Geological timescales are nearly impossible for humans to comprehend, as we can determine change during every single one of the 1440 seconds during a day. Geologically, a second isn't even a blink. The "relatively brand new" Adirondacks are ten to twenty million years old! (Schneider 129) The Adirondacks are relatively brand new to recorded human history - although Native Americans occupied the region for thousands - and that is only about 250 years; permanent settlement even more recent. A "geologically extreme rate" is three millimeters a year (Schneider 130). During a single geological period, the "Iapetus period," "Not one but two ranges of Himalayan-sized peaks rose and fell" (Schneider 128).
In our day to day lives our activity, mood, body temperature, cleanliness, appearance, and surroundings can change within seconds. If Emmons returned to the summit of Mount Marcy today, he would notice little change geologically. Aside from a well-defined trail, most of the large "erratics" would still be in the same exact place as they were when he summited the peak in 1837. Incredibly, humans have interfered with the primarily geologically-derived forces that drive climate patterns: temperatures have warmed enough to melt enough ice to detect change in ocean salinity, humans now account for half of the nitrogen fixation that occurs - all for fertilizer (previously also for explosives) - and the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has more than doubled from its previously relatively consistent level of ~190ppm before humans started burning hydrocarbons. However, only 200 years have passed since the beginning of the industrial revolution and although the Earth looks significantly different on the surface, that is the only effect humans have had - on the surface. In only a few generations we have seen the entire reforestation of the Adirondacks and many other forests, such as the White Mountains of New Hampshire. If humans were removed from the planet, would there even be any evidence of our existence aside from a few bones, the moon rover, and Chernobyl in a few million years? Considering how little time humans have been around with respect to geologic time, I don't think so.
I remember the first time one of my geology professors used the phrase "pretty recently" when talking about events that had occurred millions of years ago. I remember chuckling a bit, and then stopping suddenly when I realized that, in the grand scheme of things, this was recently. Humans, understandably, tend to think about time in more relatable increments; hours rather than millennia. While I agree that, when the human species becomes extinct (a sobering thought), our traces will be washed away relatively quickly (geologically speaking) I still think it's incredible the impact we've managed to have in the little time we've been on Earth. As you point out, only 200 years have passed since the Industrial Revolution-a mere blink of the eye geologically speaking. The extent to which we've damaged our planet in that time is sobering. I fear that two hundred more years of burning fossil fuels will find us in an even worse situation. Although, on a brighter note, perhaps the Adirondacks and places like it can serve as a much needed example to our species-showing us that nature can heal itself, given the chance.
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