From Atop Ampersand Mountain..

A steep climb today - but well worth the trip up (and the pleasure of sliding almost a mile down in the natural snowchute made by fellow snowshoers as a result of their own climb to the top.)

Take Time To Party

FOLK FEST AND OPEN MIKE:
100% Homemade MUSIC offered this Friday (and once monthly) at The Big Moose Inn... on Big Moose Lake. Hosted by Hamilton Folkster Pamme Swan (www.PammeSwan.com)
Begins at 8:00, and features guest musicians, open mike. No cover charge.
Their new by-line at the Inn is "Don't make a reservation, make a memory" - and this is my shameless plug for THAT concept. Call the www.BigMooseInn.com... I know they have rooms available for the weekend, too!

Roll With The Moment

This little video embeds my attitude for the coming year...
and last year provided plenty of practice!
Roll with the moment. And climb.
These pics are from the New Year's Day climb
up Castle Rock overlooking Blue Mountain Lake.
Enjoy the view.
Cathy

Happy New Year from Castle Rock, snowstorm!

A great snowshoe!
Details of this Blue Mountain Lake climb can be found here.
As the article notes, this climb is one of the most picturesque views from
a small mountain in the Adirondacks. . . and was a good 4 mile snowshoe. A solid base, with snow falling in huge powderpuffs most of the walk. Yeehaw.

For Cross Country Skis? One of the best Inlet has to offer!

Walter and his wife moved here from Germany decades ago, and started their cross-country touring and rental shop here at the edge of Fern Park in Inlet. Even with two new hips, Walter is a hard man to keep up with on the hills of this quaint town in the Central Adirondacks. And you won't find better prices on cross-country skis, with a healthy selection of used skis for beginners.

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