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JUNE 2000 Feature Articles From The Publisher Around The Region Athlete Profiles Classifieds

• Mountain Biking in the Adirondacks
  By Darryl Caron
  
• Now let’s get out and ride!
  Rules of the Trail
  
• Touring the Lake Champlain Bikeways
  By Donna Smallin
  
• Adirondack Day Hikes: Pine Orchard
  By Barbara McMartin
  
• Guidelines for Day Hikers
  

By Darryl Caron

If you enjoy mountain biking and the natural beauty the Adirondack Region has to offer, you’ve found the perfect place to play. The region has terrain that varies from flat and meandering to steep and technical that challenge beginners and experienced riders alike. Adirondack mountain biking has long been a well-kept secret, but word is spreading of the accessible trails and a wide variety of destinations.

Within the Adirondack Park, the Forest Preserve is managed and protected by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Regulations prohibit mountain bike use in wilderness, primitive and canoe areas. However, bikes are allowed on most – not all – trails in wild forest areas.

Here’s a preview of Adirondack Region mountain bike centers, state parks and trail systems describing what’s new, what’s unique, and what’s not.

In the Northern Adirondacks, the Mt. Van Hoevenberg Sports Complex, used for the 1980 Olympic Winter Games, has over 30 miles of cross-country ski trails that are great for mountain bikers of all ages and experience levels. Beginners will like the fact that trails are labeled by difficulty level. The many trails cover a whole range of elevation changes; you could do a lot of climbing after spending a day of riding. The High Peaks Mountain Bike Center is daily during the summer from June 17 to September 4, and weekends during the fall from September 9 – October 8. The hours are 10:00am – 5:00pm. The center includes bikes and accessories for purchase. Rentals, lessons and private guiding are also available. For 2000, the center is hosting dirt camps, a beginner race camp, full moon rides, and races. For more information, call 518-523-1402 or 518-523-3764 or visit www.highpeakscyclery.com.

In Wilmington, the Whiteface Mountain biking season runs from June 17 to October 9, open daily from 9:00am – 4:30pm. The mountain has an extensive variety of single- and double-track terrain and gravel work roads. You can ride around trails at the base of the mountain or traverse trails on the mountain. Maps of the trail system are available. Whiteface also offers great scenery and lift service on the new Cloudsplitter Gondola. They are hosting a number of festivals and a mountain bike race this year. Bike rentals and guide services are available. For more information, call toll free 888-WHITEFACE (944-8332), 518-946-2255 or visit www.whiteface.com.

In the southwestern Adirondacks, the Inlet and Old Forge areas (just ten miles apart) offer the perfect destination. This region has some of the best riding available anywhere for beginners, intermediate, and advanced riders. The great variety of terrain originates from the extensive snowmobile trails Old Forge has recently opened over 100 miles of their trail system to mountain bikers. These trails allow riders to penetrate deep into the forest, by scenic lakes or ride as far as Eagle Bay and Big Moose. The Inlet area also hosts the very successful Black Fly Challenge race on June 11, 2000, a 40-mile end-to-end ride across the Moose River Plains Recreation area to Indian Lake. At Fern Park in Inlet, site of the Adirondack Mountain Bike Festival, there are trails that weave there way through forest for all levels of ability. If you don’t have your bike, rentals are available locally. For Old Forge information, call 315-369-6983 visit www.oldforgeny.com, or for Inlet information, call 315-357-5501 or visit www.hamiltoncounty.com.

In the southeastern Adirondacks, Gore Mountain in North Creek has plenty of extensive and varied terrain and lift service on the new eight-passenger Northwoods Gondola. For 2000, they have expanded the number of trails including single track, open trails, and gravel work roads. Gore is hosting a Fall Foliage Festival & Sports Extravaganza Columbus Day weekend including the NYS Cross Country Finals October 1. Discover mountain biking clinics are available and the trails can also be used for hiking. Rental bikes are available from The Mountain & Boardertown, in nearby North Creek. Open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from June 30 to September 3, and Saturday-Sunday from September 9 to October 9, 10:30am - 5:30pm. For more information, call 518-251-2411 or visit www.goremountain.com.

In summer, Garnet Hill Lodge and Cross-Country Ski Center in North River opens its 30-miles of ski trails to mountain biking, including old roads and great single-track trails. Their bike shop offers bike rentals including bikes for children. They host a mountain bike race September 17. Garnet Hill also offers a unique bike down – ride back shuttle bus service on selected days. For more information, call 518-251-2444 or visit www.garnet-hill.com.

In the Capital District region, Grafton Lakes State Park in Grafton has long been one of the top destinations for riders of all abilities within 30 minutes of Albany. The park hosts Mohawk Hudson Cycling Club (MHCC) rides year-around and their Mountain Bike Festival, September 16, 2000. There a wide variety of exhilarating rides on trails including the technical Spruce Bog Trail and a scenic ride to the Fire Tower. The layout of the park allows for rides of varying lengths and difficulties. You can take an easy gravel road ride or challenge yourself with on rides which you will encounter rocky single track, mudholes, rock ledges, and severe climbs and descents. Within the park there are a couple of places to pick up trail maps. Near Grafton, MHCC has built some new trails in the Pittstown State Forest described as "classic rocky New England single-track" with some great views of the upper Taconic Range. For more information, call 518-279-1155.

In Albany, the Pine Bush Preserve can be very sandy, but can be excellent in the spring or after it rains. Riders share the trails with the occasional hiker and bird- and butterfly-watchers, so be aware of others. The best riding, and the least traffic, is in the western part of the preserve from the trailhead at the end of Washington Avenue Extension (near the water tower). The terrain is not overly technical but there is some fun, rolling single-track riding. The lack of technical terrain makes the Pine Bush an ideal place for fun night rides. The majority of trails are single- or double-track, with a few wider fire roads.

In Voorheesville, the John Boyd Thatcher State Park rests on one of the world’s richest fossil-bearing formations. Within the park there are a couple of places to pick up trail maps, so be sure to find out which trails are open to mountain bikers. There are a nice variety of wooded single- and double-track trails, and the views from the Indian Ladder Trail (not open to riders) are beautiful. Park hours are 8:00am – dusk. For more information, call 518-872-1237.

It’s a good idea to carry a quality, easy-to-read map created for outdoor recreation purposes that contains the graphical features necessary. The "Adirondack Series of Maps" created by Adirondack Maps, Inc. of Keene Valley provides comprehensive coverage of the vast recreational opportunities in the Adirondack Mountains. They are often found in outdoor sport shops. The Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK) is also an excellent source for maps that can be purchased with or without ADK’s guidebooks to the regions covered by the maps.

There are three widely available mountain bike books that provide good sources of information: 25 Mountain Bike Tours in the Adirondacks by Peter Kick (Backcountry Publications, 1999), Mountain Biking New York by Michael Margulis (Falcon Publishing, 1997), and The Adirondack Park Mountain Bike Preliminary Trail and Route Listing (ADK).

Before you head out, make sure you have packed the proper tools, patch kit, spare tube, and pump. Be aware, terrain changes fast and can be hazardous at any moment. It makes good sense to carry a small first aid kit as cuts and abrasions are common. Most important, carry plenty of water and food in case you spend more time in the woods than you originally planned.

This overview features some of the most popular Adirondack mountain bike destinations to get you started. In future issues we will be highlighting lesser known individual trails and destinations around the region.

I also encourage you to get to support and seek the local knowledge of Adirondack and Capital-Saratoga bike shops; they are always a great source of local trail and access information. Many of them also rent bicycles if you are visiting and do not have your own bike. If you prefer riding with others and the opportunity to meet new friends, check out the Events Calendar for a list of organized mountain bike rides and races around the region.

1. RIDE ON OPEN TRAILS ONLY.
Respect trail and road closures (ask if not sure), avoid possible trespass on private land, obtain permits or other authorization as may be required. Federal and state Wilderness areas are closed to cycling. The way you ride will influence trail management decisions and policies.

2. LEAVE NO TRACE.
Be sensitive to the dirt beneath you. Even on open (legal) trails, you should not ride under conditions where you will leave evidence of your passing, such as on certain soils after a rain. Recognize different types of soils and trail construction; practice low-impact cycling. This also means staying on existing trails and not creating new ones. Don’t cut switchbacks. Be sure to pack out at least as much as you pack in.

3. CONTROL YOUR BICYCLE!
Inattention for even a second can cause problems. Obey all bicycle speed regulations and recommendations.

4. ALWAYS YIELD TRAIL.
Make known your approach well in advance. A friendly greeting or bell is considerate and works well, don’t startle others. Show your respect when passing by slowing to a walking pace or even stopping. Anticipate other trail users around corners or in blind spots.

5. NEVER SPOOK ANIMALS.
An unannounced approach, a sudden movement, or a loud noise startles all animals. This can be dangerous for you, others, and the animals. Give animals extra room and time to adjust to you. When passing horses use special care and follow directions from the horseback riders (ask if uncertain). Running cattle and disturbing wildlife is a serious offense. Leave gates as you found them, or as marked.

6. PLAN AHEAD.
Know your equipment, your ability, and the area in which you are riding -- and prepare accordingly. Be self-sufficient at all times, keep your equipment in good repair, and carry necessary supplies for changes in weather or other conditions. A well-executed trip is a satisfaction to you and not a burden or offense to others. Always wear a helmet and appropriate safety gear.

KEEP TRAILS OPEN BY SETTING A GOOD EXAMPLE OF ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND AND SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE OFF-ROAD CYCLING.

If you have any questions or comments, you can contact IMBA at:
IMBA, PO Box 7578, Boulder, CO 80306-7578 USA 303/545-9011 or www.imba.com

by Donna Smallin

Looking for a simple and relaxing summer vacation? Or an unforgettable day trip? You’ve got it. Just grab your bicycle, hop on the Lake Champlain Bikeways, and explore the heart and soul of the peaceful Champlain Valley.

What started as a 350-mile loop around Lake Champlain has grown into a 1,100-mile network of interconnected bicycle routes throughout the Champlain Valley. It’s a network that spans the entire length of the lake – from the southern Adirondacks in New York and the Green Mountains of Vermont all the way north to the Upper Richelieu Valley of Québec.

If you really want to get to know this region, Lake Champlain Bikeways is the way to go.

In addition to routes for cyclists of all ages and abilities, it offers panoramic lake and mountain views, lightly traveled roads, and renowned points of interests in every direction.

Something for everyone

Hard-core cycling enthusiasts find it difficult to resist the challenge of making a complete loop around the lake on the principal loop known as Champlain Bikeway. But the network offers plenty of options for shorter excursions.

Four ferry crossings and two bridges allow cyclists to make an abbreviated loop around the lake. From Essex, New York, for example, you can ferry across to Charlotte, Vermont, then pedal north to Burlington, ferry back across the lake to Port Kent, and return to Essex for a round trip of about 41 miles.

The network also includes 26 themed loops that connect with the Champlain Bikeway. Many of these loops begin and end at ferry crossings for convenient access from both sides of the lake. Every loop has its own story to tell about the area’s history, culture and natural resources.

Acres of Apples, for example, is a 24.4-mile tour that begins and ends at the Port Kent Ferry Dock. This particular loop takes cyclists through the second largest apple growing territory in the United States. Highlights include expansive views of apple orchards, roadside farm stands, and a spectacular view of a river-carved gorge at Ausable Chasm.

Connecting theme loops range in distance from five to 60 miles on a combination of paved and unpaved roads. On the New York side of the lake, most of the unpaved roads are hard-packed with wollastonite tailings. This fibrous material, which is mined locally, makes for a relatively smooth ride on cross bikes or touring bikes with reasonably substantial tires.

For some routes, mountain bikes or cross bikes are a must. Stony Lonesome, which starts at the Penfield Museum in Ironville, New York is a perfect example. This 16.5-mile loop takes cyclists on mostly unpaved roads through hills and valleys as well as open and wooded terrain that is definitely not for road bikes.

A number of loops on the Adirondack Coast of Lake Champlain allow opportunities for swimming, hiking or wildlife watching. Wet & Wild is a 36.3-mile, day-long ride that leads cyclists down (and up!) some of the most remote paved roads in the Adirondacks. The starting point is at the Iron Center in Port Henry. Coon Mountain Circuit, an 18.5-mile loop, includes a one-mile hike up Coon Mountain for breathtaking views of Lake Champlain and the surrounding valley. Cyclists can start and end in Essex or in Westport, which has an Amtrak station.

Even beginning cyclists and families can join in the thrill of exploring the Champlain Valley on two wheels. On the Champlain Bikeway from Point Au Roche State Park to Coopersville is a quiet, flat, and scenic 13.3-mile section that hugs the shoreline. Vermont’s Isle La Motte, one of the Lake Champlain Islands, is another excellent choice. The 10.1-mile loop that begins at St. Anne’s Shrine also features a sandy beach for swimming.

Before you go

The best way to plan your cycling tour is to visit the Lake Champlain Bikeways Web site at champlainbikeways.org where you can select tours by area and get a quick overview of the terrain and attractions as well as directions.

Be sure to request the Directory of Bicycle-Friendly Accommodations and Services in the Champlain Valley. This comprehensive directory includes hundreds of accommodations in New York, Vermont, and Quebec ranging from lakeside campgrounds to charming B&Bs and country inns to luxury hotels and recreational resorts. This publication also provides contact information for a dozen bicycle touring companies, many of which operate inn-to-inn tours with a shuttle for your luggage. Other free publications available include theme loop maps and guides as well as train and ferry schedules.

Intermediate cyclists are invited to join a special 150-mile tour scheduled for September 9-10. Bike Champlain 2000! will begin in Burlington, Vermont with an overnight stay in Plattsburgh, New York. The tour will return to Burlington through the Lake Champlain Islands. The registration fee of $125 includes two dinners, ferry passes, a T-shirt and water bottle and luggage shuttle.

For more information about Lake Champlain Bikeways or Bike Champlain 2000!, go online to champlainbikeways.org. You also may fax your request to (518) 597-4648 or write to Champlain Bikeways Clearinghouse, c/o Lake Champlain Visitors Center, RR1, Box 220, Bridge Road, Crown Point, NY 12928.

Adirondack Day Hikes: Pine Orchard
By Barbara McMartin

The Adirondack region is a crazy quilt of patches of public lands called the Forest Preserve that are interspersed with private lands. The Forest Preserve tracts are all very different, each one unique. Those in the southern Adirondacks are full of many special places for those who want a quiet walk through the woods to contemplate the wonders of nature. Sure there are a lot of walks with mountain views and a few waterfalls with marked trails, and there are even more wonderful destinations with no trails at all.

The Wilcox Lake Wild Forest, a huge chunk of state land that stretches from Route 30 to Stony Creek, from north of the Great Sacandaga Lake to NY 8 has few hiking trails, but a lot of snowmobile trails that in summer will lead you to more adventures than you can imagine. The Wilcox Lake area is typical of the state’s wild forests: roads penetrate its interior and private homes along many of the boundary roads limit access. So it is a surprise to find a trail that begins on private land where the owner not only lets hiker’s park and walk, but he encourages them. And, the trail that starts in James Flater’s front yard leads to one of my favorite places in the entire Adirondacks.

Pine Orchard is a knoll with an unusual history. A very old road that traversed the knoll dates back to the early nineteenth century. Parts of the forest along the road were logged a long time ago and, in fact, there are parts that today appear as if they never had been logged. For a strange reason Pine Orchard was spared. Nature had destroyed the forest on the knoll with a tremendous windstorm like those we have experienced in the past few years. These winds came from the hurricane of 1815 and they leveled the knoll. Pines reestablish best when the soil has been disturbed and thus many pines sprouted on the knoll. They were of course too small to attract early lumbermen. Then nature dealt a second blow. Sometime, when the trees here were fairly small, a blight hit. The trees kept growing, but because the tops of many were gone, the trees branched, making two or three trunks in a clump. Now, lumbermen don’t want pines that do not have tall, straight, single trunks. So they never cut these trees. They probably would not have logged them anyway, because sometime early in the nineteenth century this land became Forest Preserve, meaning that no trees could ever be cut there again.

So, this short walk will lead you to a stand of the largest pines you will find in the southern Adirondacks. One tree is so large that three people, arms outstretched, cannot reach around it. Other trees are filling in among the old pines. On the southern slopes you will find spruce trees of enormous size for spruce (they never get much above 30 inches in diameter). On the knoll’s northern slopes you will find magnificent hemlocks. Also interspersed among the pines are large maples that came along after the pines were big enough to shade them when they were young.

To find the trail, drive to Wells on NY 30 and just before the road turns to cross the Sacandaga River, head straight ahead on Griffen Road. Follow that road for 0.7 mile and turn right on Windfall Road and follow it for just over a mile to a fork. Take the right fork and follow it for two miles. The dirt road narrows and climbs until you see a sign at the side of the road "visitors parking." Mr. Flater, retired Colonie police chief, and his family have put that there for walkers. Park and continue on the road, following it across his front lawn until you reach state land. Just beyond the state land boundary, a snowmobile trail comes in on your right and the marked trail continues generally northeast. The first 0.8 mile of trail is generally downhill through young forest to a bridge, then the trail winds through more mature forest to a second stream crossing in another 0.6 mile. After the trail makes a sharp bend to the northwest, it begins to climb the knoll.

You will find the tallest pines near the top of the knoll. Walk a little farther along the trail to enjoy the forest, but turn around and walk back to your car. The continuing route is a long walk all the way to NY 8, too much for a short day outing. If you see Mr. stop and say "hello," and "thank you" for letting the begin the walk here. The beginning of the snowmobile trail in Wells makes even this a much longer and less interesting walk than many people would enjoy. Make sure you disturb nothing and leave no trace of your presence on his land or on state land.

The walk to cover the knoll and return is less than five miles, quite easy, and should take under three hours. But go slow enough to enjoy the forest, the understory of spring flowers, and the quiet. You wont find much better stand of forest in the Adirondacks that is so accessible.

Barbara McMartin is author of many guides to the Adirondacks and several histories. If you want more information on the Wilcox Lake Wild Forest, consult her book Discover the Southeastern Adirondacks. To learn more about the park, read Adirondack Park: A Wildlands Quilt. Both books are available from North Country Books (315) 735-4877, or your local bookseller.

Guidelines for Day Hikers

This information is provided to ensure a safe and enjoyable backcountry trip and lessen your impact on the environment.

Plan your trip carefully. Learn about the area ahead of time. Read the trail guide description of the hike you will be taking and review the appropriate topographic maps. Assess the difficulty and length of the time needed to complete the trip and check weather reports before you set out. Dress and equip yourself for the expected conditions. Always carry the latest guidebooks and maps.

Never hike alone. Companions are for safety as well as for sharing the scenery and fun. Each person in the party should know what to do in an emergency. Forest rangers recommend a minimum party size of three persons. In case of an accident, at least one person should remain with the injured person while others in the group should carefully note the location and contact the local forest ranger.

File a trip plan. Let a responsible person at home know what kind of car you are driving (make, color, license plate number), what your route will be and how long you will be gone. Always sign in at the trail registers. If you do not return by the designated time, the DEC should be notified.

Carry out what you carry in. Carry a garbage bag and consider picking up trash left by others. Leaving the forest cleaner than you found it is a gesture of good trail etiquette. Burial is not an acceptable method of disposal.

Carry water. Each person should carry a minimum of two quarts of water in an unbreakable bottle. Drink plenty of fluids during strenuous activity; especially in the winter and summer.

Purify water. All water sources must be considered contaminated by giardia protozoan that can cause severe sickness including diarrhea. For longer hikes, pack iodine tablets or a water purifier/filter. Or bring water to a rolling boil on a portable stove for a full five minutes to kill contaminants.

Use proper sanitation methods. Use a privy where one is provided. Bury human wastes under four inches of soil at least 150 feet from the trail or any water source.

Keep dry and warm. Be ready for wind and rain (or snow), pack rain and wind gear, gloves and a hat. Know the signs of hypothermia. Avoid cotton clothing especially in spring, fall and winter hiking. Cotton has no insulating ability when wet and takes a long time to dry. Wear wool, polypropylene or polyfleece for warmth.

Wear sturdy boots and appropriate clothing. Trail hiking differs considerably from walking on roads. The trails are often rough with rocks and exposed roots, and there are sections of trail that are wet and muddy most of the time. Good ankle-high boots can support your ankles, give you traction and keep your feet dry. Clothing should be loose fitting and give protection from wind, rain and cold.

Pack sunscreen, insect repellent and/or a headnet. A baseball hat, for the sun, and a long-sleeved shirt and lightweight nylon pants are a good idea during buggy seasons.

Pack a map and compass. Each person in the group should have both and know how to use them. Guidebook trail descriptions are useful for finding unmarked overlooks and for following poorly marked sections of trail. Stay oriented; know where you are. Summer trails can easily disappear under leaves and snow.

Pack a flashlight with extra batteries, a whistle and waterproof matches. Even if it is only for a day trip! Sometimes a hike takes longer than expected, a flashlight provides the only means to get out of the woods after dark. If lost you can’t shout for long, but a whistle can be blown almost indefinitely. The signal for help is three consecutive blasts on the whistle. A smoky fire is one of the best ways to let search and rescue teams know where you are.

Be prepared. Pack a first aid kit that includes ace bandages (to support tired joints) and moleskin (for blisters). Bring a jackknife, space blanket, extra protective clothing and high energy food items. A waterproof tarp and 30 feet of nylon cord can be used to erect an emergency shelter.

Alpine summits deserve your respect. On alpine summits walk only on rocks and avoid trampling fragile alpine vegetation. Join in the effort to save the endangered alpine plants. Extreme wind and weather is common on open summits.

Use caution and wear protective clothing. Observe and enjoy wildlife and plant life but leave them undisturbed. Picking, collecting or damaging living plants and trees on public lands is against the law.

Welcome to Adirondack Sports & Fitness!

So, why start an outdoor sports and fitness magazine? For the past 15 years, I’ve spent much of my free time outdoors in the Adirondacks, mostly as a bicyclist, runner, hiker and skier. For me, exercise and fitness is not a competitive sport but a means to explore wild places – and stay fit in less time.

Welcome to Adirondack Sports & Fitness, an outdoor recreation and fitness publication covering the Adirondack Park and greater Capital-Saratoga region of New York State. Our goal is to be the authoritative source for information regarding individual, aerobic, life-long sports and fitness throughout the area.

We aspire to fill our pages with invigorating articles and inspiring photographs of in-season sports, regional destinations, and special events. You’ll also find insightful articles on regional news briefs, a comprehensive calendar of events, Web site reviews, athlete profiles, training, nutrition, race results, and useful reviews.

Adirondack Sports & Fitness is published monthly, 12-times per year, at the beginning of each month. It’s available free at 300 locations throughout eastern New York and neighboring towns in Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Jersey. Or, subscriptions are available if you would like to receive a copy in your mailbox.

We will cover cross-country skiing, hiking, running, mountain biking, road biking, downhill skiing, snowboarding, weightlifting, swimming, camping, backpacking, canoeing, in-line skating, snowshoeing, triathlon, kayaking, tennis, golf, aerobics, rock/ice climbing, and telemark skiing.

Adirondack Sports & Fitness is designed for recreational athletes like me, just as it is for marathoners and adventure racers. Our mission is to inspire and educate athletes of all levels, whether they are at the top of their sport or, like me, slow and loving it.

Please say hello when you see me out there. Enjoy the premier issue and I look forward to your comments.

Darryl Caron

• Special Olympics Summer Games Returns to Albany
• Avoid Trails Above 3,000 feet until Mid-June
• Closed Trails in High Peaks and Dix Mountain Areas
• Public Camping Reservations
• Saratoga Tree Nursery
• Special Regulations for the High Peaks Wilderness
• Adirondack Upgrades
• ADK Gearing Up for Trail Work Season
• National Trails Day—June 3, 2000
• Canoeing and Kayaking Resources
• Adirondack Travel Information
• Isuzu Ironman USA Lake Placid Sold Out
• 23rd Annual Whiteface Mountain Uphill Footrace
  
  

Special Olympics Summer Games Returns to UAlbany

More than 2,200 athletes and coaches will arrive at the University at Albany on Thursday, June 15, for the start of the 2000 Summer Games - a three-day event that will mark the 30th anniversary of Special Olympics New York.

From the Opening Ceremonies through the competitions and Victory Dance on Saturday, these Games will capture all the courage and athletic achievement that has become synonymous with Special Olympics in its first 30 years,” said Neal J. Johnson, SONY president and chief executive officer. “We are proud to showcase our athletes in the Capital Region, and we invite everyone to come out and cheer them on.”

Opening Ceremonies, which begin at 8 p.m., will include the inspirational Parade of Athletes and performances by Brittney Kissinger, 11, of Ballston Spa, who played the title character in the 20th Anniversary production of Annie on Broadway. The Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR), the lighting of the Olympic Cauldron and a spectacular fireworks display also are planned.

Competitions begin Friday, June 16 and continue through June 17 at UAlbany and at four other venues in the Capital Region, including Siena College in Loudonville (Volleyball and Basketball Skills), Yury’s Gym, Rollarama and Sunset Lanes. Spectators and athletes at UAlbany will find music, food, a sports clinic for athletes, and shopping in the Olympic Village on Friday and Saturday. The Victory Dance will take place following Saturday’s competitions.

The Summer Games is one of three statewide competitions held annually by Special Olympics New York (SONY) and one of 400 competitions held annually throughout the state. Athletes pay nothing to participate. All competitions are free and open to the public. Special Olympics New York provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in 22 Olympic-style sports for nearly 40,000 children and adults with mental retardation and closely related developmental disabilities.

Special Olympics Programs are run almost entirely by volunteers. For information on volunteering for Special Olympics New York, please contact the volunteer department at 518-388-0792, or call 800-836-NYSO.

Avoid Trails Above 3,000 feet until Mid-June

Enjoy the region’s beautiful mountains and lakes, but high elevation trails in the Adirondacks are very muddy this spring due to snowmelt and rain. Hiker’s boots in the high country at this time of year can disturb the soft ground, damage vegetation and cause erosion. The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is asking hikers to voluntarily avoid trails above 3,000 feet in elevation until mid-June, particularly the high elevation trails in the Dix, Giant, and High Peaks Wilderness Areas of the northern Adirondacks. Hikers are advised to use trails at lower elevations, these trails usually dry soon after snowmelt and are on less erosive soils than the higher peaks.

Avoid the following trails until conditions improve:

• High Peaks Wilderness Area - all trails above 3,000 feet; wet muddy snow conditions still prevail, specifically: Algonquin, Colden, Feldspar, Gothics, Indian Pass, Lake Arnold Cross-Over, Marcy, Marcy Dam - Avalanche - Lake Colden which is extremely wet, Phelps Trail above John Brook Lodge, Range Trail, Skylight, Wright and all “trail-less” peaks.
• Dix Wilderness - all trails above Elk Lake and Round Pond
• Giant Wilderness - all trails above Giant’s Washbowl, “the Cobbles,” and Owls Head. Some alternative trails suggested for hiking, depending on the weather, are listed below.
• Debar Mt. Wild Forest: Azure Mt.
• Giant Mt. Wilderness: Giant’s Washbowl & Roaring Brook Falls
• High Peaks Wilderness: Ampersand Mt., Cascade, Big Slide, Brothers, Porter from Cascade (stay off other approaches).
• Hurricane Primitive Area: The Crows & Hurricane Mt. (from Route 9N).
• McKenzie Mt. Wilderness: Haystack Mt. & McKenzie Mt.
• Pharaoh Lake Wilderness: Pharaoh Mt.
• Saranac Lakes Wild Forest: Baker Mt., Panther Mt., Scarface Mt.
• Taylor Pond Wild Forest: Poke-O-Moonshine

Another option for experienced hikers is to try a bushwack hike up many of the small mountains with great views. Bring and use your map and compass.

Closed Trails in High Peaks and Dix Mountain Areas

The following trails in the High Peaks Wilderness Area and Dix Mountain Wilderness Area are closed until further notice:

• Elk Lake trail to Panther Gorge
• Trail from Elk Lake to Dix Mtn
• The Big Pond trail from Hoffman Rd. to Hoffman Notch Trail and Taylor Pond Loop in the Hoffman Notch Wilderness Area has been cleared.

Public Camping Reservations

The NYS Department of Environ-mental Conservation (DEC) operates 43 campgrounds in the Adirondack Mountain Forest Preserve, that provide a wide variety of experiences from island camping to tent and trailer camping. Most campgrounds also provide boat launch facilities, hiking trails, and day use areas with picnic tables and grills.

To get detailed information or to make a reservation for any campground, please call 1-800-456-CAMP (1-800-456-2267), or visit the Reserve America web site at www.reserveamerica.com. For more information about DEC operated campgrounds and day use areas, call (518) 457-2500.

Saratoga Tree Nursery

More than 1.6 billion seedlings have been produced to enhance and protect our forest resources. Tree planting is a positive environmental task that can be accomplished with little time and money and doesn’t require technical training to be successful. For this reason, small projects are very popular. The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation encourages planting of trees and shrubs by providing nursery service to provide low cost, quality trees that are easily available. For more information, contact the Saratoga Tree Nursery, 2369 Route 50, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866, (518) 581-1439.

Special Regulations for the High Peaks Wilderness

In response to issues raised in the development of the High Peaks Wilderness Complex Unit Management Plan several new regulations have been adopted. These regulations are needed to protect the wilderness resource from further decline and to ensure that conditions in the High Peaks Wilderness comply with the Wilderness Guidelines identified in the Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan.

A brief synopsis of the regulations is listed below.

Group Size
• Overnight groups are limited to less than 10 people. Effective April 1, 2001 overnight groups are limited to less than nine people.
• Day Use Groups are limited to 15 or fewer people.
• These limits do not apply to the Adirondack Canoe Route.

Camping
• No camping above 4,000 ft.
• Camping between 3,500 and 4,000 ft. is limited to designated sites only.

Campfires
• No campfires Eastern High Peaks zone.
• No campfires at an elevation above 4,000 ft.
• Outside the Eastern Zone campfires are allowed only at designated sites or at locations at least 150 feet from any road, trail or water source.

Miscellaneous
• Pets must be leashed on trails, in designated campsites, at lean-to sites, at elevations above 4,000 feet, or in areas where the public has congregated.
• No soap or detergents in any in any water body.
• No disposal of food in any water body.
• No use of any motorized equipment.
• Skis or snowshoes must be used when the terrain is covered with eight or more inches of snow.
• Quiet hours from 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
• Campers must keep their food from bears and their camp clean.

Adirondack Upgrades

Marcy Field, along Route 73 between Keene and Keene Valley, has been designated to receive $520,000 of Federal Highway Administration (FHA) funds for interpretive and recreational facility improvements, according to an announcement from Adirondack Park Agency officials and Tom Both, Town of Keene Supervisor. The funds will make possible construction of a new town highway garage, bicycle trails, walkways, a park on the Ausable River, restrooms, fishing access for the handicapped and renovations to the 200-year old Holt House, the oldest building in the adjoining towns of Keene and North Elba. The funding comes shortly after completion of a Scenic Corridor Management Plan for Route 73 that was put together by a team of local and state officials.

Under the same FHA program, $97,000 has been allocated for four interpretive roadside pull-offs on Route 28 along the Hudson River in the town of Johnsburg.
– Source: Adirondac

ADK Gearing Up for Trail Work Season

Once again this summer, professional and volunteer trail workers will be swinging axes, hefting rock bars, and carrying freighter frames in the woods. Their goal is to produce erosion control and trail definition measures that will protect the natural resource from the impact of hikers. With direct cooperation from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, both crews will work on intensive and basic trail projects in the Adirondack Preserve. This year the Trails Program hopes to work in the newly acquired Champion lands and possibly a few Wild Forest Areas as well. To volunteer, call the ADK Field Programs at 518-523-3441.
– Source: Adirondac

National Trails Day—June 3, 2000

Celebrate by joining the ADK in building a relocation of the Little Porter Mountain Trail in Keene Valley. The relocation is up to a beautiful viewing area near Johns Brook Valley in the heart of the Adirondacks. The Little Porter Trail currently runs through private property and through front and back yards of homes and has numerous erosion problems. The ADK is designing a trail that will require little maintenance in the future and moving it onto state land. The work includes building a log stringer bridge, grubbing the treadway and cutting the trail while closing off the existing trail. Please help make this possible on this nationwide trail appreciation day. Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS) in Lake Placid is once again sponsoring this event and all volunteers will receive an event T-shirt and Trails Program trillium patch. The volunteers will meet at Marcy Field in Keene Valley at 8:30am on Saturday, June 3.
– Source: Adirondac

Canoeing and Kayaking Resources

The Adirondack Park region offers some of the best whitewater and flatwater canoeing and kayaking options available. There are plenty of options available, so how do you choose where to go? There are three guidebooks that cover destinations: Fun on Flatwater: Family Adventures in Canoeing by Barbara McMartin (North Country Books); Adirondack Canoe Waters: North Flow by Paul Jamieson & David Morris; Adirondack Canoe Waters: South and West Flow by Alec Proskine (both by Adirondack Mountain Club). There is also a topographic map, Adirondack Canoe Waters (Adirondack Maps). These publications are available in local bookstores and some sporting goods stores. Don’t forget the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation pamphlets, visitor information centers, paddling outfitters, and trip guides.

Adirondack Travel Information

Discover all you can do on a summer weekend or vacation in the Adirondack Park by requesting your free map and travel planner from the Adirondack Regional Tourism Council, which represents many of the county visitor bureaus in the Adirondacks. Free publications include: The Travel Guide, Adirondack Touring Map, and Snowmobile Trail Map (useful for multiple activities including mountain biking), and The Accommodations Directory.

In addition, the following are available for $1.00 each to cover shipping and handling: The Hiking Guide and The Waterways Guide. Please note: they must receive a check made out to the Adirondack Regional Tourism Council at PO Box 2149, Plattsburgh, NY 12901 before the Hiking or Waterways guides can be sent. For more information, visit www.adirondacks.org.

Isuzu Ironman USA Lake Placid Sold Out

The 2000 Isuzu Ironman USA Triathlon to be held in Lake Placid on July 30, 2000 officially sold out last winter. More than 1,900 athletes have signed up for the race, which filled in less than three months.

"The word on the street in the triathlon community is that Ironman Lake Placid is the place to be,” said Lake Placid Race Director Lyle Harris. “The athletes were overwhelmed by their reception in the Olympic Village last year. This year’s race sold out for that reason.”

The inaugural Isuzu Ironman USA event was held back on Aug. 15, 1999, with close to 1,500 triathletes competing in the event. Isuzu Ironman USA was the first sanctioned Ironman event ever held in the continental United States, and the massive demand for the 2000 event can be traced directly back to the region and the volunteers who supported the event.

"The people of Lake Placid and the entire Adirondack region know what it takes to put on a world-class event,” added Harris. “We expect this year to be even bigger and better than the 1999 event.”

The Isuzu Ironman USA Triathlon is hosted by Ironman North America, based in Lake Placid. If you would like to volunteer at Ironman USA Lake Placid, you can sign up online at www.ironmanusa.com.

Ironman North America hosts the only four Ironman events in continental North America; Isuzu Ironman USA in Lake Placid, Isuzu Ironman Florida in Panama City Beach, Fla., Isuzu Ironman California at Camp Pendleton, Calif., and Subaru Ironman Canada in Penticton, British Columbia.

23rd Annual Whiteface Mountain Uphill Footrace

On Saturday, June 10, hundreds of racers will be running 8 miles up the scenic Whiteface Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway, an average 8% grade. The 8:00am race starts at the junction of Rte 86 and Rte 431 in Wilmington. If you are interested in participating, the cost is $20 before June 1st, $25 after June 1st, which includes a T-shirt (not guaranteed after June 1st) refreshments & awards to the top three runners in each class.

For information, contact Race Director, Rarilee Conway on 1-888-whiteface (946-2255) or tourism@whiteface.net.

• Maribeth Cook
• Sarah Crary
  

Name: Maribeth Cook
Age: 39
Sport: Walking
Resident: Saratoga Springs, NY
Married with one 19-year-old step-daughter
Occupation: Formerly a dental hygienist. Works part-time,
as a receptionist at the Saratoga Golf Course. She’s launching a home-based dental claims processing business.

On sunny days in Saratoga, residents, tourists, and students alike have grown accustomed to a familiar sight on the Skidmore track. That is where 39-year-old, Maribeth Cook has spent the last four years training for the Freihofer’s® Run for Women. Unlike the typical competitor, Cook walks the 5K race with a brace on her left leg and her mother’s support – both emotional and physical.

Cook was only 33 when she suffered her first of two strokes. This mild attack only slightly affected the mobility on her right side, and she was able to gain everything back.

“After my first stroke, I was back doing basically everything,” Cook explained. “I worked out all the time, taught aerobics, and was a dental hygienist.”

One year later, a second stroke changed her life… This time, Cook was hospitalized for a month and remained partially paralyzed on her left side. She can walk with a brace and her left arm moves, but she has no use of her left hand which forced her to abandon her dental career.

“I’m right handed,” said Cook, “so, I didn’t think I needed both hands to do my job. But, I can’t even put on a surgical glove.”

A year after she left the hospital Cook returned to the gym. It was there that her personal trainer suggested she do the Freihofer’s® Run.

“I thought she was joking,” Cook remembered. “But, she suggested I walk it and I thought this would be a competitive way to get me back into a routine. I’m always the last to finish, but I’m very focused and it helps me feel like a real person.”

The Freihofer’s® Run is a women’s run, but for the Cooks, it’s a family affair. “I do it with my mother, Marie,” explains Cook. “I basically hang onto her and she acts as my left side. She gives me balance and stability and I’m able to do it. My father and husband walk along with us on the sidewalk to direct us. The first year we did the race, no one knew we were in it. [Officials] took down the barriers and my mother and I took a wrong turn. Now, they know I’m participating so they keep people out there to wait for me.”

Despite the satisfaction Cook receives through competing, this will be her fourth and final race. She’s striving to complete it in less than an hour to beat her personal best of sixty-four minutes.

“There’s a lot of mental stress involved with the race. The media follows me and it’s very emotional for my mother. As we hit the top of the hill on Madison Avenue she cries all the way to the finish line. She can’t believe the amount of people that wait for me to finish. We just thought that the Freihofer’s® 2000 would be a good one to go out on. We’ll be pushing it. We don’t fool around – we just do it.”

Cook says her biggest achievement to date was learning to walk again. Her biggest goal would be to get her left hand moving again so she can get back to being a dental hygienist.

“It’s been almost six years now,” reflects Cook. “The longer I go, the less likely it is that my hand will work again. But, I’m not giving up yet.”

She offers this same mantra to others facing similar situations. “I think the key is not to give up regardless of what doctors tell you,” says Cook. “We found out through my illness that you have to be your own health advocate. The doctors here wanted to put me in a nursing home at 34! I keep my own house and do everything myself. I drive and go to the grocery store. It might take me two hours, but I do it. It was very important to me to keep my sense of independence. You can’t be discouraged – that gets you nowhere. You have to be focused, be positive, and have a good support system.”

In September 1999, Cook became the first stroke victim in the world to undergo the diacrin fetal pig cell transplant surgery at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Boston. This untested procedure will include 12 patients with five receiving surgery to date. Doctors inject 30 million fetal pig cells into the brain with the hope that they’ll regenerate and connect with those cells that have died.

The doctors told Cook it could take up to eighteen months to see improvement, but she’s seen it already. “I’ve had my leg brace changed because I’ve gained more control of my foot and my leg,” Cook said. “I had lost the ability to concentrate after the second stroke. I couldn’t retain what I was reading and it was frustrating for me. Now, I’m back reading books again.”

“I had told my doctor since the day we met that I wanted to participate in anything, any study that came about. I’m young and I’m healthy – aside from the strokes. I feel like I have a fighting chance. I just need research to give me that chance.”

You can see Maribeth Cook and over 5,000 athletes compete at the 22nd annual Freihofer’s® Run for Women at 10:15am on Saturday, June 3, at the Empire State Plaza, Albany. For more information on the race visit www.freihofersrun.com.

Name: Sarah Crary
Age: 16
Sport: White water slalom kayaking
Resident: Tupper Lake, NY
Occupation: Sophomore, Tupper Lake High School,
Women’s Junior Kayaker

Kicking back this summer will not be high on the list of activities for 16-year-old Sarah Crary of Tupper Lake, NY. This high school sophomore has been training for the past five years as a solo, whitewater kayaker with her sights on a Junior Olympic title in her age group (women age 15-18).
Crary is from a family of canoers and her dad is a competitive canoe racer. Her interest in kayaking began at age 11, when her mom signed her up for the Adirondack Paddlers kayaking program on Saranac Lake. She’s been competing as a Women’s Junior Kayaker for the past four years.

Crary likens her sport to slalom skiing.

“It’s not just from point A to point B,” she explains. “You work your way downstream around the green gates, but you have to paddle upstream to get to the red gates. Depending on the course you set up, there are usually 24 gates and it takes about 3 minutes to complete the race.”

With the Junior Olympics (July 24-26 in Texas) fast approaching, Crary’s focus is on training and qualifying.

“There is a course behind the Town Hall on Saranac Lake. The dam makes a Class I section on the river. Class I is really easy,” Crary explains. “Class VI is for the advanced, extreme paddlers.”

Crary trains 5-6 days a week for two hours a day.

“I do gate work and I do flat water [distance] work every now and then to practice endurance. I usually try to paddle four miles. We pull the gates in and out everyday to practice,” she says. “And, I lift weights at the town gym 2-3 times per week.”

Crary attends regular classes and has a full schedule at Tupper Lake High School. She also finds time to snowboard and play on the school soccer team. She even competes in a canoe race every now and then “just for fun.”

The first of Crary’s Junior Olympic qualifiers is the Amoskeag Slalom race in Manchester, NH on June 11th.

“I have a better shot at this race,” states Crary. “It’s against people I’ve already raced against and it’s my favorite course. The river was really nice and they have a really nice way they set up the course.”

Crary’s second – and final – opportunity will be on July 7th at the Nantahala Outdoor Center in Bryson City, NC. She is attending their training camp July 3-6 to practice on the course. The qualifying race should be on a Class III or IV course, but she’s not intimidated.

“I’ve paddled Class IV races before,” she says proudly. “It’s a chance to get ready for the Junior Olympics. You practice and train on the course before you qualify. We compete by age group and you need to place in the top three to qualify.”

Crary stresses that even though kayaking takes a lot of dedication, it’s really fun.

“I’ve met tons of guys and a lot of girls kayaking. I get to know a lot of people at the races. It’s really cool! There’s an adrenaline rush that you get from the people you meet and the excitement of paddling and going to different places and different rivers,” says Crary.

One day, she hopes to make it to the “real” Olympics.

The Junior Olympic athletes are responsible for paying their own way including an entrance fee, transportation, lodging, and food. Crary currently has two sponsors that are providing clothing but she needs assistance defraying the direct expenses. If you would be willing to sponsor her, please write to: Sarah Crary c/o ADK Sports and Fitness Magazine.

TRAVEL

SKI NORWAY’S Peer Gynt Trail, March 24 - April 3, 2001. Ski or van between three hotels. Lillehammer, Oslo. Information: John Borel 518-584-1254.

FOR SALE

Bikes

SANTANA TANDEM, Arriva, medium-large, red, 18-speed, Tamer seat post, Drum, New Lin brakes, fenders, spare rear. $1,800. 518-765-4088, 7-8am, M-F only.

TREK 1500 bicycle, 58 cm, Dura-Ace and Ultegra components, Mavic wheels. Asking $400 or best offer. 518-654-2932.

TREK 2120 road bike, carbon fiber, 56 cm, triple crankset, STI. All Shimano components, Mavic wheel set. Excellent condition. $600. Mike (days) 518-786-4614 (evenings / weekends) 518-518-383-1221.

CLASSIC TOURING bike, 49 cm, Bill Lewis custom frame, Reynolds 531 tubing, cantilever brakes, TA triple crankset, 6-speed index barcon shifting, small hand brake levers, Campy headset. Accessories: pump, Rhode Gear handlebar bag, Blackburn rack. $400. Bernie Mansbach 518-393-3475.

1996 RYAN RECUMBENT, mint condition, very few miles, triple crank, bar end shifters, Shimano Deore. $500. Hank 518-356-3248.

PEUGOT 10-speed bike, 24-1/2", white, all original parts, very good condition. $100 or best offer. Andrea Isaacs 518-279-4444.

SHIMANO 12-25T 8 speed cassette; unused. $20. John 518-438-9102 or bevjohn@cityusa.net.

RACERMATE WIND TRAINER, Original model, frame mounts front and under bottom bracket. $30. Bernie Mansbach 518-393-3475.

BIKE CARRIER, roof mount, requires gutters. Will carry 3 bikes (2 fork mount; 1 upright). $100. Bill 518-439-6678.

Canoes

CANOE PACKAGE, Grumman Standard 17 foot Double Ender, .05 inch aluminum. Two Grumman paddles (5 ft. and 5 ft. 6 in.), and two Grumman cushions. Grumman Canoe Topper car top system. 3 Grumman life vests (2 adult/1 child). All in very good condition, rarely used. $600. Ken (work) 518-457-6228; (home) 518-439-0966.