Genuine Serenity

Thus far in our course, we have read of many of the challenges of thriving in the Adirondacks. Many of our readings focused on the history of the first Adirondack locals who experienced the true hardships of working and living on this land. Many people might associate living in the Adirondacks with the typical visitor experience of enjoying serene views, exploring unique wilderness and benefitting from the slow-paced meditative quality of being in this “forever wild” place. We now have the readings to illuminate that this does not necessarily represent what life in the Adirondacks has always been like. The history of mining, logging, trapping and agricultural pursuits, as well as more modern examples of hopeful locals seeking economic stability, present a much more rugged portrait. However, the Adirondacks remain a vacation destination for those near and far… that original sense of liberation by the purity of nature is at the heart of this. Throughout history, this natural land has remained either an escape from tough working conditions, or an aspect that has made living in the Adirondacks worthwhile.

As I was searching information on Lake Placid, the destination of our weekend getaway, I came across one webpage presenting an alluring image of  a yoga class. The heading reads, “Achieve Balance in Lake Placid”. The page continues on to discuss the many spas and salons provided for ultimate relaxation because “Your stay in Lake Placid should be restful…” Modern day Adirondack tourist traps seem to emphasize the Adirondacks as a serene getaway and a place to recuperate from the stresses of the real world. I believe this has become the general perception, that the Adirondacks offer a total escape from modern world chaos.

On one hand, it’s inspiring that the meditative experience has prevailed in the Adirondacks. That glory of being outdoors surrounded by natural wildlife experienced by early explorers, settlers, locals and now tourists, has stayed consistent even as humans continue to leave significant footprints of new infrastructure. However, the experience boasted by the Lake Placid webpage seems to stray from that idea of relaxation coming from truly engaging with nature. The webpage informs of many salons, spas and fitness centers (all located indoors) with professional masseuses and advanced products. Though the ideal of relaxation is still in play, I don’t consider this to represent the true meditative experience the Adirondacks can offer.

My hope is that these relaxation services will always act as supplementary forms to hiking, exploring and adventuring. My fear is that these salons, spas and fitness centers draw in money and that such services will only expand.

I see no problem with the desire for a professional massage or fancy hair treatment, yet I hope we can find some way to ensure that money traps never undermine the genuine meditative experience the Adirondacks offer.