The Cloudsplitter Vol. 75 No. 2 April-June 2012 published by the ALBANY CHAPTER of the ADIRONDACK MOUNTAIN CLUB The Cloudsplitter is published quarterly by the Albany Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club and is distributed to the membership. All issues (January, April, July, and October) feature activities schedules, trip reports, and other articles of interest to the outdoor enthusiast. All outings should now be entered on the web site www.adk-albany.org . Echoes should be entered on the web site www.adk-albany.org with your login information. The Albany Chapter may be Please send your address and For Club orders & membership For Cloudsplitter related issues, reached at: phone number changes to: call (800) 395-8080 or contact the Editor at: Albany Chapter ADK Adirondack Mountain Club e-mail: [email protected] The Cloudsplitter Empire State Plaza 814 Goggins Road home page: www.adk.org c/o Karen Ross P.O. Box 2116 Lake George, NY 12845-4117 7 Bird Road Albany, NY 12220 phone: (518) 668-4447 Lebanon Spgs., NY 12125 home page: fax: (518) 668-3746 e-mail: [email protected] www.adk-albany.org Submission deadline for the next issue of The Cloudsplitter is May 15, 2012 and will be for the months ofJuly, August, and September, 2012. Many thanks to Gail Carr for the dramatic “Vernal Equinox.” April 4, May 2, and June 6 (1st Wednesdays) Business Meeting of Chapter Officers and Committees 6:00 p.m. at Little’s Lake in Menands Chapter members are encouraged to attend - please call John Sheehan at 674-8121 Chapter Meetings are held at the West Albany Fire House (Station #1), 113 Sand Creek Road, Albany. Education Sessions start at 6:30 prior to the membership meeting. Programs begin following the Chapter business meeting. Refreshments are served after the meetings. April 10 (2nd Tuesday) MONTHLY CHAPTER MEMBERSHIP MEETING 6:30 P.M. Education Session: Take Photos of Wild Animals at Night—What sort of wild creatures roam your yard or woods when humans are not around? Jennifer Ford and Keith Freeman will show how they use a motion-triggered trail camera to answer that question. They will show some great photos of eastern coyote, fisher, wild turkey and bobcat taken near their home in Guilderland. Program: The North Country National Scenic Trail in the Adirondacks—The intrepid Mary Coffin, Onondaga Chapter member, 46R and frequent ADK trip leader, will treat us to pictures, maps and stories about the 147 miles of the NCNST within the Adirondacks. The entire Trail measures 4,600 miles, twice the length of the Appalachian Trail and spans seven states from North Dakota to Crown Point at the Vermont border with New York. You may already have hiked a leg of it! May 8 (2nd Tuesday) MONTHLY CHAPTER MEMBERSHIP MEETING 6:30 P.M. Annual Banquet—Mallozzi's Glubhouse at Western Turnpike Golf Course Western Avenue, Guilderland, NY 12084. Gathering begins at 6:00 p.m., Dinner at 7:00 p.m See flyer. Featured Program: Nature photographer Mark Bowie, a specialist on night photography, will give a spectacular multimedia presentation, “Night over the North Country.” June 12 (2nd Tuesday) MONTHLY CHAPTER MEMBERSHIP MEETING 6:30 P.M. Education Session: Update Your First Aid Kit—It's time to replace all those shriveled and past-date supplies in your kit. ADK member and EMT Jon Davis will lead us through the process, giving recommendations for items that are most important and useful. Our discussion will focus on having the essentials, without letting the kit grow to fill your whole daypack. Program: Potpourri Night— Now it's your turn to share tales of the special places and adventures you enjoyed this year in the great out-of-doors. You don't have to be Ansel Adams or Jack London to entertain us with your pictures and stories. Contact Thea at [email protected] to sign up to do your thing! Power Point presentations preferred. 2 ACTIVITIES SCHEDULE PARTICIPANTS’ RESPONSIBILITIES FITNESS: Know your level of fitness and limitations. The trip leader will ask questions about your experience, fitness, equipment, medical condition, expectations, etc. Be Honest! TRIP RATINGS: Understand that the level of effort is not the same as the level of difficulty. Trip ratings are for level of effort. Realize that “moderate” for a physically fit person may mean outrageously strenuous for a novice and/or unconditioned person. HIKERS EFFORT ELEVATION MILES TIME RATING LEVEL GAIN (FEET) (HOURS) A+ Very Strenuous 4,000+ 10+ 10+ A Strenuous 3,000+ 5 – 10 8 – 10 B+ Moderately Strenuous 2,000+ 5 – 10 6 – 8 B Moderate 1,000+ 8 – 10 5 – 7 C+ Fairly Easy 1,000+ 5 – 8 4 – 6 C Easy Under 1,000 Under 5 Under 5 Not all trips fit cleanly into one of these categories. Some leaders may use A- or B- designations. Whenever you are unclear about a rating for a trip, leaders will be happy to explain what their designated rating means. PADDLERS MILES PORTAGES WATER CLASS A 12+ Long (½ mile+) II – Whitewater B 6 – 12 Short I – Moving C Under 6 None Flat BIKERS MILES TERRAIN A 30+ Moderate to steep B 15-30 Moderate C Less than 15 Flat to Moderate Please Note: Unless otherwise stated, please sign up with the leader for all Chapter activities. Do not simply show up at the designated meeting place. Arrive at the carpooling site before the stated departure time. Please pay the driver to offset the costs of driving. Do not bring a pet unless the trip leader agrees that it is okay, and bring a leash. Please stay with the group or ask to proceed and stop at the first intersection and wait for the entire group to re-assemble. You are expected to carry adequate equipment, water and food. If in doubt about what to bring, ask the trip leader! Suggestions for all seasons: Water: 2 - 3 Quarts Layered Clothing (NO cotton) Extra Socks Hat Shell (wind & rain) Extra Sweater or Jacket Headlamp Gloves Sturdy Boots Sun Glasses/Screen (SPF 15) First Aid Kit Food Map & Compass Waterproof Matches Emergency Blanket Winter Add-ons: Skis or Snowshoes Crampons Ski Pole or Ice Axe Extra Food Warm liquids Extra layers 3 MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN The weather has certainly calmed down since last fall, but maybe it’s a little too much. With the lack of snow this year, backcountry ski trips have been canceled and snowshoe trips have been on stableicers and microspikes. Anyone who is doing winter peaks this year will have to have an * by his name. The big news of this quarter is that we have a new Webmaster. After 15 years of service to the chapter managing our website, Mike Becker is stepping down to pursue other interests. I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the Executive Committee to thank Mike for his years of volunteer service. Mike initiated the original website in the late 1990s and was instrumental in the design of the new improved interactive site that we have come to depend on today. We are lucky to have a new volunteer to fill the position. Pete Sage, a longtime member, 46er, and avid hiker will be taking over the reins. Pete is a software engineer and does cyber security work for GE. We would like to thank Pete for stepping in to fill this need. One of his first challenges will be to secure the site from “hackers.” You may have noticed that the site was hacked three times in February. This came at a particularly bad time because at that time Chapter leaders were submitting their spring outings on the website. As I like to tell people during membership drives, there is something for everyone in this club— from a walk in the park to two or sometimes three high peaks in one day. So keep in shape and get out in the woods and on the water this spring and play. John Sheehan, Spring 2012 ALBANY CHAPTER - OFFICERS and COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS Chairperson John Sheehan 674-8121 [email protected] Vice Chairperson Ray Bell 439-0871 [email protected] Finance Thea Hoeth 434-3052 [email protected] Treasurer Joe Polsinelli 573-7689 [email protected] Recording Secretary Jan Peterson 695-3054 [email protected] Corresponding Secretary vacant Members at Large Phil Seward 527-1851 [email protected] Don Berens 783-1302 [email protected] Representatives to the Board Gerry Magnes 452-1163 [email protected] Carl Klinowski 274-8410 [email protected] Gene Reilly 281-7796 [email protected] Banquet Karen Zanni 596-6251 [email protected] Cloudsplitter Karen Ross 794-7474 [email protected] Conservation David Pisaneschi 459-5969 [email protected] Tom McGuire 391-0508 [email protected] Education Alan Mapes 439-4086 [email protected] Membership Marie Rosenblatt 723-0223 [email protected] Nominations Mark Janey 899-6086 [email protected] Outings Virginia Boyle Traver 322-0950 [email protected] Paddlers Rich Macha 346-3180 [email protected] Programs Thea Hoeth 434-3052 [email protected] Public Information Deb Reif 944-3369 [email protected] Refreshments Angie and David Newell 439-4881 Socials Helen Menz 463-3036 Trails Mike Geroux 321-7125 [email protected] Ways and Means Peg Lindgren 489-1395 [email protected] Web Master Pete Sage 733-6566 [email protected] Wilderness Dave Pisaneschi 459-5969 [email protected] Young Adults Stephanie Graudons 661-9991 [email protected] 4 THE CLOUDSPLITTER April-June 2012 Vol. 75 No. 2 ALBANY CHAPTER - ADIRONDACK MOUNTAIN CLUB April – June 2012 COMBINED ACTIVITIES SCHEDULE Month Day Destination Or Event Rating Leader Apr 4 (Wed) Kayak Pool Session Macha 10 (Tue) MONTHLY CHAPTER MEETING—N.