All in the Family

I’ve ridden a ton of miles along the Adirondack Coast on my bicycle over the years, many on my own. But I do find that if I ride with someone else, I’m more motivated to achieve a certain distance goal. Plus, it’s just plain more fun. 

My sister Jennifer lives nearby, and just acquired her first real road bike this summer, so now I’ve got a built-in cycling friend with whom I can share my favorite loops. As a...

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She said/she said

KIM: A few years ago, we adopted a doberman/shepherd mix from a rescue in Vermont. The rescue agency told us we could take her home and if it didn’t work out, we could return her to be adopted by someone else. We got home, named her Katie, and 4 years later we can’t imagine having taken them up on their offer. 

She’...

Wilderness Survival 201

It’s amazing what you can learn in just 2 hours, even with the smooth sounds of Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive” running in the background of your mind.

I signed up about 1.2 seconds after receiving a notice that Pok-O-MacCready Outdoor Education Center (PMOEC) and Champlain Area Trails (CATS) were partnering up to host a Survival Skills Workshop...

Stick Season

The dog knew where we were headed the moment I made my shoe selection. At least - she knew which activity to anticipate, if not our precise destination.

I’m going to refrain from calling a 60-degree day in November “unseasonable.” These climate-change-days, you never know what the Adirondack weather will bring - better to just smile and take advantage. So on this warm, sunny weekday in November, I told folks at my...

Chillin' Out

There's an air-conditioned road on the Adirondack Coast.

Locals know it as "the cold spot," and unsuspecting travelers on foot or bikes are likely just baffled (or shocked) by it.

It's just a short section of road in Witherbee, a hamlet in Moriah, New York that is characterized by an ever-present curtain of fog. But for those who dare to pass through it unprotected by the hard shell of a...

Submitted by guest blogger Kim Rielly

Let me start with the following statement: I am not a strong swimmer.

I’ve always had a slight fear of the water, though I realize it is a necessary evil if I’m going to paddle anywhere. I can swim, yes, but it’s not my best subject. Frozen water is, of course, still a form of water.  And a healthy fear of water has gotten me this far, so I’m going to retain my cautious approach. ...

You know that panic you feel when your mother-in-law is on her way to visit and your house is a mess?

Sometimes the situation is overwhelming, so you just dust the obvious surfaces and hide stuff under the bed. And sometimes that panic inspires you to look at the situation from a different perspective, and it leads to real progress. 

Lucky for us, artist Linda Smyth takes the latter approach.

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Lake Champlain Adirondack Coast Biking

The term “coast” as applied to a stretch of land elicits a certain image in your mind, right? You’d think that a region along a “coast” would consist of a largely flat, waterfront landscape.

Well, the Adirondack Coast IS, indeed comprised in part of rolling farmlands along the western shore of Lake Champlain. But it is also the eastern edge of the Adirondacks, after...

Tracking Wildlife on Snowshoes

Sure, a lot of people love snowshoeing on a marked trail to the top of a mountain or along a loop through a beautiful Adirondack forest. That’s admirable.

In contrast, my recent snowshoe excursion involved bushwhacking through deep snow over downed trees and frozen swamps; all to solve a mystery.

It all started when I saw that Champlain Area Trails (CATS) was hosting a winter wildlife...

Look out perch; the jig is up.   

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I can’t believe it, but I think I want an ice fishing rod for my birthday. 

On the nonexistent list of things I do NOT like, being cold and touching fish would be in the top 14. It seems odd then, that I would proactively seek out an adventure that included the...

You know that moment when you’re about to come to a stop on your road bike, and realize that you’ve unclipped from your right pedal, but you’re leaning to the LEFT?

Well, that happened the last time I cycled on the Stevenson Road. This time, I paid better attention.

We live in one of the best places in the world for road cycling...

To me, early warm days in March - even the short-lived ones - are more fun than a January thaw; because they are sure to be back for good very soon.

This time of year in the Adirondacks offers the same advantages as the November off-season. Depending on the elevation you choose, you can often ski in the morning in the High Peaks and bike in the afternoon on the Adirondack Coast. I'm happy to have the trails and roads to myself during...

Nemo, as the most recent snowstorm was named, brought wide-ranging amounts of snow to the Adirondacks. On the Adirondack Coast of Lake Champlain, reports ranged from 5 inches to a foot. Where I live, we received about 10 inches of white, fluffy trail covering.

Today began at freeze-your-fingers temps and was predicted to rise to about 20 degrees Fahrenheit, so I waited for it to be right in between the two, and packed my cross country...