On Sunday morning, I got my backside moving a bit earlier than usual. Breakfast for Ziggy and me? Check. A hydration reservoir full of sports drink? Check. A clean litter box for the Zigmeister? Done and dusted. After stopping at Nori’s for a supplemental coffee, I lit out for Paul Smiths. A hundred yards down Keese Mills Road from the VIC’s Black Pond trail head, the Saint Regis Mountain trail head is on the other side of the road. At » Read More » The NYSkiBlog: NYSkiBlog.com ..read more

Rain poured out of the sky when I woke up on Sunday. Ugh, it would be a gym day. By the time I fed Ziggy and sat down to my own breakfast, it was sunny. Maybe a run was in the cards after all. Half an hour later, the sky clouded over. One thing I’ve learned since moving to Saranac Lake: If you don’t like the weather, just wait. The sun came out again; I checked the weather forecast. Fifty » Read More » The NYSkiBlog: NYSkiBlog.com ..read more

We’ve had some cool evenings and overnight frosts in Saratoga Springs, but the full effect of winter is still to come. In pursuit of an early taste of the season, my hiking partners, Dave, April, and I ventured into the High Peaks to visit winter. The Adirondacks often see a frost up high, in November. It’d rained the previous day, followed by overnight temps in the 20s; we were confident we would find ice. We decided on a through hike, » Read More » The NYSkiBlog: NYSkiBlog.com ..read more

Thirteen years ago, a noted New York skier, a friend of mine, came up with the idea of recruiting lopper-wielding powderhounds to trim tree lines at Plattekill. He asked me to promote it and recruit volunteers on NYSkiBlog, and I agreed. We had a crew of ten volunteers that first year, and the numbers have grown. Now it seems we can count on 40 to 50 volunteers each year. I believe it’s really the right amount allowing us to split » Read More » The NYSkiBlog: NYSkiBlog.com ..read more

After two weeks of shuttling back and forth between states, I’m finally settled in my new place in Saranac Lake. It’s still unsettled, as I have more books than shelves. As many guitars as chairs. That can be easily rectified with the acquisition of additional guitars. Fear not, gentle reader: I have more skis in than guitars. I’ve set up the wax station in the basement. Although the weather was sketchy, I’d be returning to NJ for band practice for » Read More » The NYSkiBlog: NYSkiBlog.com ..read more

In the Adirondacks, fall is a special time. The bugs have disappeared, it’s comfortable outside, and the trees in the valleys turn a brilliant mix of yellows, oranges, and reds. It’s a great time to hike and sightsee, and crowds make their way to Lake Placid and the surrounding areas to witness the most beautiful time in the Park. Nearby hikes and High Peak summits become congested, which, for a reclusive slide climber is less than enjoyable. The ideal plan » Read More » The NYSkiBlog: NYSkiBlog.com ..read more