JANUARY-MARCH 2007 No. 0701 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 Traveling afar to ‘leave no trace’ Jen Kretser is the Education Director of the Adirondack Mountain Club with an office at Adirondack Loj at Heart Lake. With her expertise on land management issues she is often involved with commu- nity outreach programs which help inform and educate on the principles of “leave no trace” land use. Last summer Kretser and Program Adirondack botany stew- ‘ADK EDUCATION DIRECTOR ard Julia GOES TO SIBERIA’ Goren joined two other WHEN: 7:30 P.M. Americans, FEBRUARY 15 Karen Boldis, WHAT: TALK, a professor of SLIDE SHOW WITH ecotourism at JEN KRETSTER Paul Smith’s College and WHERE: project director FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF GLENS FALLS Susan Cutting Adirondack Mountain Club Education Director Jen Kretser travelled to the Altai Re- to travel to the public in Siberia to train park management in the principles of ‘leave no trace’ land Altai Republic, use and interpretive visitor’s educaiton. a mountainous region of Russia in southern Siberia bordering Mongolia. The group utilizing the land’s resources. spent the majority of the trip in the shadow Although the mission of the trip was sus- of Mount Belukha, the highest mountain in tainable wilderness management, Kretser Siberia at 15,000 ft. This area attracts tour- and Goren were fortunate enough to have ists from all over the world who marvel the opportunity to experience a culture very at the incredible scenery and challenging different from that found in upstate New treks. York. The indigenous people of the region Jen and her colleagues had the difficult were found to have a deeply religious con- but rewarding job of training park manag- nection to the park territories. One of the ers, new to the business, in the principles valleys visited is believed by local inhabit- of “leave no trace” land use and inter- ants to be the birthplace of the world while pretive visitor’s education. The trip was other sacred locals include petrographs funded by the Altai Project and private and standing stones. Jen will be sharing grants. Staff members from the Altai Park her adventures at the April Program of the and related non-governmental organiza- Glens Falls-Saratoga Chapter of ADK. She tions have traveled to the United States will present a lecture and slide show of her for the past two summers to study the way journey at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, February parks here are managed. They settled on 15, at the First Presbyterian Church of the Adirondacks as a model because it has Glens Falls. The program is free and open Looking toward Belukha over the Katun sustained a balance between preserving and to the public. River Valley. Participation is hepontuc ootnotes C PublishedF Bimonthly Glens Falls-Saratoga Chapter ADIRONDACK MOUntAIN CLUB P.O. Box 2314 Glens Falls, NY 12801 • www.adk-gfs.org key to success EXecUTIve CommIttee Officers: Chair Jim Schneider BY JIM SCHNEIDER 30 Elizabeth Lane, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 Phone: 581-9367 • E-mail: [email protected] First Vice Chair Maureen Coutant 22 Pinion Pine Lane., Queensbury, NY 12804 s the New Year begins, I would call me about joining my hike Phone: 745-7834 • E-mail: [email protected] Second Vice Chair Heidi teReile Karkoski look back on all the won- and I could hear the apprehension in 25 Black Point Road, Ticonderoga, NY 12883 Phone: NA derful accomplishments that their voices. Please, please relax. All Third Vice Chair Jean Holcomb 30 Schuyler Drive, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 Amake our chapter so proud. We are of our hike leaders are very friendly Phone: 583-0658 • E-mail: [email protected] one of the fastest grow- and welcoming. After Secretary John Caffry CHAPTER CHAIR 25 Wing St., Glens Falls, NY 12801 ing and largest chapters all, they were once in Phone: 798-0624 • E-mail: [email protected] Treasurer John Schneider within the Adirondack the position of a new 6 Nonchalant Dr., Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 Mountain Club. These member ... I know I Phone: 584-8527 • E-mail: [email protected] Report Directors accomplishments hap- was. And you might John Schneider See Treasurer contact information above pen because of the dedi- surprise yourself as As I look forward Laura Fiske cated and hardworking time goes by and decide 16 Barber St., Ballston Spa, NY 12020 Phone: 884-0345 • E-mail: [email protected] to the year ahead, I member volunteers of to be a hike or paddle Barbara Bave 77 East High St., Ballston Spa, NY 12020 our chapter. They also am excited about the leader yourself. Phone: 885-3604 • E-mail: [email protected] happen because chapter I’ll be writing more Past Chapter Chair Barbara Bave prospect of even more See Treasurer contact information above members participate. about “participation” Committee Chairs: You make it happen by chapter members as the year moves on. Annual Dinner Susan Hamlin 44 Wright Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 coming to a monthly In the meantime, give coming out to Phone: 587-5456 • E-mail: [email protected] program, going on a me a call or send me Conservation Jacki Bave 14 Round Table Rd., Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 hike or paddle, talking participate in our an e-mail and tell me Phone: 587-3754 • E-mail: [email protected] Education to your friends about what interests you ... or Linda Ranado various activities and 18 Pine Ridge Road, Hadley, NY 12835 joining ADK, or simply maybe, if you’re look- E-mail: [email protected] Hospitality Gretchen Steen renewing your member- programs. ing for ideas, I can sug- 2217 County Route 46, Fort Edward, NY 12828 Phone: 638-6139 • E-mail: [email protected] ship. gest some activities that Membership Pat Desbiens As I look forward to you might enjoy. Patti 16A Rovanten Park, Ballston Lake, NY 12019 Phone: 899-9688 • E-mail: [email protected] the year ahead, I am excited about always has a great roster of outings Newsletter/Editor Jim Schneider 30 Elizabeth Lane, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 the prospect of even more chapter for all interests and abilities. Jean has Phone: 581-9367 • E-mail: [email protected] members coming out to participate in many wonderful monthly programs Outings Patti Schwankert 2A Woodcliff Dr., Clifton Park, NY 12065 our various activities and programs. planned for the year. Linda is hard at Phone: 371-5510 • E-mail: [email protected] Program Jean Holcomb I’ve written this many times, but it is work putting together her education 30 Schuyler Dr., Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 nonetheless true, that the Adirondack programs for both adults and kids. Phone: 583-0658 • E-mail: [email protected] Publicity Bill Bechtel Mountain Club is “member directed.” So, come out and take advantage of 15 Olde Coach Road, Scotia, NY 12302 Phone: 399-1206 • E-mail: [email protected] How many people (new members all the great things your chapter has Trails Tom Ellis 2217 County Route 46, Fort Edward, NY 12828 perhaps not familiar with the chapter) to offer. Phone: 638-6139 • E-mail: [email protected] feel uncomfortable about calling up a Web site Eric Freeman 7 Fairmount Drive, Gansevoort, NY 12831 total stranger and asking them to join Be well and be safe, Phone: 581-9279 • E-mail: [email protected] Wilderness Dan D’Angelico a hike during the upcoming weekend? Jim Schneider 3258 State Route 4, Hudson Falls, NY 12839 Many times it has happened to me 518-581-9367 Phone: 747-0700 • E-mail: [email protected] Young Members Group Jonathan Lane when I was the hike leader; people [email protected] 15 Adirondack Circle Apt. D, Gansevoort, NY 12831 Phone: 744-4594 • E-mail: [email protected] The great Polar Bear adventure “I have traveled to many places sive Fort Prince of Wales on the west side of the Churchill River throughout my life, but one place Program estuary in the early 1760s. The abandoned fort still stands as that I still want to visit is Churchill, testimony to the struggle between the French and British for con- to see the Polar Bears.” ‘iN SEARCH OF POLAR bears’ trol of this territory. There is no road to Churchill. It can only be This statement by Jean accessed by plane or rail. Quattrocchi’s 83-year-old aunt, Ruth WHEN: 7:00 P.M. What enlivens this remote enclave these days is tourism. From Adams, was the spark for an unfor- JANUARY 25 November to March, Churchill is the Polar Bear capital of the gettable family adventure. There is a WHAT: POWERPOINT world. From June to August it is the Beluga Whale capital of lot of planning, organizing and obsta- PRESENTATION WITH the world, with bird watching in between. Polar Bear tours are cles to overcome to put together a trip JEAN QUATTROCCHI booked a year in advance as few people from any part of globe to Canada’s North Country, especially have a chance to see these white giants up close and personal. for a busy school teacher, but Jean WHERE: Jean and Ruth stayed in Churchill for five days. Each morn- was determined to make it happen.