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Vol. 3 No. 1 | North Country Living Magazine | 3

Dear Readers,

Editor John Gereau Contributing Writers John Gereau Lou Varricchio Keith Lobdell Seth Lang Thom Randall Elicia Mailhoit Cover Design DJ Alexander Layout and design John Gereau Published by New Market Press, Inc. 16 Creek Road, Suite 5, Middlebury, VT 05753 (802) 388-6397, Fax: (802) 388-6399 Denton Publications, Inc. 14 Hand Ave., Elizabethtown, NY 12932 (518) 873-6368, Fax: 873-6360

As I type this, the first day of spring is but a week away, yet the temperature gauge and snow accumulation make it feel as if winter’s death hold on the region will never relent. It has been many years since the North Country has experienced a winter with such a combination of record cold and deep snow drifts. Woodland creatures and dyed-in-the-wool Adirondackers are each feeling the sting.

But fear not, warmth is on the horizon and with it comes a full host of outdoor activities — many of which are highlighted on the pages of this edition of North Country Living.

Inside this edition you will find a number of suggestions for taking advantage of all the outdoors has to offer including riding the rapids of the Upper Hudson and Hudson River Gorge; taking a day trip to God’s country in Killington; soaring the Vermont skies in a glider; fighting a spunky brook trout on a backcountry pond; hiking local mountain peaks; touring the North Country by bicycle and wetting a fly in one of the North Country’s many lakes, ponds and rivers.

So, kick back and enjoy our latest edition of North Country Living, or better yet, stow it away in your backpack for a bit of reading material while sitting fireside in a lean-to next to your favorite hiking destination.

As always, thank you for reading & be well John Gereau, Managing Editor

Copyright 2013, New Market Press, Inc./ Denton Publications, Inc.

PICTURED AT RIGHT: One of the lean-tos at Pharaoh Lake in the Pharaoh Lake Wilderness area, an idyllic setting to enjoy this edition of North Country Living Magazine.

COVER: A lone fisherman floats on a ripple of blue water in a lightweight canoe constructed by Pete Hornbeck of Olmstedville, NY. Photos by Seth Lang

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CONTENTS Vol. 3 No. 1

FEATURES Riding the Rapids

8

The North Country is blessed with whitewater

Frontier Town

20

This former Wild West park is slowly vanishing altogether

Soaring the Skies

26

Flying gilders for fun and for profit

Saving the Legacy

34

How native brook trout were rescued from extinction

Discover Vermont’s Peaks

20

50

Trails and mountains abound in the Green Mountain State

Cycle the North Country

56

The region offers a plethora of biking opportunities

Sweet Springtime

62

10 great ideas of things to do in a North Country spring

Fishing with a Fly

70

Test your angling skill with fly fishing this spring

34

DEPARTMENTS Giving Back

6

Local History

14

Destination Q&A Out & About

16

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GIVING BACK | Students help fight hunger in Vermont

Foods Story by Lou Varricchio

New non-profit organization offers food at a discount

H

ard times have a way of bringing out the best in people.

It’s something about the sign of the times which lends to an uptick in private and public contributions to a variety of charities. In the case of Middlebury College Class of 2015 students Harry Zieve Cohen of Brooklyn, N.Y., and Nathan Weil of Nyon, Switzerland, giving back to the community is a given.

The two students lead Middlebury Foods, a new non-profit organization; it’s a means for grassroots hunger fighting. Cohen and Weil are joined by Jack Cookson of San Francisco, Calif., Eduardo Dañino-Beck of Lima, Peru, Elias Gilman of Berkeley, Calif., Chris Kennedy of Chicago, Ill., and Oliver Mayer of Montreal, Canada.

Recently, the North Ferrisburgh United Methodist Church hosted a meeting with the Middlebury Foods founders—for church members and for Ferrisburgh Central School staff—so that both church and school can act as drop off sites for food boxes.

According to church member Christine Steadman, Cohen and Weil created the non-profit to get healthy fresh (not canned) meats, vegetables and fruits available to all income levels for 40 percent off what the foods would cost in a supermarket.

“Our profit margins are low, and whatever money we make goes towards expanding the business and making it self-sustaining,” according to the students’ website. “Eventually, Middlebury Foods will pay for itself. That is to say, if all goes well, our customers will 6 | North Country Living Magazine | Vol. 3 No. 1

eventually fund the business themselves. No outside donations will be needed.”

“The hope is that low income Vermonters who depend on food shelves and thus do not get much access to fresh foods, would be able to afford the food,” said church member Christine Steadman.

“But anyone can buy the food and save money. North Ferrisburgh United Methodist church and the Ferrisburgh Central school are looking to generate 20-30 orders, so it will be worth it for Middlebury Foods to deliver to these two sites. This would mean Vermonters in these locations would have access to high quality healthy foods at fast food prices.”

A family box contains meats (delivered frozen), fresh vegetables and fruits and pasta, approximately enough for 28 meals at only $1.25 a meal.

Middlebury Foods has made a meal box affordable for those who need the assistance. A family box—with food enough to feed a small family—costs $35. The boxed meal price is roughly 40 percent off what you would pay in a supermarket, according to Steadman.

“Our boxes include food to feed a family of four dinner for a week. From fresh produce to quality meats, our products will be as tasty as what you’d get at a local supermarket,” says co-founder Cohen.

“We know our hard-working customers don’t have a lot of time ncliving@denpubs.com

to cook,” he continues. “That’s why we also provide speciallydesigned recipes that are simple to learn and require very little time to complete. We are a non-profit business start-up that sells fresh produce and quality meat at affordable prices. By cutting out the supermarket and buying from wholesale distributors, we are able to save our customers almost 40 percent. Our goal is to make it much easier for Vermonters to eat healthy and delicious food. We launched in fall 2013, working to deliver our food to community centers and churches in Addison County. Our Family Box includes enough to feed a family of four dinner each night for a week. We want it to be really easy for anyone to enjoy our products.”

The Middlebury Foods website states that it’s based on Chicago’s Top Box Foods. Top Box has served thousands of people at affordable prices.

“Our challenges in Vermont are admittedly different from what Top Box faced in Chicago, but we are confident that we have developed a model that can replicate Top Box’s success,” the students note on the Middlebury Foods website.

Families are welcome to order single boxes.

For example, a Middlebury Foods “meat box” includes 11 pounds of nutritious meat for $30 and a “vegetable box” contains 12 pounds of fresh vegetables for $25.

Other boxes include: Family Box ($35): Each Family Box will contain 16 pounds of food including: marinated chicken, pork chops, zucchini, carrots, tomatoes, broccoli, green beans, apples, bananas, and pasta. northcountrylivingmagazine.com

Meat Box ($30): Each Meat Box will contain an assortment of meat including marinated chicken, sausages, and ground turkey.

Veggie Box ($25): Each Veggie Box will contain an assortment of produce including: zucchini, carrots, tomatoes, broccoli, and green beans.

“Delivery happens once a month,” Steadman said. “Middlebury Foods phones or e-mails customers to remind then of the delivery date, place and time. They currently accept cash, credit cards, checks or debit cards at delivery. By January they hope to be able to accept food stamps as well.”

How are the Middlebury Foods meals packaged? The meat comes frozen in small, easily managed portions. The current box includes three pounds of chicken breasts packaged as single breasts—that way, families and individuals can decide what to defrost and what to save in the freezer for a future meal.

Check It Out: To order a food box and have it delivered, call 802-425-2770 (if you do not have Internet access) or go online to http://middleburyfoods.sqsp.com/ (click “order” at the top of the page menu bar and fill out an order form), choose the Ferrisburgh option for location.

FACING PAGE: Middlebury Foods volunteers help deliver food boxes to families in need in western Vermont.

ABOVE: Middlebury Foods: Middlebury College students Harry Zieve Cohen of Brooklyn, N.Y., and Nathan Weil of Nyon, Switzerland aren’t just talking about poverty.

Photos courtesy of Middlebury Foods & Christine Steadman Vol. 3 No. 1 | North Country Living Magazine | 7

Complete with flotation device, crash helmets and lunch, trips can range from $65 to $120 per person depending on the amenities and the season.

Wildwaters Outdoor Center of The Glen north of Warrensburg on state Route 8 is one of the enterprises offering whitewater trips down the Hudson from mid-April through October.

Doug Azaert, owner of Wildwaters, has guided trips down the Hudson since 1985.

“We’re excited about the above-average runoff expected,” Azaert said. “We’re looking forward to the ‘big water’ this year.”

Azaert said he enjoys sharing the experience of riding the raft atop towering waves — at times half-airborne — then slapping down into the water while he and his passengers furiously paddle to keep the boat upright, coursing down chutes and channels in the river.

“Whether it’s high water or low water, the rapids are always a lot of fun,” he said. “It’s the challenge of the trip and the camaraderie in the raft that really make the experience.”

Adventure Sports Rafting Co. of Indian Lake is also one of the relatively few locally operated enterprises offering the whitewater expeditions.

Cassie Marion, a river guide with Adventure Sports, said she treasures the experience of introducing people to the pristine beauty of the landscape, the thrill of riding roller-coaster waves down the river, and witnessing people of all backgrounds meet the challenges posed by the adventure.

“I love to see people experience the raw power of nature — hitting big waves — then sharing memories at the end of the day with the rafters at our chicken barbecue,” she said. “It’s good to 10 | North Country Living Magazine | Vol. 3 No. 1

“The rafters’ faces are always priceless in the photographs.

They are so genuine - either scared out of their wits or having so much fun.”

- Cassie Marion River Guide with Adventure Sports Rafting in Indian Lake, NY know you’ve made someone’s day.”

Adventure Sports’ rafting trips feature professional action photographs taken at one of the most challenging river rapids, Marion said.

“The rafters’ faces are always priceless in the photographs,” she said. “They are so genuine — either scared out of their wits or having so much fun.”

She also said that exposing people from metropolitan areas to the pristine wilderness is also gratifying, along with the fun social experience.

“You don’t see any indication of civilization for hours,” she said. “It’s awesome.”

On the trip down the Hudson Gorge, there’s one challenging rapid that leads to a turn in the river. Coming around the bend, rafters suddenly see a stunning sight — a 300-foot cliff that drops into the river, she said.

“You paddle around a bend, and there’s a huge rock face, the Blue Ledges, right in front of you — and it’s absolutely breathtaking,” she said.

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In spring, the water flows faster and higher, the waves are high, and rafters are likely to hear their river guide yelling over the roar of the water crashing over the rocks — calling for passengers to paddle like crazy, or to shift their weight to one side or another to avoid overturning. Also, spring weather is often chilly and rafters should wear full-body wet suits.

In summer, the rapids settle down, and rafters are less likely to get tossed around on cresting waves, so the minimum age limits are reduced from 17 or 18 to as low as 7, depending on the particular rafting company.

The thrill and challenge of whitewater adventures in the southern Adirondacks were thrust into national attention decades ago by one of our nation’s most celebrated politicians.

In 1967, Sen. Robert F. Kennedy and his wife Ethel competed in the annual Hudson River Whitewater Derby, shooting the rapids from North River to Riparius in a kayak and canoe respectively. Robert Kennedy made it through the course unscathed, but Ethel overturned midway in the rapids, according to reports.

The Kennedy’s weekend venture included whitewater rafting, according to Adirondack historian Andy Flynn. Their entourage included Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall and his wife as well as James Whitaker, the first American to scale Mount Everest. That year, the 10th annual Hudson River Whitewater Derby drew a crowd of 15,000 spectators.

The famed Senator held the event not just because the Kennedy family craved adventure, but to promote a pending river conservation bill in the U.S. Congress — the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. The kayak that Robert Kennedy piloted down the river in the whitewater derby is now in the permanent collection of the Adirondack Museum in Blue Mountain Lake.

This year’s Hudson River Whitewater Derby, the 57th annual, is set for May 3 and 4 and features a new ”Not So Whitewater” course that is for beginners and those who want to avoid any white-knuckle incidents.

The thrills of the Hudson River Gorge whitewater trips were again center stage last July, when Gov. Cuomo and various state officials, legislators and community leaders competed in the “Adirondack Challenge” whitewater rafting race. The trip was held primarily to boost tourism as well as legislative camaraderie.

Cuomo was drenched after careening through the course. After the competition, he talked about the unspoiled beauty of the region and how fun it was to experience the challenges and raw beauty of nature.

“You can’t find this anywhere else on the globe,” he said.

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ABOVE: New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo gets ready to compete against New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg Monday, July 22, 2013 in the Hamilton County town of Indian Lake, NY during the Adirondack Challenge. Cuomo’s team won the whitewater rafting race against the mayor’s team on the Indian River.

Photo by Nancy Frasier ON PAGE 10: A rafting guide shouts paddling instructions to her passengers so their raft can continue on course during a rafting trip through the Hudson River Gorge.

COVER PICS: A group of area visitors plunges into an eddy during a whitewater rafting trip through the Hudson River Gorge. This year’s persistent, frigid weather and heavy snowfall in the Adirondacks means the thrills of Hudson River whitewater — routinely rated Class IV and Class V — are bound to be even more challenging and thrilling this year. The headwaters of the Hudson River are rated as one of the top 10 springtime whitewater experiences in the U.S. due to the raging waters, high waves and pristine scenery. For more information on whitewater trips in the southern Adirondacks, see: www.

VisitLakeGeorge.com or call: (800) 365-1050 ext. 5100.

Photos by James Swedberg

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At Santa’s Workshop in Wilmington, little ones still whisper their Christmas wishes in Santa’s ear, while Charley Wood’s fabled Storytown was transformed into Lake George’s Six Flags Great Escape and Old Forge’s Enchanted Forest remains a popular attraction with the addition of a water park.

These and other parks appear to have left a lasting impression on people. A fan-run Frontier Town Facebook page, for example, currently plays home to 365 members who enjoy sharing stories, pictures and other fond memories from their time at the park.

The two companies who purchased most of Frontier Town at auction in 2004 immediately placed the property for sale with a local realtor hoping for a quick flip, but with the exception of the property known as the A-Frame, Essex County seized the reminder of the facilities in 2006 for tax delinquency.

Today, Essex County has created a task force to decide the fate of the property.

According to North Hudson Town Supervisor Ronald Moore, no taxes have been paid since 2006 on either of the properties and the buildings are in rough shape.

While Essex County officials continue to discuss ideas for moving forward, it looks likely that the property will be included in the county’s annual tax sale on April 30, 2014.

Moore, who leads the county group tasked with finding viable solutions, said that reopening the gas station off Exit 29 would be beneficial for snowmobilers because the main trail system goes through North Hudson.

If the property does go to auction, the previous owners have two weeks before the sale to repurchase the property for the owed amount in taxes.

Frontier Town did much more than entertain tourists: it brought job opportunities to local individuals of all ages and had significant economic influence on the region, something still missing from the area today.

PICTURED ABOVE: This is the current state of ‘Prairie Junction’ along Frontier Town’s former Main Street. The buildings have fallen into disrepair and are collapsing.

Photo by Jennifer St. Pierre 24 | North Country Living Magazine | Vol. 3 No. 1

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Soaring the

Skies

Story by Lou Varricchio

Flying gliders for fun and profit has been a tradition in Vermont since the 1930s.

V

ermont comes alive in the spring and the best views of the doubly verdant Green Mountain State—with an emphasis on the green—is from the sky. And the best place to be in the sky above Vermont is in a sailplane.

Flying gliders for fun and profit has been a tradition in Vermont since the 1930s. Today, several airports offer residents and tourists glider rides above the fields, forests and peaks of the state.

Flying in a sailplane is like no other flying experience—unless you’re ready for hang gliding. Gliders are quiet and there’s nothing to distract passengers from enjoying the closest thing to being a bird.

With their long, light high-lift wings, sailplanes are ultra safe.

According to various reports, there are fewer sailplane accidents than powered aircraft.

Designed to ride the thermal uplifts of the atmosphere like soaring birds of prey, sailplanes are typically towed to altitude by an airplane and then—at the right elevation and location— 26 | North Country Living Magazine | Vol. 3 No. 1

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“Have you ever watched birds, gliding along effortlessly on wind currents? Soaring is the same principle.”

- Stowe pilot Dave Whitcomb

released to soar for hours at a time.

Some glider pilots have broken altitude records, soaring the levels not too far below where only jets dare to travel. Of course, only skilled pilots with onboard oxygen and heated flight suits have dared to venture into these rarefied regions of the troposphere.

Closer to Mother Earth, there are two prime airports in central Vermont which are the jewels in the state’s soaring crown.

Perhaps best known to sailplane pilots and thrill-seeking tourists alike is the Sugarbush, Vt., Airport, home of Sugarbush Soaring.

Continued on page 28

PICTURED: Soaring in Vermont is a special four-season sport, so if you’re interested in taking to the wild blue yonder, look no further than Sugarbush Soaring and Stowe Soaring for a once-ina-lifetime flight opportunity you’ll never forget. And if the soaring bug bites you—as we think it might—both airport-based venues have certified flight instructors on staff to teach you to become a glider pilot.

Photos courtesy of Sugarbush Soaring & Stowe Soaring northcountrylivingmagazine.com

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Soaring: fun facts • The Wright brothers created the first airplane, but they started with gliders. Their first glider was flown in 1900. The brothers’ famous 1903 first-flight motorized flyer was a powered version of the glider.

• You don’t need mountains to get lift in a sailplane. Cumulus clouds indicate thermals. Variometers are instruments used by glider pilots which help show the rate of climb.

As the pilots of Sugarbush Soaring describe it, theirs is not only a commercial operation; it’s also a fun club with an active social scene.

“Soaring is a special sport, and if you’re interested in joining us in the sky we would love to show you around our beautiful airport,” says Gail Webster who manages the soaring scene’s office. “One way to learn about our club and our sport is to simply drop by.

Anyone on the field would be happy to show you around, answer your questions, introduce you to the instructors and other club members, and let you sit in a glider. Should you decide to fly with us, you’ll find that is considerably cheaper once you join the club.”

But remember—you don’t have to join the Sugarbush Soaring Club to take your first joy ride.

Several pilots, including Rick Hanson, Tim Larsen, Mark Bigelow, Graham, Ramsden, Steve Platt, Jen Stamp, John Tracy, and Bill Stinson, are on hand at the Sugarbush Airport to take you on a flight or teach you how to fly a glider yourself.

At Sugarbush, Bill Stinson is the former airport manager and chief pilot for Sugarbush Soaring; he has been flying with Sugarbush since the club began, according to the club’s website. Stinson is the pilot examiner for the New England Region of the FAA. With more than 6600 hours of flying and over 11,000 sailplane flights plus a Single Engine Land and Instrument rating. The pilot examiner is the person who passes the final judgment of a student’s flying abilities.

“We offer 15, 20, and 30 minute rides,” Webster adds. “Our experienced commercial pilots will treat you to a magnificent view of the Mad River Valley from above. On a clear day you’ll see the Adirondacks and Lake Champlain to the west, Camel’s Hump and Mt. Mansfield to the north, and Mt. Washington and the White Mountains to the east.”

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• A sailplane’s standard altimeter indicates altitude while its airspeed indicator tells how fast the glider is going. A standard aircraft pilot tube is used for indicating the craft’s airspeed.

• Spoilers help reduce a glider’s lift and really help in getting the aircraft back on the ground—safely.

• Elevators control a glider’s pitch and help bring it down in a dive.

• Ailerons control glider roll while flaps increase its lift and slow landing speed.

For the latest rates, call the Sugarbush office at 802-496-2290, or purchase an online gift certificate at www.sugarbush.org.

A few miles north of Sugarbush on Route 100 is Stowe Soaring, located at the Morrisville-Stowe State Airport in Morrisville, Vt. The airport is six miles north of Stowe.

Stowe Soaring employs both traditional aircraft-towed gliders and an unusual type of glider called a German Stemme S10-VT. This hybrid motor glider has an awesome wingspan of 75 feet and its own motor, too. No tow plane needed for this high-tech, selfcontained, U-2 like sailplane.

“Have you ever watched birds, gliding along effortlessly on wind currents? Soaring is the same principle: quiet, calm, peaceful or stand-your-hair-on-end exciting as you want to make it,” says Stowe’s Pilot Dave. “You can enjoy an unforgettable experience—a smooth and graceful ride on silent wings. Our highly experienced pilots will give you the ride of a lifetime. If you are adventurous, they will show you beautiful maneuvers and give you a chance to fly. Glider instruction and rentals are available for novice through experienced pilots. We’re open seven days per week, May through October.”

The view above the Morrisville-Stowe area is just as thrilling as its Sugarbush neighbor. Vermont’s big mountains are below you.

Glancing down from 5,000 feet or more at woods, meadows, ski trails, and even roaming cattle, is a one-of-a-kind experience.

Adults and children will discover the thrill of gliding flight at Stowe Soaring.

For current flight rates, call Stowe Soaring at 1-800-898-7845 or 802-888-7845. You can also check out a cool Vermont soaring video and other details online at www.stowesoaring.com.

Special thanks to Sugarbush Soaring and Stowe Soaring for material and photographs used in this article. ncliving@denpubs.com

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QA and

with FOX 44 Chief Meteorologist

Kerrin Jeromin K

Story and photos by Shawn Ryan

NCL: Where did you grow up?

KJ: I grew up in Vermont in a small town called Mendon. It’s just outside of Rutland and Killington, basically right in the middle.

NCL: What were some of your interests in high school?

KJ: Theater was a big interest. I really liked performing and anything to do with it, that was a big influence in coming to the world of television. I was also big into sports, like basketball.

For a brief time in high school, I played rugby and carried on doing that in college. That was very fun. I still like it a lot -- I just can’t afford to lose a tooth, basically, and lose my job, so I don’t play anymore.

NCL: Where did you go to school?

KJ: Rutland High and I went to college at Lyndon State up in the Northeast Kingdom. It’s a very small school, and basically really good if you want to study weather because there’s not much else in the town. It’s not exactly a college town. They have a great meteorology program, which is what I studied.

NCL: What are some of your hobbies?

KJ: I’m still into theater. I love it. I’m a big fan of hiking and enjoying the outdoors. We have so much around here so I think it’s important that you take advantage of all that. I like to hike

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errin joined Fox44 News in July of 2008 as the weekend meteorologist and environmental reporter. She moved to mornings in January of 2010 and was promoted to Chief Meteorologist in January 2012. Kerrin is a Certified Broadcast Meteorologist through the American Meteorological Society. As a self proclaimed “weather weenie,” Kerrin’s favorite type of weather is severe thunderstorms in the summer. North Country Living caught up to Kerrin this winter at her studio in Colchester, Vt.

and taking long walks outside as well. I’m still into sports, even though I don’t play on any teams. I have kind of a competitive spirit so I’ll play anything. If somebody asks me to go, I’m in.

NCL: What made you stay in the region?

KJ: It’s my home state, and that’s always a perk. Its home, so to be given a great opportunity fresh out of college -- for someone to say, ‘Sure, you can start your career here and oh, by the way, you get to go home and see family for all the holidays,’ is a huge perk you don’t get that often in TV. Usually you get a job in the middle of the country where you don’t know anyone and it’s a small market, and this was just one of those opportunities you couldn’t say no to. I’m going on six years here this summer.

NCL: What would it take to get you to move away from the North Country?

KJ: I don’t think I’m interested in the national scene, so it wouldn’t be that. I like the local news element because I think there’s a lot more involvement in the local communities. You get to really know people one-on-one, as opposed to just delivering whatever the manager says from a national news network, and I think it just has a more personal feel. So if I were to look somewhere someday, it would just have to be a great community and a great opportunity to advance my career.

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NCL: What advice would you give to a young person who wants to be a meteorologist?

KJ: Go for it! Usually young meteorologists, for some reason, come out of the womb knowing they want to be a weatherman. I wasn’t one of those people, surprisingly. You always see young kids, and if they have an interest in weather, they have such a passion for it. They’re learning about how things work. I had a young kid from Montréal come in and he wanted to learn more about the weather, and he had his little weather book, and he was like 12-years-old.

He knows about the clouds, and he knows about everything to do with weather, he knows about hurricanes and tornadoes, he’s not just interested, but he knows how they work and I think that that’s really interesting... so I think that if they have a natural interest, they should follow it. Do what you need to do to continue your studies, go get a degree, learn a little bit more about it, and things will just work out. They always do.

NCL: Do you get a lot of invitations to speak at schools?

KJ: Yes, I do, but I’d like to get more. I’ve spoken to every age from kindergarten all the way through college level. I’ve come and talked to students whether it be about weather or advancing their professional career as meteorologists. I tell you what: the kindergartners have some of the best questions. They stop me more than anyone when they ask me about some of the most abstract concepts. They just have a mind that’s so curious. Any chance to get out and talk, especially to younger people, can really be a big influence on their lives.

NCL: What one question would you like to get across in this article?

KJ: I think that one of the most important things for us is to just help give people an accurate weather forecast because of the changes coming online: social media, for example, is skewing things. It’s not just like you watch your local news anymore, some people are finding me on Facebook and asking questions like, ‘What’s the forecast from here to here?’

‘We’re on the air in five minutes, hold on,’ I tell them. I think people are turning more and more to that direction, so the big thing we’re trying to figure out as a meteorological community is how do we keep getting the right information out and helping people not only plan their day, but help them in high impact or severe weather situations. How do you make sure you’re getting the right information out? I think it’s just something that people should know, that it’s a struggle right now in the meteorological community that we’re trying to do our best to get you accurate information.

NCL: Is that stressful?

KJ: It isn’t stressful as much as it’s more of a challenge, but it’s also something that will bring out the best in me as a meteorologist because you have to walk a fine line to tell people, ‘Yes, there’s some potential impact down the road, but don’t believe that post you just saw by some random guy that says were going to get 30 inches.’

You have to really watch for that balance and try to communicate to people and let them trust you themselves through accurate forecasting, so that’s my goal. Keep striving to gain trust in people and let them know that we really are doing our best to figure out an imperfect science.

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Vol. 3 No. 1 | North Country Living Magazine | 33

Saving the legacy The ultimate goal of reclamation is to restore self-sustaining native brook trout populations to Adirondack lakes and ponds, so the waterbodies are no longer 100 percent reliant on stocking efforts.

Therefore, following the use of Rotenone in the fall, DEC workers return in the spring and restock brook trout that were native here — known as heritage strain fish. A strain is a subset of a species, differentiated by genetics and by slight physical characteristics.

For example, the Horn Lake strain of brookies has a white tip to its dorsal fin, not otherwise common to domestic brook trout. The Horn Lake strain is native to Herkimer County and is one of three strains the DEC is trying to re-establish. Others include Windfall Pond strain and Little Tupper strain, both originating in Franklin County.

Heritage strains are obtained by netting wild fish in their natural ponds during peak breeding time in the fall and extracting their eggs, which are fertilized, then reared in a state hatchery.

Much care is taken to provide the heritage fish with an environment as close to what they would experience in nature as possible.

“We do everything in our power not to domesticate anything,” explained Jon Fieroh, an aquatic biologist for the DEC with more than two decades of experience raising brook trout.

Fieroh said heritage strains are very difficult to raise in captivity.

“They’re vulnerable to disease in a hatchery, they don’t do well in a bunch and they are flighty,” he said. “They do much better in

the wild than in captivity.”

It is for this reason that a majority of the brook trout raised in hatcheries for stocking in local waters are either domestic brook trout or a Temiscamie hybrid, a cross between a domestic and a wild Temiscamie (Canadian-strain) brook trout.

Domestics and Temiscamies grow quickly and uniformly in a hatchery, have a better survival rate and are less susceptible to disease, Fieroh said.

The DEC stocks more than 200,000 Temiscamies in lakes and

“Without reclamation, there would be no heritage strain brook trout left in the Adirondacks.”

- Rich Preall Senior Aquatics Biologist

36 | North Country Living Magazine | Vol. 3 No. 1

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A History of Reclamation

The following lakes and ponds have been treated with Rotenone in the last six decades EssEx County • REClaimEd tRout Ponds name of Water

town

15° Quad.

acers

year last Claimed

species Present*

Hamilton County • REClaimEd tRout Ponds name of Water

town

15° Quad.

acers

year last Claimed

species Present*

Ackerman Pond

Wells

Indian Lake

4

1967

Beaver Lake

Morehouse

W. Canada Lake

135

1966

BT BT

Bennett Lake

Hope

Harrisburg

37

1954

ST

Bug Lake

Inlet

Raquette Lake

79

1974

ST, LT

Bullhead Pond

Indian Lake

Newcomb

20

1991

ST, RT

Christian Lake

Arietta

Piseco Lake

13

1967

ST

Clear Pond

Indian Lake

13th Lake

18

2007

ST

Crotched Pond

Indian Lake

Indian Lake

63

1958

ST

Eagles Nest Lake

Inlet

Raquette Lake

12

1974

ST

Icehouse Pond

Inlet

W. Canada Lake

7

1999

ST

Barnes Pond

Minerva

Schroon Lake

9

2003

ST

Bass Lake

North Hudson

Paradox Lake

39

1994

ST, RT

Bear Pond

Ticonderoga

Paradox Lake

12

1979

ST

Jockeybush Lake

Arietta

Piseco Lake

42

1951

ST

Big Cherrypatch Pond

North Elba

Lake Placid

13

1962

ST

John Mack Pond

Indian Lake

Indian Lake

26

1968

ST

Bloody Pond

Crown Point

Paradox Lake

5

1992

ST

John Pond

Indian Lake

13th Lake

20

1968

ST

Burge Pond

Schroon

Paradox Lake

8

1995

ST

Limekiln Lake

Inlet, Ohio

Old Forge

461

1961

BT, SPL

Challis Pond

North Hudson

Paradox Lake

16

1992

ST

Long Pond

Wells, Indian Lake

Indian Lake

35

1967

ST

Chapel Pond

Keene

Elizabethtown

19

1975

ST

Lost Ponds

Inlet

W. Canada Lake

16

1965

ST

Coldspring Pond

North Elba

Lake Placid

5

1955

ST

Lower Sargents Pond

Arietta

Raquette Lake

129

2013

ST

Hope

Harrisburg

31

1954

BT

Connery Pond

North Elba

Lake Placid

76

1955

BT, SPL

Middle Lake

Courtney Pond

North Hudson

Elizabethtown

6

1982

ST

Mitchell Ponds

Inlet

W. Canada Lake

38

1966

BT, SPL

Crab Pond

Schroon

Paradox Lake

32

1995

ST

Murphy Lake

Hope

Harrisburg

31

1954

ST

ST

Owl Pond

Wells

Indian Lake

64

1967

ST

Owls Head Pond

Long Lake

Raquette Lake

15

1998

ST

Park Lake

Long Lake

Blue Mountain

33

1974

ST

Ross Pond

Indian Lake

Newcomb

22

1968

ST

Slim Pond

Arietta

Raquette Lake

8

1969

ST

South Pond

Wells

13th Lake

8

1967

ST

Sprague Pond

Indian Lake

Blue Mountain

59

1971

BT

Giant Washbowl

Keene

Elizabethtown

2

2004

Goose Pond

Schroon

Paradox Lake

64

1961

ST, RT, SPL

Grizzle Ocean

Ticonderoga

Paradox Lake

23

1953

ST

Gull Pond

Schroon

Paradox Lake

14

1994

ST

Hatch Pond

North Hudson

Paradox Lake

12

1952

ST

Horseshoe Pond

Schroon

Paradox Lake

4

1995

ST

Howard Pond

North Hudson

Elizabethtown

12

1992

ST

Huntley Pond

Minerva

Newcomb

38

1951

ST

Little Rock Pond

Ticonderoga

Paradox Lake

7

2001

ST

Long Pond

North Elba

Lake Placid

15

1955

ST

Lost Pond

Ticonderoga

Paradox Lake

28

1954

ST, BT, RT

Indian Lake

Caroga

Gloversville

12

1969

ST

Moose Mountain Pond

North Hudson

Paradox Lake

38

1995

ST

Otter Lake

Caroga

Gloversville

45

1959

ST

Oliver Pond

Schroon

Schroon Lake

42

1968

BT

Third Lake

Stratford

Lassellsville

55

1957

ST

Key: ST – brook trout; RT – rainbow trout; SPL – splake, BT – brown trout; LT – lake trout;

Fulton County • REClaimEd tRout Ponds name of Water

town

15° Quad.

acers

year last Claimed

Owen Pond

North Elba

Lake Placid

19

1952

BT

Key: ST – brook trout

Oxshoe Pond

Schroon

Paradox Lake

19

1996

ST

WaRREn County • REClaimEd tRout Ponds

Rock Pond

Ticonderoga

Paradox Lake

56

2001

ST

Round Pond

Keene

Elizabethtown

17

2005

ST

Shingletree Pond

North Hudson

Elizabethtown

3

1979

ST

Springhill Pond

Ticonderoga

Paradox Lake

7

1959

ST, RT

Triangle Pond

North Hudson

Elizabethtown

5

1995

ST

Twin Pond

Keene

Elizabethtown

4

2005

(Upper) Twin Pond

North Hudson

Elizabethtown

7

(Lower) Twin Pond

North Hudson

Elizabethtown

8

15° Quad.

acers

year last species PresClaimed ent*

Horicon

Paradox Lake

11

1994

ST

Crane Mountain Pond

Johnsburg

North Creek

14

1998

ST

Gay Pond

Warrensburg Lake Luzerne

5

1983

ST

Hour Pond

Johnsburg

13th Lake

34

1970

ST

ST

Jabe Pond

Hague

Bolton Landing

150

1976

ST

1997

ST

Kibby Pond

Johnsburg

13th Lake

41

1987

ST

1997

ST

Little Jabe Pond

Hague

Bolton Landing

8

1976

ST

Little Joe Pond

Thurman

13th Lake

7

1996

ST

Lixard Pond

Thurman

13th Lake

25

1973

ST

WasHington County • REClaimEd tRout Ponds town

town

Crab Pond

Key: ST – brook trout; RT – rainbow trout; SPL – splake, BT – brown trout

name of Water

name of Water

species Present*

15° Quad.

acers

year last Claimed

species Present*

Long Pond

Horicon

Bolton Landing

32

2012

ST

Palmer Pond

Chester

North Creek

29

1989

ST, RT

Peaked Mountain Pond Johnsburg

13th Lake

20

1970

ST

Bumps Pond

Dresden

Bolton Landing

6

1994

ST

Puffer Pond

Johnsburg

13th Lake

41

1998

ST

Dead Lake

Jackson

Cambridge

10

1973

ST, RT

13th Lake

Johnsburg

13th Lake

327

1972

ST, BT, LLS, RT

Fishbrook Pond

Dresden

Bolton Landing

34

1995

ST, RT

Viele Pond

Warrensburg Lake Luzerne

26

1984

ST

Key: ST – brook trout; RT – rainbow trout

northcountrylivingmagazine.com

Key: ST – brook trout; RT – rainbow trout; SPL – splake, BT – brown trout; LLS – landlocked salmon, LT – lake trout

Vol. 3 No. 1 | North Country Living Magazine | 39

FRanklin County • REClaimEd tRout Ponds

Nevertheless, the group believes reclamation should be used sparingly and only in cooperation with public education and adequate policing of ponds to ensure non-native fish aren’t again introduced. The group also called on the state to channel more funds into the DEC’s fisheries program to help manage and patrol waterways.

“In all cases, DEC should have an education plan in place to help prevent the reintroduction of the non-native fish species that overwhelm, out compete or prey on native trout populations.

Most often, these are bait fish released by anglers who either don’t understand the impacts these fish will have on brook trout or didn’t expect them to survive and grow,” said Adirondack Council Conservation Director Rocci Aguirre.

The effort to educate the public and put a stop to the reintroduction of non-native fish is one that has long been fought by the DEC. The DEC already bans the use of fish as bait in reclaimed ponds and other designated trout waters in the Adirondack Park, and posts signs at these locations alerting the public about the harm that can be done by non-natives.

Nevertheless, it still happens, a fact that is a huge source of frustration to people like Preall, Fieroh and Fiorentino — who have collectively dedicated the better part of their lives to improving the brook trout fishery here.

“It has to be deliberate, there’s no way these cases are accidental,” Preall said. “And it just drives you nuts.”

PICTURED BELOW: DEC Fisheries Biologists James Pinheiro and Robert Fiorentino look over maps as they discuss lakes and ponds that could be future candidates for reclamation.

Photo by John Gereau

name of Water

town

15° Quad.

acers

year last Claimed

species Present*

Barnum Pond

Brighton

Saint Regis

94

1973

ST

Bear Pond

Harrietstown

Saint Regis

54

1958

ST

Bessie Pond

Santa Clara

Saint Regis

17

1990

ST

Black Pond

Brighton

Saint Regis

72

1997

ST

Black Pond

Santa Clara

Saint Regis

22

1952

ST, RT

Bone Pond

Santa Clara

Saint Regis

11

1966

ST

Clamshell Pond

Santa Clara

Saint Regis

35

1954

ST

Drain Pond

Bellmont

Loon Lake

8

1955

ST

East Pine Pond

Santa Clara

Saint Regis

64

1980

ST

Echo Pond

Santa Clara

Saint Regis

16

1998

ST

Embody Pond

Santa Clara

Saint Regis

3

1958

ST

Fish Pond

Santa Clara

Saint Regis

116

1954

ST, LT

Grass Pond

Santa Clara

Saint Regis

20

1966

ST

Grass Pond

Santa Clara

Saint Regis

22

1958

ST

Green Pond

Santa Clara

Saint Regis

60

1956

BT, SPL

Green Pond

Santa Clara

Saint Regis

20

1968

ST

Hope Pond

Franklin

Loon Lake

23

2000

ST

Horseshoe Pond

Santa Clara

Saint Regis

85

1990

ST, RT

Lake Colby

Harrietstown

Saranac Lake

285

1967

BT, LLS, RT

Ledge Pond

Santa Clara

Saint Regis

42

2009

ST

Little Ampersand Pond Harrietstown

Saranac Lake

13

1954

ST

Little Fish Pond

Santa Clara

Saint Regis

26

1954

ST, LT

Little Hope Pond

Franklin

Loon Lake

7

2000

ST

Little Long Pond

Santa Clara

Saint Regis

82

1961

ST, RT, SPL

Little Polliwog Pond

Santa Clara

Saint Regis

16

1990

ST

Long Pond

Brighton

Saint Regis

14

1997

ST

Lost Pond

Brighton

Saint Regis

6

1969

ST

Lydia Pond

Santa Clara

Saint Regis

19

1990

ST

Meadow Pond

Harrietstown

Saint Regis

15

1995

ST

Monday Pond

Santa Clara

Saint Regis

6

1954

ST

Mountain Pond

Santa Clara

Saint Regis

12

1991

ST

Mountain Pond

Brighton

Saint Regis

56

1997

ST

Mud Pond

Santa Clara

Saint Regis

10

1954

ST

Nellie Pond

Santa Clara

Saint Regis

13

1990

ST

North Otter Pond

Santa Clara

Saint Regis

2

1952

ST

Ochre Pond

Santa Clara

Saint Regis

23

1954

ST

Owl Pond

Harrietstown

Saranac Lake

15

1967

ST

Palmer Pond

Harrietstown

Long Lake

16

2000

ST

Panther Pond

Harrietstown

Long Lake

12

1999

ST

Pitchfork Pond

Tupper Lake

Saint Regis

35

1954

BT

Polliwog Pond

Santa Clara

Saint Regis

209

1973

BT,LT

Rat Pond

Santa Clara

Saint Regis

28

1966

BT

Rock Pond

Harrietstown

Long Lake

27

1951

ST

Saint Germain Pond

Harrietstown

Saint Regis

11

1955

ST

Saint Regis Pond

Santa Clara

Saint Regis

390

1953

ST, LT, SPL

Slush Pond

Brighton

Saint Regis

17

1974

ST

South Otter Pond

Santa Clara

Saint Regis

8

1952

ST

Sunday Pond

Santa Clara

Saint Regis

10

1964

ST

Track Pond

Santa Clara

Saint Regis

5

1990

ST

Tuesday Pond

Santa Clara

Saint Regis

5

1953

ST

12th Tee Pond

Santa Clara

Saint Regis

5

1956

ST

West Pine Pond

Tupper Lake

Saint Regis

63

1975

ST, LT

Whey Pond

Santa Clara

Saint Regis

107

1989

ST, RT

Key: ST – brook trout; RT – rainbow trout; SPL – splake, BT – brown trout; LLS- landlocked salmon; LT – lake trout

40 | North Country Living Magazine | Vol. 3 No. 1

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Vol. 3 No. 1 | North Country Living Magazine | 41

R S

eclaiming Lower

argent

Story by John Gereau Photographs provided by the DEC

One of the DEC’s largest reclamation projects in recent memory took place last fall at Lower Sargent Pond in the Hamilton County town of Long Lake.

S

tate Department of Environmental Conservation employees embarked upon their most ambitious reclamation project in decades when they took on the 131-acre Lower Sargent Pond in Hamilton County last fall.

The massive effort began Oct. 21, 2013 and continued for five days, during which dozens of DEC staff from around the state coordinated efforts to disperse 880 gallons of the chemical Rotenone in the waterbody.

The goal was to rid the lake of non-native fish species that had been illegally introduced to the pond. They included largemouth bass, brown bullhead and golden shiners. These species were choking the life from the native brook trout population and would have eventually taken over the pond completely.

Rob Fiorentino, a senior aquatic biologist with the DEC and coordinator of the reclamation project, said Lower Sargent Pond was once renowned as an unparalleled brook trout fishery. It was last reclaimed in 1971, and only had to be stocked with the 42 | North Country Living Magazine | Vol. 3 No. 1

Little Tupper strain of brookies for two years thereafter before the population became self sustaining from natural reproduction.

But when the first bass was caught eight years ago, all natural reproduction ceased and the number of brook trout quickly declined. By 2012, no young brook trout were present at all, only large, older trout that were able to evade the marauding predators.

The DEC targets at least one waterbody a year for reclamation — a name used for the procedure of using the chemical Rotenone to restore the lake or pond to its historic natural state before nonnative fish were introduced. Then, all care is given to reintroduce native endangered fish such as heritage strains of brook trout or the round whitefish. Lakes and ponds throughout the Adirondacks were once teaming with these species, but the introduction of nonnatives like bass, perch, bluegill and pike threatened to wipe out native brook trout and round whitefish forever.

Continued on page 44

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Vol. 3 No. 1 | North Country Living Magazine | 47

remains within the cave because of its weight.”

Unlike the more familiar solution caves, the air temperature in talus caves is not a constant 55 degrees Fahrenheit. As a result, no bats can be found hibernating in the Pittsford caves during winter when the interior temperature is often colder than the exterior winter air temperature.

Once inside the caves, a sturdy pressure-treated log ladder— erected by local Boy Scouts a few years ago—permits semicivilized summer and autumn descent into the bowels of the deep caves. However, entering the ice caves during the winter and early spring—when thick ice flows coat the cave walls—is an extremely hazardous undertaking.

Feeding on gravity and sliding down damp rocks into the caves seems easy enough at first; but you’ll wonder about getting back out into sunshine. Upper and lower body strength is key for even the novice caver. For obvious safety reasons, bulky individuals should keep out of non-commercial caves.

When you first enter the Pittsford caves, you’ll understand what Pingree is talking about; exploring these damp caves without wearing a hard hat, heavy overalls, and a pair of sturdy boots is a very bad idea.

At the lowest level of the Pittsford caves, a large chamber fades into pitch with towering rock walls on either side. A small pool of clear, cold water—fed by melting ice and ground water—rests at cave bottom.

On one rock wall in the chamber is a fantastic example of what cave scientists call cryptobiotic crust, a thriving community of lichens and mold. Shining a flashlight beam on the crust produces a dazzling, silver fluorescent-like effect; light rays are reflected off the biota in a fashion similar to reflective paint used on highway signs.

For those unfamiliar with the foot trail that leads back to the caves off Goat Farm Road, it’s nearly impossible to provide easy directions.

Ask locally for specific parking and trail directions. Once you locate the trail head, a 15-minute hike up Fern Canyon will lead you to the wonders of the ice caves where access is through a barely visible and narrow crevice among massive boulders.

Lost Caves—found

The very name sounds foreboding—Mt. Horrid. But three intrepid spelunkers defied this Vermont peak with its morass of giant metamorphic boulders and dead trees to rediscover a complex of lost ice caves in 2007.

The caves are located in Rutland County below Mt. Horrid’s 3,216’ summit.

Vermont spelunkers Peter Quick, John Keough and Rick Pingree set out to find the lost caves as members of a Vermont Cavers Association (VCA) exploratory team. The rediscovery expedition was first reported in the October 2007 issue of the VCA Newsletter.

Ice caves—technically known as talus or tectonic caves— are not formed like familiar solution caves found in limestone. Instead, they are the deep crevasses created between massive boulders.

The boulders tumble down rock-strewn (talus) mountain slopes as the result of landslides triggered by frost or earthquake action and assisted by gravity.

So-called ice caves can retain winter ice accumulations well into the spring or summer. Ground water seeps into the perpetually dark caves and then freezes. The Mt. Horrid caves were probably formed more than 10,000 years ago.

48 | North Country Living Magazine | Vol. 3 No. 1

The ice cave complex was last explored by spelunker Robert W. Carroll, Jr. beginning in the 1970s.

Carroll is credited with naming the complex of caves: Mt. Horrid Ice Cave, Gargantua Cave, Slanting Cave, and Chiller Cave. The caves range from modest to large in size; they consist of narrow passage ways and extend up to several hundred feet in length.

“The (Mt. Horrid Ice) Cave has a main chamber with three entrances that really never get out of daylight,” said Pingree, a member of the VCA team. “Then there is a passage that takes you deep into total darkness with small rooms and short side passages.

Unfortunately, I was unable to finish my mapping of it in September.”

According to Pingree, Carroll first mapped the cave interiors between 1979 and 1980, but his written record of the cave locations was vague.

Carroll’s notes were made in the days before GPS (Global Positioning System) units. Now cavers can use handheld GPS units, linked to Earth-orbiting navigation satellites, to accurately locate the latitude and longitude of cave entrances to within inches of accuracy.

After Carroll, few cavers bothered to bushwhack and scale the dangerous boulder field below Mt. Horrid in order to locate the lost caves. Thus, the caves remained “lost” until VCA spelunkers reread Carroll’s notes and set out to rediscover them.

Mt. Horrid’s cave complex is not for the amateur. Access to the cave area is across private property and unsafe.

Before entering the land below the caves, you’ll need signed permission from the landowner, proof of insurance and a permit, a list of certified and safety tested cave gear, and a physician’s letter showing you are in physical shape. Otherwise, attempting these dangerous caves will mean a hefty fine or possible imprisonment— or both.

Caution: The writer warns readers to never enter a cave on private property without permission or without being trained in the use of equipment and proper spelunking techniques. Even when it comes to public caves, you enter at your own peril.

ABOVE: A view of Vermont’s Mt. Horrid, located in Rutland County, showing the approximate locations of three of the four “lost caves” that were rediscovered in 2007.

North Country Living art by J. Kirk Edwards ncliving@denpubs.com

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iscover Vermont’s mountain peaks Story by Lou Varricchio

50 | North Country Living Magazine | Vol. 3 No. 1

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preserve our trails for future generations by following the Mud Season guidelines and sticking to the suggested Mud Season hikes! Mud Season Alternative Hikes.”

The following hikes, by region, are suggested by the Green Mountain Club for their beauty and easy of access. Not all the hikes are easy per se, but each will introduce you to the beauty of Vermont’s forests and ridges.

Northern Region:

Mount Hor—Lake Willoughby. Reminiscent of a fjord, Lake Willoughby is caught between the cliffs of Mounts Hor and Pisgah. From the summit lookout of Mount Hor you will catch a glimpse of the whole lake as well as ten small ponds, Hazen’s Notch, Burke Mountain, and other peaks. You will find this hike in the Day Hiker’s Guide to Vermont.

Lake Mansfield Trail—Nebraska Notch, Stowe. This is a short, but sometimes steep, climb offers views of the northern wall of Nebraska Notch, a large beaver pond and a cirque (a scoopedout valley left by a glacier)---and, as a bonus, a fine view of Lake Mansfield from Taylor Lodge. Or, take a longer hike through Nebraska Notch all the way from Stowe to Underhill, or vice versa.

You will find this hike in the Long Trail Guide.

Waterbury Trail Mount Hunger, Waterbury—A heavily wooded, undeveloped mountain area with a bald summit. It is a steady, steep climb but well worth it. On a clear day, you will see spectacular views of Mount Mansfield, Camel’s Hump, and the White

ABOVE, TOP: The Green Mountain Club just released a four-part educational online video series with expert advice about bringing dogs along on Vermont hiking and camping trips. The series, titled “Hiking with Dogs,” was produced in Vermont.

Photo courtesy of Leash Your Fitness & the Green Mountain Club ABOVE: In 2012, world-renowned ultra runner Nikki Kimball attempted to break a speed record on Vermont’s Long Trail, running 273 miles in less than 4.5 days. She’s pictured here reviewing the trail map in Jonesville, Vt. Image by Crowley Photo

Continued on page 54

52 | North Country Living Magazine | Vol. 3 No. 1

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Vol. 3 No. 1 | North Country Living Magazine | 53

Mountains in New Hampshire . Near the summit, a short side trip takes you to White Rock Mountain.

Southern Region:

Ledges Overlook—Townshend. From overhanging ledges, you’ll look down on the Townshend Reservoir dam, a covered bridge, and Bald Mountain. This is the only trail on this list that is marked with Army Corps of Engineers blazes (yellow and green). You will find this hike in the GMC’s “Day Hiker’s Guide to Vermont”.

Wilmington-Somerset Trails—Wilmington. This system of trails, maintained by the New England Power Company, travels alongside reservoirs and rivers with trails leading up Haystack Mountain and Mount Snow. You will find these trails in the Day Hiker’s Guide to Vermont.

Harmon Hill—Bennington. Hiking south on the Long Trail from Route 9, you will ascend a steep rock staircase that may make this hike a challenge. But the views from the top of Harmon Hill make the steep climb worth the effort. You will find this hike in the Long Trail Guide.

Eastern Region:

Groton State Forest—Groton, Peacham, Marshfield. The trails in this forest link several bodies of water and small mountains, including Big and Little Deer Mountains, Owl’s Head Mountain, Osmore Pond, Hosmer Brook, and Kettle Pond. There are many scenic views to enjoy from the ridges and summits along this network of trails. You will find these trails in the Day Hiker’s Guide to Vermont.

Mount Tom—Woodstock This gentle climb up an ancient volcanic mass offers views of Woodstock and Okemo Mountain as well as the Ottauquechee River. Link up with other trails to create your own longer hike or simply head back down. You will find these trails in the Day Hiker’s Guide to Vermont .

Spruce Mountain—Plainfield. This moderately steep climb takes you through a variety of landscapes on old logging roads and a foot trail. Atop the summit sits a fire tower offering extensive views of Vermont and the Green Mountain Range. The fire tower is now listed on the National Historic Lookout Register.

You will find this hike in the Day Hiker’s Guide to Vermont.

Western Region:

Snake Mountain—Addison. This is a great hike for kids or for those looking for easier terrain. Walk up carriage trails and welldefined paths to a large flat lookout with the cement base of a long gone structure. From the lookout there is a panoramic view of the Adirondacks, Lake Champlain, and the rich farming area of Addison County. You will find this hike in the Day Hiker’s Guide to Vermont.

Abbey Pond—Middlebury. Hike to this pretty pond alongside a stream with several cascades and waterfalls. You will find this hike in the Day Hiker’s Guide to Vermont .

Mount Ethan Allen—Bolton. Hike up the north peak of Mount Ethan Allen via Forest City and Long Trails for good views of Camel’s Hump. You will find this hike in the Long Trail Guide.

Finally, for those avid trekkers in Vermont, you’ve likely noticed the increase in hikers with dogs on trails around the Green 54 | North Country Living Magazine | Vol. 3 No. 1

and Taconic mountains. The trend is likely to continue and now the GMC has issued guidelines on how to take dogs in the backcountry.

Late in 2013, the Green Mountain Club released a four-part educational video series with expert advice as it gears up for the spring 2014 season. The series, titled “Hiking with Dogs” was produced in Vermont.

“For people who have been thinking about bringing their dog with them when hiking, we provide a lot of helpful information to get them started,” says past GMC President Windish. He hosts the new video series along with a long-time trail companion—a dog named Jack.

“The videos also have plenty of tips for people who have some experience hiking with a dog, but would like to get into more advanced aspects of it, such as staying at Long Trail shelters overnight, and trail etiquette for dogs and dog owners,” Windish says.

Most of Windish’s basic tips are no brainers—such as what to bring on a day hike and when to leash a dog—but where the videos become important to dog-owners is when it discusses animal health on the trail. Windish also provides good ideas on accommodating a pooch on extended backpacking trips.

Included on the GMC videos are interviews with veterinarian Paul Alfarone of Bear Swamp Veterinary Service, dog-trainer Kasandra Fleury of the Central Vermont Humane Society, and Grant Gunther of the Outdoor Gear Exchange.

“We also talked with several Green Mountain Club caretakers about what they see out on the trails every day, and what dog owners should be doing to both protect the environment and make hiking with dogs enjoyable for everyone,” Windish said.

“We encourage all hikers who have dogs to view this informative four-part series.”

“Hiking with Dogs” videos are free and can be screened on the Green Mountain Club’s YouTube channel, at http://www.youtube. com/user/GreenMountainClub/featured.

Special thanks to the Green Mountain Club for background information as well use of its “Hiking in Vermont by Region” list of best hikes in the Green Mountain State. ncliving@denpubs.com

side.�

Lake Champlain Bikeways, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this summer, promotes cycling in the Champlain Valley, including New York, Vermont and southern Quebec. Mapping a network of 1,636 total miles encompassing 49 interpretive themed loops, Lake Champlain Bikeways is the definitive one-stop-shop for information on cycling from Whitehall, New York to Chambly, Quebec. Through their website, www.lakechamplainbikeways. org, cyclists from recreational to rabid can access information on routes, directions, temperature and precipitation guides, accommodations, training information and information about local bike shops.

Possibly the biggest draw of the Champlain Valley for cyclists is the variety of terrain. Hard-core climbers can stomp the pedals all around the Adirondacks, including a trek up the Whiteface Memorial Highway to the summit of Whiteface Mountain. Vermont, too, offers the climber a multitude of opportunities to rise and descend the winding roads of the Green Mountains. Those interested in flat, country roads can choose to stay closer to the New York side of Lake Champlain, where north to south riding will bring the rider on mostly flat rides through farms, apple orchards and the newest Champlain Valley institution: vineyards.

A quick stop at www.goadirondack.com/Adirondack-Recreation/RoadBiking, operated by the Adirondack Coast Visitors & Continued on page 60

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ABOVE, TOP: Biking at Okemo Mountain in Vermont.

ABOVE: A woman enjoys a ride along the bike path in Plattsburgh, NY. ncliving@denpubs.com

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Mud season be damned: 10 great ideas of things to do in a North Country spring

C

hildren’s book author Ashley Charron of Salisbury, Vt., knows the North Country intimately. She especially knows that the region’s climate—especially its day-to-day swings in weather patterns— can make or break planning for a vacation or weekend activity outing.

“Never fear,” Charron says, “when it comes to kids and activities in the Greens and Adirondacks, you don’t have to depend on the weather for something fun to do—rain, shine or mud. Don’t get ruffled by the weather—just do it, whatever it is.”

Continued on page 64

AT RIGHT: Author Ashley Charron of Salisbury is surrounded by her popular children book series, “Hello Green Mountains.”

Photo by Lou Varricchio Working as an early childhood educator in Addison County a few years ago, Charron read aloud lots of children’s books. In the process in helping youngsters become engaged with books,

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Charron observed that children responded best to books with big, colorful illustrations, clear text, and fun things to look for on the page. Thus began her creation of a new series of children’s book, called “Hello Green Mountains”, with an unusual hook—local geography and weather.

One of Charron’s goals was to engage Vermont children with stories that take place in the Green Mountain State and involve everyday settings—familiar landscapes and people working or having fun—and story lines that have them coming back for more. The books also provide parents with ideas for children to have fun, especially in the region’s five seasons (yup, mud season is the region’s real and sometimes chimerical fifth season).

“Hello Green Mountains” is a delightful four-season book series about life here in Vermont.

The first volume is titled “Hello Green Mountains: It’s a Soggy Spring.” Last month, the second volume, “Hello Green Mountains: It’s a Winter Wonderland” was published.

The idea behind “Hello Green Mountains” is to include fun adventures in Vermont during our highly distinctive four seasons.

While the books are set in Vermont, the activities are perfectly Continued on page 66

ABOVE: A page from “Hello Green Mountains: It’s a Soggy Spring” showing fun things to do during an unpredictable North Country spring and “mud season.”

Art copyright 2013 by Cotey Gallagher 64 | North Country Living Magazine | Vol. 3 No. 1

ncliving@denpubs.com

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“Spring showers, even onion snow, are going to happen ... so parents have to be ready to keep kids engaged indoors.”

- Ashley Charron

suited for the Adirondack region, too.

Each fictional character in the series should be familiar to most Vermonters—after all, they represent you and me. At the end of the books, blank pages let children creatively jot down their own seasonal journeys wherever they live.

So far, Charron has successfully included local businesses in her books (the product placements are clever and not the least bit intrusive). And the author likes to hide a moose somewhere in each book, so kids and their parents can enjoy the fun, too.

“Aside from the ad placements, there are fun things for children to look for in the books—the moose, even squirrels, cats, dogs, and ducks—which is a little like the old ‘Where’s Waldo’ concept,” she noted. “Kids love to point things out in picture books.”

“Spring showers, even onion snow, are going to happen,” Charron says, “so parents have to be ready to keep kids engaged indoors.”

Ashley lists 10 things for kids to do during an often unpredictable North Country spring. Several of these activities are included in “It’s a Soggy Spring”—

1. Indoor Games, Puzzles, Adventure Story Books & Comic Books

Charron says card games, jigsaw puzzles, adventure and comic books, and board games are tops with kids when stuck indoors.

The idea is to get youngsters off computers and television for a few hours and engage in social interplay.

She likes board games like “Chutes and Ladders” and “Monopoly” and card games like “War”, “Go Fish”, “Hearts” and “Old Maids”. She also finds “Yahtzee”, a game of dice and chance,” an especially fun game to keep kids busy for hours. And then there’s “No Stress Chess”, a new and easy way to learn chess using a series of play cards.

“I was an arts and crafts kid,” she notes, “so I spent endless hours drawing while it was rainy outside.”

2. Biking

“Biking down dirt roads is the best,” Charron notes. “Mud never stops kids. If you’re visiting the North Country, bring bikes or check locally for rentals. Biking in farm country is the best kind of healthy exercise you can imagine. Plus many local farmers are happy to say ‘hello’ and show you around the farm, so for families—even in the rain—don’t let mud season stop you.”

3. Hiking & Walking

“As a kid, I loved to hike to Silver Lake in Salisbury in the spring,” Charron says. “There are many towns with easy, local trails to follow—like the 14-mile-long Trail Around Middlebury.

Many local ponds have trails, too. Climbing Mt. Defiance in Ticonderoga, N.Y., is especially fun. The path is easy, paved and the views of Lake Champlain and the surrounding mountains are simply spectacular from the summit. Bring a picnic lunch and make it a family affair.”

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ncliving@denpubs.com

4. Four Wheeling

ATVs—all-terrain vehicles—are fun, but you have to think about safety, so wear a helmet” Charron says. “Check local businesses for information about renting ATVs and taking the family out for some off roading. And always get permission before crossing private lands.”

5. Maple Syrup Making

“In the early spring, it’s fun to watch the farmers boil the sap and you can get free samples,” Charron notes. “A commercial business like Dakin Farms, located on Route 7 in Ferrisburgh, Vt., is a great place to watch maple syrup being made with plenty of grades to choose from, take home, and pour over pancakes and waffles.”

6. Green Up Day in Vermont

Green Up Day in Vermont is always the first Saturday in May. This year, Green Up Day will be held on May 3.

“Green Up is a non-profit organization that receives only ten percent of their operating budget from cities, towns and Continued on page 68

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FACING PAGE: Sugar houses are great places to visit with children in the springtime.

RIGHT: ATVs are a lot of fun, as long as the correct safety precautions are taken.

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the State of Vermont,” says Charron. “Green Up relies on the generous donations from individuals and businesses to keep the organization going. The first Green Up Day was April 18, 1970.

It was started by Gov. Deane C. Davis. It’s a great way to get kids interested in our environment, be aware of littering, and keeping our planet healthy for future generations.”

7. Sports

“Spring is the time to shake off winter and pull children away from unhealthy video games; get them outside in the sunshine (or rain),” says Charron. “Local drug stores sell whiffle ball sets, small basketballs and footballs; these can be thrown in parking lots or bounced on sidewalks and driveways. Playing Frisbee and Hacky Sack is also fun. Just use your imagination.”

8. Gardening

“Growing up in Vermont, I learned to garden as a child,” Charron says. “My mother would dig the holes and I would add the bulbs and water. Weeding is endless. And planting sunflowers in the back row of the garden is a traditional North Country thing to do.”

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9. Visit a Local Farm

“If you call any of the local chambers of commerce, they will tell you which local farms offer tours and how to get there,” says Charron. “Touring a dairy farm, like Maple View Farm in Cornwall, Vt., or a vegetable farm like the Lester Farm in New Haven, is fun and educational for children and adults, rain or shine.”

10. Visit a History Museum

“Children will have fun learning about the past at many of the local history museums,” Charron notes. “The Shelburne Museum in Shelburne, Vt., the Henry Shelden Museum in Middlebury, Vt., or the Penfield Homestead Museum in Crown Point, N.Y.—even the tiny, award-winning Orwell Historical Society Museum in Orwell, Vt., to name just a few—offer cool exhibits and interactive things for children to learn and do.”

Check It Out: “Hello Green Mountains” books are available at several local retailers in Vermont as well as online at Amazon. com and Barnes and Noble.com. To learn more about her books, visit Outskirts Press.com/hellogreenmountains and Facebook (Moosetrackbooks) online.

ncliving@denpubs.com

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Black Stonefly Nymph

tributaries, along with the St. Regis Canoe Area.

For Hackett, a good fishing location is based on sustainability for the fish and the fisherman.

“Good clean, cold waters, preferably with tumbling rapids or small waterfalls which provide plenty of oxygen and safe cover for the fish are great places to start,” he explains. “The best places are typically off the beaten path, away from the crowds, the highways and all other man-made intrusions. I prefer to fish alone whenever possible and I’d rather catch a dozen small fish and enjoy the action rather than battle just a single big one.”

Another facet of fly fishing is that you can go to one part of the river on one day and fish with much success, but return the following day and get no bites at all.

“It is difficult to pinpoint a specific favorite location, as the rivers and streams are very dynamic,” he said. “They change considerably from year to year depending on the snow pack, the amount of rainfall and temperature variations. I look for areas with good cover, and deep shaded pools.”

Hackett also points to waterfalls as areas where fishermen can find active and alert trout ready for their next meal.

“Waterfalls are essentially giant pumps that infuse oxygen into the water. Trout hang out near falls for the cover and the food. When they hide in the back eddies of a falls, they basically put on a giant oxygen mask, similar to football players on the sidelines. The oxygen rich waters keep them fresh and active and when your fly, or any other potential food item passes by, they are ready to rumble.

“As your fly skitters across the surface, the trout on the sideline of the stream are saying, ‘put me in the game, Coach!

I want some of that action! And the next thing you see is a fish cartwheeling out of the water as the rod bends and your adrenaline flow spikes.”

A key part of any fly fishing expedition is research. You can’t just have any fly on any day and head out to the river and expect a guaranteed catch.

For fly fishermen, the term that everything relies on is being able to, “match the hatch,” or find the right kind of fly for the right time of year.

In the Adirondacks, fly hatches start around the first of May and continue throughout the spring, summer and fall months, 72 | North Country Living Magazine | Vol. 3 No. 1

Hendrickson Dry Fly

Listed here is a hatch chart for Adirondack waters. The main diet for trout, stoneflies, mayflies and caddis flies are found in large numbers in Adirondack waters.

Chart compliments of Joe Hackett, www.adirondacks.com/flyhatches with the last hatches taking place in early October.

For Hackett, matching the hatch comes down to a few specific classifications of flies.

“There are really just three types, dry flies which float on the surface like a real fly with upspent wings.

“The next set are wet flies which are meant to imitate small Continued on page 74

ncliving@denpubs.com

Quill Gordon Dry Fly

Grey Ghost Streamer

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fish, or the nymphs in the larval stage of development.

“Nymphs are fished primarily under the surface of the water to imitate an emerging dry fly. They can also be used in the surface scum, to imitate a struggling insect. The adult version of a nymph usually corresponds to a dry fly.

“Streamer flies are fished under the surface and they are typically intended to imitate minnows, crayfish, leeches, and similar subsurface delicacies. Streams can be cast and retrieved or used for trolling behind the boat.”

Hackett added that it’s not just about the type of fly, but how the angler manipulates it while in the water.

“It is important for anglers to give life to the flies by twitching them erratically in order to imitate wounded bait, and an easy meal,” he says. “The most important lesson is to realize that less is more. Fly fishing is supposed to be a relaxing pursuit, not a rumble in the jungle.

“Too often, I watch anglers cast incessantly without even giving the fish time to look at their fly which is in the air for 95 percent of the day,” Hackett said, noting that is one of the most common mistakes among rookie fly fishermen. “Fish rarely fly, and I’ve never yet caught one in the sky. Anglers must learn to keep their fly on the water for 94 percent of the time, but most beginners just want to cast, cast, cast.”

As for when to fly fish, Hackett says that there is no, ”peak time,” but instead anglers should be looking for the, “peak moment.”

“I prefer to fish on rather still days, that are a bit overcast with

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a light breeze. Bright sun is the bane of the fly fisher, as it causes shadows. Fish instinctively fear shadows, as they are usually an indication that death is coming from above on the wings of an osprey, seagull, or other such critter.

“But there is no denying the fact that certain days and dates are better than others,” he added. “Often it is attributable to weather patterns, and other times it is due to the timing of insect hatches.”

Information on fishing regulations and locations can be found at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservations’ website, dec.ny.gov/outdoor/fishing.html, with specific information on the Adirondack and Lake Champlain region located at the link dec.ny.gov/outdoor/28244.html.

At this website, you can learn about ideal spots to fish, where to gain access, and links for maps and fishing opportunities in Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Saratoga, Warren and Washington counties.

Many of the rivers along Adirondack Roadways can be accessed from parking areas. Some are located within feet of the road while others require a small hike into the woods in order to reach the pristine waters and beautiful colors that abound in the forest.

And, while many of these locations can be found close to home, Hackett said the true joy of fly fishing comes from the chance it gives the angler to get away.

“Mostly I look for solitude and the lack of disturbances or any potential interruptions. We fish to get lost, to get away and forget any worries of the day. When you are pursuing trout with a small fly and a willowy rod, nothing else matters.”

ncliving@denpubs.com

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