MarCh-May 2011 No. 1101 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 a l l s - s aF r a T o G a C h a p T e r o f T h e a d i r o N d a C k M o u nt a i N C l u b Bike across the USA Chapter members Steve and Licia Mackey flew to California at the end of this past September Program to bicycle back ‘bike aCross The usa’ with their wheN: 7 p.M., MarCh 24 daughter Heather whaT: Talk wiTh who sTeve & liCia MaCkey worked where: for the saraToGa spriNGs John Schneider summer publiC library Monument Valley, Utah. with the California Forest Service. Heather had a car out there, so they drove it A true Western adventure! back at the same time in order not to carry gear or food on the Last year Schneider purchased a motor Come ride the Durango-Silverton Narrow bikes. They followed a route cre- home located in Yuma, Arizona. He and his Gauge Railroad as it snakes and climbs its ated by the Adventure Cycling wife, Eileen, took two weeks to bring the way along the Animus River for 45 miles Association called the Western motor home back to Saratoga between Durango and the for- Express and the Trans America. Springs. Their cross-country trip mer mining town of Silverton, It follows regular roads but took them to the Grand Canyon, Program Colorado. Join along on a visit tries to stay in rural areas with Arizona (both South and North to Great Sand Dunes National Rim); Monument Valley, Utah; Park, a park in a setting that less traffic. (The map makers ‘The GraNd CaNyoN, rarely took into account hills, or Durango, Colorado; Great Sand does not seem real. Dune National Park, Colorado; MoNuMeNT valley, aNd oTher On all of his previous whether you were actually going GreaT wesTerN plaCes’ east-west). The route also inter- and Tall Grass Prairie National western trips, Schneider sim- sected with many National Parks, Preserve, Kansas. wheN: 7 p.M., May 19 ply drove through the plains National Monuments and Scenic Come join Schneider as he without taking in their unique takes you on two scenic rides whaT: preseNTaTioN wiTh johN charm. Join him as he actually Byways. The Mackeys bicycled sChNeider for about two months and rode of more than 50 miles along stops and observes what the almost 3,600 miles! They tra- the South and North Rim of the where: saraToGa spriNGs prairie looked like before it versed nine states and climbed Grand Canyon, hikes into the publiC library became the breadbasket of the six major mountain passes. They Canyon from the North Rim, country. The Tallgrass Prairie had snow or hail almost every and takes a day hike on the more National Preserve is a place time they climbed a major pass, than 800-mile long Arizona Trail. On a half- that has grasses reaching up to seven feet tall but other than a couple of wasted day tour he visits Monument Valley. It has and root systems up to eight feet deep. half days, they were always able some of the most recognizable features in the Although this trip was a lot shorter than his to continue. All kinds of wildlife country, and includes scenes from many mov- previous trips out west, the places he visited were seen and the scenery was ies, beginning with “Stagecoach,” the 1939 on this one should again whet your appetite to breath-taking. John Wayne western. visit the great scenic beauties of our country. hepontuc ootnotes Spring is full C PublishedF Bimonthly Glens Falls-Saratoga Chapter adiroNdaCk MountaiN Club P.O. Box 2314 Glens Falls, NY 12801 • www.adk-gfs.org of surprises! ExecuTive Committee Officers: Chair Maureen Coutant By MaUreen coUtant 22 pinion pine Lane., Queensbury, NY 12804 phone: 745-7834 • e-mail: [email protected] First Vice Chair Tricia Lockwood t press time hike on St. Patrick’s Day 91 Bardin road, hudson Falls, NY 12839 on February and it was warm enough phone: 275-6054 • e-mail: [email protected] Second Vice Chair Laura Fiske 1, it’s been for T-shirts! Spring came 16 Barber St., Ballston Spa, NY 12020 A phone: 884-0345 • e-mail: [email protected] a great winter — at early. The flowers were Secretary John Caffry least for the past few ahead of schedule and 25 Wing St., Glens Falls, NY 12801 phone: 798-0624 • e-mail: [email protected] weeks. January started Lake George was so Treasurer John Schneider 6 nonchalant dr., Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 out with a newspaper warm a bunch of us took phone: 584-8527 • e-mail: [email protected] reporter contacting me a swim and it wasn’t Directors Jonathan Lane to see how the lack chapter chair even Memorial Day! [email protected] Laura Fiske of snow was impact- So … what will this [email protected] ing our outings. Then spring bring? Certainly Linda Ranado Report [email protected] boom! We got hit with more snow run-off than Past Chapter Chair Heidi teRiele Karkowski snow! Then again. And in past years. Beware 25 Black point road, ticonderoga, NY 12883 Be aware of “mud phone: 585-7206 • e-mail: [email protected] again. The great part of the mud and check Committee Chairs: season” advisories Annual Dinner Heidi teRiele Karkowski is that the snow stayed the DEC website for a 25 Black point road, ticonderoga, NY 12883 phone: 585-7206 • e-mail: [email protected] and wasn’t ruined by before setting out. “mud season” advisory Conservation Jacki Bave rain or ice. The wait — when they don’t want 14 round table rd., Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 was worth it as we’ve you hiking in sensitive phone: 587-3754 • e-mail: [email protected] Education Linda Ranado had plenty of chances to get out and areas of the High Peaks and creating 18 pine ridge road, hadley, NY 12835 e-mail: [email protected] use our winter toys. or adding to the erosion. The “mud Hospitality Gretchen Steen By the time this newsletter is in season” is not a set time. If a trip is 2217 county route 46, Fort edward, NY 12828 phone: 638-6139 • e-mail: [email protected] your hands (or on your computer planned and it’s determined to be in Membership Pat Desbiens screen), however, most of us will have an area that they are advising against 16a rovanten park, Ballston Lake, NY 12019 phone: 899-9688 • e-mail: [email protected] had enough of winter. Spring is right using when the trip is set to go off , Newsletter/Editor Jill Gruben around the corner and we’ll be more the trip will either be rescheduled or phone: 309-4198 • e-mail: [email protected] Outings Alison Darbee and Madeline Kowalik-Bova than happy to trade in our skis and changed to another area. Check with e-mail: [email protected] winter boots for our regular hiking the Outings leader. I hope you all Programs Marisa Christiano 16 Miles Standish road, Schenectady NY 12306 boots. Though, you never know what enjoy the change of seasons whenever phone: 346-8775 • e-mail: [email protected] Publicity Rebecca Smith March will bring. Last year, I led a they actually happen! 7G Finch Way, Queensbury, NY 12804 phone: 796-9404 • e-mail: [email protected] Trails Tom Ellis 2217 county route 46, Fort edward, NY 12828 Special thanks! phone: 638-6139 • e-mail: [email protected] Web site George Sammons Thanks to Ryan Simko who are tremendously lucky to have a 105 Farr Lane, Queensbury, NY 12804 served as our Publicity Chair for new volunteer willing to step in phone: 743-9692 • e-mail: [email protected] Wilderness Jim Schneider most of 2010. We are sad to lose and learn the Publicity “ropes.” 30 elizabeth Lane, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 him due to his job relocation and Welcome Rebecca Smith! Thank phone: 581-9367 • e-mail: [email protected] wish him the best of luck! We you! Young Members Group Jonathan Lane 547 Middle Line road, Ballston Spa, NY 12020 phone: 744-4594 • e-mail: [email protected] By Linda Spring mud season alert: Ranado The Education Stay below 3,000 feet Education Committee is Cornerproud to announce During spring mud season, trails are asks hikers to refrain from traveling above our chapter will be particularly vulnerable to erosion. The 3,000 feet. This is done to protect alpine sponsoring five area youth spring thaw creates mud that penetrates vegetation and prevent trail erosion. to attend the DEC summer much deeper into the soil than the surface More information on trail conditions in camps programs for the 2011 mud created by summer rains, and trails the Adirondacks can be found on the DEC season by paying the $350 fee are thus more easily damaged by hikers’ Web site or by contacting the DEC Forest for attendance. Among those who boots. Alpine vegetation, which is frag- Rangers at 518-897-1200. have been selected to participate in the ile and endangered to begin with, is also Closure typically runs from May Youth Environmental Education Camps particularly vulnerable at this time. It is through early to mid-June.