MARCH-MAY 2007 No. 0702 chepontuc — “Hard place to cross”, Iroquois reference to Glens Falls hepontuc ootnotes C T H E N E W S L E tt E R O F T H E G L E N S F ALLS- S ARAFT O G A C H A P T E R O F T H E A DIRO N DA C K M O U nt AI N C L U B Headquarters Workdays Lend a hand! THE GOAL: Saturday, April 28 ADK’s goal is to provide you, the volunteer, with the unique opportunity to give 9:00 a.m., approx. 2:00 pm something back to trails. Our volunteer projects are inherently educational and Join fellow ADKers and include not only trail maintenance and reconstruction techniques, but also low- friends to spruce up ADK head- impact camping and natural history. Ultimately, we will complete a quality trail quarters property off Exit 21 of project that will protect the natural resource for many years. You are guaranteed a the Northway. fun and rewarding experience participating as an “ADK Trails Volunteer”! Every spring, volunteers help BASE CAMP: ADK by doing a little spring- The volunteer base camp serves as the Good Food, cleaning. The decks get treated, staging area for trail projects. It is located Good WorK trim is painted, the lawn is at the Adirondak Loj Campground adja- cent to Heart Lake. Hot showers are • August 15-20 — Long Lake raked, and other projects are located nearby. At base camp, we conduct Canoe Trip done to maintain the property. a comprehensive orientation that includes Relocating existing pit privies It’s fun to meet new people introductions, safety, equipment review, and the removal of litter from and take part in a community camping techniques, and a summary of the campsites will be the main focus project goals and objectives. We also pro- of the project. Participants will project. You don’t have to bring vide experienced leadership, group camp- canoe a substantial distance anything other than work gloves ing gear, tools, transportation from base every day to reach each lean-to. — if you have them. Bring a camp, and food. Arrive Wednesday evening at base camp for dinner and orientation. friend along also to make it A complete equipment list and project information will be sent to all volunteers Participants will be out of the more fun! Bagels, Mo’s scones, woods late afternoon on Monday. coffee and lunch (including ONE-DAY PROJECTS: There is a $75 participation fee Jim’s famous workday cookies) Be prepared to hike into the woods will be provided! while carrying tools, daypack, and lunch. “Many hands makes light Anticipate project completion by late after- Existing rock water bars will be repaired noon. A variety of tasks make projects fun improving the drainage on this trail. work” — please check your cal- and rewarding for all ages and abilities. • August 12: Baxter Mountain endar and see if you can spare • June 16: Ruth’s Easy Project Short sections of new trail will be installed the day or part of it! Join trip leader Ruth Kufahl for her to avoid steep or wet areas of trail. annual “easy” trail project. Designed for Call Maureen Coutant for first-time trail workers of all ages. TWO-DAY PROJECTS: more information and to sign up • June 23: Arab Mountain Be prepared to hike into the woods at 745-7834 or e-mail: mojim@ Rock water bars will be installed and while carrying tools, daypack, and lunch. adelphia.net (If you can come a repaired on this popular fire tower trail. Anticipate project completion by late after- • July 14: Poke-O-Moonshine different day to do a project, let noon of the second day. Participants will Help maintain this fire tower trail by have the option of returning to base camp me know.) making rock drainage structures and set- each night. ting rock steps. • August 11: Silver Lake Mountain Please see VOLUNTEER, page 5 How I got hepontuc ootnotes C PublishedF Bimonthly Glens Falls-Saratoga Chapter ADIRONDACK MOUntAIN CLUB P.O. Box 2314 Glens Falls, NY 12801 • www.adk-gfs.org involved in ADK EXecutIve CommIttee Officers: Chair Jim Schneider 30 Elizabeth Lane, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 BY JIM SCHNEIDER Phone: 581-9367 • E-mail: [email protected] First Vice Chair Maureen Coutant 22 Pinion Pine Lane., Queensbury, NY 12804 Phone: 745-7834 • E-mail: [email protected] n this month’s report I’d like the wilderness, was pure lunacy! I Second Vice Chair Heidi teReile Karkoski to share with you a reflection knew that they were trying to look 25 Black Point Road, Ticonderoga, NY 12883 I submitted to us by chapter out for me, but the truth is that the Phone: NA Third Vice Chair Jean Holcomb member Kim Ciraulo. Kim’s inspir- only thing I was scared of was the 30 Schuyler Drive, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 ing narrative truly possibility of having Phone: 583-0658 • E-mail: [email protected] defines the meaning CHaptER CHAIR to “make nice” all day Secretary John Caffry 25 Wing St., Glens Falls, NY 12801 of “participation.” The with a group of people Phone: 798-0624 • E-mail: [email protected] following is reprinted that I might not fit in Treasurer John Schneider with the author’s per- with. I went anyway 6 Nonchalant Dr., Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 mission. Thank you, Report and it was one of the Phone: 584-8527 • E-mail: [email protected] Kim. best decisions I have Directors John Schneider How did I get started Now, I just can’t seem ever made. The day See Treasurer contact information above with the ADK? It was couldn’t have been Laura Fiske the turning point in to get enough. Getting better. The company 16 Barber St., Ballston Spa, NY 12020 Phone: 884-0345 • E-mail: [email protected] my life when I real- outside in the fresh air; was great, the air crisp, Barbara Bave ized that my only child laughing until my sides the sky as blue as can 4 Foxglove Way, Ballston Spa, NY 12020 would soon be starting be, and the bright sun- Phone: 885-3604 • E-mail: [email protected] his life, and I needed hurt; sharing conversa- light streamed down Past Chapter Chair Barbara Bave to get one of my own! on us all day long. See Treasurer contact information above tion and adventures I was searching for We headed to Beaver Committee Chairs: with wonderful people; something, missed Meadow Falls and Annual Dinner Susan Hamlin 44 Wright Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 being outdoors, had eating all the food I then continued on to Phone: 587-5456 even considered join- want and still losing Lower Ausable Lake, Conservation Jacki Bave ing the ADK but didn’t which were both beau- 14 Round Table Rd., Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 actually do anything weight; finding out tiful, but the best part Phone: 587-3754 • E-mail: [email protected] Education Linda Ranado about it until I became that if you’re dressed of that day was when 18 Pine Ridge Road, Hadley, NY 12835 friends with a then- properly, the rain Giant Mountain came E-mail: [email protected] aspiring 46er, who has into view. Without a Hospitality Gretchen Steen since accomplished “ain’t no big thing;” doubt, I knew then and 2217 County Route 46, Fort Edward, NY 12828 Phone: 638-6139 • E-mail: [email protected] his dream. It wasn’t so there that I was going being able to experi- Membership Pat Desbiens much what he told me ence miles of wilder- to climb some moun- 16A Rovanten Park, Ballston Lake, NY 12019 about his hiking esca- tains. I also knew that Phone: 899-9688 • E-mail: [email protected] pades, but rather the ness and the beauty I would have to kick a Newsletter/Editor Jim Schneider 30 Elizabeth Lane, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 look on his face and and tranquility of the 24-year smoking habit Phone: 581-9367 • E-mail: [email protected] the sound of his voice to do it. So, I did. natural world; discov- Outings Patti Schwankert when he described After Beaver 2A Woodcliff Dr., Clifton Park, NY 12065 them. There was such a ering that, “Oh yes Meadow Falls, I signed Phone: 371-5510 • E-mail: [email protected] Program Jean Holcomb sparkle to his look and I can do it;” pushing up for hike after hike 30 Schuyler Dr., Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 enthusiasm in his voice with people like Pat Phone: 583-0658 • E-mail: [email protected] that I knew I had to my body to the top of Desbiens, who helped Publicity Bill Bechtel 15 Olde Coach Road, Scotia, NY 12302 check out the ADK for a mountain ... What’s me remember that a Phone: 399-1206 • E-mail: [email protected] myself. not to like? woman is as strong Trails Tom Ellis In May of 2006, as she wants to be; 2217 County Route 46, Fort Edward, NY 12828 Phone: 638-6139 • E-mail: [email protected] I signed up for the Jack Whitney, who Web site Eric Freeman new member hike to continues to share his 7 Fairmount Drive, Gansevoort, NY 12831 Beaver Meadow Falls. I excitedly knowledge and expertise but will Phone: 581-9279 • E-mail: [email protected] mentioned this to my family and always be remembered as the person Wilderness Dan D’Angelico 3258 State Route 4, Hudson Falls, NY 12839 friends, who very strongly told me who taught me that “cotton kills” by Phone: 747-0700 • E-mail: [email protected] that I must have lost my mind to going up one side of me and down Young Members Group Jonathan Lane even consider driving all the way 15 Adirondack Circle Apt.