Woodcraft Camp for Night Skiing starting Wednesday, Jan. 2nd - 2008

A great night ski on Wednesdays - lit trail (did I mention, free?)
One (plus) mile around lake. Beautiful setting.
Read more about this historic camp here!

UPPER WORKS HIKE to Lake Colden/Algonquin Mt.

For the link to great info on the Upper Works Hike
being planned for this Sat., Jan. 5th, click here!
This high peaks hike is the closest high peaks experience (and most gradual ascent) to those of us heading up from the southwest ADK's!

Plans for Next Saturday - back to Algonquin Mountain on January 5th

Did not make it to the top yesterday - so have posted in the right sidebar slides that someone took who have made it snowshoeing all the way to the top - I hope to try again next Saturday. Anyone want to join me? The Upper Works Trailhead is 1/2 hour north of Long Lake, off Rt. 28N - details on this great hike (10 miles to the top) can be found at www.adirondackjourney.com. If we get as far as Lake Colden (5 miles in ) I will be happy, as the ascent up Mt. Algonquin is steep (2000 ft in 2 miles) but not un-doable. I will leave home here in Eagle Bay/Old Forge area at 5 - 5:30... with skis for the first mile, and snowshoes for the rest. Call me at 315.868.8436.
by the way, am initiating a weekly moonlit (headlamp) hike up Bald each week, meeting at the trailhead at 5:30 p.m. on Thursdays. Wine and cheese at the top - and dinner later at local hotspot.

From Upper Works Road, to Lake Colden and Mt. Algonquin

Crossing Calamity Creek

A bridge to the New Year.... crossing Calamity Creek in the High Peaks.
Yep. Calamity Creek. Figures. It's been that kind'a year!
More to follow..... (grin)

Night Skiing - Cross Country

Last winter, I skiied several times at night
at the trail maintained by Woodcraft Camp,
and open to the public to ski during the winter season
for no charge (lit at night on Wednesdays)

Will check this out this Wednesday...
company welcome!

Call for details -
Cathy 315.868.8436

Moonlight meanderings....

Skiing by Moonlight
by Sandra Alcosser

Gray cloud like a sweater pulled over the heart of the moon.
High-napped purple sky. Why are so many friends
Leaving or getting left behind?

Mao’s anti-sparrow campaign: to kill and eat the birds
That were eating the grain. Winter sun drifts away
Leaving thin taffy light. Venus Mercury Jupiter—

Three pearls in the morning sky. By thinking herself
Invisible, the fox walks over hoarfrost not breaking
Morning’s delicate lace. Leaving no trace. Lace is beautiful

Because of absence, the place that lets the light through,
Gives it strength. Mother Teresa in the hospital
Watches the annular eclipse. Once every twenty thousand years—

A portion of the sun visible as a ring surrounding the dark moon.
The doctor tells her—protect yourself, hold an x-ray of your lungs
Up to the window, let only the waning light pass through.

Fast trail down the mountain –10 degrees. Starving vole
Tracks ornate Victorian filigree. What is the bearing weight
Of an ice crystal? Why will a person freezing to death

Inch into the false warmth of the moon? Eros is the wound.
White will go to shadblow. White will go to orchid bloom.
Except by nature—as a woman, I will be ungovernable.

Found on-line
at Ploughshares.
Click here.

Bald Mountain Fire Tower Christmas Ornament

Belatedly, just discovered that the Town of Webb Historical Association in Old Forge offers beautiful Christmas ornaments depicting the Fire Tower on Bald Mountain. give them a call for next year - (315) 369 - 3838 or better yet, stop in at the Goodsell Memorial Museum, 2993 Main Street in Old Forge.

The Poet on Green Lake

Just discovered this wonderful hiking blogspot - that features Mt. Rainier hiking information (I hiked Ranier in 2001)...
In it, a poetess is featured who set up a table for a month of Sundays... encouraging those who ran/jogged, or sauntered the Green Lake in Seattle to contribute poetry.
Mimi hikes four miles each way to and from her post, by the way.

Perhaps one of us should set up such a table atop one of our local peaks? Thoughts?

Hoarfrost atop Rocky and Bald - Christmas Hikes

Sigh - Crashed my computer Christmas Eve - Bah Humbug

Sigh... sitting at home hoping my friend can help get this system up and running again. A hearty hike up Rocky Point today in Inlet with three dogs running circles around me. Unlike me, they did not sink through the foot deep snow - that had been nicely iced last night. Trees atop rocky were layered in ice.
When last here, I had brought bubbles and video-ed a prayer for Jamie, who lay dying at Strong. Her mother told me that she had enjoyed these postings from her hospital - bed there. It's tough starting these again... as the wind is out of my sails. Yet, the air here is so clean. Fresh. And the beauty is breath-taking.
As much as I dislike the music of Enya... was listening to her rendition of the old hymn -"How Can I Keep From Singing?"... and it seemed appropriate. How can we keep from singing?
Before becoming ordained as a Presbyterian minister in the Manhattan area before 911, I was privileged enough to take my first cross-country drive - alone. I stopped at every state and national park that I could along the way. There is one word that the countryside sang, over and over again. The word? "Glory."
I am a realist. Whether they be songs of lament or songs of praise - "How can we keep from singing?"

To Jamie, for whom this blog is dedicated....

In memory: Jamie Badding, my niece, who passed away Dec. 12, 2007

 

For after a great ski/skidoo/or pratfall!

Just broke C-country trail round CascadeLake (5.4 miles)

Cascade Lake (Note: Hike no. 27 in the AMC Guide to Trails: Book 5) was a summer camp for 50 girls (with a stable of 25 horses) in the 40's. Let's just say, it's been a while! This trail is much more fun to ski than hike - the falls always kinda- disappointed me, and the blow downs and wet area on the east side of the lake are a problem (had to remove my skis several times to climb over or under some real messy falls) However, once you hit the waterfall (which is hard to find if you have never been there before) the route west of Cascade Lake is easier. I would suggest skiing this in a counterclockwise fashion. Andy and I were both pooped long before we made it back to the trail head. All in all, there are nicer skis, but it was good exercise and a pleasant variation.
To get to the trailhead: From NY 28 in Eagle Bay, drive NY on Big Moose rd. for 1.2 miles. There are CED Yellow trail stickers for skiers (red for hikers).

Cartwheels, Jamie

Jamie - hope you are enjoying these great pictures.
Remember when you tried to teach me how to do cartwheels again last summer, before you got sick? Well, I think today I shall have to try to do a cartwheel for you from atop Bald Mountain. Should I bring a parachute?
Some days, we should all travel with parachutes.

Many of my friends saw you and the "Buld'A-Bears" you donated to the hospital on CNN this week.
You are a special girl, Jamie.
You are teaching us all how to live life with passion and integrity.
-Aunt Cathy

Snodeo Weekend in Old Forge

Does this look like fun, or what?




















(if you are a 12 year old kid, that is!)

You can try this at home OR you can experience this through his webcam.

Tell me.
How's YOUR health insurance coverage? (gulp)

Future Snowmobiler....

For great live webcams, check out www.absolutesnowmobiles.com
And, hey! Thanks for maintaining such great trails.
Us hikers, x-country skiers, and snowshoe-ers often benefit.

Just broke X-Country Ski Trail at Moss Lake - pant, pant

Snow angels on Bald - click below

snow angel

Moments before the WhitefaceWaterLoo -

See this cold mountain stream.
See Andy - safely watching.
See James - about to meet his WhiteFaceWaterloo....
(you can guess the rest!)
note: temperature: 5 degrees or so
note: water temperature? James is about to find out.

Winter Wonderland atop Bald Mountain this morning

Fallen Angels

Do fallen angels ever sleep?

Spread good vibes.

Please email stories or photos about your favorite outdoor activity or experience here in the central Adirondacks!
Love to share them with others (especially my niece, Jamie - in hospital in Rochester, NY)
Write catherinelight@bluelinebydesign.com. Thanks a bunch.

Leave Only Footprints - Take Only Memories

I heartily ascribe to the wisdom
"Leave Only Footprints - Take Only Memories"

However, like anything - there can be wonderful exceptions.
Last fall, I came upon this beautiful bouquet left behind in the crotch of a tree half way up Bald Mountain.
It has left a fine footprint upon my memory,
and warms me this cold December night.
I was feeling rather lonely until I came upon this photo again...
a gift.
Thought I'd pass it along...
(it IS December, after all!)

Join Eagle Bay Photo/Hiking Meetup Group

James has decided to help facilitate my Eagle Bay Photography group on www.Meetup.com
Check out this website, which is organized by interests. Want to fine a local dance group in the area? Or want to get form your own interest group and meet others interested in the same thing? This is a great site! www.Meetup.com

SnowShoe-ing White Face Mountain

My first hike of the high-peaks.
James Lewis, new to Adirondacks, has just moved to the Adirondacks with his new girlfriend Paula. They share my passion for photography and hiking. Jim suggested this hike, wanting to "do" all 46 high peaks. Well - "Why not?" - I thought.
So, at 4:30 am yesterday, I packed snowshoes rented at MountainMan Outdoors (a real deal at $16 daily) and met James in Long Lake. The adventure began when his KIA sank into two feet of mud and water at the trailhead.
Then continued as Andy did the same. Not a good thing for a dog in 5 degree weather. Worse for a person.
James will confirm.
After we trekked a delightful 3 1/2 miles we met our "water"loo.
Specifically, the trail has a lot of 'blowdowns'
and many mountain streams to cross. Too many.
In fact, after three successful crossings - on flimsy logs and slippery poles that have been haphazdly thrown across the stream, I suggested we were pushing our luck, the time and the weather conditions.
James reluctantly agreed... then promptly fell off the log he was using to fiord the stream one last time. James was baptized.
A real trooper - we made it back down without further incident

Thendara Golf Club - cross country skiing

Wonderful skiing this week - with the right wax, that is!