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AROUND THE REGION / NEWS BRIEFS

Snowshoe Races for Diabetes
Adirondack Winter Carnivals
Masters 5K Cross-Country Champions
West Mountain Adult Racing League
Unit Management Plan Meetings
ESPN Winter X Games
The Yellow Bike Project
Catskill Ski Areas

Snowshoe Races for Diabetes

Winter Treks for Diabetes is a three event series of snowshoe races in the central Adirondacks. In addition to benefiting a good cause, racers will discover the exciting sport of snowshoe racing. While the events are billed as races, participation is encouraged for all ability levels — enter to finish or for fitness and fun.

The series includes: The Great Gore Mountain Raquette Race in North Creek on January 21, Le Shoe de Blue in Blue Mountain Lake on February 11, and the Garnet Hill Snowshoe Challenge in North River on March 11.

The Great Gore Mountain Raquette Race is 4-miles long, beginning at the ski center base lodge. For information call (518) 251-2411. The Le Shoe de Blue race ascends the hiking trail on Blue Mountain and back, for a total of 5.5-miles and 1,800 feet of elevation gain. The race starts and finishes at the trailhead parking area; call (518) 648-5112 for information. The Garnet Hill Snowshoe Challenge is a 5.5-mile loop with 350 feet of climbing. For information call (518) 251-2444.

If you're new to snowshoeing, it's no problem. Discount equipment rentals will be available at the Garnet Hill Ski Shop in North River. You can register online at www.active.com.

Free one-half mile kids races will be featured at The Great Gore Mountain Raquette Race and the Garnet Hill Snowshoe Challenge. All children who participate receive a prize, and loaner snowshoes will be available for kids use during the race (first come-first served).

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Adirondack Winter Carnivals

It's that time of the year, here's a listing of events, dates and contact information for a number of winter carnivals around the region. In January, the Grafton Lakes State Park Winter Festival is on the 27th (518-279-1155). In Inlet, the Winter Fest is January 20-21 (315-357-5501).

In February, the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival, the oldest winter festival in the eastern United States, will celebrate its 104th anniversary when it returns from 2nd-11th, 2001 (800-347-1992. The Lake George Regional Winter Carnival will take place on weekends from February 3-25 (518-668-5755). The Saratoga Spa State Park Winterfest is February 2-4 (518-584-3255). The Malone Winter Carnival is February 1-5 (518-483-3760).

In mid-February, the Indian Lake Winter Festival is scheduled for the 16th-18th (800-328-5253). In Old Forge, the Winter Carnival & Snowflake Derby is February 16-18 (315-369-6983). Last, but not least, the Raquette Lake Winter Carnival will take place on February 17-18 (518-624-3077).

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Masters 5K Cross-Country Champions

Tom Dalton and friends were more than competitive in the USATF National Masters 5K Cross-Country Championships in Holmdel Park, NJ on November 19th. Dalton, 42 years old from Rotterdam, captured the solo title, his first national championship with a time of 15:38 over a hilly course. He led an Adirondack Athletic Club team of 40-49 year-olds to the victory. The 50-59 year old Adirondack Athletic Club team members finished second in their age class. Team scores are tallied by combining the times of each teams top five finishers. Here are the race results for the top five members of each team:

On November 25th, Tom Dalton won the Men’s Masters in 30:48 at the 10K National Cross-Country Championship at Franklin Park in Boston. "I've never won a national championship," Dalton said, "Now, I've won two in one week. Winning this race is special because you are competing against the best in the country. It's great. I am on cloud nine." Rich Coughlin (12th, 32:55) was the second-best Adirondack runner.

- Times Union

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West Mountain Adult Racing League

All adult ski and snowboard enthusiasts interested in participating in a fun-oriented racing league are invited to participate in this 6-week series held on Tuesday nights, beginning on January 9th through February 15. Handicap scoring "levels the playing field." Anyone can win! The registration fee includes all entry fees, lift tickets, racing bib, kickoff party, and series final banquet. 4-person teams may enter or enter individually and West will find a team for you. Proceeds to benefit area junior ski racing program. For information call (518) 793-6606 ext. 213.

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Unit Management Plan Meetings

In mid-January 2001, you will have the best opportunity in 20 years to speak up for the Adirondacks and Catskills. The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation is drafting Unit Management Plans (UMPs) for many areas of the Forest Preserves. These plans will determine how the forests will be managed for decades to come. DEC has scheduled six public meetings around the state to hear your opinions. The Capital District meeting will be held on January 25, 2001 from 5-9pm at the Guilderland Town Hall, 5209 Route 20, Guilderland. For more information call (518) 356-1980.

Adirondack UMPs in the pipeline include: Siamese Ponds Wilderness, Bog River Flow Complex, Ferris Lake Wild Forest, Vanderwhacker Wild Forest, Wilcox Lake Wild Forest, Moose River Plains Wild Forest, Dix Mountain Wilderness, Giant Mountain Wilderness, Independence River Wild Forest, Saranac Lakes Wild Forest, Split Rock Mountain, Watsons East Triangle, and the Whitney Wilderness.

- ADK Cloudsplitter (Albany Chapter)

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ESPN Winter X Games

The ESPN Winter X Games will return to Mount Snow Resort February 1-4. The Winter X Games features the talents of more than 350 international athletes competing in winter alternative sports such as snowboarding, snowmobile snocross, and skiing. The 2000 Winter X Games at Mount Snow shattered attendance records, attracting 83,500 people and outdrawing all other Winter X Games combined. For more information, visit www.expn.go.com.

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The Yellow Bike Project

The Albany Direct Action Collective is organizing a community free-bike program, the Yellow Bike Project, and they need your help. Please donate your time to help fix bikes (they will train you) or donate bikes and parts you have taking up space in your garage. To learn more, contact Andee at (518) 489-9188 or freebikerevolution@hotmail.com.

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Catskill Ski Areas

The www.CatskillGetaways.com web site represents tourism services in the Catskill Region, which is comprised of four counties — Delaware, Greene, Sullivan, and Ulster — about an hour south of Albany. Click on Ski Catskills for information on eight alpine ski areas or Winter Activities for upcoming sports and events.

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