Emerson's, "Nature"

            Ralph Waldo Emerson is remembered as one particularly influential thinker of the transcendental movement. Transcendentalism generally rejects intellectual preoccupation, and preaches the inherent purity and goodness of nature. Emerson’s text “Nature” reflects on the potential powerful harmony between man and nature that can only be accessed by rejecting intellectual impulses, and through the marriage of internal and external senses. Specifically, he tacitly criticizes the desire to know all, and implies that regaining childlike simplicity of spirit is at the heart of genuinely and fully engaging with the natural world. The first chapter of Emerson’s “Nature” left me questioning the way that nature is approached and appreciated today. 

            Emerson believes that knowing everything about nature is detrimental to the potential harmony he discusses. He notes that the wisest man never “lose(s) his curiosity by finding out all (nature’s) perfection.” Through this section, he argues that curiosity and awe of nature is essential fuel for expanding the mind and senses. Just as nature “delighted the simplicity of … childhood,” it should induce that same “poetical sense in the mind.” Similarly, he argues that man should not be preoccupied with owning land, because only “the poet” can truly integrate the land and the landscape... a true appreciation for nature incorporates awareness for the landscape that cannot truly be owned or bought. In that sense, man must be, to some extent, submissive to nature, allowing it to “authorize a different state of the mind.”

            This last quote pinpoints Emerson’s take on mans’ potential relationship with nature. To Emerson, a genuine harmonious interaction between man and nature has much to do with the state of mind, rather than with knowledge, observation, or intellect. He later discusses how one’s encounters with nature depends entirely on the mental state it is approached with. He notes that, “the lover of nature is he whose inward and outward senses are still truly adjusted to each other; who has retained the spirit of infancy even into the era of manhood,” reiterating that the pursuits of the brain are not enough, that harmony is attained by engaging all senses.

            Emerson’s approach to appreciating nature sounds quite spiritual, and though there is reference to God, I don’t believe it is entirely so. I hope that most of us have embodied the experience of liberation, clarity or sudden wisdom brought about my opening the mind to “uncontained and immortal beauty.” Scientists, researchers, conservationists and park rangers create a lens of considering nature by its scientific intricacies, largely due to current environmental issues and inherent curiosity. While the scientific viewpoint is integral to conservation efforts and action, I personally think Emerson’s ideas are of equal validity. Is it truly worth conserving the natural world if we lose the sense of how to appreciate it? Emerson writes, “Yet it is certain that the power to produce this delight, does not reside in nature, but in man, or in a harmony of both.” Our relationship with nature is inseparable from efforts to conserve it, and it’s important that that seeking that pure, genuine fulfillment is never lost or overlooked by observing nature by its objective qualities.

Read the first chapter of "Nature" here:

http://www.emersoncentral.com/nature1.htm

Should Lake George be Dredged?

60 years ago, the Rooney’s family cottage stood 30 feet from the edge of Lake George near the outlet of English Brook. Today, that same cottage stands 280 feet from the shoreline, but the house never moved; only the land grew. To get to water more than one foot deep, you need to walk another 270 feet out into the lake. Without the English Brook’s delta, that area would be more than 30 feet deep. The English Brook delta, and the delta’s of other Lake George tributaries, have grown at unprecedented rates over the past few decades. At the outlet of Finkle Brook, landowners have docks that exceed 140 feet in length. On Hague Brook town beach, you have to walk the length of a football field to reach waist-deep water. The question is whether these enormous deltas are natural features of the lake, or if their growth has been accelerated from human practices.

While sediment accumulations known as deltas naturally occur at the mouths of tributaries, the alarming growth of the Lake George deltas over the past 50 years is the work of more than just nature. The construction of the Adirondack Northway in the 1960s, the washout of the Bolton Landfill in 1966, and the 28,000 tons of sand applied to roads in the wintertime are only a few of the causes of Lake George’s enlarged deltas that can be attributed to human activity. The debate of the origin of the deltas culminated in the Environmental Impact Statement in 2003, titled “Lake George Deltas Sediment Management/Shoreline Restoration Project”. The document settles the argument once and for all, showing that upland development, highway sand spreading activities, land clearing, and logging, in combination with inadequate erosion and sedimentation controls, are the causes of the enlarged deltas.

Now, the people of Lake George are disagreeing over what must be done about the deltas. Many people believe the deltas should be dredged; dredging has occurred on Lake George in the past, and the deltas create boating hazards, inhibit boat docking, and cause aesthetic declines. These people believe that dredging will improve the water quality and the recreational quality of the Lake. The con side of the argument, however, believes that the costly dredging of the deltas will take away money that should be allocated to tackling the problem at its source, not dredging for a short-term benefit. These people argue for action upstream, such as stricter land-use laws, steps to prevent erosion, and improvements in stormwater control. I think I side with the argument against dredging, because it is only a band-aid to the issue and, since it only removes course-grained sediment that has settled at the bottom, it will not improve water quality in the lake. I believe that more stormwater control initiatives and steps to prevent erosion upstream would be a better option for Lake George.

                                   

Source:

http://www.lakegeorgemirrormagazine.com/2012/03/16/should-lake-george%E2%80%99s-deltas-be-dredged/

Fire Tower Challenge

Many of you may have heard of the cinnamon challenge, gallon challenge, or even Chubby Bunny, but maybe you haven’t heard of the Fire Tower Challenge in the Adirondack mountains. There are many fire towers on top of the peaks in the park that supply us with superb views of the surrounding wilderness. The hikes are spread out around the park and provide a whole spectrum of difficulty. To advertise these climbs the Adirondack Mountain Club has come up with an idea that will bring more people into the park, produce a challenging goal for adventurers to reach, and to draw attention to the history behind the towers in the mountains. 

These hikes are widely advertised and promoted. In fact, this challenge was inspired by a book written by John P. Freeman, Views from on High: Fire Tower Trails in the Adirondacks and Catskills. Since the publication of this book, the fire tower climbs have seen more hikers than before. The challenge has encouraged people to venture up to see the views from these tall perches and to hopefully receive a patch commemorating their journey. To get a patch, you must complete 18 of the 23 Adirondack fire tower summits and also all 5 of the Catskill mountain summits. Many of the towers are unreachable in the winter due to inclement conditions. Just this past weekend, I led a trip to Blue Mountain, one of the summits on the challenge, and managed to reach the top with my group. My co-leader and I had to do extensive planning to make sure we brought the proper footwear to ascend a primarily ice covered pathway. Actually, the entire path way was covered in about a 3-inch-thick layer of ice the whole way up. Fortunately, with micro spikes, the summit with the view was attainable. 

The book written by John P. Freeman not only highlights the hikes themselves in extensive detail but it also delves into the history behind fire towers in the park in general. Many fire towers were historically occupied for most hours of the day and the occupants only are interrupted from their peace by hikers summiting the peaks. Today, the fire towers are there just for visitors to climb recreationally. Some are frail, to say the least, and may not stand much longer. The views from the towers are incredible and provide a panoramic vantage of the surrounding mountains and lakes. It is no wonder that the fire tower hikes have seen as many people as they have, especially in the winter season. 

http://www.adk-gfs.org/firetower.challenge.php

http://www.adk-gfs.org/Documents/fire_tower_brochure.2015.pdf

http://visitadirondacks.com/area-adk/explore-the-fire-towers-of-the-adirondacks

Indian Pass

Having both read a lot about Indian Pass recently and having hiked there on my AA trip, I've started to wonder about the history, origin and significance of the location. The pass sits between the steep cliffs of Wallface Mountain and Algonquin Peak, forming somewhat of a valley between two looming mountains. Yet the pass itself holds some amazing views.

View from summit rock - Indian Pass

Indian Pass was and is an amazing spectacle and its early romanticized descriptions were important for how the public perceived the park.

The early explorers of the Adirondack park were drawn to the remote high peaks region central in the park. Indian Pass provided an accessible location to bask in the glory of the Adirondack nature. Its accessibility, however, did not take away from its aesthetic intensity. This is where the romantic writers would talk endlessly about the raw intensity of the park, the endless jagged mountains colored green with billions of trees, etc.

Yet in my own experience, these overdone romantic works made so much sense to me. I thought the same thing from the summit rock in the pass. With the massive exposed cliffs of Wallface to my right and the long valley in front of me, the wilderness seemed endless and so free from human influence. It was one of the most fulfilling moments in nature I've ever had.

Another historical spotlight moment the pass had was with the following painting by Charles Cromwell Ingham in 1837. He was brought along on a Geological Survey with Ebenezer Emmons (who is actually in the bottom left corner of the painting) to provide visual enhancement to their study. Their plan was to hike Mt. Marcy but Indian Pass was a spectacle that they also appreciated fully and thus had recorded in the form of this painting.

The original name "The Great Adirondack Pass" eventually changed to "Indian Pass" as historians wanted to credit Native American tribes in the area. This, however, was very historically inaccurate. Few tribes ventured this deep into the Adirondacks. It was part of the pattern of naming that romanticized the role of Native American tribes in the park.

Indian Pass was an influential passage for explorers who discovered the perfect mining location in the High Peaks - the Tahawus Mine. This mine gave moderate economic prosperity, but proved how accessible the pass was in such a remote region.

The Indian Pass was a favorite Romantic Era destination and one can really understand why. It is accessible yet very impressive. All these years later, it hasn't lost any of its glory.

http://www.lakeplacid.com/do/hiking/indian-pass-trail

http://www.adirondackalmanack.com/tag/indian-pass

Adirondack League Club

Every August, my family packs up the car with suitcases, food, and fishing rods and drives four hours to Little Moose Lake. This is the main lake of the Adirondack League Club and it's been a second home to me since I was a baby. When I was seven years old, I kayaked for the first time without anyone's permission and the strong wind pushed me farther out into the middle of the lake until my dad had to come save me. When I was eleven, I got to hold my new born baby cousin for the first time out on the dock. When I was thirteen, my parents caught my older cousins and I using swear words like they were a new language. This lake is the setting of a million memories which are recounted at dinner tables and family gatherings for the rest of the year. The Adirondack League Club has provided me with a certain consistency and reliability in my life. No matter how much I grow or change, camp stays the same and waits for me to return.

It wasn't until I was much older and gained a spot at the grownup's dinner table that I realized how much more the Adirondack League Club provided. The club has three guiding principles: 

1. The preservation and conservation of the Adirondack forest and the propagation and proper protection of fish and game in the Adirondack region.

2. The establishment and promotion of an improved system of scientific forestry.  

3. The maintenance of an ample preserve for the benefit of its members for the purpose of hunting, fishing, rest, and recreation. 

As much as members utilize the club to fish and swim and relax, members also lead and participate in committees dedicated to preserving the land or managing game or fish. For example, my dad loves to fish and is involved in the fishery research and management of the club. While it is easy to take fault in private clubs for reserving land for only its members, the money from membership fees goes to preservation and many environmental concerns. Privatized lands also reduce the traffic that damages the ecological balance. Throughout the club, there are no ATVs or snowmobiles and few lakes allow motorized boats. I'm proud of belonging to a club that's main goal is to protect the Adirondacks. 

References: 

http://www.alcclub.org/

Maple Syrup and the Warm Winter

There is no better way to start your day on a Sunday morning than with a plate of freshly made waffles, pancakes, or French toast (whatever you prefer) drizzled with some maple syrup and topped with some fresh fruit. I remember asking my dad one morning where maple syrup came from and he just responded that it came from trees. I grew up thinking that maple syrup just magically came out from trees and it was not until recently that I learned the whole process of making maple syrup. Just a quick overview for those may not know what the process is, maple syrup season begins when temperatures climb above 40°F during the day and fall below freezing at night. In Northern New York this happens between late February and early April. During this time, a hole is drilled into the tree where a metal tap it attached. The sap flows from the tree through the tap into a bucket. One the sap is collected, it is boiled to remove all the water and what is left behind is maple syrup. Many different factors play into the quality and flavor of maple syrup such as weather conditions, the size of the tree, and the length of sap season. The warm winter we have been experiencing has caused farmers to start maple syrup season early.

The warm winter has allowed Maple Farmers to begin their season much earlier than anticipated and so far have been thrilled about it. How exactly has this warm winter been affecting the maple trees? The reason why temperatures must be 40°F during the day and fall below freezing at night is because the alternate freezing and thawing temperature cycle causes pressure changes inside the tree that makes the sap flow. If the temperature gets too cold the sap takes a longer time to start flowing or might not even run at all. If the temperature doesn’t reach above freezing during the day, sap will not run. The warm winter has allowed for the temperature during the day to reach above freezing temperature and the sap to run. The only issue will be is if the weather begins to stay warm. This would make the trees start to bud which would ruin the syrup’s flavor and bring the season to an early end. There is no way to tell how the season will go until the season has ended.

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/22/nyregion/maple-syrup-makers-in-new-york-savor-aftertaste-of-a-mild-winter.html?_r=0

http://www.whec.com/news/maple-syrup-production-mild-weather-rochester-area/4063977/

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2016/03/04/rochester-maple-weekend-syrup-sugar/81207024/

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/22/nyregion/maple-syrup-makers-in-new-york-savor-aftertaste-of-a-mild-winter.html?_r=0

http://www.vox.com/2016/2/26/11114526/maple-syrup-sugaring-season

 

Invasive Species

With the past winter being as warm as it was and the predicted warming climate and winters, the threat of invasive species becomes bigger than it already is. Cold winters help kill aquatic invasive species during cold periods. Without spans of cold weather, more invasive remain alive and thriving in the park. The consequences of a warm winter can be seen in the mortality rates of the invasive species Asian clams (1). The lack of a cold winter leads to even greater problems with the Asian clams in Lake George. There has been evidence to suggest that if it’s not cold enough, the Asian clams do not have as high of a winter mortality rate. The past two cold winters have showed a clam mortality rate of about 90 percent (1). However, the current warm winter is leading to a lower mortality rate, which will cause problems in the upcoming summer.

There are many different invasive species within the park, but some of the most prominent species include Zebra Mussels, Emerald Ash Borer, and Hogweed. With each species, there are different methods and precautions that can be taken to prevent the spread of them.  As the climate continues to warm, efforts for controlling, preventing, and treating invasive species should be a main priority of the Adirondack park officials, residents, and visitors.

            Zebra Mussels are filter feeders who remove particles from the water, disturb the clarity, content, and food chain of aquatic ecosystems. The mussels “displace native species, attach to and cover many surfaces, have sharp shells, and are a nuisance to humans” (1). In addition to disrupting natural food chains, they can disrupt water treatment plants and risk human exposure to pollutants. There are few predators controlling the zebra mussels, and the mussels are able to breed fasted than they can be consumed. Once the species is established in an environment, there is very little that can be done.  The best way to prevent the spread of this species is to thoroughly clean boats, bait buckets, and gear every time they leave the water.

Zebra Mussels attached to a boat (1).

            The Emerald Ash Borer is an invasive species that has not yet entered the Adirondacks. However, if it is introduced into the park, the species will kill many trees, as it has already killed tens of million trees in the U.S (2). One of the best ways to kill EAB is exposure to cold weather (3). Exposure to temperatures -30 degrees Celsius and colder “could hold the EAB population to densities to which ash trees can tolerate infestation” (3).  Clearly, if introduced to the park and if temperatures continue to rise, EAB could have negative impacts on the Adirondack forests. This species spreads through the transportation of firewood from one location to another, and the best way to prevent the introduction of this species is to buy your firewood locally.

Damage done by Emerald Ash Borer (1).

            Giant Hogweed is another invasive species responding to the warming climate. Hogweed is a biennial herb, which sprouts in early spring (2). The plant is listed on the federal noxious weed list because of its dangerous sap, as it “threatens riparian areas by displacing native plants and exacerbating soil erosion” (2). It also causes skin irritation, blistering, and scarring to humans. As the climate continues to warm, thaws come earlier and “temperature-senstive plants are getting an earlier start and are slowly squeezing out plants that bud the same time each year regardless of how warm it is” (4). Treatments for this invasive species includes two of three sessions per year of root cutting, flower head/seed head removal, cutting and mowing, and cut and cover (5). These treatments need to over for multiple years to have an affect of getting rid of the species from a region.

(1) http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2016/jan/30/warm-winter-hurts-battle-against-lake-invasives/?print

(2) http://adkinvasives.com/

(3) http://www.fs.fed.us/nrs/pubs/jrnl/2013/nrs_2013_desantis_001.pdf

(4) http://bangordailynews.com/2014/08/08/news/hancock/scientists-climate-change-pushing-shift-in-acadia-national-park-vegetation/

(5) http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/40961.html