

taught their two kids to ski before they were 2 years old. Now, their 14-year-old skis for the New York State Educational Ski Foundation. Matthew and Christina said that they were surprised by the turnout for opening day, considering the wet conditions, but noted that the rain hadn’t scared them away from skiing, either.

“We’re fanatical about it, I guess,” Matthew said.

At the slopes, a long line formed fast at the Cloudsplitter gondola. The returning chair

lifts were encrusted with ice and snow. Plattsburgh skier Pat McGinn rested at the bottom of the mountain after his first run of the season. He said he’s been skiing for around 45 years, and he usually tries to come out on opening day. Despite the rain on Friday, he said most of his run down Whiteface was nice and snowy. The rain kicked in just above the Face Lift gondola, he said, where the surface got a bit more icy. On days like these, he said the snowmaking machines make all the difference.

Whiteface Mountain

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Winter 2022

(Enterprise photos —Lauren Yates)

WILMINGTON — Wet conditions didn’t deter skiers and snowboarders from making their way to the Whiteface Mountain Ski Center in Wilmington on Nov. 26 for the ski season opening.

Opening time at the ski center was 10 a.m., and hundreds of cars were already packed into the front lot and parked on either side of the entrance road. Rain was coming down, but walking across the center’s bridge over the AuSable River, skiers and snowboarders could look up to the mountain and see the slopes covered in snow.

Saranac Laker and veteran boarder Billy Martin said he usually comes to opening day, but his friend Corey McGill said it’s been about a decade since he’s hit the slopes. They said they came to opening day to get out of the house, and to “get wet,” Martin joked, referencing the rain. They were looking to log a few runs down the mountain and grab a few beers.

Ballston Spa couple Venessa Brabant and Russell Brown said they’ve come to opening day at Whiteface for about a decade, but they missed the last couple of years. They went to SUNY Plattsburgh together when they were younger and like to return to the area for skiing, but they said that the generally higher levels of tourism in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic have deterred them from summer activities in the park.

On opening day, they were ready to find their ski legs with some early-season mountain runs. They planned to go for a few laps and spend some quality time with family at the center.

Bostonian couple Matthew and Christina Durant said they usually try to make opening day, and they made plans to go to Whiteface every day this weekend. Matthew said he’s been skiing for 48 years, and he and Christina

Champlain Area Trails Opens Spirit Sanctuary Trail

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CHARTER FISHING (Provided photo —Champlain Area Trails)

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FLY FISHING

Hikers at the Spirit Sactuary Trail

WESTPORT — Champlain Area Trails (CATS) hosted a trail opening hike on the new Spirit Sanctuary Trail in Essex, on November 27th.

The Spirit Sanctuary Trail is a one-mile there-and-back trail that begins on Cook Road, about 1.3 miles west of NYS Route 22 in Whallonsburg. It goes through the new “green” cemetery, then along a forested little ridge overlooking a wetland and connects to the popular CATS Black Kettle Trail. Hikers can continue on this 1-mile loop trail with beautiful views, cliffs, big trees, and a scenic brook and then return through the Sanctuary.

“Volunteers and staff have been working on this trail for a while and it’s really exciting to see it come together,” CATS Executive Director Chris Maron said. “It’s a really unique trail, which we created at the request of Spirit Sanctuary Burial Grounds. As people begin the hike, they can see an alternative system of natural burials. And then the trail goes through a really nice forest people will enjoy.”

Spirit Sanctuary is a 3-acre private burial ground on property owned by the Eddy Foundation, a conservation organization that preserves open space for the welfare of people, plants, and animals. The Sanctuary’s descriptive materials state that the cemetery allows “the Winter 2022

deceased to naturally become a part of the earth and nourish a forever-regenerating forest. It is, and forever will be, a place of protected habitat for native plants, birds, and other animals. Visitors to Spirit Sanctuary will experience life in its many forms and be comforted by the great circle of existence.”

To be buried there, a family or individual reserves a burial site ahead of time, and by willing a portion of their estate to a pre-approved conservation group, the burial charges are considerably less than conventional burial costs with the modest fee covering administrative and management costs, including burial itself.

“The great thing about this trail is that it can provide a very healing experience,” CATS Stewardship Coordinator Bill Amadon said.

“Hikers are able to walk this trail and really witness the circle of life.”

Champlain Area Trails is a nonprofit, accredited land trust whose mission is to save land, make trails, connect people with nature and promote economic vitality in New York’s Champlain Valley. Information on future CATS events and activities is available at champlainareatrails.com. Call 518-962-2287 or email info@ champlainareatrails.com for more information.

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(Enterprise File photo —Aaron Cerbone)

Perspective on St.Regis

Kevin Shea looks at the view on the summit of St. Regis Mountain

By KEVIN SHEA Former Staff Writer

(Editor’s note: This story was first published in the February/ March 2018 issue of Embark.)

The drumbeat thundered in my ears. My lungs, habituated to easy afternoons and calm nights of reading, writing and watching television, beat ineffectively.

My head throbbed and the world slowed as my heart raced.

Oblivious, Aaron hiked on.

“Break!”

The tall and lanky reporter turned.

“Again? Well, alright.” He beamed, more amused than annoyed by the pause on our ascent. A grove of bare deciduous trees barred the view of the peak of St. Regis Mountain in the distance.

St. Regis Mountain looms 2,874 feet above sea level. Five thousand hikers top the peak every year, according to the website of Friends of St. Regis Mountain Fire Tower.

Four years ago, I was one of the 5,000. I hadn’t hiked it since.

We sat on a small, snow-covered plateau.

Aaron toyed with an expensive Nikon camera from his job at the 12

Adirondack Daily Enterprise. He flattened himself in the snow like a perched sniper, a frosted sapling in his sights.

Snap. Then silence.

We were only a few miles from the nearest house, but any traces of society were hidden.

The morphed and melting footprints of other passengers of the 3-mile trail showed only traces of mankind. Nature was ruler here, and I was getting my butt whooped.

I had attempted to best nature only one other time, to take its punches and stand tall.

I had fallen then too.

Snap.

Aaron was grinning behind the cyclops mask of the camera.

“You look like a tomato.” I nodded. Very astute, I thought.

When he looked away I pegged his noggin with a snowball.

Aaron and I met up a few days earlier. At the time he was taking pictures for an article he had typed up. We chatted and I asked him for advice on a feature story that I needed to complete for a journalism hike.

“Well, I still haven’t hiked St. Regis Mountain. How about we do it Saturday?”

Exercise is an unwelcome activity for a weekend, but a story on my Netflix binging and flipping through the pages of Cormac McCarthy’s “All the Pretty Horses,” would make for a pretty miserable feature story.

A day and a half later, I regretted my choice. The trail was rocky and slippery, and shifted from being covered with snow to baring only mud and rock. And the double-humped trail was a struggle.

The hike up St. Regis is a gradual climb with two peaks, one far shorter than the other. According to the Lake Placid website, the trip is almost seven miles round trip.

Just to the peak is three and a half.

A struggled cough and a gob of phlegm reminded me of the last time I had exercised: a long time ago. A very long time. It felt easier four years ago, when I was in shape. Not now. Seven miles.

As we sat, Aaron shot pictures of every inch of the woods and I gulped in the cold dry air. I noticed the stillness again. Aaron sat up and examined the screen of his camera as if the meaning of life had been poorly scratched onto the screen. The silence momentarily preserved.

EMBARK ~ Get Up, Get Out

Millions of diamond-shaped, burnt-orange leaves hung off in front of, between, and next to grey tree trunks still as lamp posts.

They hung over the rumpled coat of fresh snow, frozen in freefall.

I watched the trees stand vigil, and wondered if they remembered everything that ever happened on the trail. Did they judge us? When we continued our march up I was wary of the crack of bark and a snapping of twigs.

Buried in the woods sits a small log cabin with asphalt shingles.

The cramped quarters were provided for the first observer stationed on the mountain, George F. Brown, according to the Friends of St. Regis website. His job was to monitor fires in the area, of which he saw 55 during his first year in 1910.

It was difficult to imagine on that cold December day that fires were a frequent concern of the time. They were, though. On May 31, 1915 “a small fire,” according to the website, destroyed 1,550 acres of state land, much of which had been burned before by previous fires. In 1918, the state decided to get serious and erected Continued on the next page Winter 2022

a metal tower on the top of the mountain for fire watching.

For 80 years, St. Regis was guarded by people like Brown.

They took turns huddling in the cramped building, working with a long telephone wire to connect with the outside world. I bent over and rested my hands on my knees.

Every puff blew smoke in front of me and then quickly disappeared.

I wouldn’t want to hike this every day.

As we rose higher and the trail steepened the leaves disappeared, buried beneath half a foot of snow. Tree limbs, dark and damp from the snow, poked out of the ground. Fuel for fires.

Google St. Regis Mountain and you’ll find several guides telling you the climb is gradual, which it is. There are short segments of steep ascents early on, but they barely warm the legs if you’re not a slacker like myself.

The final storming of the mountain, however, is much harder.

We reached a sheltered outcrop in the last couple minutes of the hike up.

Large icicles taller than Aaron hung from the side of a steep, pyramid-like boulder. This was where I had attempted to camp out overnight, stupidly, my freshman year of college, alone. In the end, I decided to head back down when my water bottle froze and I bolted down the mountain as the sun dropped below the horizon.

I came to college years ago with dreams of being the next John Muir. I wanted to become a renowned explorer. I thought I could suffer through anything with a tent and a book. Instead, I found myself ill-prepared and out of my element. This time I brought plenty of daylight to get up and down.

Your first sight of the peak is a horde of coniferous trees hiding the metal observation tower.

Push past them and the bald crown of St. Regis is yours if you can bare the billowing winds that threaten to push you over the cliffs. Public access to the tower was cut off after it was shut down in 1990. Until recently, you could only reach the tiny top of the tower if you had a monkey’s climbing abilities.

Aaron, eyes wide and absorbing every pixel of the landscape, hopped from barred window to barred window. This was my first time enjoying the restricted 360-degree view as well, although I had enjoyed it four years earlier 30-odd feet below. I

imagined standing up here several decades ago,trees en- gulfed in flames, and all I could do was call someone and say, “It’s on fire again. Yup, I know. Don’t touch it. Okay, bye.” Then watch as the world burned a few miles away.

I didn’t envy George F. Brown.

Aaron nodded, silently approving the cloud-covered horizon.

Shots of sunlight poked through the gray sky, sending beams from the heavens onto the lake near my school, Paul Smith’s College.

I have avoided nature — both in and out of the classroom — after that first year. The sanctuary of literature welcomed me in its wrinkled and wise pages. The plump cushions of the library’s leather couches have become a constant companion amid the anxiety and distress that high levels of education can cause.

But exposed to the limitlessness of the view before me was a reminder of the comfort and scare that the frailty of the future holds for everyone. I imagined George Brown amazed by the contrasting cruelty and cleanliness and courageousness of the fire below. And then a birth from the ashes.

New growth. New possibilities. Hope in the green cells of a spunky plant.

After a lengthy photoshoot where each of us laid sprawled out on rocks and posed as deep thinkers, we soldiered down the mountain. Beware of the toll the trek down does to your knees.

They are wobbly like pudding and threaten to cramp or collapse if you don’t sit that butt down and take a swig of water. Aaron still showed no sign of physical unease and I considered taking matters into my own hands, or feet. But before I could kick out his legs, he stumbled of the trail.

He glanced back, eyes shut as he grinned.

“The mountain was merciful,” he said.

Too merciful, I thought.

Hazy dark blue clouds with pink bellies loafed over the land.

Aaron was in his sniper position again, shooting spiky, green plants smaller than a toothbrush.

To my left a rugged tree stood alone next to the trail. Knots and knobs poked from its small, round body. Its leaves fell off the few branches that hung weakly above.

It was alone, beaten, and tired, and things were looking to get worse. I smiled.

It’ll be here when I come back, I thought.

Aaron shot up and continued down the trail and we left the tree to itself, thankful for its time.

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EMBARK ~ Get Up, Get Out

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Photograph by Brendan Wiltse

Continued from page 12

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