New York Almanack

History, Natural History & the Arts

Lake Placid

Adirondack Bookstore Owners Enter Wholesale and Distribution Business

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The recent announcement that North Country Books, a Utica publisher and major wholesaler and distributor of books throughout Upstate New York and Northern New England,  would cease its operations sent dismay through the ranks of authors, publishers, and owners of the retail accounts who’d come to depend on the company to distribute books and related products with an Adirondack focus.

The company, founded in 1965, had been a bridge between small specialty publishers and authors and their markets for Adirondack-themed books, maps, and sideline products and there was no other entity to fill the gap. [Read more…] about Adirondack Bookstore Owners Enter Wholesale and Distribution Business

Harmful Algal Bloom Confirmed in the Village of Lake Placid

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Harmful algal bloom provided by AWIThe Paul Smith’s College Adirondack Watershed Institute (AWI) has confirmed the presence of a harmful algal bloom (HAB) in Mirror Lake in the Village of Lake Placid.

On Monday, November 9th, a concerned citizen contacted the Mirror Lake Watershed Association to report a suspicious algal bloom at the south end of the lake. A sample delivered to the AWI lab later that day was analyzed and confirmed the dominant algae to be a species cyanobacteria capable of producing cyanotoxins, harmful to people, pets, and wildlife. [Read more…] about Harmful Algal Bloom Confirmed in the Village of Lake Placid

Former NY Central Adirondack Division Rails Being Removed

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Removing New York Central Railroad Adirondack Division Rails October 2020 DEC PhotoThe New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) has begun tearing up the former NY Central Adirondack Division tracks connecting Lake Placid, Saranac Lake and Tupper Lake, part of a $1.9 million State project to build a rail trial suitable for use by bicyclists and snowmobilers.

The 34-mile rail corridor being removed was key to a once-thriving 119-mile railroad which operated almost continuously from 1892 until 1972, first as the Mohawk & Malone, and then by the New York Central starting in 1913. [Read more…] about Former NY Central Adirondack Division Rails Being Removed

A Mountaintop Plaque Recalls Teenage Adventurer Esther McComb

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Esther Mountain plaque provided by LPLC“For The Sheer Joy Of Climbing”

These words will likely sound familiar to anyone who has undertaken the journey to become a 46er, as they are inscribed on a plaque at the summit of Esther Mountain, High Peak #28. The plaque was placed on the summit in 1939 by The Adirondack 46ers to honor “the indomitable spirit” of the peak’s namesake, Esther McComb. [Read more…] about A Mountaintop Plaque Recalls Teenage Adventurer Esther McComb

Featured Adirondack Hike: Whiteface Landing

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whiteface landing mapWhiteface Landing in the McKenzie Mountain Wilderness, in Wilmington, Essex County, can be accessed via the waters of Lake Placid or a 2.5-mile trail which is also the first portion of the Whiteface Mountain Trail to the Mountain’s Summit.

In winter, that distance is 3.7 miles due to seasonal road closures. [Read more…] about Featured Adirondack Hike: Whiteface Landing

Featured Adirondack Hike: Brewster Peninsula Nature Trails

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brewster point trails courtesy adirondack atlasThis trail system located on the southwestern shore of Lake Placid, in Essex County, consists of three trails loops – Boundary Trail, Ridge Trail, and Lakeshore Trail – bisected by an old dirt roadway.

The trails wind over gently rolling terrain and are self-guided nature trails that may be explored using the brochures provided at the trailhead by the Lake Placid Garden Club. [Read more…] about Featured Adirondack Hike: Brewster Peninsula Nature Trails

Public Input Sought For Lake Placid Management Plan

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Shore Owners Association of Lake PlacidThe Shore Owners’ Association of Lake Placid (LPSOA) is seeking public input to help inform the development of a lake management plan for Lake Placid.

Earlier this year, LPSOA began working with Dr. Brendan Wiltse from the Ausable River Association on the development of a lake management plan. Lake Placid is classified as AA-S by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the highest water quality classification possible. The lake serves as the drinking water source for the Village of Lake Placid and is an important recreational asset to the area. [Read more…] about Public Input Sought For Lake Placid Management Plan

Conservation Minute: Caring About Cairns

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Cairns at Three Sisters Preserve trailheadIf you’ve spent any time on trails, particularly on rocky mountain tops or in desert-like environments, you’ve likely come across a cairn.

Cairns are officially-created rock piles that mark a trail. They are often used in areas where there is little vegetation to attach traditional trail markers or paint blazes.

In the Adirondacks, cairns are found most often at higher elevations above tree line. They are extremely important for helping hikers navigate trails and to protect sensitive alpine vegetation by guiding hikers to the most durable surfaces. [Read more…] about Conservation Minute: Caring About Cairns