EMBARK
Adirondack Adventure Guide
Winter 2025
INSIDE
¯ Weathering hiking trails in the winter
¯ CATS women hiking group celebrates four years
Mountain Adventure Center
backcountry ski alpine tour
ice sh
ADVENTURE
fat bike guide service demos
yoga shuttles snowshoe rentals climb
nordic ski lodging ice climb backpack telemark hike
WINTER & SKIING HEADQUARTERS!
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Ice Climbing • XC Skiing • Ski Touring
Snowshoeing • Hiking • Fat Biking
Embarking on the Winter season
As the leaves have already fallen off, and the ground is covered in snow, it’s the perfect time to get up and get out!
There’s always something to do in the Adirondacks, especially when it comes to outdoor activities. Most people already know about our great ski trails, but there are plenty of other things to do.
In this edition of EMBARK, we hope to give you some fun ideas or maybe even teach you about some new information you didn’t know about.
This season, we have stories about how to handle the winter weather during a hike, with some equipment and tips from a local guide.
If you’re one of those that is adventurous, we have stories about where to go such as taking on the Tupper Lake Triad or even going to High Falls Gorge. We also have some information about a shorter hiker — Henry’s Woods.
We’d love your feedback. Send it to Embark, P.O. Box 318, Saranac Lake, NY 12983 or pobrien@ adirondackdailyenterprise.com.
Get up and get out!
Peninsula trails snowshoeing.
Weathering hiking trails in the winter
By CHRIS GAIGE Staff Writer
LAKE
PLACID —
In December, winter arrived for those planning on venturing into the backcountry’s higher elevations.
Below-average temperatures and lake effect snow showers, which could lead to more snow — especially in the mountains — are expected for the Olympic Region throughout winter.
The state Department of Environmental Conservation issued an advisory alerting visitors of icy trail conditions in the High Peaks in December.
“The Adirondacks (were) already experiencing winter conditions despite pleasant fall days at lower elevations,” the advisory stated. “In the High Peaks, the Lake Colden outpost caretaker (reported) icy trail conditions and unsafe lake ice. Ice traction footwear, such as micro-spikes or crampons, is needed to safely move on the trails.”
With hiking and other forms of backcountry recreation such popular draws throughout the Olympic Region, the Lake Placid News sat down with Adirondack Mountain Club’s Mary Glynn to review some important considerations — for hikers of all ability and experience levels — when venturing into the backcountry during the colder months.
Glynn serves as the club’s education programs manager. She has extensive backcountry experience, having served as a guide in New York and Vermont for the last decade. She has climbed all 46 High Peaks in the Adirondacks and
completed summer and winter through-hikes of the 138-mile Northville-Placid Trail.
Glynn is a certified Wilderness First Responder, a state-licensed guide, a ‘Leave No Trace’ Level 3 Instructor and a certified Interpretive Guide. She is also Mental Health Wilderness First Aid and American Canoe Association certified.
The Adirondack Mountain Club is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation and preservation of wild lands throughout the state. They
offer courses in winter survival, wilderness medicine and orienteering, among other topics. They also provide guided trips throughout the Adirondacks. More information can be found at adk.org.
Winter clothing
When it comes to winter clothes, Glynn’s biggest recommendation is to avoid wearing cotton fabrics.
“Cotton holds either five or seven times its weight in water,” she said. “It gets so heavy when
it’s wet, it’s not going to dry and it’s going to make you that much colder.”
She said people should opt for wicking fabrics, such as nylon or wool, whether they are going for a long hike or a short hike.
Glynn also advised, especially for frequent winter hikers, to invest in a good pair of insulated boots. She said people often try to wear two pairs of socks in summer hiking boots. Not only does this not provide insula-
Chris Gaige poses at Panther Peak.
tion, Glynn said, but it can be counterproductive, as the double layering acts to constrict blood flow to the feet. This increases the risk of frostbite, she noted.
When it comes to wearing layers, Glynn echoes a popular phrase in outdoor education: “Be bold, start cold.” It means that people should start their activity feeling a bit chilly, with the idea of warming up as they continue moving. She said this takes practice, and people should reevaluate how they feel about 10 minutes into the activity, and consider adding or taking off a layer.
If people start with too many layers on, they may overheat, begin sweating and soon become cold and uncomfortable from the sweat in cold temperatures.
Glynn says people should still have a backup plan in case they get wet, either from sweat, precipitation or fall into water.
“I always keep a dry set of base layers in my backpack too,” she said. “In case you get soaking wet if something happens, you can put on those dry base layers closest to your skin, and that will make a big difference in terms of how you feel.”
Snowshoes, microspikes and crampons
When hiking in the winter, traction devices are essential. Snowshoes, micro-spikes and crampons all provide it, but are different pieces of equipment each having its own set of conditions for best use, according to Glynn.
Snowshoes provide traction and distribute body weight, preventing one from sinking into the snow. Micro-spikes and crampons fit around boots and provide traction, by using spikes that dig into snow and ice but are not as large as snowshoes. While they do not distribute body weight and don’t prevent people from sinking into the snow, they are less bulky.
Snowshoes are best used when there is a solid layer of snow. Micro-spikes are better for thin patches of ice on hiking trails and crampons are similar to micro-spikes, but more aggressive in their bite and best used for very steep terrain, such as when one is ice climbing.
Glynn said she puts microspikes in her backpack starting
Oct. 1 in case ice is encountered early at higher elevations. They’re small and pack easily.
She reminded people venturing into the backcountry that using snowshoes or skis is often required by law.
“In the High Peaks Wilderness eastern zone, there is a regulation that if there are 8 inches or more of snow measured off trail, you must legally have snowshoes or skis on your feet,” she said.
Forest rangers issue tickets to people they encounter failing to abide by the law. She said the regulation exists for two very important reasons.
“It helps keep you safe and it helps keep other folks using the trail after you safe,” she said.
When people travel through deep snow without skis or snowshoes on their feet, they leave what are known as “postholes,” depressions in the snow from their tracks, according to Glynn. These compress and harden over time, especially in freeze-thaw cycles, and can lead to subsequent trail users twisting their ankles or worse.
Glynn said some common traction devices aren’t suited for mountainous trails.
“We like to say ‘Yaktrax’ are best left at home,” she said. “They’re good for the grocery store parking lot or getting your mail, but they are not good for anything with an incline. While they are readily available and are the cheapest option, think of your traction device as the top way to prevent injury. They’re worth investing in,” she said.
Glynn recommended bringing zip ties along as a means to temporarily repair a traction device if it partially breaks while hiking but urged people to make sure the zip tie doesn’t break in cold temperatures. She said people should be familiar with how to do a zip tie repair. The internet has plenty of tutorial videos.
Light source
Glynn said it’s important to have a reliable source of lighting for winter hiking, which features shorter days and lower sun angles — making it even darker in the forest — than summer hiking.
“I always say two is one and one is none when it comes to headlamps,” Glynn said. It’s also important to have a backup lamp in case one fails or needs to have its batteries changed. She recommended keeping the lamps and spare batteries in an insulated area closer to one’s body heat. Doing so, she said, helps to preserve their charge.
Shelter
Glynn recommended that people going on longer hikes in the High Peaks should bring some form of shelter in case they become immobilized and have to spend an extended period of time in one location. A tent, tarp or sleeping bag are all possibilities.
“If you or someone in your party becomes injured to the point that you can no longer move, it doesn’t take long to get real cold, and rescues can take several hours before help arrives,” she said.
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Mary Glynn smiles at the Adirondack Mountain Club’s Cascade Welcome Center.
The role of others
Glynn acknowledged that everyone has their own risk tolerances and risk-management practices, depending on their level of familiarity, trail conditions, trail popularity and other factors, but said that she recommends doing bigger hikes with others.
“I wouldn’t recommend doing High Peaks alone because hypothermia is not something you’re going to recognize in yourself, and if you are hurt, you’ll have someone there to get help and look after you,” she said. “But, if you’re going up on a popular peak on a nice day, you’re almost certainly going to run into other people on the trail.”
It’s always important to let someone, not partaking in the activity, know of the plans and times. Glynn said ideally that a person not hiking should be given two times: when the adventurer(s) expect to be back by, and a second time sometime after that when, if they are not back by then, it is time to call
A hiker climbs up a mountain.
authorities for a search and rescue.
The person being given the information should be savvy about that outdoor activity. They should have an understanding or, ideally, personal experience of the route, according to Glynn. If that’s not possible, the person or group venturing out should make sure that the person who would contact rescuers if needed is at least aware of the area, including specific trail routes and bailout points. Putting the information in writing can help if the person is less familiar with the area.
Glynn said that being able to pass on not only a distress call — but detailed information about the route — to rescuers can enable them to locate the person or group much faster.
Know before you go
It is important for hikers to be familiar with the route and the weather before venturing out. Glynn said conditions can change on a dime, and it was best to do a final check as close to departure time as possible — while noting that many of the trailheads and the roads leading to them do not have cell service.
The DEC’s conditions pages and Adirondack Mountain Club staff members are good resources on the latest conditions, according to Glynn. The Adirondack Mountain Club operates the Cascade Welcome Center on state Route 73 and High Peaks Information Center at Heart Lake.
“We field calls every day about that stuff,” she said.
Glynn said that the internet and social media can be helpful, especially for photos of up-todate trail conditions, but cautioned that they are often — even if not stated — subjective. She noted that one person’s definition of an “easy” hike might be vastly different from somebody else’s.
Glynn recommended mountain-forecast.com for peak-specific weather forecasts, noting that people often underestimate how drastically different conditions can be at higher elevations.
“We see snow most months of the year in the High Peaks,” she said. “I got snowed on while on top of Mount Marcy in June 2020 when it was 65 degrees at the base.”
“A good rule-of-thumb is that for every 1,000 feet of elevation
gain, you lose about four degrees of air temperature, and you need to factor that in with higher wind speeds and everything,” she said. “It’s easy to be 20 degrees or more colder up high.”
Glynn said it was important to know the signs of hypothermia and frostbite and know how to treat them.
“They can be easier to treat early on when you’re noticing things going wrong,” she said. “That’s when you can use hand warmers, bundling up, changing your layers and eating food as fixes.”
They become harder to treat the worse they get, she said, at that point often requiring the intervention of others.
Food and water
Glynn said her biggest advice for food was to pick something you actually enjoy eating.
“We see it so often, people pack food that they might see as being lightweight or efficient, but they don’t like its taste,” she said, adding that they either just don’t end up eating it, or they put it off eating it longer than they should.
Staying hydrated is important in the winter. Even if one is not
sweating, Glynn said they are losing a lot of moisture by exhaling into the dry air. The cold also may make it harder for people to feel thirsty, even if they are dehydrated. Glynn said it was important to keep water insulated so it doesn’t freeze.
Frequent smaller snacking — as opposed to one or two bigger meals during the hike — is better, she said. Not only does it keep energy levels up, but taking extended breaks in the cold is impractical.
“I like to think of my stomach as a wood stove,” she said. “A fire is a lot harder to start when it’s down to nothing.”
She advised packing food that is lower in moisture content to avoid having it freeze before consumption. She added that she prefers food that is easy to grab at, such as trail mix.
If emergency strikes
Glynn said if one finds themself or a member of their party in an emergency, to try to remain calm. She said people should do whatever they can to keep warm and try to insulate themselves from the ground.
She saves the DEC’s emergency dispatch number, 833-
697-7264, in her contacts so that if she were to get into an emergency situation, she could find it easily. People can also call 911.
If people are unsure of their situation, it is better to be safe than sorry, Glynn said.
“It’s better to call off the rescue team than to call them in way later when things have become way worse,” she said.
Glynn said that if a person is using a phone, to keep it close to them to avoid battery loss and, if they get a call from an unknown number, to answer it.
“It might be a member of law enforcement trying to ping your phone or a ranger asking ‘hey what resources do you have with you, how many people are in your party, where exactly are you, stuff like that,” she said.
Glynn emphasized that wilderness rescues often take a long time and it’s important to keep that in mind. Being prepared and having thought out what to do in a variety of emergencies helps to prevent panic, and may ultimately save a life.
For more information on winter hiking safety, visit tinyurl. com/93n73478.
Mary Glynn shows off snowshoes.
Into the old world
A walk between ancient walls at High Falls Gorge
By OLIVER REIL Former Staff Writer
To walk into High Falls Gorge in Wilmington is to step into the old world. Here there are no roads, no cars, no plow trucks or cellphones. Here there is only time, etched into the walls of the gorge as a lasting reminder of our fleeting personal histories.
After the Yaktrax were secured on my big logger’s boots by the staff, I slung my camera bags over my shoulder, strapped my backpack on tightly and headed out the back
door of the welcome center on state Route 86. I was grateful for the added footwear; I would have certainly ended up on my seat without it.
A footbridge took me across the West Branch of the AuSable River. Looking upstream, the entire valley was laid out in front of me. Through falling snow, I peered out at the side of Little Whiteface Mountain, which I followed west to Sunrise Notch. I wondered what the valley used to look like before Route 86 carved its way through. I
Thomas A. Mowatt
got the impression that it hadn’t changed much at all.
That’s a special trait of the Adirondacks, the ability to make a person feel as if they have traveled back in time, into a grand, untouched wilderness. Even in the most densely trafficked areas of the High Peaks, I’ve had moments of profound solitude, as well as a bone-rattling bear encounter in which I was woken from sleep by a curious
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High Falls Gorge in Wilmington.
bear sniffing my head.
Feeling small, I stepped off the bridge and continued east along the base of Little Whiteface. I reached a fork in the trail, at which I turned right. The AuSable’s leisurely amble was now a turbulent roar as it dropped into the gorge. Ice formed on every possible surface, stained brown by the river. The water ran around and under huge bulbs of ice and snow before plummeting down High Falls into the churning cauldron below. The ice along the base of the gorge looked like snow-covered spray foam. Even in the throes of winter, the gorge earned its native name, “The Ancient Valley of Foaming Water.”
I was reminded of my time in the Narrows of Zion National Park in the summer of 2018. Though exponentially larger than the gorge, the walls of the Narrows share a similar sense of eternity. The biggest difference between the two after size, for me anyway, is the mode of travel. In the gorge, one must remain on walkways to avoid almost certain demise. In the Narrows, travelers must strap on sandals or water shoes and wade their way through the canyon’s waters. In my time there, I did a
fair amount of swimming, sometimes up to my chin. Looking down at the icy, frothing water below me now, I was grateful for the railings. The infrastructure was minimal; enough for safety but not enough to drag the gorge into modernity. Looking down at the
water, it was easy to forget about the railings. I continued along the walkway, which ran along the interior wall of the gorge. The main falls behind me now, I focused in on the outlet of the gorge.
I stepped onto yet another bridge, this time over the end of the gorge, where the AuSable resumed its normal flow. I stood, transfixed, by what is likely an overlooked piece of the natural wonder.
Again my mind began to wander, this time to the Raquette River. On my last Raquette outing, I canoed for six days from Long Lake to Moody Falls, just below Carry Falls Reservoir. The first half of the trip involved the quiet flow of the Raquette between Long and Tupper Lake.
But once past the Piercefield Dam, the river turns to whitewater.
The transition between the two is what came to mind as I stared down at the dark water leaving the gorge. I recalled the adrenaline crash after a particularly dicey rapid as we eased into flat water once more.
As I watched the river find its way over boulders and around snowy banks, the world seemed to get quiet. Only two other people had shared the gorge with me that morning, and they were long gone.
Watching the river flow away from the bridges and walkways, cruising out into the trees, it was as if nothing else existed, just me and the wilderness; exactly the way I like it.
Emergency Contacts
General emergencies: Call 911
Backcountry emergencies: 518-891-0235
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation operates a dispatch center at the DEC Region 5 office in Ray Brook 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It should only be contacted to report backcountry emergencies (lost or injured people and wildfires).
Non-emergencies: The New York State Police Troop B, 518-897-2000, Clinton, Franklin, Essex, St. Lawrence, Hamilton counties; Troop D, 315-3666000, Lewis, Herkimer, Oneida, counties; Troop G, 518-783-3211, Fulton, Hamilton, Saratoga, Warren, Washington counties.
Ice form on High Falls Gorge in Wilmington.
A couple walks on a bridge at High Falls Gorge.
A Marshmallow World in the winter
Taking on the Tupper Lake Triad
By CHRIS GAIGE Staff Writer
TUPPER LAKE — While most of this column’s adventures are a bit closer to Lake Placid — many within walking distance of Main Street — this column takes a jaunt to the west and visits the Tupper Lake Triad.
Located about 45 minutes from Lake Placid, these peaks are well worth the trek for those getting into hiking, new to winter hiking or looking for relatively easy peaks in general. The triad challenge consists of three peaks: Coney Mountain, Goodman Mountain and Mount Arab. Each offers rewarding views from their summits and are located within close driving distance to each other.
The trails are all of a similar distance, between approximately 2 and 3.2 miles total, and elevation gain, between approximately 550 and 750 vertical feet. Many hikers complete all three in a day or over a weekend.
Having completed these peaks several years ago and holding on to a vague recollection of their charm and relative ease, I decided to return and give them a try in true winter. While I had technically completed the peaks in winter 2022, the days I had hiked were during warm spells with little snowpack, rampant
mud and a drab forest floor.
With a solid snowpack on the ground and temperatures not having broken above freezing for weeks leading up to the hike, I at least had the opportunity to experience the peaks in true winter.
Even though I hiked on Monday, Jan. 13, an early read on the extended forecast suggests temperatures are going to stay below freezing. Without any thaws — which can expose mud, create ice and greatly change the characteristic of a
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The view from Goodman Mountain.
from page 9
hiking trail, especially in the Adirondacks — on the horizon, it is my hope that should you decide to take up the triad, you’ll encounter similar trail conditions to what is described below.
An obvious note, however, is that longrange forecasting, especially for this area, is fickle at best and it’s always, in my humble opinion, imperative to check the weather for yourself before heading out and plan accordingly.
Temperatures on my Tupper Lake Triad day were — for Adirondack standards in January — forgivingly balmy, with highs expected in the upper 20s, the warmest forecasted day of the week. I was able to wear a light jacket and sweatpants, although I had a heavier jacket in my backpack in case an emergency struck and I became stuck in place as a result. Thankfully, no such incident happened.
While I was hiking alone, I was comfortable doing so in this case. The trails were all relatively short, had no technically perilous segments — where the risk of injury would have been greater — and I had a fully-charged cellphone with service the entire way on all three peaks. To be clear, I am not advising the use of cellphones in this case as an excuse in itself to hike alone. For one thing, other cellphone carriers’ people may not have the same level of coverage, and a tower issue could lead to a temporary change in service, among a myriad of other things that could go wrong.
For footwear, I wore regular old Kamik winter boots. I use them regularly when hiking in the winter. Astonishingly, despite their weight and lack of support, compared to most specialized hiking boots, they never seem to bother my feet. Go figure.
Like the cellphone reliance above, I am not necessarily endorsing this practice for others. My advice for winter footwear is to use something that is sufficiently warm — most summer hiking boots do not provide enough insulation — and comfortable. Footwear should be broken in and stress tested in advance so people know it meets those two above conditions before they hit the trails.
This avoids the perilous situation of running into foot problems in cold weather conditions far away from the trailhead, making for an, at best, agony-ridden slog back to the car and, in more severe cases, a situation that may require an emergency response. In my case, I knew my clunky boots would do just fine, and my hope is that you have a sound understanding of how your footwear will perform in advance.
For added and — in my opinion, necessary on inclined trails such as these — traction, I wore microspikes over my boots. Snowshoes would have worked as well, although I observed the trails to be wellpacked from ample foot traffic and the aforementioned consistent weather conditions.
Wearing snowshoes becomes more
important when the trail is less compacted, as they prevent hikers from “post-holing,” or creating deep indentations in the snow with their footprints as they sink down. These not only make the trail more annoying to navigate for subsequent hikers but can firm up over time and create rigid depressions that could twist ankles and lead to serious injuries.
Not to mention, hiking without snowshoes in loose deep snow can make movement much more laborious, if not next to impossible, for hikers. Conditions can also change drastically by elevation, meaning that even if trail conditions don’t demand snowshoes at the base, they may well be needed at mid-level or upper elevations closer to the summit. Many winter hikers use short ratchet straps or bungee cords to affix snowshoes onto their backpacks at the start of the hike in case they are needed later on.
While the Tupper Lake Triad is outside of the High Peaks Wilderness zone, snowshoes are actually legally required to be worn in that popular hiking area when the snow depth alongside the trail exceeds 8 inches, as is the case at press time. Failure to do so can result in state Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Rangers issuing tickets to the hiker ultimately costing several hundred dollars in fines.
While I had a sneaking suspicion, I did not know for sure the Tupper Lake Triad trails were going to be as compact as they were on the day of my hike, so I had a pair of snowshoes in my car at the ready just in case. I first drove to Coney Mountain and, after looking at the beginning of the trail to confirm that the snowshoes would not be needed that day, strapped on my microspikes and set off for my first of the three peaks.
Coney Mountain
¯ 2.0 miles round-trip
¯ 550 feet elevation gain
¯ 60 to 90 minutes total
Coney Mountain is the southernmost of the triad peaks. From Lake Placid, head west from Lake Placid on state Route 86, and continue on to state Route 3 westbound in Saranac Lake toward Tupper Lake. Once in Tupper Lake, follow signs for Long Lake on state Route 30 southbound. The trailhead is about 10 miles south of Tupper Lake. Just before reaching it, you’ll pass by the trailhead for Goodman Mountain, the triad peak next on my list.
The Coney Mountain trailhead is also on the left side of state Route 30 just before the Franklin-Hamilton county line and is marked by a DEC sign. If you enter the town of Long Lake, which is in Hamilton County, as marked by a fairly prominent road sign, you have gone too far.
The trail is generally flat for the first few tenths of a mile before beginning a steady moderate climb as it winds its way around the peak. Looking at a map of the trail, one can see how the trail essentially makes a 360-degree loop as it circles its way up the mountain, as opposed to shooting directly up its steep face.
The trail goes through a mixed woodland, consisting of deciduous trees that gradually become composed of more evergreens at higher elevations. Many of the trees looked like gumdrops, with a pristine white blanketing of snow covering them. The snow was deep enough to cover any rocks or roots that would normally present themselves along the trail. With the snow packed down
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Signage leading to Coney Mountain.
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enough to have a consistency resembling cement, it felt as if the red carpet had been laid from base to summit.
The trail got a bit steeper, but nothing unmanageable, just before the summit.
Trees gave away to open rock covered by snow. I triumphantly made my way to the tallest point, and could see glimpses of nearby Goodman Mountain, my next destination.
Unfortunately, the clouds were unyielding, limiting much of the view. On a clear day, as is the case on the other two summits, expansive views are to be had. The notoriously cloudy early winter conditions in the Adirondacks had won out. While I expected this much from looking at the forecast, timing the hike around a clear day this time of the year is exceedingly difficult. As I write this article on Tuesday, Jan. 14, every day of the month so far has had at least some precipitation at the nearby Adirondack Regional Airport, where the National
Weather Service maintains weather observation equipment. Tough odds for an unimpeded summit view, to say the least.
After taking some time to see what I could, I made my way back down the mountain. Feeling rather jubilant and knowing the trail conditions were smooth sailing, I took long footsteps and at times moved at a jogging pace. With deep snow banks whizzing by me on the side as I zoomed down the twisting and turning trail, it felt akin in a way to sliding down Mount Van Hoevenberg.
Before I knew it, I was back at the trailhead. I signed out at the register, switched out my boots for my driving sneakers and made my way over to Goodman Mountain.
Goodman Mountain
¯ 3.2 miles round-trip ¯ 600 feet elevation gain ¯ 90 to 120 minutes total
Leaving the Coney Mountain trailhead, take a right onto state Route 30 and head north back toward Tupper Lake. After only about 1 mile, the Goodman Mountain trailhead is on the left.
The mountain is named in honor of Andrew Goodman, a civil rights activist who was murdered by white supremacists in Mississippi while he was participating in the Freedom Summer of 1964, along with James Chaney and Michael Schwer-
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A bridge along Goodman Mountain.
ner. Goodman had ties to Tupper Lake. His family, who were from New York City, would come to the area each summer to vacation. The mountain was renamed in his honor in 2002.
A sign at the trailhead offers more details on Goodman’s legacy, as well as other information about the wildlife around the mountain.
The trail begins by crossing over a stream on a sturdy and wide — by hiking trail standards — bridge. It continues at a gentle upward slope along a rehabilitated paved road. There were cross-country ski tracks along the route, as the trail is level and clear enough to support the activity.
The trail takes a sharp left, marked with a sign, off of the road, which continues ahead, at about 0.75 miles from the trailhead. Pay attention for the sign, as the turn-off may not otherwise be evident. The climb picks up a bit at this point, although is still generally light to moderate.
Evidence of wildlife was abundant. Numerous deer tracks crossed the hiking trail, and clearings in the snow were frequent, indicating a deer had been resting in that spot for an extended duration. Woodpeckers and chickadees could be heard calling each other from the trees.
Like Coney Mountain, the trail up Goodman winds its way around the peak, rather than making its way directly up the slope. While the trail was gentle most of the way, the incline picked up slightly as the trail approached the summit in the quarter mile or so. Partial views of Big Tupper Lake, through barren maple and oak branches could be seen. Like a vein just under the skin, a clearing could be seen in the middle of the lake near where the Bog River flows in. The water’s motion from the inlet was enough to keep the ice from fully forming, a cautious reminder that even as much of the lake has abundantly thick ice to support people’s weights, they should be incredibly familiar with any lake’s characteristics before venturing out onto the ice.
Before I knew it, I was atop Goodman Mountain. Coney Mountain, just a couple miles to the south, was prominent, its bald white summit standing out
from the omnipresent wooded terrain. While the summit was not as expansive as Coney’s prominent views to the south and west could be seen on a clearer day. Maybe next time. I made my way back down the mountain. My energy had been partially sapped from Coney at this point, and with Mount Arab still ahead of me, I took the descent a bit slower. I admired the wintry landscape around me, feeling profoundly grateful to experience such a blissful scene. Large snowflakes straight out of a Currier & Ives painting began to fall gracefully.
Back at the car and feeling a bit haggard from completing the two peaks back-to-back, I enjoyed a quick lunch break. The classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich revived my spirits and I headed off to Mount Arab.
Mount Arab ¯ 2.1 miles round-trip ¯ 750 feet elevation gain ¯ 60 to 90 minutes total
Leaving the Goodman Mountain trailhead, take a right onto state Route 30 and head toward Tupper Lake. There, pick up state Route 3 west toward Watertown for about 8 miles. Take a left onto Conifer Road. A sign for Mount Arab indicates the turn. Follow Conifer Road and take another left onto
Mount Arab Road, about 1.75 miles. Follow Mount Arab Road for about another mile and the trailhead will be on the left, with a parking area on the right.
Mount Arab is a bit more of a climb than the other two peaks, with a steady moderate incline right from the beginning of the trailhead. The mountain has a fire tower at its summit, making it a popular draw.
Like the other two mountains, the trail was well packed, with enough snow covering it to hide any roots or rocks. The trail has several sets of stairs to help with the incline in spots, although that day, they were completely buried underneath the path. Thanks to my trusty microspikes, ascending the incline in those areas was no problem.
About halfway up the trail, the trail reaches the crest of a ridge. Light peers through the trees, offering a false allure of the summit. The trail takes a sharp left and continues along the ridge line. Fortunately, the grade eases and the upper half of the hike, in contrast to Coney and Goodman, is easier than the beginning.
The summit has a cabin — albeit, closed to the public — and a fire tower, which offers spectacular panoramic views from its top. Unfortunately, the windows atop the tower were covered in snow, obscuring
any view from the tower itself, which offered a nice respite from the wind.
The stairs leading up to the tower, however, had the best views, with nearby Eagle Crag and Mount Arab lakes visible. The clouds and snow showers prevented much else from poking through on the horizon. On a clear day, many of the High Peaks and surrounding mountains can be seen.
I gingerly made my way down the fire tower stairs and began the downward trek. As I did on Coney Mountain, I zipped down Arab speedily and was back at the car before I knew it, knees still intact.
While a bit of a drive from Lake Placid, the Tupper Lake Triad offers a set of relatively modest hikes, each with spectacular views at their summits. Hopefully, should you decide to take up the challenge, you’ll have smooth trails and clear skies.
As a bonus, people who complete the challenge can register to receive a patch and have their name placed on the finisher’s roster. There are unique patches for summer and winter. There is also a paddling version of the triad for people to try their hand at once the ice has melted. For more information on all of this, visit tinyurl.com/mstdkruc.
The Mount Arab trailhead.
Celebrating the Spirit of Adventure
CATS Women Hiking group marks four years of exploration
By AMBER ADAMSON
Development & Communications
Director at Champlain Area Trails
Nestled in New York’s picturesque Champlain Valley, the Champlain Area Trails organization is celebrating a significant milestone as its CATSWomen hiking group marks its fourth anniversary. This volunteer-led initiative, supported by Champlain Area Trails, has created a welcoming space for women to build confidence in the great outdoors, inviting participants of all ages and skill levels to come together in the spirit of adventure.
Since its inception, CATSWomen has led numerous hikes across some of the region’s most breathtaking trails. From Cheney Mountain to Viall’s Crossing and the iconic Poke-O-Moonshine Mountain, these hikes are not only about exploring nature— they’re about building community.
“CATSWomen has blossomed into an indispensable part of our community,” says Hannah Provost, a Board Member of CATS and an active CATSWoman. “It’s truly inspiring to see the friendships and mentorships that have emerged, along with a growing enthusiasm for hiking and land stewardship within the group.”
Torey Patenaude, CATS’ Community Engagement & Outreach Manager, emphasized the group’s role in promoting outdoor accessibility. “The Champlain Valley is home to some of the most stunning natural landscapes, and we are committed to making them accessible to everyone. Initiatives like CATSWomen are vital in fostering an inclusive hiking culture and nurturing future generations of outdoor enthusiasts and environmental caretakers.”
Since its founding in 2009, CATS has developed over 100 miles of trails and protected nearly 3,000 acres of land. The organization organizes hikes, educational programs, and volunteer events that attract thousands of visitors each year. Their commitment to sustainability and
community building shines through in every initiative, and CATSWomen perfectly exemplifies this mission.
The CATSWomen group is always open to new members. They invite any woman interested in hiking to join their twice-monthly meetups. Upcoming hikes are announced through the CATS website and social media channels, ensuring everyone can participate, from seasoned hikers to novices.
If you’re looking to explore the stunning outdoor offerings of the Champlain Valley while connecting with like-minded women, CATSWomen is the perfect opportunity. Whether you’re seeking mentorship, camaraderie, or simply a chance to immerse yourself in nature, this group provides a supportive environment for all.
To learn more about CATSWomen and the incredible trails managed by Champlain Area Trails, visit www.champlainareatrails.com. Embrace the outdoors and the friendships that await—your adventure begins here!
Explore NY’s Champlain Valley
Discover CATS’ 100+ miles of uncrowded, family-friendly trails. For free maps visit: www.champlainareatrails.com
Henry’s Woods glistens in the snow
By CHRIS GAIGE Staff Writer
LAKE
PLACID
— Every so often, the stars align in just the right manner as to make one feel they are on a different planet. On Tuesday, Dec. 3, that happened to be the case in Henry’s Woods.
A fresh coating of bright fluffy snow blanketed everything in sight. The dull brown drab forest floor of late fall serendipitously gave way to a snow globe scene. Wind and gravity had yet to work their ways: much of the snow was left perched on pine bows and spindly deciduous branches, seemingly untouched.
My imagination could not have generated a prettier scene. We here around Lake Placid are fortunate to be treated to the scenes many times over throughout the cold months. Given that these pristine winter days can be more hit-or-miss during winter’s shoulder weeks, I decided to take advantage of this bliss while it lasted and check out one of the remaining trail networks close to the village that the col-
umn has not yet profiled.
Close is, of course, a relative term. Henry’s Woods is located on Bear Cub Road less than 2 miles from downtown Lake Placid. It is a 212-acre community trail preserve that was opened in 2009, dedicated to the memory of Henry Uihlein.
Henry’s Woods is located at 20 Bear Cub Road. The driveway is a one-way semi-circle, with the entrance being the first right driveway on the road, and the exit the second. The entrance comes up quickly; it is only about 500 feet beyond the intersection with Old Military Road. While a sign marks the driveway, it is somewhat hidden obscured by the woods until you are immediately next to it.
Into the woods
Faithful readers may recall that last week’s Visiting Lake Placid Column was dedicated toward learning how to hike safely in the winter. Eager to
Continued on page 15
The Henry’s Woods entrance sign.
The snowy path along Henry’s Woods.
employ those tactics and test my knowledge, I came prepared with snowshoes and microspikes. Upon arrival, I realized that the tree branches had caught much of the fallen snow, preventing it from reaching the ground.
The snow depth in the woods was well-below the 8-inch threshold the state requires for wearing snow shoes — even though these trails are on private land, it is still a good rule-ofthumb to avoid winter trail damage — so I decided to forego the snowshoes.
Given that there was minimal ice and knowing my route — through pre-trip research — was bereft of any treacherously-steep sections, I decided to forego wearing the spikes. I packed them in my coat pocket just in case.
A map off to the left just beyond the parking lot provides a comprehensive overview — including descriptions and distances — of the trails in the preserve. I made my way along the 0.3 mile Connector Trail, before taking a right on to the Loop Trail.
The trail was gentle, the surrounding wood serene. Although the trail was not completely flat — it had a slight incline most of the way - it was wide, wellmarked and fairly easy to navigate. While not as straightforward as a stroll around Mirror Lake on the sidewalks, the trail
is doable for those with less hiking experience. After another flat 0.2 miles on the green Loop Trail, I took a left on to the blue Switchback Trail. This is where the climb began. The trail was still well-marked and easy to follow, although the steadier incline —
gaining 150 feet over 0.2 miles — may make for a more difficult outing if one isn’t in decent hiking shape. Still, compared to any of the High Peaks or even smaller mountains in the area, such as
page 16
Views from Henry’s Woods.
A trail marker in Henry’s Woods.
Cobble Hill, this isn’t an especially difficult path, and those who make it to the top are richly-rewarded with two scenic vistas, provided they turn left on to the yellow Plateau Trail at its junction with the Switchback Trail.
Once on the Plateau Trail, the grade leveled out, making for an easy stroll through the surrounding winter wonderlands. Only 0.2 miles later, I arrived at the first vista, which looked toward the Sentinel Range. I caught a partial view, as the tops of the peaks were cloaked in clouds. With dusk and the publishing deadline both approaching, I couldn’t stick around long enough for the clouds to clear.
The next lookout was only a few hundred more feet further along the trail and offered theoretical views of Whiteface Mountain and the Wilmington Notch. Unfortunately, Whiteface was also in the clouds, but nearby Cobble Hill, Mount Whitney and portions of the village could all be seen.
After taking in the views, I continued along the Plateau Trail and reconnected with the Loop Trail 0.1 miles past the second vista. Bearing left, I began the gradual descent down the plateau and before I knew it — or 0.4 miles, to be more precise — I was back at the intersection with the Connector Trail. I retraced the 0.3 miles and was back at the parking lot with daylight to spare.
Respecting the rules
The trails are owned and maintained by the Uihlein Foundation, but open to the public provided people remain observant of the preserve’s policies. Namely, these include being respectful of others on the trail, following the ‘Leave-no-Trace’ principles and being responsible for your own safety. A full list of the preserve’s policies can be found at the trailhead.
In addition to walking, bikes are also allowed, although they must yield to those on foot. Skiing is permitted in the winter, with those in boots or on snowshoes asked to stay off of the ski tracks to avoid cratering and damaging the path.
Horses, motorized vehicles — including electric bicycles, — camping, fires, hunting and trapping are all prohibited on the property.
Many hiking trails in the area prohibit dogs or require them to be leashed at all times. This is not the case at Henry’s Woods — as well as Heaven Hill, another community trail preserve further to the southwest along Bear Cub Road — where dogs can roam with a bit more
freedom. Absolutely crucial to this privilege remaining in place are dog owners following the rules below: First and foremost, aggressive dogs, either to humans or other canines, are not allowed.
While dogs do not have to be leashed, owners must always
carry a leash and immediately put it on if there are any signs of aggressive behavior. Dogs must always remain in sight of their owners, and be able to respond to their voice commands. No more than three dogs per person or group are allowed. Owners must pick up and pack out any dog waste. Pouches for waste were available at the trailhead as of press time, although owners should be prepared and have their own on hand if provided pouches are unavailable in the future.
A full list of dog rules are posted at the trailhead. Review them if you are unfamiliar and are considering bringing a dog.
Henry’s Woods makes for an excellent local destination for those looking for a relatively easy hike, bike, snowshoe or ski. While the trails have some incline, they are generally suitable for people with modest hiking experience, and are a good way to work up to some of the more challenging mountains and hills in the area while soaking in some scenery atop the plateau.
While conditions were near ideal in early December, people considering venturing into the woods should keep in mind that weather and subsequent trail conditions can vary greatly from day-to-day, especially during these winter months.
For more information on Henry’s Woods, visit tinyurl. com/dcxepz25.
Map of Henry’s Woods.
Signage along Henry’s Woods.
Natural Stone Bridge & Caves Park
