FREE! COVERING SEPTEMBER UPSTATE NY 2016 SINCE 2000 Hiking Dix Mountain CONTENTS A Scenic Trail with 1 Hiking & Backpacking Dix Mountain Expansive Lookouts 3 Running & Walking By Bill Ingersoll Leaves, Pumpkins & ▲ HIKERS REACHING THE DIX his trail is arguably the most scenic approach to Dix By all means, make the short SUMMIT ARE REWARDED WITH Fall Classics THIS PERFECT VIEW OF GOTHICS. Mountain, the sixth highest peak in the High Peaks. Although side trip if you have the time. BILL INGERSOLL 5 News Briefs T it is nearly seven miles long, there are several attractive If you are planning to linger, landmarks to enjoy along the way: Round Pond, the North Fork 5 From the Publisher & Editor note that Round Pond has been stocked with brook trout. Boquet and its lean-to, and the brief traverse of Dix’s northern The main trail bears right at the junction and circles through 6-9 CALENDAR OF EVENTS slide. Although Bob Marshall and other hikers in the 1920s found the birch forest to Round’s northern shore. Of all the Round September to cause for complaint in the condition of the trail after the twin fires Ponds in the Adirondack Park, this is one of the few in which November Events of 1903 and 1913, many of those sins have been erased by the pas- the name is almost geometrically appropriate. The trail passes sage of time. The one fault that remains is the steepness that exists close around the shore, with numerous opportunities to enjoy 11 Bicycling on the uppermost portion of the trail, above the slide. the view. Spotted Mountain and Grace Peak are the distant sum- Cyclocross Continues Getting There mits to the south. to Grow The blue-marked foot trail begins on NY Route 73 in Chapel Eventually the trail pulls away from the pond’s west end and Pond Pass, on the southwest side of the highway 3.1 miles north begins a 0.8-mile, 550-foot climb to a saddle south of Round 13 Canoeing, Kayaking & SUP of the “spaghetti intersection” of US Route 9 and Route 73, and Mountain. Most of the forest on these slopes consists of hard- Speculator Area Paddling 5.2 miles from Northway Exit 30. The small parking area is locat- woods, and when the leaves are down there are decent glimpses 15 Athlete Profile ed 90 feet to the north of where the trail begins. The mountain back toward Rocky Peak Ridge. A level traverse then brings you is located roughly on the boundary between the towns of North to Noonmark Junction at 2.3 miles, a little more than an hour Running with Bill Hoffman Hudson and Keene. from the start. This is a four-way intersection located next to a 17 Running & Walking The Trail small stream. To the right is the Old Dix Trail, which leads to Mohawk Hudson Marathon From the parking area, follow the shoulder of the road to the Saint Huberts. Straight ahead leads to the summit of Noonmark. Hannaford Half Marathon start of the trail, which promptly begins climbing southeast up The trail to Dix bears left, southwest, and leads within a few the shoulder of what was once known as Stony Hill. It reach- minutes to your first view of the North Fork Boquet. The next two 20-27 RACE RESULTS es a saddle almost 200 feet above the road and then descends miles of trail have no hills of note, just several little dips and rises. Top Finishers in 30+ Events slightly to a junction within sight of Round Pond at 0.6-mile. The It is a very pleasant walk through the valley of the North Fork, unmarked path left, south, leads in 0.1-mile to the only designat- with a forest cover that is more varied than what you’ve encoun- AdkSports.com ed camping area on the pond. While the entire pond is scenic, tered so far. At times you are on a bank high above the small Facebook.com/AdirondackSports the views of Giant Mountain from that location are quite good. See HIKING 19 ▶ 2 Adirondack Sports Do you suffer from Foot Pain? Ask about your non-surgical options. In Honor of CALL TODAY ISABELLA CARUSO Sunday, September 25 842.2200 Clifton Commons, Clifton Park ◾ 11:00 am: Nick’s Dash Dri-fit T-shirts to anyone who ◾ 11:15 am: Luke’s Mile registers by September 9th ◾ 11:45 am: Zumba Warm-up • Prizes • Music • Carnival • DR. DAVID LAMBARSKI, NORTHEAST FOOT CARE ◾ 12:00 pm: 2 Mile Walk • Bouncy Bounce • ◾ 1:00 pm: 5K Run Form a team, and have more fun! BOARD CERTIFIED PODIATRIST & FOOT SURGEON 1770 ROUTE 9, CLIFTON PARK For more info & register go to fighttobehealed.org Day of race registration begins at 10:00 am www.northeastfootcare.com NFTBH is a 501 (c) 3 organization supporting local pediatric cancer patients Celebrating 43 Years! ON WATER • Kayak Great Brands • Canoe Best Service • Fly Fishing Rentals Available • Paddleboard ON LAND • Bike • Hike • Camp • Roller Ski ON SNOW • Cross Country Ski MVP Health Care SUNDAY • Alpine Touring NOVEMBER 13, 2016 • Snowshoe ON YOU STOCKADE-ATHON 15K 8:30AM START • Gear • Clothing • Footwear Storm the Stockade! (413) 743-5900 • BerkshireOutfitters.com A classic loop course of Schenectady’s historic neighborhoods Route 8, Grove St • Adams, MA and parks. The oldest major 15K road race in the USA. Only One Hour from Albany/Troy The MVP Health Care Stockade-athon is an HMRRC Premier Event MVPCom0159_MVP 2016 Stockade-athon 15K Road Race Postcard_201606.indd 1 6/9/16 12:25 PM ON-LINE Friday, July 1, 2016–Tuesday, November 8, 2016 REGISTRATION www.stockadeathon.com WALK-UP Friday, November 11, 2016 (last chance) 4–7pm in the Heart of the Adirondacks REGISTRATION Schenectady YMCA EARLY PACKET Saturday, November 12, 2016 10am–4pm PICKUP Fleet Foot Sports (Albany) (Children’s Run registration only) RACE DAY PACKET PICKUP Sunday, November 13, 2016 7–8am & BAGGAGE CHECK Schenectady YMCA RUNNER PERKS USATF REGIONAL COMPETITION ADIDAS GENDER SPECIFIC RUNNING SINGLET Open, Masters, Age-graded, and Teams WITH RACE LOGO INCREASED PRIZE STRUCTURE Limited to first 1,700 registrants, sizes not guaranteed, 24 individual cash prizes, presented at Award Ceremony by more variety available at Early Packet Pickup. Fleet Feet Sports/Adidas. B-TAG CHIP TIMING CASH TEAM PRIZES Net times with 5K and 10K splits Visit www.stockadeathon.com for details. HOT AND COLD POST RACE REFRESHMENTS HANDCRAFTED POTTERY AWARDS Key Hall at Proctors Five year age-divisions and Clydesdale divisions POST RACE CRAFT BEER PARTY 15K USATF ADK AND HMRRC GRAND PRIX EVENT Pinhead Susan’s Restaurant (near race finish). Free access, sample complimentary beverage with Race Bib. YMCA KIDS ZONE/DAY CARE OPTIONS For families prior to one mile Kids Run MVPCom0159_MVP 2016 Stockade-athon 15K Road Race Postcard_201606.indd 2 6/9/16 12:25 PM SEPTEMBER 20162016 33 RUNNING & WALKING KIM DONEGAN OF MALTA AT THE 2015 LEAF CRUNCHER. COURTESY OF GORE MOUNTAIN Leaves, Pumpkins START OF THE 2015 SARATOGA XC CLASSIC. BOB VANDERMINDIN JR and Fall Classics By Mona Caron raffle prizes following the race. Awesome awards for runners who place in numerous pectacular colors of red, orange and categories. If you’re anxiously awaiting ski sea- yellow will be your backdrop this son, this is the race for you! Grab your friends Sracing season. Lace up your running and take advantage of this great value. Learn shoes to enjoy the beautiful foliage and more at: goremountain.com. cooler weather. You’ll reap the benefits from On Saturday, October 8, celebrate the 10th your summer training with these fall races. anniversary of the Falling Leaves 5K & Kids’ On Saturday, October 1, you’ll have Run at William Kelley Park in Ballston Spa. your choice of pink ribbons, beer or a prize- Runners and walkers can enjoy the scenic filled trail race. First up is the 22nd annual course within the historic village of Ballston Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 5K at Spa. Participants can win generous gift cer- the Empire State Plaza in Albany. Starting tificates to local businesses including restau- and finishing on Madison Avenue at the rants, Fleet Feet Sports and more. The first 200 NYS Museum, the course takes runners to register receive a long-sleeve tech shirt. RUNNERS ENJOYING through downtown streets and Washington A free kids’ fun run will be held after the THEIR POST RACE 5K with each participant receiving a ribbon. BEER AT LAST YEAR’S Park – similar to the old Freihofer’s Run for OKTOBERFEST Women route. This race benefits the Vet HELP program, ALBANY 5K. The race is a great way to support breast earmarked for the Vet House and Guardian ALLISON BRADLEY cancer research, screening and treatment House for male and female homeless vet- on a softer surface. In addition, there’s the of breast cancer in northeastern NY and erans. For more info, visit: ballstonspaum- prizes. Shuttles from the SPAC and Peerless 2K and 3K Development Races, open to all nationally. In 1980, the five-year survival church.org. Pool parking lots are available due to limit- youth runners – and this year there’s a kids’ rate for women diagnosed with early stage While students are back at school, help ed parking near the start. Post-race awards, fun giveaway! Preceding the 5K and kids breast cancer was about 74 percent. Today, “race away” the stigma that surrounds men- refreshments and a kids’ costume contest races is the USATF Adirondack 5K Race Walk that number is 99 percent. If you can’t run, tal illness at the eighth annual Race Away finish out a fun morning of community Championship (on roads) at 8am.