Embark-Fall 2022

PLACES WORTH

90 reasons to smile

By AARON CERBONE Enterprise Staff Writer

SARANAC LAKE — Pad dles were raised high as around 600 paddlers leaped from their canoes, hugged, roared, laughed and tackled each other out of boats, celebrating the end of 90 miles of grueling paddling while competing in the 39th 90-Miler race.

Around 250 canoes, kayaks, guideboats and stand-up paddle boards set out on the three-day journey on a segment of the 740-mile Northern Forest Canoe Trail from Old Forge on Friday, Sept. 9 and arrived at the end on Lake Flower in Saranac Lake on Sunday, Sept. 11.

The race is hosted by the North ern Forest Canoe Trail nonprofit, which purchased the race from Paul Smiths residents Brian and Grace McDonnell’s Adirondack Watershed Alliance organization last year for $90,000.

NFCT Executive Director Kar rie Thomas said this was the non profit’s first year without Brian as race director. The “training

Howie Dower, of team “Dower Power,” gets a warm welcome at the shore of Lake Flower as he reaches the end of the 90-Miler boat race in Saranac Lake.

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(E nt E rpis E photo — A A ron C E rbon E

wheels” were off, and it took twice as many people to do what the McDonnells did, but she said they “stood on the shoulders of giants.”

“I’m eternally grateful to the volunteers, to the staff and to Brian McDonnell, who keeps picking up the phone and answer ing my questions,” Thomas said.

Northern Forest Canoe Trail Communications Director Chris Morris said this was the best turnout for the race in recent years.

Community on the 90-Miler

Paul Smith’s College Canoe Club Coach Matt Dougherty said two of the college’s student boats set the fastest times in PSC histo ry.

Students at the college have been entering the race since the early 1990s, and Dougherty’s been leading them in competition for the past six years.

“It changes their perspective on everything, right?” Dough erty said. “They think it’s insane to do, and then they do it and they’re like, ‘What can’t I do?’”

Even after they graduate, alumni come back and make the 90-Miler a lifelong tradition — a sort of college reunion. They come back for the camaraderie, he said.

Mike Trump paddled for the college in the race before grad uating from Paul Smith’s Col lege in 2002 and 2004, and he’s competed in every 90-Miler since then.

“I come back to see all my friends,” Trump said.

This was his 18th year, so Trump is nearing membership in the Gold Canoe Club — a des ignation for dedicated paddlers

who have finished the 90 Miler at least 20 times. Realizing that surprised him.

“I don’t feel like it,” Trump said.

Morris said the paddlers come for the community. Spending time racing against each other builds friendship, he said.

Thomas said she was impressed with their generosity. On Day

One, a couple boats flipped over, and other racers stopped to help them out of the drink.

“You compromise your time when you do that, but it’s about community, safety and taking care of each other as much as it is about racing,” Thomas said.

A large crowd of hundreds of people gathered on the shore of the lake to welcome the paddlers.

Morris said spectators come to see the physical feats.

“Some of these racers are just unbelievable,” he said. “You watch the pace that they’re pad dling at, and they’re doing that

for six or seven hours straight. I think a lot of people come out to check it out because it’s impres sive.”

This was not a race for the faint of heart. Frank Redmond was seen laying flat on his back one the shoreline after dipping his cap in the cool water.

“It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be, but I hated it,” he said.

His friends, Steve Morgan,

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The 39th 90-Miler boat race brought in around 600 paddlers in about 250 boats.

reasons to smile

Chris Kallies and Chester Cohen, roped him into the three long days of racing, his first 90-Miler. But it was a good kind of misery. Their team name was “Friend ship.”

“It’s all about team friend ship. I will be back next year,” Redmond said. “I think we’re going to be doing this for years to come.”

Pete McConville stood in the water on the shore and waved a Norwegian flag to welcome his friend, Bjorte Wettland, from Norway, into Saranac Lake. McConville, an 18-year racer in the 90-Miler himself, said Wet tland paddled the race 20 years ago and came back to tackle it again. An Enterprise conversa tion was cut short when McCon ville saw Wettland pull up to the shoreline.

“Hey, Bjorte!” he shouted as he ran over with Bjorte’s nation’s flag to celebrate.

Twin time on the trail Saranac Lake resident Skip Murray was waiting for his sons — the only pair of identical twins in the race — to paddle into town.

Peter and Mike Murray live 400 miles apart — in Boston and Baltimore — so they never get to spend much time together now that they’re grown up. Murray suggested they race the 90-Miler to get some quality time together.

“Apparently one of them thought it was 9 miles,” Murray said with a laugh.

It was a trial by fire. Neither had paddled seriously before. On Thursday, they took a canoe out on Lake Flower for a test run.

“That was my first time in a canoe,” Pete said. “I have now

been in a canoe four times.”

They were asked how they trained.

“We promised not to be hun gover the morning of,” Peter said.

Skip said the two were enjoy ing the race and he was enjoying getting to see them every day. He had been their pit crew through out the race, and he and his wife were loving to hear their stories.

“It was pretty awesome, man,” Mike said. “But if you had asked me at the end of Day One, I would have had a different story. ... Day One kicked our butts.”

“I had never been in so much pain ever in my life,” Peter said.

Their muscles were knotting up, he said. They had “underesti mated” the importance of proper paddling techniques to save ener gy. They were both learning on the trail. On the second morning they woke up and read through

crash-courses on paddling tech niques to ease their sore muscles.

The chance to be together with family was as memorable as the race.

They were bonding, even when they weren’t talking.

“I envisioned being on the river, chatting, catching up with my brother. Well, that went out the door pretty quickly when we realized that it really is a race,” Peter said. “Mike and I are pret ty competitive. We barely said anything the first day. We just put our heads down and tried to perfect our technique.”

When they saw someone in front of them, they said they’d look at each other and say, “Let’s get them.”

They’ve been awestruck by the beauty of the Adirondacks, Skip said. Mike and Pete said they plan to make the 90-Miler an annual tradition now.

Paul Smith’s College students in no order, Aidan Ripp, Brady Miller, Tenzin Mathes and Dolcie Tanguay crank toward the finish line of the 90-Miler boat race.

GrowinG a family tradition

By NICK KING Adirondack Council Forever Adirondacks Intern

In July, I was lucky enough to get out of the office and travel up to Onchiota, New York to visit the Six Nations Iroquois Cultural Center with my colleague Justin. Despite growing up right out side the Adirondack Park and my high tendency to go to museums, I had never been to Onchiota or the Center before. Traveling up, I was excited to see all the different works of art and his tory that are on display there. I was surely not disappointed. The Center is packed with artifacts ranging from pre- and post-con tact tools and clothes, education al traditional charts, pictographic story belts, and much more that displays the history, culture and lifestyles of Native peoples’ past and present.

After arriving we were lucky enough to sit down with David Fadden, who runs the Center along with his father, John and his brother, Don. As we sat down and got to talking, I was blown

Dave Fadden, right, speaks with Nick King of the Adirondack Council in the story telling room.

Contemporary art and historic artifacts make the Cultural Center truly unique.

away by the history of the place; the center was founded in 1954 by David’s grandfather, Ray. The center is going on its 68th season, and I’d come to under stand how important this is to their mission there.

Living History

David stressed that “My grandfather was a driving force, and this was his work.” Ray’s passion for the center stemmed out of his life experiences, David explained. As a Native child in the 1930’s, hearing such phrases as “The only good Indian is a dead one,” was not uncommon, and Native peoples generally faced discrimination and era sure of their own culture. David told us of a time when Ray’s entire indigenous class adorned the classroom walls with beauti ful iconography of their culture, only to have it entirely painted over with white paint by the next school season.

Ray was concerned about his community losing their heritage, and later in life he would become a schoolteacher to try to affect change. Ray would also sell his

artworks, save up the money, and treat children from nearby res ervations to museum tours and education about their history and culture.

While the history of the Native

community plays a major role in what the Faddens are trying to achieve with the Center, it does not just look back in time. On asking David what they most hope visitors take away with

them, his answer was “We are still here.” David highlighted the place that Native American cul ture and history probably resides

Support the Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Bond Act

in most peoples’ minds; at the back and in the past. Children in the public education system simply do not learn much about Native American cultures today. Even going to Lake George High School with Native history locat ed all around, it hit me that while I could tell you about the Iroquois Confederacy and how they lived hundreds of years ago, the same hasn’t been true for the realities of the modern Akwe sasne. And the Center does not just have works from Ray’s time or before; David’s beautiful con temporary art also is a reminder that his culture is still here and worth taking some time to learn about.

It is also this family dynamic that makes the Center so unique and special. David recollected about a boy’s relatives visiting and purchasing for him a story book. The boy received the book and read it all in one night, com ing back to hear more stories at the Center like the ones he had read. As David points out, “you don’t get that at the Smithso nian.” Not only are the artifacts on display, but the whole site itself was built by Ray, consisting of three rooms with a story room in the center. And when you ask about what is on display, you are not just getting an answer from someone working at a museum, but someone who is intimately attached or even made the work.

What’s Next

The Center has pretty much stayed true to its origins over the years. On asking David what has changed most, he joked about

there being more finances and the center not being open on Mon days as the biggest differences. David also stressed the space lim itations for presenting artifacts and a lack of climate-control for the more sensitive artifacts.

These past two years, howev er, have been consequential for the Six Nations Iroquois Cultural Center. The Center has always been run as a family business, but in 2020 they applied to become incorporated as a non-profit to

aid in expansion efforts. They achieved this in November of 2020 and the expansion efforts have been moving along quite nicely. David has received grants, donations for the collec tion, a conservation easement on around 300 acres that acknowl edges indigenous land use, and the other necessary support to construct a new facility down the road from the current loca tion that will greatly increase the capacity to display artifacts in a

climate-controlled setting.

While the current building will not be the main structure any more, there are plans to take the main storytelling room and move it to the heart of the new center to further acknowledge its history and importance. The Center looks to have a bright future ahead of it and I will be itching to visit the expansion down the road.

(Since this story was written, John Fadden has since passed away.)

One of the historical display rooms in the Cultural Center.

C atswomen Create a new HikinG Community

By AMBER ADAMSON CATS Director of Development and Communications

During the height of the pan demic, Lewis resident Melissa Shepstone missed the camaraderie of her hiking group. So, she start ed hiking with her husband and his friends, but found it wasn’t the same type of inclusive expe rience she felt with her female friends. She decided to start a women’s hiking group at Cham plain Area Trails called CATS Women. Champlain Area Trails (CATS) is a nonprofit, accredited land trust whose mission is to save land, make trails, connect people with nature and promote economic vitality in New York’s Champlain Valley.

In 2021, CATSWomen includ ed 51 hikers with varying abilities and ages, ranging from 12 to 76 years old. “I really wanted to make sure to include women who were 46ers AND women who were just starting out hiking,” Melissa explained.

“We are so grateful that Melissa volunteers her time and efforts to reach this population. CATS Women is a safe and encour aging space for female hikers.

They become more confident in their outdoor adventuring,” states Chris Maron, Executive Director of CATS.

Amber Adamson, CATS’ Director of Development & Com munications, and a fellow CATS Women member agrees, “I love that we wait for each other on the

trail. We make sure no one gets left behind, no matter their fitness level and pace. Plus being new to the area, I’ve created great friend ships!”

Completing 24 different hikes (with zero injuries and only 1 blister) in 2021, the group is going strong in 2022. As a

group, they’ve hiked Mt. Van Hoevenberg, Blueberry Cobbles, Moxham Mountain, Owls Head, Rooster Comb, and of course, a number of CATS trails.

Visit www.champlainareatrails. com and click on their events page to join this supportive hiking group of women.

Hikers pose on top of a mountain.

must-Have HuntinG Gear

Courtesy of Metro Creative Graphics

Hunting is popular throughout North America. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said that 40 per cent of the population of the United States ages 16 and older participat ed in wildlife-related activities in 2016, the most recent year for data. Hunting also is popular in Canada, where its difficult to paint a picture of that popularity because hunting is regulated at the provincial level. However, Wild Alberta reports that, in 2020, there were 151,724 resident hunters in Alberta alone.

As is the case with many hob bies and pastimes, hunting requires some unique gear. Hunters need to bring some essential gear along on each trip to ensure their safety, while other gear and gadgets are all about convenience.

Proper clothing

Hunting clothing comes in two main varieties: camouflage and blaze orange. Camo patterns mimic real-life foliage or use a digital pattern of natural colors to trick the animals eyes, preventing them from detecting the hunters out lines. Blaze orange hunting gear, from coats to hats to coveralls, is designed to make hunters visible to other hunters. Some game, like whitetail deer, cannot detect the orange color spectrum, so hunters need not worry that they will be compromising their hunting efforts. Depending on the hunting area and its specific regulations, camo or orange clothing will be required. Hunting clothing also should be comfortable for the weather and the conditions. Waterproof or water-re sistant clothing can protect hunters from the elements as well. In cold climates, layer up and wear insulat ed materials.

Weapon and ammo

Hunters should always look for ammunition details for the animals they will be hunting so they choose the correct weapon and ammunition type. Weapons should be maintained and cleaned for safety, and all hunters should consider taking a course in the proper handling of weapons.

Knives

Knives are a staple for every hunting trip and can be used for multiple purposes. Most hunters prefer a dedicated knife for field dressing the animal, which includes gutting, boning, skinning, and butchering. Some knives fold and others are fixed blades.

Legal documents

Hunters should always carry their hunting licenses and have game tags on hand to mark their kills appropriately. Depending on where one lives and hunts, licenses may need to be visible on the per son.

Calls and scents

It may be possible to lure game closer with special calls or scents. In addition, hunters may want to utilize scent killers, which are sprays and washes that remove human scents from clothing and gear so game are unaware that hunters are present.

Binoculars

While one may be able to use the scope on a weapon to spot game, binoculars are more efficient.

First aid kit and other safety gear

Hunters should stock a first aid kit, emergency phone, water and snacks to stay hydrated and fed, and a foldable paper map in the event cell phone signals fade or prove unreliable.

Hunting requires patience, dedi cation and essential gear. With the right supplies, a hunting venture is that much more enjoyable.

By JENNIFER TUFANO

(Editor’s note: This story was previously published by the Lake Placid-North Elba Historical Society in 2017)

It’s late February and as the icicles drip away on the roof lines, it’s hard not to feel the pull of spring. The days are growing longer and this season’s fantas tic snow has allowed for plenty of winter pursuits. After writing the January article on the for mer Mount Whitney, a ski hill associated with the Lake Placid Club, requests came in for a fol low-up piece on Scotts Cobble. One mention of Scotts Cobble in this town brings up mem ories and stories of first-time skiing, skiing with friends after school, the infamous tow rope, and infinitely wide smiles. Here is a bit about this beloved family ski area.

Founded in 1938 by the Town of North Elba, Scotts Cobble stands 2,549 feet in elevation and is the 462nd highest peak in New York State. In a 1974 Lake Placid News article by Phil Gallos, he describes it as “the ledgey but mostly wooded hill

sCotts Cobble

which forms the western edge of the Craig Wood Golf Course. If we stand at the Lake Plac id Horse Show Grounds with Whiteface Mountain at twelve o’clock, Scotts Cobble will be seen between three and four o’clock.”

In 1942, the ski center unveiled improvements. The rope tow had been moved to the opposite side of the original run and extended through the timber to the top of Cobble. The new tow had been constructed in two stages making it possible for novices to ride to the end of the first stage and ski down the novice hill, while intermediates continued to the top to take advantage of the full hill which had been greatly improved. The hill had been widened for its entire length with the upper sec tion now more than double its past width. A large ski cabin with complete luncheon facili ties offered skiers an additional convenience.

Until 1958 when the White face Mountain ski complex was dedicated and emerged as a world-class facility, Scotts Cob

ble provided family-friendly fun for Lake Placid locals and vis itors alike. Kids remember the rope tow burning through their gloves as they held tight on their way up the slopes. The rope tow, installed by Fred Pabst, heir to the Pabst fortune and ski entrepreneur who owned a com pany which produced J-bars and rope tows, served skiers until 1954 when the poma lift was installed.

Others locals remember ski ing at Scotts because they were not allowed to go to Whiteface’s steep slopes until they were ‘older’, perhaps fourth grade or higher. Why drive all the way to Wilmington when there was per fectly good skiing right in town?

Laura Viscome was an active member of the Professional Ski Instructors of America and taught at Mount Whitney for many years. From 1959 until 1972, she ran the Lake Plac id Youth Commission’s Alpine Skiing Program, offered without charge after school at Scotts Cobble. How many of you learned, or know someone who learned, to ski under Laura’s

watchful and encouraging eye?

New York is home to the greatest number of lost ski areas in the country. Those in good company with Scotts Cobble are Fawn Ridge and Mount Whit ney. Scott’s Cobble began to lose money during the 19691970 season, a decline which continued until it was closed by the Town of North Elba in 1973. 1973 was the same year the Lake Placid Ski Club decid ed to move the recreational ski program to Fawn Ridge. To view the former ski area now, so many years later, one wouldn’t know a vibrant, local, accessi ble ski area once occupied the space.

2022 Update

Now, after 50 years, High Peaks Cyclery has partnered with the Town of North Elba to reopen Scotts Cobble Recre ation Center at Craigwood Golf Course, Lake Placid when the snow flies in 2022! The venue will have a ski and rental shop, sledding, and a variety of les sons and programs for the com munity.

EXPERIENCE

reCoGnizinG four outdoor Hazards

Courtesy of Metro Creative Graphics

Spending time outdoors is good for the mind and the body. Researchers have studied the effects that spending time outdoors, particularly in wooded areas, has on well-being. A 2021 meta-anal ysis published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health concluded that forest-based interventions have a beneficial, therapeutic effect on stress, mental health disorders, hypertension, and immune system function.

In their excitement to engage in outdoor activities, nature lovers should not forget to heed safety precautions. That means recogniz ing the potential for safety hazards outdoors and how to react in poten tially difficult situations.

Weather

Weather patterns can change rap idly. Always check multiple weath er sources for your destination prior to heading out. Layer clothing accordingly for the weather in your destination, and have a plan in place in case a storm blows in. If stuck outdoors in a thunderstorm with lightning, find a low spot with a ditch or a depression, suggests AccuWeather. Keep in mind that tents and pavilions provide inad equate shelter and are nearly as risky as standing under a tall tree, advises the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Injuries

No one wants to get hurt while enjoying the great outdoors, but injuries happen. Always carry safe ty gear. Pack a first aid kit with the basics, but also items geared toward your adventure. For example, a life jacket is essential when boating or

spending time on the water. When hiking, you may need to stabilize a twisted ankle or a broken limb from a fall, so carry a splint on challeng ing hikes. Bringing a buddy along also is a safety measure. That way he or she can seek out help if you are injured, and vice versa.

Topography

The lay of the land can be hazard ous. Outdoor enthusiasts should be aware of their surroundings, which can include sheer cliff edges, steep climbs, loose rocks, deep waters, and more. CoolHikingGear.com warns that any river above ankle height has the potential to sweep a person off his or her feet if the current is moving. Avoid crossing rivers and know the terrain ahead of time to plan safely.

Wildlife

People are not the only animals who enjoy the great outdoors.

Encountering wildlife is common when venturing into their habi tats. Some animals even travel into residential neighborhoods in search of food. Many animals prefer to run off rather than engage with humans. But they also can be surprised by people or pets in nature. Traveling in groups; making noise so as not to surprise animals; keeping pets

close by; and avoiding hiking at dawn and dusk when many ani mals are most active can reduce the risk for potentially dangerous encounters. Be aware of wildlife birthing seasons, as a mother may be overly protective if you stumble across her young.

When the great outdoors beck ons, individuals answering the call must remember to do so safely.

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