To Do or Not to Do: Hamilton Students Excel at Procrastination

The Brimfield Winery: A Hidden Clinton Gem

Nicolette Van Kesteren

Nestled in a big red barn off the side of the road and across from a beautiful field of blooming sunflowers is one of Clinton’s hidden gems: The Brimfield Winery. They have a lovely outdoor patio where you can sit and watch the sunset, and a picturesque barn where you can relax and enjoy a wine tasting or peruse their large selection of wines. Their property also includes a driving range for those eager to hit a few balls before partaking in the winery’s offerings.

This venue is highly recommended to students of 21+ to check out when they reopen in the spring or next fall. No reservation is needed for parties over seven people, however; during parents weekend and graduation week expect large crowds of students enjoying wine and warm weather with their families. Sadly, the hours of the winery do tend to conflict with the hours of a typical college student, so plan accordingly before you go. Their hours are strictly from 127pm, and they tend to close up at exactly 7pm on the dot. My suggestion would be to head there after classes on a Thursday or Friday afternoon to catch the spectacular sunset views before closing time. The couple that owns the winery are incredibly kind and welcoming. The property has been in their family for generations and was originally a dairy farm before recently becoming the winery. They have a wide selection of wines, and offer a five wine tasting for only $6 or $8 if you want to keep the wine glass, which I highly recommend! They also sell wine by the glass and by the bottle, and offer a huge hunk of cheese and crackers to munch on while conversing and casually sipping on delicious wine

Isabella Roselli ‘23 loves the wine slushy. “They twist it with various wines but always cider as well so it’s sweeter and has a great apple taste. It’s a fun slushy!” Personally, my favorite is the Hananiah. Very similar to prosecco in taste and texture, the Hananiah is the carbonated version of their Riesling. It is a sweeter white wine; however, not as sweet as their wine slushy or Catawba. It is fruity, light, and bubbly, and a great summer drink. I would definitely recommend trying District 10 or the Chardonnay for someone who prefers a dryer white wine or the Pinot Noir or School House Red for someone who prefers a dryer red wine.

Hamilton Students Take on the 90-Miler

Morgan Hodorowski

Paddles slicing water, the crisp Upstate New York air, aching muscles and sweaty brows, and with unparalleled determination and enthusiasm, Hamilton College students once again tackled the Adirondack Canoe Classic. Spanning the first ninety miles of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail—and aptly monikered the “90-Miler”—this Adirondack tradition brings together rowing veterans and novices in a demanding three-day race. Starting from Old Forge on Friday, September 9th and finishing at Saranac Lake on Sunday, September 11th, rowers canoeed for miles non-stop, set up and slept at campsites each night, and portaged their canoes between lakes. Physically-demanding and mentally-challenging, the 90-Miler pushed Hamilton rowers to their limits, who persevered through exhaustion and doubt. In the weeks leading up to the race, Hamilton rowers trained daily in early morning practices at Delta Lake. Junior Sophie Crehan especially looked forward to these practices: “We would leave the glen house at 5:45 a.m. every day, and it was really difficult for everyone’s sleep schedule. It was hard, but every morning I got to start the day with a paddle and the sunrise, and that was lovely.” Crehan, whose C-4 canoe placed ninth out of fourteenth in the co-ed C-4 Open-Racing category, enjoyed competing with fellow Hamilton boats and is “excited to race again next year.”

Junior Fiona Morrison and senior Lillian Norton-Brainerd were co-captains of the Hamilton College Marathon Canoe Racing Team and were integral to the team’s success. As co-captain, Morrison’s responsibilities included arranging rowers into boats (three C-4’s and one eight-person war canoe), gathering and distributing gear, scheduling practices, and communicating information from Andrew Jillings, Director of Outdoor Leadership, to the team. When asked about her favorite memory from the race, Morrison supplied an extensive list: “getting ready each morning, taping our snacks into the boat, getting excited and nervous, goofing around, talking with all of the other racers, and, of course, getting on the water.”

The pit-crew also served an important role in motivating and supporting the Hamilton rowers. Pit-crew members refilled water bottles, provided snacks during the race, transported gear and camping equipment to the different campsites, helped cook dinner, and were an all-around energizing presence.

The Adirondack Canoe Classic is particularly memorable for its welcoming, tight-knit community. 90-Miler participants are mostly middle-aged, local rowers who share a profound age-old love of canoe-racing and also dominate the winners’ podium. In the Adirondacks, the race is a time for contest, community, and celebration; local veteran rowers arrive with elaborate get-ups and personalized canoes, sparking friendly competition with each other.

This rowing community is one of many things that drew senior Maddie Schink to the 90-Miler. Having participated for the firsttime last year, she returned this past September to improve and compete. Schink loved working with her team, being in nature, and challenging herself; and, she’ll always remember the absolute triumph of completing the race: “Crossing the finish line, every time, there’s crazy adrenaline and it’s so fun.”

Hamilton students of any skill and experience are welcome and highly encouraged to participate in the Adirondack Canoe Classic. Schink’s advice for curious students is this: “You should definitely do it. It’s really, really hard, but it’s so rewarding—a really similar feeling to hiking a really long distance or running a marathon or putting your body through something challenging. You’re really competing with yourself. Just try it.”