NYSOGA weekend

NYSOGA weekend

by | Mar 29, 2011 | Uncategorized |

This weekend the 2011 NYS Outdoor Guides Association Rendezvous proved to include all the fun of a day on trail.  Saturday I took a group of visiting guides and new friends for a spectacular if short climb up Owl’s Head in Lake Placid.  Pictured are Janice Joyce, Jim Zach, Donald McDonald, Dana Bol, Hank Rope and Phyllis Whittemore. Later in the day an equally distinguished group photo was taken of NYSOGA guides who were among the charter members when NYSOGA formed in 1981.   NYSOGA celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2011. These guides are all special men who have given hours to shepherd the tradition of guiding in a positive direction.  Thank you for your dedication, your hard work and your willingness to chat with those of us who are following...
Time for the Grouse to Come Out and Play

Time for the Grouse to Come Out and Play

by | Mar 27, 2011 | Living With Wilderness |

Two or three times this winter when I was skiing, I jumped back when a rocket shot out of the snow where I nearly missed planting my pole on a grouse that had buried itself to keep warm. Grouse are interesting — they mark their territory and attract a mate by making a loud drumming sound, and they grow funny bristle-like things on their feet to use as snowshoes in winter. Although grouse are usually drumming by now, this year the logs in the forest where you’d hear drumming are still under snow in much of the North Country. Read the full...

Snowy Spring

by | Mar 21, 2011 | Uncategorized |

Hard to believe but the snow is coming down again.  I have been hoping to trim my grape vines and give the spirea a spring haircut but they are still under too much snow.  This weekend I did uncover the hat and scarf that had melted from the huge snowman in the yard.  Yesterday it was 50 degrees and so sunshiny I was skiing in one layer at Whiteface and  I saw and heard the first Red-winged blackbirds of the season.  Today I am stoking the fire again.  Looking forward to the New York State Outdoor Guide Association Rendezvous next...
Great day for Van Hoevenberg Trailmarkers

Great day for Van Hoevenberg Trailmarkers

by | Mar 18, 2011 | Uncategorized |

Today may have been the last day at Van Hoevenberg for the Trailmarkers program for this year.  It was a gorgeous day and the students might have thought they needed their bathing suits when they got off the bus and saw the water draining off the stadium into the parking area.  The temperature was almost 50. I taught a great group of seven 3rd grade girls from Cumberland Head.  Only one had been skiing before so I was incredibly surprised to see them ALL skiing like pros in a very short amount of time.  It is a beautiful and satsifying thing to see children fall in love with X-country skiing.  They can enjoy it for the rest of their lives.  I think all these girls were hooked.  The trails are fantastic and the snow in the woods is holding up.  I’m going to try to get back once or twice before it’s time to get on my...