The Cloudsplitter Vol. 74 No. 2 April-June 2011 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. The Albany Chapter may be Please send your address and Send all trip reports for the Send outings submissions for the reached or by mail at: phone number changes to: Echoes to the Asst. Editor at: next issue to Barb Northrup at Adirondack Mountain Club [email protected] Albany Chapter ADK 814 Goggins Road The Cloudsplitter and to the Editor at: Empire State Plaza Lake George, NY 12845-4117 C/O Katherine Dollinger The Cloudsplitter P.O. Box 2116 phone: (518) 668-4447 1587 Thousand Acre Rd. c/o Karen Ross Albany, NY 12220 fax: (518) 668-3746 Delanson, NY 12067 7 Bird Road home page: orders & membership: e-mail: Lebanon Spgs., NY 12125 www.adk-albany.org (800) 395-8080 KatherineDollinger@ e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] hotmail.com home page: www.adk.org Submission deadline for the next issue of The Cloudsplitter is May 15, 2011 and will be for the months of July, August, and September, 2011. Many thanks to Gail Carr for the lovely spring stream sketch. April 6, May 4, and June 1 (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 Phil Seward at 527-1851 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 12 (2nd Tuesday) MONTHLY CHAPTER MEMBERSHIP MEETING 6:30 P.M. Education Session: Kayaking in Africa - How can you combine an African safari with some great kayaking? Alan Feldstein, owner of Infinite Kayak Adventures, will tell us about his experiences kayaking in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Tanzania. Program: High Volume Hydraulic Frackturing in our State Forests -- ADK Executive Director, Neil Woodworth and photographer Carl Heilman spent four hours flying over Allegany State Park and nearby gas drilling areas of NW Pennsylvania documenting the great damage from gas drilling. Examination of the Marcellus Shale well-sites in PA reveal that the size, extent, and industrial nature of this activity would destroy or seriously degrade the beauty and value of our State Forests for public recreation, watershed and groundwater protection and wildlife habitat. Neil will explain the tough fight ahead to convince State officials of the dangers this presents to the environment and what ADK members can do to prevent or minimize the damage to our State Forests. May 10 (2nd Tuesday) ANNUAL BANQUET Mallozzi’s Clubhouse at Western Turnpike Golf Course 2350 Western Avenue, Guilderland, NY 12084 518: 456-9837 Gathering begins at 6:00 p.m., Dinner at 7:00 p.m. Featured program: ENTERTAINMENT BY Christopher Shaw Adirondack singer, songwriter, and storyteller Chris Shaw has toured all over the US and Europe for more than 25 years. His performances have taken him to such venues as the JFK Center for the Performing Arts, the Smithsonian, and the Chautauqua Institute. After ten albums, numerous appearances on PBS and NPR, and hundreds of thousands of miles touring, he still doesn't have the good sense to quit! We hope you'll enjoy his show. See his website at: http://www.chrisandbridget.com/ June 14 (2nd Tuesday) MONTHLY CHAPTER MEMBERSHIP MEETING 6:30 P.M. Education Session: Bike-packing - Wild land camping with a mountain bike is our topic for the month. Alan Wechsler will give us give tips on his favorite style of camping. Program: Potpourri Night--Now it's your turn to share tales of the special places and experiences you had this year in the great out-of-doors. You don't have to be Ansel Adams or Jack London; we'll love seeing your pictures and hearing your stories anyway. We hope to have at least 6 presentations of 10 minutes each. PowerPoint preferred. Contact Thea at 434-3052 or [email protected] to sign up 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 Greetings Spring 2011 As the winter comes to a close, I will miss the solitude and enjoyment of winter hiking and xc skiing. The big snowstorms made this winter great for skiing and other winter activities as well as danger on the slides. DEC issued an avalanche warning in February for the high peaks area due to the heavy snows and warming temperatures. Be aware if you‘re planning to be in the high peaks near any slides as snow begins to melt and gravity does its thing. Coming up this quarter are some great ADK events that will be of interest and enjoyable. In April, at our membership meeting at the West Albany Firehouse, ADK‘s Executive Director, Neil Woodworth will give a presentation on the impact of Marcellus Shale drilling. On May 10th, we have the Albany Chapter Banquet at Malozzi‘s at the Western Turnpike Golf Course, and this year‘s presenter is Chris Shaw, Adirondack folk singer and storyteller, who is always a joy to hear. And, if you really want to kick up your feet on the dance floor and get into shape for the spring/summer hiking season, there is the ADK Black Fly Affair on May 21st in Lake George. As my term comes to a close this June, I want to take this opportunity to thank the Executive Committee members who have made my job so much easier. The Albany Chapter has the most experienced, dedicated and wonderful people I have ever worked with and that‘s what makes our Chapter the best. Thanks everyone! I encourage all members to consider getting involved in this great organization as a trip leader, officer, trainer, helper or at the least as an ambassador who can spread the word. It has been a pleasure and an honor for me to carry forward the Club‘s mission but more importantly to help others enjoy the spirit and bliss of being in touch with nature, to get out away from your everyday life, and away from the traffic and stores. To me it‘s the best place to be and the best way to spend your life enjoying the passing of time with friends. Happy Trails! Phil Seward, Chairman ALBANY CHAPTER - OFFICERS and COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS Chairperson Phil Seward 527-1851 [email protected] Vice Chairperson John Sheehan 674-8121 [email protected] Treasurer Kenneth Wehner 439-5447 [email protected] Recording Secretary Jan Peterson 695-3054 [email protected] Corresponding Secretary Bob Veino 382-7802 [email protected] Members at Large Carl Klinowski 274-8410 [email protected] Don Berens 783-1302 [email protected] Representatives to the Board Gerry Magnes 452-1163 [email protected] Laurie Schweighardt 462-6020 [email protected] Gene Reilly 281-7796 [email protected] Banquet vacant 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 vacant 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 vacant Ways and Means Peg Lindgren 489-1395 [email protected] Web Master Mike Becker 456-4630 [email protected] Wilderness Dave Pisaneschi 459-5969 [email protected] Young Adults Stephanie Graudons 661-9991 [email protected] 4 THE CLOUDSPLITTER April – June 2011 Vol.