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DEC Forest Ranger Rescue on Black Mountain

On April 11 at 7:35 p.m., DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a hiker reporting his brother was overdue returning from Black Mountain in Dresden NY. The caller stated that they last saw the 15-year-old male from Hudson Falls on the summit of Black Mountain at 5:30 p.m., when he proceeded down the trail alone. The teen was reported as having only his cell phone and the clothes he was wearing.

Forest Rangers Evan Donegan and Mark St. Claire responded to the location, and at 8:15 p.m., Dispatch established text contact with the hiker and advised him to call 911. Washington County 911 got coordinates from his call, which placed him by a stream off the trail but near a road. Ranger St. Claire proceeded down the road from the trailhead where he was able to see the hiker’s cell phone light. Ranger St. Claire located the hiker, escorted him out of the woods, and gave him a ride back to the trailhead where he was met by his family. All Rangers were cleared from the scene at 9:26 p.m.

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Winter from the Top of Black Mountain


Looking north up Lake George from Black Mountain shows the northern end of the lake is still open water. (Click image to see full-scale.)


Looking northwest from the same spot shows the middle of the lake is mostly frozen. The snow covered mountain in the upper left center of the photo is Mt Marcy. The sharp peak in the far distant close to center of the photo is Whiteface. (Click image to see full-scale.)

“I see skies of blue
And clouds of white
The bright blessed day
The dark sacred night
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world”

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LGLC Protects 212 Acres in Bolton


One of the streams that cross the newly protected property, once part of Bolton’s Twin Pines Resort. (Click image to see larger view.)

The Lake George Land Conservancy (LGLC) closed on the purchase of 212 acres in the Town of Bolton on December 20, 2019, ending the year with a significant conservation win for the lake.

The property was part the Twin Pines Resort owned by the McGurl family. The resort will continue to be run unaffected by this sale. The LGLC will hold the property until the Town of Bolton is able to purchase it from LGLC encumbered by a conservation easement. This transfer is expected to take place in early 2020.

The property includes about 20 acres of wetlands and 3,000 feet of stream corridor, and is adjacent to the popular Cat and Thomas Mountains Preserve owned by the New York State Department of Conservation (NYS DEC).

The LGLC will work with the McGurls and the Town of Bolton to make sure that future trails are well thought-out and have minimum impact on the land and landowners around Trout Lake. Similar to its collaboration with the Town in 2015 when the LGLC protected the Pinnacle, the LGLC will help manage the property and its trails, once they are established.

“We thank the McGurl family for their patience throughout this process,” said LGLC Executive Director Jamie Brown, “and for wanting to work with us to protect the land that has been a part of their family since 1986. This great property will simultaneously protect the water quality of Lake George in perpetuity, while also providing recreational access to some of Bolton’s most beautiful forests.”

Tom McGurl, Jr. said, “As we looked to the future, we wanted to be sure that Twin Pines would continue as a destination for our guests who have enjoyed the property for many generations, while ensuring that the land, views, and water would be protected in perpetuity. Working with the LGLC was a natural fit to accomplish this goal. Ultimately, lands that have sat mostly unused will, in time, be added to the recreational hub, linking Trout lake to the recreational opportunities of the Pinnacle, and Cat and Thomas Mountains. This will further enhance of Bolton Landing as an outdoor recreation destination.”

The Bolton Recreational Hub (the Hub) is a collaborative effort between the LGLC, Town of Bolton, and Bolton Landing Chamber of Commerce, that combines the goals and outcomes of land conservation for water quality protection with the access to quality recreational opportunities and commerce within the Town of Bolton. A comprehensive Bolton Recreational Hub Strategy was published in 2019, and provides guidance for conservation and recreational projects going forward.

“The addition of these 212 acres in such a key area of Bolton is a huge step forward for the Hub,” continued Brown. “The trails anticipated for the property as well as possible connectors to Cat Mountain and beyond are highly appealing for any outdoor enthusiast. In addition, the LGLC plans to install educational signage along these trails so that hikers leave with knowledge about the significance of land protection and water quality.”

“Twin Pines on Trout Lake has been an institution in Bolton Landing since the early 1920’s,” continued McGurl. “Over the years, the business has adjusted to meet the needs of our customer base. One thing, however, has remind constant. Twin Pines is a labor of love and dedication to the property, the lake we enjoy, and our community. The reputation of the LGLC as stewards of the Lake George Basin has enabled our property to be protected from development while still being enjoyed by the public.”

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Huletts and Prohibition

One hundred years ago, on January 17, 1920, prohibition went into effect nationally. It would not be until national prohibition ended in 1933 that it would be legal to have some alcoholic drinks in New York state.

This 13 year period is a tough period to report on as it pertains to drinking and alcoholic consumption in Huletts. While I have heard many stories, I have no idea whether they are true or false.

During the 1910’s, the temperance movement was growing in Washington County and nationally. The Adirondack Almanack published a story in 2019 and a headline from that era, where federal prohibition agents seized a 100-gallon still across the lake in West Hague.

It certainly must have been an intriguing time and some of the stories regarding prohibition and Huletts may have a factual basis. I will be attempting to learn more about this time period and am open to anything people might know about this time.

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Video: 2019 Lake George Association Protection Highlights

The Lake George Association posted a video of their conservation efforts from 2019 which includes a great segment about their work replacing the ‘firehouse’ culvert in Huletts Landing. Many thanks to the Lake George Association and their benefactors for their work in the Lake George basin.

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Rep. Stefanik Visits Washington County Fair


Congresswoman Stefanik competing in the annual milking contest with the Dairy Princesses and Ambassadors at the Washington County Fair.

Representative Stefanik attended the Washington County Fair for the seventh year recently. She spoke with constituents and promoted the importance of the agriculture sector and dairy industry to our North Country economy. Congresswoman Stefanik has been readily accessible over her years in office to the people she represents, holding over 1000 constituent district events.

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Smokey Bear Turns 75, Still Teaching About Forest Fires

August 2019 marks the 75th anniversary of the launch of the Smokey Bear Wildlife Prevention campaign by the U.S. Forest Service. The iconic character was created by the U.S. Forest Service as it’s mascot and modeled after a small cub rescued from a wildfire in New Mexico. It has become a symbol for forest fire prevention. Smokey’s catchphrase, “Only You Can Prevent Wildfires” is readily understandable to all.

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PBS features LGLC’s HWA Monitoring

In March, Lake George Land Conservancy Conservation Manager Monica and Land Steward Alex guided the Crooked Canes hiking group on a walk through the LGLC’s Cat & Thomas Mountains Preserve to look for the invasive pest Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA), a tiny, destructive bug that has found its way to the Adirondacks. If it spreads, the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) could threaten millions of Hemlock trees throughout the Adirondack Park.

Mountain Lake PBS‘s Thom Hallock joined in on the hike. View the video below!

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Art Exhibition at the Albany Institute – Anne Diggory – All in a Day’s Work


Out of Place in Huletts Landing, Anne Diggory, 2018, hybrid on canvas, 21″ x 31″, artist collection

New Exhibition
Anne Diggory: All in a Day’s Work
April 6 – August 18, 2019
Discover Anne Diggory’s newest exhibition this Saturday at the museum!

Artist Anne Diggory paints nature’s multiple expressions in the context of both contemporary and historic approaches, such as the Hudson River School. The exhibition, Anne Diggory: All in a Day’s Work, features eighteen lakeside landscapes, the products of Diggory’s intense concentration on a motif that often yields several works from a single day on location.

Sunday Lecture
All in a Day’s Work
Sunday, April 7, 2pm
Anne Diggory will discuss artistic choices in her own work as well as in those of nineteenth century painters David Johnson and John Frederick Kensett, whose motifs are included in several pieces in her exhibition All in a Day’s Work.

The whole show can be seen at: http://diggory.com/images/exhibitions/dayswork.html

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Birds Flying North is a Good Thing


Geese seen flying north this past week.

It has been a very slow “news” month but during the last week, the geese have been seen headed north and I have heard birds chirping in the morning, so hopefully warmer weather and some more activity will be here soon.

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Senator Little Begins Ninth Term


State Senator Betty Little sworn in for her ninth term. (Click image for larger view.)

State Senator Betty Little is administered the oath of office by Janet DiFiore, Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals, in the New York State Senate Chamber on Wednesday, January 9. Little was joined her son, David, and grandson, Matthew, holding the Bible. Little begins her 9th term in the State Senate, where she serves as the ranking member on the Education Committee, as well as on the Rules, Finance, Health, Environmental Conservation and Housing Committees.

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Empire State Winter Games Comes to Fort Ticonderoga and Surrounding Area January 31- February 3, 2019


Photo provided by the Empire State Winter Games.

Fort Ticonderoga, in partnership with the Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce, will host the first stop of the 39th Empire State Winter Games (ESWG) torch relay on January 31, 2019 from 6:45-8:45 am. As part of this celebration, local dignitaries and state officials, as well as torch runners, will be in attendance to speak about the 2019 Games and their impact on the state of New York. During the ceremony, Fort Ticonderoga museum staff will provide demonstrations including historic trades. Following the ceremony, dignitaries, state officials, and torch runners will be available for interviews.

ESWG is a multi-day sports event hosted in the Adirondack Park, New York that brings together athletes from across New York State and beyond to compete in over 30 winter sports events. The 2018 Games included more than 2,100 athletes of all ages, including master divisions, and the 2019 Games are expected to exceed that number.

“Fort Ticonderoga is delighted to be part of the torch relay for the Empire State Winter Games,” said Beth L. Hill Fort Ticonderoga President and CEO. “As one of our nation’s most iconic places, it brings us great joy to welcome the torch runners and community to the historic grounds.”

The Empire State Winter Games is a community-driven event, courtesy of a partnership between the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST); the towns of North Elba, Wilmington, Tupper Lake, Harrietstown, Malone, and Brighton; the villages of Lake Placid, Tupper Lake, Paul Smiths, Malone, Wilmington, and Saranac Lake; the counties of Essex and Franklin; the New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority, and New York State Senator Betty Little. Sport venues are located in Lake Placid, Wilmington, Saranac Lake, Tupper Lake, Malone, and Paul Smiths. Venues include: Lake Placid Olympic Center Herb Brooks Arena, Lake Placid Olympic Jumping and Sliding complexes, Mid’s Park in Lake Placid, Whiteface Mountain, Paul Smith’s College, Paul Smith’s College VIC, Saranac Lake Civic Center Ice Rink, Dewey Mountain Recreation Area, Tupper Lake Memorial Civic Center, Olympic Cross Country and Biathlon Center, Titus Mountain, and Mount Pisgah. LPECQD, Inc, a subsidiary of ROOST, is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit and is fiscally responsible for the Empire State Winter Games.

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Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY-21) Officially Sworn In


Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi (left), officially swears in Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY-21) (right). (Click image to see full-scale.)

Thursday, January 3, 2019, Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY-21) was officially sworn in to represent New York’s 21st district in the U.S. House of Representatives in the 116th Congress.