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Cross Country Skiing

Cross-Country Ski The Jackrabbit Trail
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Jan
24
2019
It’s December 21 in the Adirondacks, the sun rises at 7:30 a.m. and sets at 4:30 p.m.; it seems it wouldn’t leave much of a window for anything to be done. Don’t let those short winter solstice hours fool you — they assuredly will not put a halt to adventure in the Adirondacks. A few years ago, on this same day, my family set out on an adventure that would... [Read More]
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Author:Traci Wagner
Categories:Cross Country Skiing, Outdoor Recreation, Winter
Skiing from Placid to Saranac Lake
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Jan
20
2019
Did you know there is a railroad track that goes all the way from Lake Placid to Saranac Lake? I knew about it, but I never paid it much attention until I started to think about its potential as a cross-country ski. Winter hit early in the Adirondacks this year and I was ready to set this idea into action. I headed out that morning with one goal in mind — to ski from Lake... [Read More]
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Author:Traci Wagner
Categories:Cross Country Skiing, Outdoor Recreation, Winter
First Day on the Bog
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Dec
19
2018
Submitted by guest blogger Kaet Wild. Being from Buffalo, snow is nothing new to me, but somehow, I had never gotten into cross-country skiing. But, when a friend brought it to my attention as a possibility, it appeared to be a cheaper alternative to downhill skiing. Plus, I could bring my dogs along... sold! “Have any plans for tomorrow morning?” my good bud, Tyler, asked... [Read More]
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Author:Guest Blogger
Categories:Cross Country Skiing, Outdoor Recreation, Winter
A century of playing in the snow
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Nov
03
2018
Playing in the snow is a very old Adirondack tradition, but it took a while for this activity to become more enjoyable than practical. Depending on the level of development where people lived, skiing and snowshoeing was simply the way people got around in the winter. Local indigenous people, like the Huron and Algonquin, taught European explorers and trappers the usefulness of the right footgear... [Read More]
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Author:Pamela Merritt
Categories:Cross Country Skiing, Skiing, Snowshoeing, Winter
So Much Snow! And Some Great March Skiing!
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Mar
16
2018
A Happy Change in our Snow Fortune I’m not going to lie. A few weeks ago I was pretty miserable about our lack of snow. In fact I was really quite grumpy. The ground was muddy and brown with patches of ice. The sky threatened rain and then delivered on its promise. And I looked continually at the forecast in the hopes that it would turn to more seasonable temperatures. It finally did. In... [Read More]
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Author:Alan Belford
Categories:Cross Country Skiing, Dog friendly, Family Fun, Natural History, Outdoor Recreation, Skiing, Winter
A Beautiful Ski on the Jackrabbit Trail
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Mar
06
2018
A change in the fortunes of the weather Let’s be honest. January was a frustrating month in the Olympic Region for anyone who loves skiing and winter sports. Check that – January was a wildly frustrating month for anyone who enjoys such activities. Our variable and constantly changing temperatures gave us rain and warmth followed by frigid drops which froze everything solid –... [Read More]
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Author:Alan Belford
Categories:Cross Country Skiing, Winter
Woods and Waters Trail, a great ski!
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Jan
29
2018
Researching! In early November a group of us had hiked into Black Pond and Long Pond. We vowed to go back to check out the Woods and Waters trail. At the end of November we returned for another hike via the same entrance, the Black Pond trail. For some reason Paul Smiths seems to get more snow than the surrounding areas; I knew that as I grew up in Paul Smiths. However,... [Read More]
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Author:Lisa Sciacca
Categories:Cross Country Skiing, Equipment, Exhibits, Family Fun, Hiking, Outdoor Recreation, Skiing, Winter
A Holiday Ski!
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Jan
02
2018
Monitoring the snow depth The beginning of ski season is often a game of figuring out how much snow depth we have and how much snow coverage is needed to explore certain trails. So early season skis tend to be on open trails and fields which catch more snowfall – unless the wind is pushing it off. With the depth of our snow increasing of late and with the storm late last week, Wren (my... [Read More]
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Author:Alan Belford
Categories:Cross Country Skiing, Dog friendly, Family Fun, Natural History, Outdoor Recreation, Skiing, Wildlife, Winter
Skiing and Exploring the Jackrabbit Trail
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Apr
04
2017
Deep Snow It's spring and the Adirondacks are, predictably, unpredictable. Recently we've had a few amazing snow falls alternating with warm spring days. There's no guarantee how long the snow will last, or if another storm will grace us before the warm weather firmly settles in the mountains. For now, I'll take advantage of the snow that's still here, and although not the... [Read More]
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Author:Alan Belford
Categories:Winter, Wildlife, Skiing, Outdoor Recreation, Natural History, Dog friendly, Cross Country Skiing
Big Snow!!!!!
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Mar
17
2017
A Tantalizing Forecast I noticed the prediction for snow over a week in advance — my work and interests require me to check the weather regularly. But then forecasters played with our hearts and minds, increasing the projection for snow the one day, only to drop it the next. Accurately foreseeing the weather (and something as specific as snowfall) is a difficult thing to do, no matter how solid... [Read More]
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Author:Alan Belford
Categories:Cross Country Skiing, Winter
A Great Ski on the Jackrabbit Trail!
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Feb
23
2017
Deep SnowSnow had been falling here seemingly every day for a few weeks, punctuated by a few big storms which rapidly increased its measure in the woods. With each day, Wren and I had been taking full advantage of the bounty, going on snow-filled walks and practicing our animal tracking skills, while I attempted photos of snowy landscapes.Last week we tried to combine those activities when we set... [Read More]
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Author:Alan Belford
Categories:Winter, Skiing, Outdoor Recreation, Natural History, Dog friendly, Cross Country Skiing
Dewey Mountain - just wild enough
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Feb
22
2017
Imagine a snowy mountain that is also in a town. We can go there, get outfitted for trail exploration, visit a mountain that is just wild enough, and come back to enjoy a cup of cocoa at a beautiful little lodge.Well, we have it, only one mile from downtown. It's Dewey Mountain Recreation Area. As they like to say, "Thirteen is your lucky number." Dewey grooms that many kilometers of trail,... [Read More]
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Author:Pamela Merritt
Categories:Winter, Outdoor Recreation, Family Fun, Cross Country Skiing
Cross Country Skiing in Lake Clear
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Dec
13
2016
A Regular Trip in WinterWith snow falling almost every day, it was only a matter of time before Wren and I set out to explore the cross country ski trails off Fish Hatchery Road in Lake Clear. It is a fun network of trails and there always seems to be more snow there than there is in town. The trails are also great because they can be skied as a challenging backcountry experience, or skiers can... [Read More]
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Author:Alan Belford
Categories:Natural History, Cross Country Skiing, Winter, Fall, Wildlife, Outdoor Recreation, Dog friendly
Early-Winter Skiing!
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Dec
11
2016
Changing Seasons I’m always a bit slow on getting prepared for cross-country ski season. My mind slowly arrives at the realization that winter is at our doorstep as I look at a snowy forecast and I begin to think about getting my ski gear out of summer hiding. Of course that means making space by clearing out canoeing gear which is likely still sitting by my front door hoping it is summer. I... [Read More]
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Author:Alan Belford
Categories:Cross Country Skiing, Winter
Cross-Country Skiing on the Bloomingdale Bog Trail
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Feb
04
2016
A Sluggish StartIt's a fact that our cross-country skiing season did not start quickly or with a lot of snow this year. While we have a had a few great days in mid-January, they've been followed by an icy, rainy affair with little white powder left to help hide the hard, silver ice beneath. Take a misstep and you soon find out that our snow in many places has only been a veneer which hides slick... [Read More]
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Author:Alan Belford
Categories:Winter, Skiing, Outdoor Recreation, Natural History, Family Fun, Dog friendly, Cross Country Skiing
Dewey Mountain Recreation Area: A Great Place to Enjoy Winter!
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Dec
15
2015
The Dewey Mountain Recreation Area is a great place for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter, and it’s also great in the warmer seasons for hiking and mountain biking. It’s really close to Saranac Lake Village, just one mile west of downtown Saranac Lake on Rte. 3, but you would never know you’re that close to town. It’s like being in the middle of nowhere up on the top of the... [Read More]
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Author:Tom Boothe
Categories:Cross Country Skiing, Winter
Dewey Mountain - satisfy that snow craving
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Nov
10
2015
Here in the Adirondacks, there doesn't have to be much snow on the ground for us to have fun on it. Saranac Lake loves Dewey Mountain, whether we want to cross-country ski or snowshoe. This great destination is right in town, too. Generations have enjoyed the recreational possibilities of this mountain. With community and town support, it keeps getting better. a long history In the late 1800s... [Read More]
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Author:Pamela Merritt
Categories:Cross Country Skiing, Winter
In Defense of Mud Season
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Apr
21
2015
To Everything There is a SeasonTransitions are always times of uncertainty. A big move. A new job. Starting at a new school. So it can be with the changes of the seasons. As winter ends and spring begins, we muddle through a time of year when the weather can be warm and bright one day and the next day see rain, snow, or sleet. This variation from warm spring days to frigid, arctic conditions when... [Read More]
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Author:Alan Belford
Categories:Birding, Cross Country Skiing, Dog friendly, Family Fun, Hiking, Natural History, Outdoor Recreation, Paddling, spring, Wildlife, Winter
Skiing in April and on Easter - No Foolin'!
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Apr
06
2015
The Battle of the SeasonsThe past few weeks have seen the sun and winter battle for supremacy across our region. The sun’s rays on longer days have been beautifully warm, and yet our skiing base has stayed strong thanks to consistently chilly temps and cold nights. The result has been great cross-country skiing. While trail skiing comes and goes and has been icy and largely un-skiable of late,... [Read More]
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Author:Alan Belford
Categories:Winter, spring, Skiing, Outdoor Recreation, Family Fun, Dog friendly, Cross Country Skiing
The Joy of Spring Skiing
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Mar
20
2015
The First Warm Days of SpringThe temperatures a few days last week broke into the 40s marking the beginning of spring skiing conditions across the region. The warm days and soft snow were a big change from the cold weather which had dominated our forecasts for much of the winter. It arrived right on time - after all, spring officially begins this coming weekend. Soft spring snow may be slow, but... [Read More]
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Author:Alan Belford
Categories:Winter, spring, Skiing, Outdoor Recreation, Family Fun, Dog friendly, Cross Country Skiing
Adirondack Cure for Cabin Fever
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Mar
12
2015
If you've got Cabin Fever, the only prescription is... Saranac Lake!Cabin Fever was first officially called that back in 1838. It describes the psychological reaction to being cooped up indoors without interesting things to do. Irritability, restlessness, listlessness, and even paranoia can be symptoms of Cabin Fever. According to a paper in Psychological Science, February 2008, it can... [Read More]
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Author:Pamela Merritt
Categories:Winter, Wellness, Outdoor Recreation, Events, Dog friendly, Cultural, Cross Country Skiing
Jackrabbit Trail: Lake Placid to Keene
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Mar
03
2015
Jackrabbit Trail Day 3 of 3:Lake Placid Pub & Brewery to Old Mountain Road[img:p3143279.jpg]Day three of our three-day cross-country ski tour from Paul Smiths to Keene found us at the Jackrabbit trailhead behind the Lake Placid Pub & Brewery. We were looking forward to finishing off this trail with what we've heard are probably a few of the best sections. If you are just catching up with... [Read More]
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Author:Spencer Morrissey
Categories:Winter, Outdoor Recreation, Cross Country Skiing
Jackrabbit Trail - Day 2: McKenzie Pond to Lake Placid Pub & Brewery
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Feb
24
2015
The Jackrabbit Ski Trail--Day 2Day one of our cross-country ski trip on the Jackrabbit Trail had us travel from Paul Smiths to McKenzie Pond Road. It was now a week later, and we were now looking at day two. For this, we decided to go with a much shorter day that would get us from McKenzie Pond Road to the village of Lake Placid. Doesn’t seem like much when you put it that way, but it will... [Read More]
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Author:Spencer Morrissey
Categories:Winter, Outdoor Recreation, Cross Country Skiing
Jackrabbit Trail: Paul Smiths to McKenzie Pond Road
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Feb
16
2015
The Jackrabbit Trail in 3 Helpings -- Day 1: from Paul Smiths to McKenzie Pond RoadThe Jackrabbit Trail is a prime piece of cross-country skiing real estate in the Adirondack Park. This trail is roughly 35 miles in length and runs from Paul Smiths to Keene. However, the sections from McKenzie Pond Road to Keene are used much more than the Paul Smiths to Saranac Lake sections. Either way, the... [Read More]
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Author:Spencer Morrissey
Categories:Winter, Cross Country Skiing
Memorable Firsts: Carnival & Cross-Country Skis
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Feb
12
2015
Traveling North For CarnivalMy niece Rebecca has been asking to come to Winter Carnival in Saranac Lake the past couple years, but has always had conflicts with school and other obligations. This year her regular requests finally won my family over and they came north last weekend to enjoy the beginning of Carnival for the first time. They explored the ice palace both during the day and at night... [Read More]
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Author:Alan Belford
Categories:Wildlife, Skiing, Outdoor Recreation, Family Fun, Dog friendly, Cross Country Skiing, Birding, Winter
Skiing the Fish Pond Trail
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Feb
06
2015
Lots of Snow So We Can PlayAs usual, Wren and I have been cross-country skiing on a regular basis this winter as our snow, once a bit thin, has been piling up. One of our favorite places to go is the network of trails off of the Fish Pond Trail in Lake Clear. The trails there are designated cross-country skiing trails and they wind through beautiful deciduous and mixed forest and around the... [Read More]
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Author:Alan Belford
Categories:Winter, Wildlife, Skiing, Outdoor Recreation, Natural History, Family Fun, Dog friendly, Cross Country Skiing
Nordic Skiing - Five Great Places
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Jan
22
2015
Saranac Lake is a wonderful destination for Nordic skiing. The rolling expanse of our lake country makes for scenic trails which run the whole range of challenges. From groomed cross-country paths with parking lots to beautiful backcountry locations, we have a trail for every taste. Dewey Mountain Saranac Lake has a hometown cross-country skiing complex at the edge of town. Half of the... [Read More]
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Author:Pamela Merritt
Categories:Cross Country Skiing, Winter
Skiing - and Falling - in a Winter Wonderland
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Dec
15
2014
A Snowy Landscape Winter Storm Damon dumped about a foot and a half of snow on us last week and Wren and I were ready for it. The first chance we had, we headed to the Jackrabbit Trail along McKenzie Pond Road in Saranac Lake. The day was overcast and not terribly cold and the popular trail was already fairly well skied in. We skied through a landscape of snow-laden spruce bent low with the... [Read More]
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Author:Alan Belford
Categories:Cross Country Skiing, Dog friendly, Family Fun, Natural History, Outdoor Recreation, Skiing, Winter
Early Season Cross-Country Ski Destinations
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Dec
12
2014
Early Season Cross-Country Ski DestinationsSure Saranac Lake is loaded with cross-country skiing destinations, but not all are perfect for early season conditions when snowfall is light and the base is very thin. But if you have the chance, these five locations have a lot to offer and all are within a stone’s throw of the Village of Saranac Lake.Grass Pond and then the Hayes Brook Trail to Sheep... [Read More]
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Author:Spencer Morrissey
Categories:Winter, Outdoor Recreation, Cross Country Skiing
St. Regis Canoe Area - An Interesting Ski Tour
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Dec
05
2014
St. Regis Canoe Area - An Interesting Ski Tour OK, maybe the ski wasn’t entirely in the St. Regis Canoe Area, but it was very close – more like a perimeter ski tour. I thought I would share a trip we did last winter, in hopes that it might interest you enough to head over that way once the snow makes a permanent presence. Watching the local forecast We had a forecast of balmy ahead of us for... [Read More]
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Author:Spencer Morrissey
Categories:Cross Country Skiing, Outdoor Recreation, Winter
The First Ski of the Season!
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Nov
22
2014
Snow has been FallingThe almost daily snowfalls of the past week have quickly transformed our landscape to look a bit like February, and as I walked Wren the other day I realized it might be worth swapping my boots for skis. And so, we headed out in the evening to the North end of the Bloomingdale Bog Trail. The sky was mostly clear and the air was cold as we set out; me on my old, beater, rock... [Read More]
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Author:Alan Belford
Categories:Winter, Outdoor Recreation, Natural History, Family Fun, Fall, Dog friendly, Cross Country Skiing, Birding
Mount Pisgah getting ready for winter ski season
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Sep
22
2014
Mount Pisgah Ski Center is a village mountain with big appeal. Downhill skiing, cross country trails, and fun tubing runs, all in the heart of Saranac Lake.Family Fun this winterOf course, it's a bit too early to actually ski, but preparations start well before the season. The lodge is readied for visitors, logs are laid in the big fireplace, equipment is checked, and trails are walked. There are... [Read More]
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Author:Pamela Merritt
Categories:Winter, Skiing, Outdoor Recreation, Family Fun, Cross Country Skiing
Skiing Upper Saranac Lake Loops
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Mar
04
2014
Sweet Day on the Floodwood Loop- A Ski to remember The Drive: From the intersection of Route 3 and Route 86 in Saranac Lake follow Route 3 toward Tupper Lake. Continue to Route 30 between Tupper Lake and Saranac Lake and then follow Route 30 toward Fish Creek. Continue for just under 9.0 miles to Floodwood Road on the left. Follow Floodwood Road for around 3.0 miles to the trailhead on the left... [Read More]
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Author:Spencer Morrissey
Categories:Cross Country Skiing, Winter
Paul Smith Visitors Interpretive Center
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Feb
10
2014
Paul Smiths Visitors Interpretive Center (VIC) An Adirondack family ski and snowshoe destination [img:dscf1012.jpg] Just a short drive from Saranac Lake is an outstanding resource for multi-use trails for the entire family. Paul Smith’s College has constructed a rather large trail system to provide a wide range of activities at the VIC. The major emphasis and goal was to engage the college... [Read More]
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Author:Spencer Morrissey
Categories:Cross Country Skiing, Snowshoeing, Winter
Skiing Before the Melt
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Jan
11
2014
            Unfortunately for those of us who love to play in the snow, our temperatures have been fluctuating widely this ski season.  Our warm ups have been followed closely by deep freezes, creating an icy base and constantly varying conditions.  As a result you can’t waste time in enjoying good ski conditions – otherwise they... [Read More]
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Author:Alan Belford
Categories:Cross Country Skiing, Winter
First Ski of the Season!
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Dec
03
2013
            As what The Weather Channel was calling Winter Storm Boreas was bearing down on us, many folks were apprehensive about their Thanksgiving travel plans.  On the other hand, others of us were excited about the possibility of some snow and the chance to get out cross country skiing.  Thanksgiving morning dawned clear and... [Read More]
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Author:Alan Belford
Categories:Cross Country Skiing, Winter

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Upcoming Events

Paul Smith's College VIC - What to Know
Friday, March 5th, 2021
The nature trails at the Paul Smith's VIC are open dawn to dusk for snowshoeing, hiking, and xc skiing. Please remain socially distant.  Cross-country Ski and Snowshoe Center Take...
Winter Forest Bathing
Friday, March 5th, 2021
This winter, we invite you on a unique getaway into the amazing beauty of our Adirondack winter wonderland. Let us guide you on outdoor experiences that foster your sense of tranquility, build your...
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The Gift of the Maple Tree
Friday, February 26th, 2021
If you ask me, the maple tree is rather wonderful. In fall, the astonishing change of color from vivid green leaves to shades of yellow, red, and orange light up the Adirondacks to the awe of...
Ampersand in Winter
Tuesday, February 16th, 2021
Ampersand Mountain is a wonderful peak that sits about 8 miles south of the village of Saranac Lake, off Route 3 going toward Tupper Lake. While the trail is wildly popular in the summer, a...
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