46ers

As technology advances, the ways that we appreciate the Adirondacks change. For example, auto-tourists enjoy the park by way of car or RV. Roads allow access to scenic viewpoints and mountain hotels or resorts that would take days to reach by foot. However, even as auto-tourism flourishes, there are still traditions that remain true to the spirit of enjoying the Adirondacks in a most primitive way. Many outdoor enthusiasts still strive to become an Adirondack 46er, a term coined after brothers Robert and George Marshall and friend Herbert Park climbed 46 Adirondack peaks in 1925. Although auto-tourism is an increasingly popular way to enjoy the park, it seems the spirit of raw interaction with nature has lived on. There’s something fulfilling about experiencing and interacting with nature that still exists despite technological advances that make the Adirondack experience “easier”.

When the two brothers and Park tackled the 46 peaks, it was believed that each peak was over 4,000 feet. This has been disproved, yet the title of an Adirondack 46er remains. (“How to Become an Adirondack 46er”). Today, nearly 9,000 individuals have followed the original team’s lead to claim the title. Some treat each peak as a day hike, while others choose to backpack the peaks, or sections of the peaks, in a series. Either way, the end goal is to have conquered the 46-peak challenge, embodying a sense of admiration, adoration and pride for the Adirondacks. There’s even an “ADK46-R” club dedicated to establishing a group of individuals who have completed the challenge. The club creates a sense of connection and community between individuals who have hiked all 46 peaks. It doesn’t matter if the journey was done alone or with a group, the commitment and perseverance of each individual creates a sense of community that is at the heart of the club. 

Although the 46-Peak challenge doesn’t align with the end-goal that the brothers and Park first envisioned (to climb 46 peaks over 4,000 feet), I think Adirondack 46ers are proof that a passion and joy of experiencing the Forever Wild Adirondack land persists despite advancing technology. Other similar challenges, such as the Cranberry Lake 50, the Fire Tower Challenge and the Saranac Lake 6er have been added to the agenda of many Adirondack enthusiasts. It’s discouraging to consider that as a society, we may be losing what it truly means to interact with nature, Ebenezer Emmons style (the first to ascend Mount Marcy in 1837). However, those who proudly wear the title of an Adirondack 46er provide hope that the fulfillment of experiencing nature with grit and awe is to some extent inherent and inevitable.

Sources:

"Adirondack 46ers!" ADk46ers. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Apr. 2016.

"The 46 Adirondack High Peaks." The Adirondack High Peaks Facts. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Apr. 2016.

A Wild sustainable museum

A native from DC, I would consider myself spoiled when it comes to museums. I grew up taking weekend trips to the mall and escorting extended family members around the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. Most of my experience with museums has been in cities, bustling with pollution, people and noise. My visit to the Wild Center, located in the heart of the Adirondacks, was an entirely different endeavor. Upon opening its doors, I emerged in the beautiful central court filled with the sounds of birds and animal calls, and felt I had entered an Adirondack forest. Renovated in 2006, the Wild Center is the first New York museum to achieve benchmark green building certification. Its green building design and involvement in environmental projects have made it a leader in a movement to educate others about the importance of conservation and sustainability in the Adirondacks.

One of the most amazing things about the Wild Center is that the structure and buildings that contain it reflect the center’s teachings and values of environmental awareness and sustainability. In the initial stages of construction, the Wild Center partnered with the architectural firm HOK to address criteria for LEED certification or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. The LEED system measures sustainability and low environmental impact in six categories: pollution prevention; water efficiency; energy and atmosphere; materials and resources; indoor environmental quality; and innovation and design process. The Wild Center actually exceeds the basic LEED certification and earned a Silver distinction. Several cool features of the Wild center include: solar panels on the roof, compost toilets helping to reduce water consumption and a constructed wetland that surrounds the center, manages storm water runoff and water discharge from exhibits.

In addition to being the first LEED certified museum in New York, it is the first ever LEED certified project in Adirondack park. The Adirondack park is unique in many biological, geological and diverse ways, which are highlighted by the work and education of the Wild Center. But it is also one of the only places in the world where humans and nature coexist in a park. The Wild Center is setting the example for many to invest in a future of sustainable building and reduced impact on one of the most beautiful wilderness landscapes left.

sources:

https://wildcenter.org/thrive-together/building-for-blue-skies 

http://www.prweb.com/releases/HOK/Wild_Center/prweb688414.htm 

http://www.usgbc.org/sites/default/files/Why%20Certification%20Matters-FINAL.pdf 

http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB124449834655195657

Seaplanes and a Changed Perspective

It was another one of my aunt's wacky ideas. We were sitting on the porch with our coffees and view of the lake when she walked out and announced that she made an appointment at Payne's Seaplanes and Air Services. Without waiting for our response, she told us to be ready by noon and went back inside. Saying no apparently wasn't an option so my older brother, afraid of heights, got his fishing gear and a canoe and hid out on the lake for the rest of the day. Being fourteen years old and hormonal at the time, I was in no mood to spend extended periods of time with my family in a small plane but I could see no escape. Today, I can look back on the experience and feel thankful that my aunt was as forceful as she was and that my older brother got to the only available boat before I did because the seaplane allowed me to experience the Adirondacks in a way I never had before. 

I remember the pilot was extremely friendly and my parents were feeling chatty. As usual, my mom was asking every question that came to her mind and the pilot seemed to have all the answers. I can't tell you what my parents learned about the Adirondacks that day or even what lakes we flew over because I was blessed with a fine pair of headphones. I brought them to cover up the sound of the large motor and it was an extra bonus that I could shut everyone's voices out as well. For the whole ride, my eyes were glued to the window and I was seeing just how big the Adirondacks were for the first time. 

All my life, I had gone to the same area and lake of the Adirondacks. While I was aware that there were plenty of other lakes and mountains in the park, it was completely different to really see it. The park looked like it went on forever and I was in absolute awe... and that's saying a lot for a hormonal teen prepared to only show disdain. Within that hour and a half long plane ride, my idea of the Adirondacks changed. It wasn't just the place I vacationed but beautiful land that looked more natural and untouched than anything I'd seen before.

The Bleak Future of the Lake Placid Olympic Center

The future of the Olympics’ presence in the Adirondacks is questionable. In a last pull for recognition, Lake Placid proposed sanctioning the 2026 Winter Games along with a host city in Quebec as a joint endeavor. For months, sports organizers in Lake Placid have worked to revive the idea of the Winter Olympics coming back to Lake Placid. In doing so, they have pushed for more state funding for Olympic venues in order to make their dreams possible. The mayor of Lake Placid has been holding talks with the mayor of Quebec City about a possible partnership for the 2026 Winter games. However, the U.S. Olympic officials said they won’t sanction a Winter Games shared between Lake Placid and Quebec, as they want the Olympics to come back to the U.S. and the U.S. only.

                  This was a tough blow to the struggling Olympic center in Lake Placid. There is growing concern about the Lake Placid Olympic venue, particularly about the outdated center’s ability to compete with other winter sport venues such as Park City, Utah. USA Luge, the last major Olympic sport headquartered in Lake Placid, is currently considering moving its facilities west to Park City. In order to stay, they have asked New York State to finance an expanded training facility in Lake Placid.

                  The question is whether or not this expansion will occur. The Olympic center is a unique aspect of the Park, and an important part of Lake Placid’s culture. However, I wonder if it is important enough to the people for them to approve a several-billion-dollar expansion project to occur in the Park. This expansion project would also be taking away state money that could be spent on other aspects of the Park, such as purchasing more Forest Preserve land. Not to mention, expanding the Olympic center will most likely involve further changes to the constitution to approve such extreme development. I am curious to see what happens regarding the expansion, and if the citizens of New York State are willing to approve the conservation trade-offs that would come with the possible return of the Olympics to the Park.

Sources

Mann, Brian. USOC Shoots Down Joint Lake Placid-Quebec Winter Games. North Country Public Radio; April 22, 2016. Web. Accessed April 25, 2016.

Adirondacks Through a Lens

 My first real visit to the Adirondacks was seen behind the lens of a camera. Sure, I have spent time in the wilderness, been on camping trips and overnights, but this was the first time I was getting the full “picture” of the park. On our field trip, I captured a wolf, the first I had every seen, as it stuck its nose between the bars of its enclosure. I documented our adventures at Essex farm as we sprinted around the grounds, laid in the grass and interacted with the landscape. I even photographed the very unusual tourist shop filled to the brim with stuffed animals and various survival necessities. It is very common to find a visitor with a camera in hand, documenting their experience in a new place. Photo-tourism is actually a popular business in the Adirondacks. However, I wondered for awhile after our trip how seeing the park through this filter may have influenced my own experience; how what we choose to photograph influences our own perceptions about the place we are documenting.


http://alloveralbany.com/archive/2012/08/06/how-to-hike-the-high-peaks----and-not-be-that-guy

http://s.ngm.com/2011/09/adirondack-park/img/algonquin-wright-peaks-615.jpg 

These are many kinds of photographs ranging from fine art to commercial, amateur to professional. While my photographs were for an academic project documenting observations about a specific place, most of the photographs taken in the Adirondacks today are for pleasure and play a role in tourism. Most Adirondack photos are taken with iphones on top mountains or are instagramed shots of the seemingly perfect woods, wildlife and lakes. In addition, Photo tours are offered by professional photographers in nicer weather and often focus on landscape imagery and wildlife. In both cases, the act of documenting these subjects creates a refined and un-holistic picture of the park. In our attempts to possess a beautiful moment, we promote nostalgia and give a false image to others and ourselves of what the Adirondacks really is.

Forest Therapy

            When guide William James Stillman set out for the infamous 1858 Philosophers’ Camp with a group of intellectuals including Ralph Waldo Emerson and scientist Louis Aggasiz, they longed for an Adirondack experience. The troop sought a hands-on camping expedition, and an escape from society. Even in 1858, individuals recognized the special transcendent and seemingly healing properties of submerging oneself in nature. Interestingly, as research methods have improved, more and more studies have been done to explore such effects. Research has shown, for example, that therapy programs for physiological and psychological pain might benefit from the healing aspects of nature. Such research holds interesting applications not only for individuals in need, but for the future of therapy within parks such as the Adirondacks.

            One recent study in particular addressed widespread physiological and psychological pain using a “forest therapy” group and a control group. (Han, 2016) Sixty-one individuals with chronic widespread pain participated in the study. Widespread chronic pain is defined as significantly distressing pain in at least five areas of the body for three or more months. Chronic pain is clearly distressing to the individual and can cause stressful psychological problems such as increased anxiety and depression. Many treatment methods have been used to decrease widespread pain such as exercise, pharmacotherapy and psychological services. Although some methods have been effective, researchers are still continuing to look for more consistently promising treatments. Forest therapy, as used in the study, combines aspects of psychological approaches, physical activity and a restorative environment. In the current study, therapy lasted just two days but revealed impressive improvements. After two days, the participants in the forest therapy group experienced physiological improvement, decreases in both pain and depression and improvement in health-related quality of life in comparison to controls.
          The results of the current study have important applications for the future of forest therapy. One service within the Adirondacks called the Adirondack Youth Lodge provides individualized psychological treatment, however, the success of forest therapy for chronic widespread pain implicates that even more can be done using the unique restorative environment. Locals within the Adirondacks face the challenges of limited access to health care resources in a rural environment, but with the promotion of such studies, practitioners might begin to use the environment advantageously. While parks such as the Adirondacks might not thrive in terms of health facilities and resources, they do have components that actually put them at an advantage. Conditions such as chronic widespread pain are distressful to both the individual and their family, and treatment must address both physiological and psychological aspects. Forest therapy is a unique approach that equally addresses both aspects of health through exercise, community, psychological treatment, and engaging with a natural, restorative environment.

Han, Jin-Woo et al. “The Effects of Forest Therapy on Coping with Chronic Widespread Pain: Physiological and Psychological Differences between Participants in a Forest Therapy Program and a Control Group.” Ed. Agnes van den Berg and Jenny Roe. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 13.3 (2016): 255. PMC. Web. 19 Apr. 2016.

Conserving the St. Lawrence River

While our class focuses on conservation issues within the Adirondack Park, we often overlook the problems that arise when trying to protect areas outside of the Blue Line. The St. Lawrence River, which intersects upstate New York and Canada, has recently been titled one of the 10 most endangered rivers in the country (Botero, 2016). The river’s fate currently lies in the hands of U.S. and Canadian government leaders, where it has been languishing for the past two years. The St. Lawrence River is an incredibly unique, biodiverse and currently polluted ecosystem whose future depends on drastic, international government action.

                  The St. Lawrence River is a unique freshwater ecosystem that nearby American and Canadian settlements have greatly impacted. The St. Lawrence River is one of the largest rivers in the world, linking the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean (Save The River). As the only natural outflow to the Great Lakes, the health of the St. Lawrence is directly tied to the health of the Great Lakes (Save The River). The Upper St. Lawrence River forms a unique island paradise known as the Thousand Islands, consisting of 1,864 islands, which provide a variety of habitats supporting all kinds of plants and wildlife (Save The River). The River is also home to extensive wetlands, which provide filtration for run-off, flood retention, and nursery grounds for key species (Save The River). However, the construction of the Moses-Saunders dam has altered water-levels in the River, causing the loss of 64,000 acres of wetlands and the loss of 70% of the pike population (Botero, 2016). Pollution and run-off has also become a huge problem for the River; industrial and urban waste runs off from surrounding cities, and it is even legal for boaters to dump raw sewage into the river (Botero, 2016; Save The River). 

                  The conservation plan to protect the St. Lawrence River must go through a very different governmental process than conservation plans in the Adirondacks. The plan, titled Plan 2014, has already passed through most legislative steps of both the U.S. and the Canadian government (Botero, 2016).  The plan works to prevent further pollution and restore the water levels closer to the river’s natural conditions (Botero, 2016). However, the plan has languished in government limbo for almost two years, awaiting the signature from the U.S. Secretary of State and the Minister of Foreign Affairs in Canada (Botero, 2016). With those two signatures, the plan could go into place and begin the second largest restoration in the U.S., only behind the restoration of the Everglades (Botero, 2016). What struck me about this conservation issue is how different it is from the Adirondacks; for conservation plans to be passed in the Park, the majority of New York State citizens must approve amendments to the New York constitution. Here, the fate of the entire St. Lawrence River falls into the hands of only two people.

Sources

Botero, Julia.  St. Lawrence River Makes List of 10 Most Endangered U.S. Rivers. North Country Public Radio; April 12, 2016. Web. Accessed April 18, 2016.

St. Lawrence River Ecosystem. Save The River; n.d. Web. Accessed April 18, 2016.

The Fiddle and Timeless Togetherness

            There was something that sounded quite familiar about the traditional folk music of the Adirondack region. I knew I had never heard “Tebo”, “The Ballad of Blue Mountain Lake” or “Once More a-Lumbering Go” before, yet the songs sounded familiar and oddly induced a sense of nostalgia for something I couldn’t pinpoint. I soon realized that the familiar sound that made my heart feel happy and brought a smile to my face was the unique whine of the fiddle. The fiddle was the most popular instrument to accompany Adirondack folk tunes, and it has accompanied a number of pieces through the years including the ones heard in class. The sound of the fiddle, however, is more than just timeless… it represents the passing down of traditions, stories and in the context of our class, the history of the Adirondack region. Furthermore, because of its history rooted in tradition and the communal experience of music, it still adds an element of comfort and tradition to folk music today. The pure sound of the instrument transports the listener through time and invokes a sense of togetherness.

            In class we discussed how the lyrics of many Adirondack folk songs directly addressed the audience, and invited friends and family to come around to dance, sing and listen to the stories of the lumbermen. The instrument was played for dancing and singing at gatherings both at home and in the woods. The sound of the fiddle alone was an invitation to families and friends to come together to let loose and have fun. The fiddle acted as the perfect accompaniment for solo and small group performances and paired well with improvised percussion like hand drumming and foot tapping. In this sense, everyone could be a part of the experience. Folk music from the Adirondacks contains a history of the lumbermen and has transcended through decades to keep the history alive. This is evident in folk music from other regions as well. Now, hearing such music today, I can envision the men and their wives dancing jovially to the ever-catchy jigs and ballads.

            Many folk musicians continue to use the fiddle as a prominent accompaniment to vocals. Although the genre has developed with time, the fiddle maintains the sense of musical community. I had an experience at an Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros concert that has stuck with me the past few years. After an unforgettably engaging performance in which the group interacted with the audience (we were always asked to sing along and at one moment, to share some of our own personal stories), the venue turned off the amplifier signifying it was time for the concert to end. In rebellion, a lead musician with an electric fiddle plugged his instrument into the group’s own, travel-sized amplifier. The lead singer asked the audience members to come together and put their arms around whoever stood next to them. The fiddler began to play the popular Bill Withers’ song “Lean on Me”. The audience sang together in unison, swaying back and forth to the sound of the electric fiddle and our voices in harmony. Although the song isn’t traditionally folk, the use of the fiddle induced an immediate sense of familiarity, comfort and tradition.

Below is a photograph of Nathaniel Markman, the lead singer of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, whose career took off after an incredible solo fiddle performance!

"'W Is for the Woods' - Traditional Adirondack Music." Adirondack Music. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2016.

The Future of Folk

Exploration and settlement in the Adirondacks brought with it traditions and documentations of life passed through generations in the form of song. Adirondack folk music, catchy and easy to learn, holds in its lyrics details of the Adirondack past. Whether it is specific accounts of individuals or the portrayal of a way of life, we can learn a lot about daily struggles in the Adirondacks and who the people were that lived there. After a long day’s work, people would gather around and sing a song together. The only form of entertainment, they would listen to the stories and join in taking their minds off of the grueling lumber work of that day. This form of singing was very powerful for the communities that participated, for it brought individuals closer together. While these traditions persisted for many centuries, in the present day it is very difficult to find songs that tell stories. In the 21^st century, how has the folk tradition changed? What has impacted different shifts in our culture’s music?

In the present day, folk is a very popular genre. Many famous musicians such as Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Paul Simon and James Taylor consider themselves folk singers. However, folk music today is in the style of folk, not the genre. A true folk singer is just an average musician, who plays music has been shaped and written by a communal composition. In other words, it has been passed down through generations of singers. Folk is by definition for the people and sung by the people, and unfortunately, the non-lucrative occupation of street performing is the closest one can get now to this form of performance. It is definitely not the preferred method for most artists.

Just as folk has changed in the past few decades, so has music overall. Every year, new genres are discovered and the quality of music shifts to increasingly represent the desires of a new and young generation. However, in the 21^st century, the most significant evolution has been HOW we listen and buy music. Music continues to shift to digital platforms like iTunes and recently Spotify. In doing so, these shifts have also changed the purpose of music, which used to be more of a communal activity. Now, more often than not, music is an individualized and isolating activity. Everywhere we walk we see people walking to class or work with headphones in. Technology has fundamentally changed the way we buy music but also the way we interact with it. For a tradition that relies on the communal power of music to transcend generations, will the true folk song survive in the coming decades?

 Sources:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=105677068

http://grapevineonline.in/the-evolution-or-not-of-the-music-industry-in-21st-century/

http://marketingland.com/buyer-behavior-trends-driving-digital-shift-mobile-132039