The Allure of Trail Running

The Adirondack park is well known for amazing hiking, paddling and climbing opportunities, but the park is also a fantastic place for trail running. Although the sport is not nearly as well known, trail runners come from all over to run the so called “hiking” trails in the Adirondacks. Trail running is a fantastic way to experience way to experience the park, enjoy nature, and get staggering volumes cardiovascular exercise in. 

There are a substantial number of trail races in the Adirondacks every spring, summer and fall. These races range greatly in difficulty, allowing for a wide range in the ability of the participants. For example, Paul Smith's College Visitor Interpretive Center and High Peaks Cyclery work together each year to host 1, 10, 15 and 20 kilometer races in addition to a couple of half marathons and marathons (2014 Adirondack Trail). Since trail running is naturally much more challenging than road running due to varied footing and sometimes drastic elevation changes, the pace is much slower and the races take much longer. A reasonably fast male runner might race a 10k on the road in 33 minutes, while it might take the same runner 45 minutes to well over an hour to cover 10 kilometers, even at race pace. While road races tend to be started en masse, trail races, especially in the protected land of the Adirondacks, are usually started in waves so as to evenly distribute runners along a trail. 

Trail running is fairly easy to get into. Unlike rock climbing, whitewater rafting and fishing, trail running requites little special skills, technical know-how, and gear. After all, running whilst weighed down by tons of gear is very uncomfortable. The most important piece of gear is a good pair of shoes. Trail runners don't use hiking boots like everyone else on the trail. Instead they use running sneakers that have been adapted specifically for trails. These shoes tend to have more grip on the bottom, designed to have traction in all types of terrain. Since the publication of Christopher McDougal's paradigm shifting running book Born to Run in 2009 many trail runners have opted for extremely minimalist shoes, which allow the runner's foot to have a much better feel of ground. In addition to a pair of shoes that can take the terrain, but doesn't leave the runner injured, a seasoned trail runner will bring along small amounts of food and water for the longer runs. Fuel belts, that distribute the weight of the water evenly around the waist are excellent, and usually have pockets for a granola bar or a nutrient-packed, sugary goo mixture.  

The most likely reason for the smaller number of trail running enthusiasts in comparison to other physical outdoor sports in the Adirondacks is that trail running is very hard on the body. It is hard at first to run any significant number of miles without the base fitness, and even more challenging to do so without getting injured. Although bruises, cuts and scrapes are just par for the course, the more serious and unfortunately more common injuries are overuse injuries, which can plague evened seasoned veterans. These issues can include shin splints, IT band syndrome, stress fractures and pulled muscles. The biggest problem with overuse injuries is that athletes must stop running and wait for their injuries to heal. When they start running again they have many fewer miles under their belts, making them vulnerable to other overuse injuries. 

Although most hiking trails are runnable, some trails lend themselves more to trail running. Flatter, shorter trails of only a few miles are better for beginning runners. Lake Placid website recommends the Wickham Marsh Trails due to ease of accessibility and controlled elevation with a beautiful view of the marsh in several places. Easy loops like these are perfect for the inexperienced, but more seasoned trail runners might enjoy running some of the High Peaks trails, with their increased elevation and more technical footing. Trail running, while not for everyone, is fantastic exercise and one of the greatest ways I know to experience nature.

What’s left when you’re dead? – The afterlife of a dead tree.

A tree falls in the forest.  Whether it makes a sound is irrelevant.  What matters is that it’s life is not over.

Over the course of this semester, we have spent a lot of time studying the conservation and exploitation of the Adirondack forests.  We have witnessed the birth, death, and rebirth of logging in the park as well as the birth, death, and rebirth of the region’s vast forests.  It seems fitting, therefore, to end this blogging project with the life that exists after the death of a giant in the context of the countless forest disputes that have ruled the Adirondacks.

We have heard from loggers disparaging dead wood in forests mourning the waste of profits (Schneider 231) and have witnessed struggles of private companies against the state to salvage dead wood on public land (See my earlier post, “Big Blow-up”) and increase leniency in logging regulations on private land (See my earlier post, “Junk Forests?”).  Loggers cite the dangers of dead woods in forests in light of the forest fires that ravaged the park at the turn of the century.  Throughout these disputes, no one seems to acknowledge the ecological importance of dead wood in the forest ecosystem… so I will tell you:

A tree often meets its death when it can no longer maintain defenses against persistent fungi, which invade its vascular structure and begins feasting.  These decomposers make available nutrients for other hungry opportunists such as mosses, slugs, and insects which in turn attract predators such as birds.  These birds hollow out the trees and create homes for themselves in the soft wood.  Eventually, these residents will move on and new animals will move in—squirrels anyone?  These standing dead trees can maintain life for decades before falling to the forest floor where they begin serving a new suite of forest community members.  On the floor, decomposition sinks the tree into the ground where it moistens and becomes a nursery for mosses and new tree saplings that will eventually take its parent’s place in the canopy (Krautwurst 2004).

Thankfully, the Wild Center in Tupper Lake recognizes the importance of tree after-life, where they are building a feature into their new “Wild Walk” which allows visitors to witness the diversity of life and decomposition processes behind the death of a forest giant.  The exhibit, designed by Chip Reay, will contain a path leading into an [artificially] large “snag”—the word for a standing dead tree—with a spiral staircase exposing the visitor to different processes within this living-dead structure (Otter 2014).  In perhaps no other ecosystem is the role of death so critical in the advancement and survival of the whole.  Dead trees in the forest are not a waste of profit or an aesthetic disappointment, but an essential component to a healthy and expanding Adirondack Forest.

Thanks to Ellie for her peer review!

References:

Otter—an update for members. Summer 2014.  Wildcenter.org.  “Building Wild Walk.”

Krautwurst, Terry.  “The Life in Dead Trees.” September 2014.  Mother Earth News.  URL: < http://www.motherearthnews.com/nature-and-environment/the-life-in-dead-trees-zmaz04aszsel.aspx?PageId=1>.

Schneider, Paul.  The Adirondacks—a History of America’s First Wilderness.  First Owl Books: New York (1998).

What Defines a Park?

The Adirondacks are undeniably a special and beautiful park.  Writer and Adirondack enthusiast Bill McKibben claims, “in my experience, the world contains no finer blend of soil and rock and water and forest than that found in this scene laid out before me” (McKibben, 14).   McKibben’s view of the park is quite common, as many people consider the Adirondacks to be a home, second home, or favorite vacation destination.  Although McKibben and others consider the Adirondacks to be the epitome of an American park, does this landscape define a “park”?  Even though the Adirondacks are quite famous, New York State is home to several other, drastically different, parks, even within the busy metropolis that is New York City.

New York City, which seemingly is the opposite of the Adirondack Park, is home to roughly 29,000 acres of parklands, which is nearly 14 percent of the City (NYC Dpt. of Parks and Rec).  Among these parks are the more traditional city parks such as the famous Central Park.  New York City Department of Parks and Recreation describes Central Park as a place to, “[roam] its grounds, gazing upon nearly 50 fountains, monuments, and sculptures or admiring its 36 bridges and arches” (NYC Parks).  Central Park is the closest reminder of the wilderness that a New York City resident will have in the city, however, as is evident from the below photo, the park looks exceptionally out of place in the middle of the United States’ largest city.

Anthony Quintano/Flicker 

In comparison to central Park, which was designed to be more of a small-scale wilderness, the city’s new park, The High Line, presents an even more drastic interpretation of a park.  The High Line was a raised railway in New York City, opening in 1934 (Friends of the High Line, ‘About’).  Now, after years of designing and constructing, the former train rail structure is now home to a 1.45-mile park.  ArchDaily, a popular architecture blog, explains that the park was, “Inspired by the wild seeded landscape left after the line had been abandoned, the team created a paving system that encourages natural growth which creates a ‘pathless’ landscape” (Cilento, 2009).  The High Line Park is a park by name, though has no real or fabricated "wilderness" within its design.

David Berkowitz/Flicker

The Adirondack Park, Central Park, and the High Line are all categorized as a “park.”  However, there is an obvious difference between the Adirondacks and the parks of New York City, as one is naturally formed, and the others designed by professional park planners.  Unfortunately, the roughly eight million New York City residents do not have immediate access to the Adirondacks, being about five hours away.  As such, it is imperative that city governments continue to fund departments of parks and recreation, so that even large, industrial cities can have a glimpse of the rural oases of the world, such as the Adirondacks.

(Click on the below link to explore the High Line Park on Google Maps Street View!)

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.740364,-74.008137,3a,75y,342.74h,73.01t/data=!3m5!1e1!3m3!1s3oebirlKbod19rrtc4NMSg!2e0!3e5

*Thank you to John DeGuardi for reviewing and editing this post

Works Cited:

1. "About." NYC Parks. New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2015. <http://www.nycgovparks.org/about>.
2. "Central Park." NYC Parks. New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2015. <http://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/central-park>.
3. Cilento, Karen. "The New York High Line Officially Open." ArchDaily. Plataforma Networks, 09 June 2009. Web. 29 Apr. 2015. <http://www.archdaily.com/24362/the-new-york-high-line-officially-open/>.
4. "The High Line." NYC Parks. New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2015. <http://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/the-high-line>.

Photos:

1. https://www.flickr.com/photos/quintanomedia/15351915006/
2. https://www.flickr.com/photos/davidberkowitz/5922901497/

"Adirondack 102 Club"

Park overuse is an issue which we have contemplated numerous times as we discuss the various benefits and drawbacks of tourism in the park. At this point in Adirondack history, tourism is absolutely essential to the economic well-being of year-round park residents, however the concentration of tourists in particular areas becomes problematic. Tourists are generally attracted to areas which have already been widely traveled. Accounts of amazing views lead tourists to flock to the High Peaks region and other legendary peaks such as Mount Marcy. Tourists similarly travel to popular towns, such as Lake Placid and Saranac Lake, that are known for their history as classic locations to visit in the park. Although these trends are beneficial for local businesses in these areas, such high wear in leads to ecological degradation along popular trails, and takes business away from towns that also have great experiences to offer. Travel writer Marty Podskoch is particularly irked by the concept of wearing down the beaten path, and recently released a book titled “The Adirondack 102 Club” in an attempt to encourage people to visit all 102 towns and villages in the Adirondacks (“Project encourages travel to Adirondack towns”, 2).

Podskoch’s inspiration for this book came from an article about the Vermont 251 Club which she read in the American Profile Magazine. The club was started by Dr. Arthur W. Peach who suggested the idea of leaving the well-traveled road to “discover the secret and lovely places that main roads do not reveal” (“Adirondack 102 Club”, Podskoch). Podskoch realized that a similar idea would benefit towns in the Adirondacks, and asked the town supervisors if they could provide a description of their town or village that would be featured in the book. Towns quickly responded and were excited by the concept of this book, which will serve as a guide to travelers in their attempt to visit all these towns. Members of the 102 club have to get their book signed by locals or stamped by a resident as proof that they visited this area. These interactions will also serve as a great way to learn about local attractions. A member receives a “Vagabond” award, named for the way Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Harvey Firestone and John Burroughs described themselves on camping trips in the Adirondacks, once they travel to all 102 towns and villages.

I personally believe that this appears to be a great way to encourage tourists to visit numerous areas of the park. It may take a little while to change current trends, but in the long run hopefully word will grow of the uniqueness of each town in the Adirondacks. However, this concept brings me back to a few questions I have about the relocation of tourists. Is it actually more environmentally friendly to spread the wear to numerous Adirondack regions, or would it actually be better for ecosystems to keep tourists concentrated in one area? Should we focus on keeping lands that are relatively untouched protected from tourist bustle? As we continue to understand the effects of tourism on the environment, I think it may be worthwhile for scientists to find a clearer answer and compare the health of ecosystems in various regions of wear.

*Thank you to Michaela Guinee for editing this post. 

Sources: 
"Adirondack 102 Club." Amazon. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 May 2015.
    <http://www.amazon.com/Adirondack-102-Club-Passport-Country/dp/
     0979497973>.
Podskoch, Marty. "History." Adirondack 102 Club. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2015. 

     <http://adirondack102club.com/history.html#>. 

Canoeing

Photo credz to David Morgan

For my final blog post, I want to talk about my experience with the park. Whenever we talk about conservation in the history of the Adirondacks, we ask ourselves “why”: why do people want this wilderness preserved, why do people enjoy hiking, why do people want to spend time on the water? I don’t know how other people would answer these questions, but the last question is easy for me to answer.

Me at my happiest. Thanks Alex Doig

I am my happiest when I’m in a canoe (usually on water but also just sitting on grass somewhere). Floating on water, imagining all of the life underneath me, and all of the unseen things that aren’t disturbed by humans. I can gain perspective as a small dot on an expansive lake or a long river, where I never reach its source or its end. I can also become more mindful of my own body, because canoeing is a repeated motion, where I use the same muscles for each stroke. I get my breathing into a rhythm and it recharges me.  Being able to propel my canoe through waves and around rocks with the flick of my wrist makes me feel powerful and skilled.

I have the Adirondacks to thank for my knowledge and love of canoeing. I learned everything I know at Adirondack Camp in Ticonderoga on Lake George, and this sport, and my nerdiness about it, became “my thing”. When I became a counselor, I learned how to teach “my thing” to others, and instill a love of the sport in them. My campers become proficient paddlers, 4-foot tall people able to control 14-foot boats, and I got to take credit for their newfound passion. I met their growing interest for the sport with new lessons on more difficult strokes, and was rewarded with their growth in ability and their own pride in their mastery of the sport. Canoeing has gone from “my thing” to “our thing” over my Adirondack summers, and I hope that the pristine waterways of the park are preserved forever.

Thanks to Hannah Zucker at the Writing Center for her help.

Continued Rustic Relevance

     The Adirondack style grew from the architecture of the Great Camps of the late 19th century. William West Durant is most often credited with starting this architectural movement, blending the elegant intricacies of European styles with the simple, comforting rustic styles of Adirondack cabins. Durant made an art of cabin building and this style is still clearly prevalent today. This is made evident through the continued variety of books, shows, and events focused on the Adirondack style. The Adirondack Museum, for instance, will be hosting a Rustic Furniture Fair in September to showcase and sell furniture of renowned artisans. Another example can be found in the works of Ralph Kylloe. Ralph made a living and a legacy around the world through his work with the Adirondack style, demonstrating the style's continued relevance both in and beyond the Adirondacks.

     Although Ralph has done work around the world, the majority of his business is centered around the Adirondacks. He has written 20 books and hosted a TV show on the topic rustic architecture. Below you can see the promo (which is quite humorous at times) of the show. In an interview, his wife said “Ralph always says that it is furniture or art that is manipulated as little as possible, using natural shapes and native materials—roots, trees and burls—leaving them relatively intact, do­ing what you need to do to make them functional, but as little as possible” (Adirondack Life).  This suggests a simplicity in the style, but the video shows just how intricate it has become. Part way through the video, for example, Ralph gives us a look into the process of building a chandelier made of antlers. In another section, he discusses wood sculptures, which are seen being made with a chainsaw. As a whole, the promo reveals how specialized certain facets of the Adirondack style have become.

     The Adirondack style continues to appeal to a variety of people. A designer or builder might be drawn to it for the creativity involved. For example, creating a chandelier made of antlers certainly involves some creativity. For someone using the built houses or furniture, the style creates a comforting atmosphere. This works well  for the many travelling to the Adirondacks to relax in nature. While often built for luxury, the buildings blend, as much as possible, with the environment and emanate nature's presence. As the thousands of new homes are being built in the Adirondacks, though, its interesting to consider whether the style's dominating presence will at all give way to more modern architectural movements. Although human presence in the Adirondacks is constantly increasing, I feel that the rising consciousness of the human-nature relationship in today's world gives reason for hope. The mentality of preserving nature will result in buildings that attempt to interfere with the wilderness as little possible. As it so happens, the Adirondacks style fits this description quite well.  

A big thank you to Jack Pierce for editing help.

Works Cited

Coffey, Michael. "Adirondack Life Blog Archive House of Style » Adirondack Life." Adirondack Life Blog Archive House of Style » Adirondack Life. N.p., 06 Nov. 2014. Web. 28 Apr. 2015.

"RK Books." RK Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2015.

"Rustic Living with Ralph Kylloe Promo." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2015.

"2015 Rustic Furniture Fair." Adirondack Museum. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2015.

Adirondack Hiking Safety

On March 20^th, Ningyun Cai and her two sons – age 7 and 11 – set out on what was supposed to be a day hike to the top of Mount Marcy. The hike turned into an overnight search and rescue mission when the trio lost sight of the trail in the snow and called 9-1-1. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation dispatched forest rangers and local police who found the family and sent them to the Adirondack Medical Center for treatment (Karlin 2015). The Cai family’s case raised questions about hiking regulations in the Adirondacks. For example, should the Adirondack Park impose safety regulations on outdoor recreationists to prevent a full-mounted search and rescue mission? Or should young children be allowed to hike the high peaks in early spring without any safety guidelines?

            In recent years, more tourists than ever visit the Adirondack Park. With an influx of tourists – in particular outdoor recreationalists – more people than ever explore the Adirondack Park. However, larger groups often have individuals without the experience or skills to successfully navigate the Park. There is a greater opportunity for fatal error when inexperienced, adolescent, handicapped or otherwise impaired people set off into the Adirondack wilderness. The Cai trio is one example of many where underprepared recreationalists fall prey to the park. New York State’s Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) tracks the Adirondack forest ranger’s search and rescue missions, releasing monthly reports about the incidents. Over the past year, there has been a steady rate of injuries in the park. Search-and-rescue missions aren’t uncommon. As the number of incidents remains high, concern for these recreationalists is mounting.

            With this high rate of injury/search-and-rescue calls, can NYS DEC’s park rangers continue to maintain the safety of the park?  Should new safety regulations be imposed on recreationalists to adapt to the influx of tourists?

           

Ultimately, New York created the Adirondack Park for the enjoyment of everyone. Tourists, regardless of their physical health or stature, should have the opportunity to enjoy the Adirondack Park. However, I do believe that New York’s DEC cannot continue to maintain the safety of the park if the number of tourists continues to rise. Therefore, I believe increasing the number of park rangers and the quality of their equipment would help offset this influx of tourists. Modifying the general safety regulations of the Adirondack Park to match the increasing number of recreationalists would also ensure a more safe outdoor experience. Ultimately, hikers will get lost in the snow like the Cai trio. Yet with increased safety standards and more park rangers, hopefully fewer people will need a search-and-rescue save on an Adirondack peak.

Sources

Karlin, Rick. “Mount Marcy rescue provokes discussion on responsibility for rescue costs.” Times Union.com. The Herst Corporation. 24 Mar. 2015. Web. 28 Apr. 2015. < http://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Mount-Marcy-rescue-provokes-discussion-on-6156890.php#photo-7711761>

I Started with Wolves I am Going to end with Wolves

Is it our right to control nature? We have the means and resources these days to shift entire ecosystems if we felt like it. We could play god in the world in which we live in but our purposeful medaling in nature is often quite limited. By purposeful I mean trying to create positive impact on an ecosystem such as how wolves were replaced in Yellow Stone National Park in the early 90’s. Judging by the effect that the wolves had on the park we should continue to try to positively change the environment we destroy.

The wolves are perhaps the greatest example of a successful human intervention. But there are numerous examples of failure of human intervention that ended in failure. Whether it was the introduction of rabbits in Australia or the attempts to reintroduce moose to the Adirondacks there are failures our history with nature. But despite these failures we should still try.

Admittedly when the Rabbits were introduced to Australia, the inhabitants didn’t fully understand that the niche they were filling didn’t have natural predators. Today we understand the intricacies of ecosystems. Before this understanding of nature we treated it as a constant. The Rivers would always have fish and the forests would always be full of trees. Because of this view a lot of damage was done to the environment around the world. If you harmed someone without realizing it wouldn’t you try to help that person once you learned you did hurt him or her? Now an argument can be made that nature fills in the gaps herself. After all look at Coy Wolf and White Tail deer populations. However I feel as though that, though this new ecosystem functions, we have lost biodiversity. We should try to preserve biodiversity, if for nothing else than to keep nature walks interesting. At most we would make the ecosystem healthier than before.

Sources:

Stevens, Scott. "Wolves Are Making Their Way Back Into The Adirondacks & New England." Wolves Are Making Their Way Back Into The Adirondacks & New England. Adirondack.net. Web. 29 Apr. 2015. <http://www.adirondack.net/whatsnew/2011/10/wild-wolves-return.html>.

Hospitality's Climate Change

Dramatic changes are taking place in the way we travel. Community marketplaces like AirBnB have undermined the control of hotels and motels over visitors by connecting people directly to each other. The price is often much cheaper, and the residence is more beautiful (or at least more unique) all while experiencing the comfort of home for a short stay. It is for these reasons that I believe the Adirondacks and websites like AirBnB are suited well for each other and can only result in a further democratization of the tourist economy.

 AirBnB opens the world to families who otherwise could not afford it. In my experience of using the sigh, I have only met interesting people who are willing to share their stories and homes. Since we have spent so much time talking about the limits of land and development in the park, it makes sense that families ought to monetize their extra space, especially since so many are seasonal owners.

As in so many places, traditional hotel and B&B owners in the Adirondacks are pressuring their local governments to make these options less attractive to travelers. In the case of the park, there is a “bungalow exemption” which designates these entrepreneurial units as untaxable with normal hotel taxes so long as they do not provide housekeeping, food or other traditional services(DeMola). This loophole is the only thing which allows private individuals to afford being listed on sites like AirBnB. The demand clearly exists for these alternative lodgings as AirBnB bookings went up in the region last summer by 316%(PRNewswire). Visitors obviously see some merit in staying in a country cabin as opposed to a Marriott, and dissatisfaction with the current hospitality market seems to be a big contributor.

I can only assume that, so long as the loophole remains open, either old-school hospitality will change its act and stop charging $6 for a mini-fridge soda or AirBnB will continue to thrive in the region. The latter I prefer, as it would work to spread out the profits of lodging while bringing tourists previously unable to afford the area.

Thanks to Evan for the peer edits. 

Works Cited

"Airbnb Unveils Top 10 Trending U.S. Travel Destinations For Summer 2014." PRNewswire. N.p., 1 May 2014. Web. 28 Apr. 2015.

DeMola, Pete. "Essex County Drawn into Battle between Growing Rifts in Hospitality Biz." Denpubs.com. Denton Publications, 17 Mar. 2015. Web. 28 Apr. 2015.