New York State Parks and the Department of Environmental Conservation have released the 2021 New York State Camping Guide digital version, an online tool to explore the 120 campgrounds in New York State. [Read more…] about 2021 New York State Camping Guide Released
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Adirondack Park Permits: Could Johns Brook Valley Be Next? Some History
The institution of a permit system at the Ausable Club’s Adirondack Mountain Reserve surprised and confused some hikers and would-be hikers. Many didn’t realize that third most popular High Peaks Wilderness Area access point, through the Club’s lands in the Upper Ausable Valley, was privately owned.
A similar situation holds at the Johns Brook Valley, another popular access point just northwest. That area is owned by the Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK), it faces similar parking challenges and is just as susceptible to a future permit system. [Read more…] about Adirondack Park Permits: Could Johns Brook Valley Be Next? Some History
Comments Sought On Expanding Hinckley Day Use Area
The Adirondack Park Agency (APA) is accepting public comments on Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan conformance for proposed amendments to the Hinckley Day Use Area Unit Management Plan (UMP). [Read more…] about Comments Sought On Expanding Hinckley Day Use Area
NY State Parks, Historic Sites Set Attendance Record
New York’s State parks, historic sites, campgrounds, and trails welcomed a record-setting 78 million visitors in 2020 according to the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the state agency charged with the operation of New York State parks and historic sites
The milestone marks nine years of steady visitor growth and represents an overall increase of 34 percent, or more than 20 million visitors since 2011. [Read more…] about NY State Parks, Historic Sites Set Attendance Record
Tent Platforms: A History of Personal Forest Preserve Leases
Many years ago I paddled past what appeared to be many rather unnatural clearings on Long Pond in the St. Regis Canoe Area. Here and there, partially underwater, I saw a piece of water pipe or an old rusty dock support. They are the remains of tent platform sites.
These camps on “forever wild” New York State Adirondack Forest Preserve lands were built with leases to private individuals. [Read more…] about Tent Platforms: A History of Personal Forest Preserve Leases
How The Adirondack Forest Preserve Was Motorized
The establishment of the Adirondack Forest Preserve in 1885 was part of growing American appreciation of a back to nature ethic. By the time of the First World War, according to historian Paul Sutter: “Americans produced and consumed voluminous literature on natural and wild themes; they built vacation homes and camps; they initiated a wide variety of programs in scouting and woodcraft; they developed a distinctive hunting culture and ethos; they adopted nature study as a prominent hobby; and the embraced the ‘strenuous life’ that could be found only in the ‘great outdoors.’” [Read more…] about How The Adirondack Forest Preserve Was Motorized
DEC Camps are Looking for Staff
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced they are recruiting staff for the 2021 Summer Environmental Education Camps season. [Read more…] about DEC Camps are Looking for Staff
Last Unprotected Shoreline of Thirteenth Lake Protected
The Adirondack Land Trust has conserved the last unprotected shoreline on Thirteenth Lake, a headwater of the Upper Hudson River and the largest water body surrounded by the Siamese Ponds Wilderness.
The lake is located in the Adirondack Park in Johnsburg, Warren County. [Read more…] about Last Unprotected Shoreline of Thirteenth Lake Protected
Comments Sought On Removal of Historic Adirondack Camp
The Adirondack Park Agency (APA) and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) have announced a 60-day joint public comment period on the Draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS) for the Debar Mountain Complex (DMC) Draft Unit Management Plan and a proposal to reclassify approximately 41 acres of the Wild Forest as Intensive Use.
The plan would also demolish and remove a rustic 1940s Adirondack camp at the north end of Debar Pond that is listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. [Read more…] about Comments Sought On Removal of Historic Adirondack Camp
Rangers Respond To Wildfire, Rescue Lost, Injured, & Unprepared
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Rangers respond to search and rescue incidents in the around New York State. Working with other state agencies, local emergency response organizations and volunteer search and rescue groups, Forest Rangers locate and extract lost, injured or distressed people.
What follows is a report, prepared by DEC, of recent missions carried out by Forest Rangers. [Read more…] about Rangers Respond To Wildfire, Rescue Lost, Injured, & Unprepared