Look at This Photograph

The Adirondack Park is an unquestionably beautiful place. Those who live in the park or visit it recognize this, but many who have never been to the region also know it. One of the main reasons why the beauty of the Adirondacks is so widely recognized is because of the many photographs and other pieces of artwork that have been crafted with the park as their subject. When reading about Paul Schaefer, our class learned of how he encouraged his mentees to explore the Adirondacks and document their travels through photography. He felt that this was the best way to show those outside of the Adirondacks why they should fight to protect it. It is hard to know the exact impact photography has had on the protection of the park, but one thing is certain: the park has been protected with far greater zeal since significant efforts to photograph it have been undertaken.

            One prominent photographer in the Adirondacks is Carl Heilman II. Heilman is an internationally published photographer and author, and teaches photography workshops throughout the year in the Adirondacks. He has been photographing the park since the mid 1970s, and his work has become quite popular since that time. He describes a “spiritual connection” that he feels towards the Adirondacks, which is something he tries to communicate through his photos.

            Though Carl Heilman II exhibits great skill and talent in his photographs, it is not simply his abilities to which people are attracted. Rather, it is the allure of the Adirondacks that keeps customers returning. This is something we have talked about extensively in class, as many artists have flocked to the Adirondacks since its creation. Whatever they have created, from paintings to photographs, has consistently seemed to have an audience. I believe that this trend transcends the quality of the art and reflects the uniqueness and attractiveness of the Adirondacks. Though those who have had the privilege to visit the Adirondacks know of its beauty, the constant flow of art that comes from the region has effectively showcased the park to many people all over the world. Just as Paul Schaefer hoped photographs of the Adirondacks would encourage many to protect it, I hope the continued creation of art will do the same. The Adirondacks are vulnerable to threats both from humans and the natural environment, and I believe that art can be a powerful tool in encouraging its protection.

Sources

http://www.adirondackermag.com/artist-of-the-month/carl-heilman-ii-5-15/

Schneider, Paul. The Adirondacks: A History of America’s First Wilderness. New York: H.           Holt, 1997. Print.

Fly Like the Wind!

The Adirondacks are home to many different species of animals, and the constant human presence in the region allows for close monitoring of many of these species. One species that I often wonder about is the flying squirrel. Being a student at Hamilton College affords me ample opportunities to observe squirrels, and so I have become more attuned to the activities of squirrels in general. However there are no flying squirrels on the Hamilton campus, so they naturally pique my interest. Fortunately, flying squirrels do live in the Adirondacks.

            The first unique aspect of the flying squirrel is that it is nocturnal. In fact, it is the most common nocturnal tree dwelling mammal in the Adirondack Park. Most other squirrel species are diurnal, which makes it slightly easier to spot flying squirrels, as they are likely the only squirrels roaming around during the Adirondack nights. The flying squirrel is distinct from other squirrel species due to the loose fold of skin, called a patagium, which extends from its front to hind legs and is connected to its sides. The patagium allows the flying squirrel to glide forward and descend slowly after leaping from trees. In addition to the patagium, the flying squirrel has a wide and flat tail, which, in addition to assisting in gliding, plays a large role in allowing the squirrel to alter its flight path in order to more accurately land on different objects. Additionally, the flying squirrel is unique from other squirrels because it is omnivorous, while most other squirrel species do not eat any animal matter.

            In the Adirondacks, there are two separate species of the flying squirrel: the southern flying squirrel and the northern flying squirrel. The southern flying squirrel is the smaller of the two species, and generally remains in lower elevation forests, while the northern flying squirrel is more resistant to cold temperatures, and therefore can be found throughout different types of forests, regardless of their elevations. It can be difficult to determine the species of a given flying squirrel, as besides the slight size difference, the only main distinguishing factor is a slight color difference.

            The flying squirrel is a unique and interesting creature, which is quite different from any other animal in the Adirondacks. Though they can be difficult to spot, if you are ever in the Adirondacks after dusk and see a small dull gray squirrel, you may indeed be observing the elusive flying squirrel.

Sources

http://www.adirondackalmanack.com/2012/07/adirondack-wildlife-the-flying-squirrels.html

YELLOW FROM THE OTHER SIIIIIIIIDDDEEE

            Bears are commonly seen in the Adirondacks, as many of them call the park home. In fact, there are a number of stories about Hamilton Adirondack Adventure trips coming into contact with bears over the years, including two from this past fall! Bears in the Adirondacks, as well as other parks, love to eat food brought in by campers. This tendency has led to the creation of many bear canisters meant to keep bears from accessing human food. Because bears have such a strong sense of smell, the generally accepted practice among campers is to place all food and anything else that is scented into one of these canisters, and then place the canister a few hundred feet away from the campsite overnight. If a bear finds the canister, it will be unable to open it, therefore ensuring that the campers will have all their food come morning. At least that is the theory.

            There is one bear that destroyed this theory however, gaining fame and a reputation for herself. Her name was Yellow-Yellow. Yellow-Yellow lived in the Adirondacks and received her name due to the yellow tags that were placed on each of her ears. She gained notoriety and fame after opening a specific brand of bear canister called the BearVault and stealing some campers’ food. Up until she did this, no bear had ever opened a BearVault canister, and no bear has opened one since. Largely as a result of Yellow-Yellow, the Hamilton Adirondack Adventure program, as well as the Outing Club, uses a brand of bear canisters that is even more difficult to open than BearVault canisters.

            However these more complex canisters may no longer be necessary, as Yellow-Yellow was shot and killed by a hunter on October 21^st, 2012. Though it was a legal kill, as it was during bear hunting season, Yellow-Yellow’s death was met by the sadness of many. Her uniqueness and intelligence was truly one-of-a-kind, as there are no other documented bears that have been able to open a BearVault canister. However, Yellow-Yellow may have performed one final trick in addition to her many acts of thievery, as she was only identifiable by her radio collar after being shot. It is unclear how she did it, but Yellow-Yellow was able to remove the yellow tags from both her ears at some point after they were placed there. Though it is possible that their removal was accidental, the idea that she found a way to remove them pervades, strengthening her legacy of intelligence and resourcefulness.

Sources

http://www.adirondackalmanack.com/2012/11/a-yellow-yellow-obituary.html

http://www.adirondackdailyenterprise.com/page/content.detail/id/534491/Yellow-Yellow--Exploring-the-myth-and-reality-of-a-notorious-High-Peaks-bear.html?nav=5008

Hope from Despair

During the public poster session for our class, I began to realize how truly diverse the Adirondack Park is. After looking at each of the posters, I started to think about how deeply each of the issues affects people, the land, or in most cases, both. For example, with my poster, there was a vast array of research regarding acid rain in the Adirondacks, and in reading about it, I was able to understand how much it affects humans, aquatic species, and the land within the park. While examining my peers’ posters, I thought about all the research they had to sift through, and the experiences and data that led to the existence of that research. Looking at the issues from that perspective, I began to comprehend the breadth of experiences and issues that have resulted from the existence of the Adirondacks.

            As our course came to a close, I tried to continually think about the cultural and natural diversity of the park and what ramifications this diversity will have on the park’s future. Admittedly, my first thoughts on the subject were pessimistic. If there are so many different issues that cause tension in the Adirondacks, I wondered how any of them would ever receive the necessary attention to be solved. Furthermore, I questioned whether many of the debates, such as the one over recreational automobiles, could ever be solved, or if they would simply continue to cause hostility among people within the Adirondacks. In a place with limited resources, natural as well as monetary, it may seem that the huge array of issues requiring attention would cause the park to fragment and fall into a state of disarray.

            However, despite the myriad problems in the Adirondack Park, it is revered for its beauty, diversity, and history, and successfully provides enjoyment for many. This enjoyment comes in the form of outdoor recreation, museums, and residential areas, among other things. In thinking about the breadth of issues faced in the Adirondacks, I realized that there is much to fight for. These issues exist because many people care deeply about the park, whether it is for the park’s sake or their own. Though there is much to accomplish, many things have already been done, and there will always be those who are passionate about the Adirondacks. Through attempting to understand the breadth of the history and problems within the park, I found comfort in knowing that the park will always receive the attention and care necessary to ensure its survival and success.

Adirondack Chairs!

Harry Bunnell's 1905 patented design (left) next to a later 1938 patent (right)

an Adirondack chair

While the Adirondacks themselves are relatively obscure and esoteric, Adirondack chairs are one of the most famous outdoor chairs in America.  I've always grown up around Adirondack chairs; while we didn't have them in my New York City apartment growing up, they were a mainstay in our Long Island beach house, and they were always noticeable to me when we travelled upstate.  I always loved these chairs because they were so big for my young tiny frame that I could cuddle up in them very comfortably.  I have taken this design of chair for granted, though, without knowing any of its history, other than that it was presumably created in the Adirondacks.

I was right about that part, at least.  Thomas Lee invented the Adirondack chair in 1903 in Westport, NY.  Westport is situated on the New York-side shore of Lake Champlain, within the "blue line" denoting the borders of the Adirondacks.  In Lee's futile search for cozy outdoor furniture that fit the aesthetic of his country-style cottage, he wound up frustrated and resorted to making his own.  Using only eleven pieces of wood from the same plank of wood, Lee designed multiple models and had his twenty-two family members test them out each individually.  Unsurprisingly, they chose the design of the modern Adirondack chair.  The chair sat low enough to be quite sturdy on uneven terrain and the high sloped back and wide armrests allowed for easy relaxation.
Lee's hunting partner Harry Bunnell was a carpenter, saw the chairs and immediately took to the design.  After asking Lee's permission, Bunnell began making the chairs and painting them green and dark brown, still two of the more popular and common Adirondack chair colors.  He began selling the chairs, and people bought them enthusiastically.  Without asking Lee, Bunnell filed for a patent in 1904 (no. 794,777) and named the design the Westport Plank Chair.  He carved his name into each chair he made, and now original Westport Plank Chairs with his name carved into their backs are sold for thousands of dollars.  Although Lee never gave permission for this, he also never sought to take legal action against Bunnell or stop Lee's profiting from the design.

Over time, all chairs of similar design (low-seated, high-backed, and with wide armrests) became known as Adirondack chairs.  The primary difference between the originals and most modern Adirondack chairs is the use of multiple smaller slabs of wood for the back, instead of the single plank that was first used.

a unique Adirondack chair

Sources:
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/adirondack-chairs-quick-histor-118981
http://www.orvis.com/s/adirondack-chair-story-the-history-of-the-adirondack-chair/2978
http://dfohome.com/knowledge-center/patio-furniture/adirondack-chair-history

I like eating bugs sometimes

Mm... grubs on a skewer

As a member of Club Ento, also known as the weird people who eat bugs on campus, I feel I'd be remiss in my duties if I didn't share anything about eating bugs this class.

First, I'll give general overview of entomophagy, or the practice of eating bugs:  Over 1,700 species of insect are edible out of the 1.1 million scientists have discovered and named.  2.5 billion people around the world eat bugs regularly, and that number doesn't account for those of us who only swallow a few spiders a year while asleep — in fact northern Thailand's primary reason for eating insects is "insects are tasty."  While seen as uncivilized or disgusting, eating many bugs has incredible benefits, and the United Nations issued a report in 2013 about these benefits and advocating for more widespread entomophagy.  These benefits can fit into two primary categories: health and sustainability.  Insects have more protein — crickets are ~65% protein by bodyweight — and more vitamins and minerals by far than beef and other livestock options, while also containing omega-3 acids and a generous amount of fiber, making for a great dietary option for everyone, especially athletes, who provide a growing market for cricket protein powder and cricket protein bars.  Also, insects don't carry similar diseases to humans, meaning we can't catch things like swine-flu and mad cow disease by raising insects for food.

Deep-fried insects at a market in Bangkok, Thailand

The sustainability benefits include using much (MUCH!) less water, land, and other resources for the same amount of weight of other foods, especially our favorite meats like beef, chicken, and pork.  This, along with the health benefits, makes for an incredibly attractive food-source in the coming years as the global community fights climate change and tries to leave a better world for our children.

There are very few, if any (and I doubt there are), better options for large-scale agriculture or animal husbandry.  This has implications that reach the Adirondacks.  Because of the hard farming conditions, insect farming could have a very significant impact on Adirondack diet and culture of the future in a more sustainable and environmentally conscious world.  Also, many edible insects thrive within the Adirondacks.  As Dan Crane says in his The Edible Adirondacks Adirondack Almanac post, "Although it probably goes without saying, the larger the animal, the more effort and skill involved to get it into your mouth and down your throat. Unless carrying a firearm or highly skilled in snare and trap design, have the proper licenses and in the appropriate hunting season, it is it is probably best to stick with the invertebrates, which only requires plucking from surrounding vegetation, ripping apart a log or digging within the forest floor."

Tequila flavor with worm or tequila-flavored worm??

As of this year, Hamilton's Club Ento built our first cricket farm in the Science Center, where I'll start volunteering once we get a new shipment of crickets (because we're fairly inexperienced, the first group died pretty quickly from unknown reasons).  I haven't begun yet, but I'm super excited to play a role in possibly the first non-personal cricket farm in New York State.  If any of you are interested in building your own cricket farm, they're easy and cheap to make and are easily manageable (despite Ento's early hiccups), and they provide a consistent high-protein and high-fiber snack.  I wouldn't suggest insect farming if you already have a shellfish allergy, however, because the allergy often applies to many edible insects as well.  I also wouldn't suggest eating insects you find around campus outside of the cricket farm because Physical Plant sprays toxins like pesticides and herbicides all over, poisoning the insects, which would lead to negative health impacts for humans if enough toxins are ingested.  But please come farm with me next semester!  It'll be so much fun and a great opportunity to learn about sustainable food sources while eating some tasty snacks!  Ento often gets shipments of cricket-protein bars and other insect-based treats to share with the campus community, and you'll get first dibs on those tasty yogurt-covered mealworms!

Sources:

http://big.assets.huffingtonpost.com/Crawling_Snacks_2_0.png

http://www.fao.org/forestry/edibleinsects/84664/en/

http://students.hamilton.edu/clubento (and tabs)

http://www.adirondackalmanack.com/2013/12/dan-crane-edible-adirondacks.html