Eddie the Eagle

What better way is there to bring attention to the Adirondack Park, and specifically Lake Placid, than through a major motion picture? Recent motion picture release, “Eddie the Eagle,” is the story of Michael (Eddie) Edwards’ Olympic journey in ski jumping. He got the idea to begin ski jumping during a trip to the Adirondacks. He later came to Lake Placid to train on real Olympic ski jumps with local coaches. Edwards ended up competing in the 1988 Olympics in Calgary and finished in last place. Despite his horrific performance at the games, he is well remembered for his determination and passion for the sport. Although Edwards’ coach was never contacted to help with the movie, it portrays a pretty accurate account of Edwards’ training for the Olympics and depicts Lake Placid in a rather positive light. 

Chuck Beghorn, Edwards’ coach, revealed very interesting information about Edwards’ training days in an interview about the movie. Although he was not aware that a movie was being made, he was happy to see that Edwards’ story was being told. He recalled thinking how unlikely it was that Edwards would succeed at ski jumping because “he was old, never jumped before, was wearing the thickest glasses [he] had ever seen and was chunky” (dailymail.co.uk). Beghorn also revealed that Edwards was an accident waiting to happen, but he “knew how to fall acrobatically,” which saved him from many injuries (dailymail.co.uk). The majority of the time that Beghorn was training Edwards, he was convinced that there was no chance Edwards would ever make it to the Olympics. However, Edwards did make it to the Olympics, and Beghorn was thrilled that Edwards received so much attention and glory.

The set of “Eddie the Eagle” is the Hollywood version of the ski jumps in Lake Placid. Because of this, it makes the Lake Placid facilities seem much nicer than they really are. Despite the inaccuracy of this detail, it certainly helps to put a positive image of the Adirondacks into the minds of viewers worldwide. Considering the push to move the Olympic Training Center from Lake Placid to Park City, Utah (like we heard from Anthony, the luge athlete at the training center), this movie could help discourage the move due to its history and the glory Edwards’ brought to Lake Placid.

Even though Edwards’ story is not really a success story, it is certainly a riveting account of how important determination and passion can be. Despite his last place finish (by quite a big margin) at the Olympics, Edwards received tons of attention and praise. The positive light that Lake Placid is portrayed in can only help the town in its effort to keep the Olympic Training Center and to boost morale. Beghorn always said “he never called Eddie ‘the eagle’, because he was more like an ‘albatross’ (dailymail.co.uk). This story reminds me of the importance of staying positive and sticking with things I enjoy, even if I am more like an albatross than an eagle.

http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/31204/20160304/the-lake-placid-roots-of-the-new-film-eddie-the-eagle

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3464726/I-trained-hapless-ski-Olympics-ski-jumper-Hollywood-turned-movie-Eddie-Eagle-Hugh-Jackman-plays-don-t-know-is.html

Chaga

The idea that nature has the ability to heal is one that has come up many times in studying the Adirondack park. It will forever be a mystery whether simply being in the presence of nature can cure any illness, but the mystery subsides when it comes to consumable organisms with apparent health benefits. Chaga, a fungus that grows on living Birch trees, has the power to improve the health of the individual who consumes it. The extent of the health benefits may be questioned by some, however, with the numerous advantages of consuming the fungus, the doubts are irrelevant. 

When camping in the north Maine woods a few summers ago, my trip leader invited me, and the rest of my trip, to sample a tea made from the fungus called Chaga. I skeptically tasted tea and to my surprise, it wasn’t half bad. Making this tea is fairly straight forward. It just requires the fungus from a living Birch tree and a pot of boiling water. Fortunately, the Adirondacks have this fungus growing on living Birch trees in the forests. The fungus grows on the tree until the tree dies and then it too dies releasing spores into the wind. The fungus has an exceptional amount of antioxidants, so many that it has the acai berry beaten. The nutrients in the fungus have the power to protect DNA from mutation and provide the body with the vitamins and minerals that boost immune system health. The tea has been proven to help with health problems such as cancer, psoriasis, bronchitis, asthma, and even HIV. Chaga’s DNA is 30% closer to human’s DNA than it is to plant DNA making it a good match for human consumption. With access to the tea, individuals in the wilderness can prevent and cure illnesses simply with natural ingredients. Maybe the essence of the woods is not what cures sick individuals, but the plants and fungi with medicinal functions are. 

http://spiritualityhealth.com/blog/bess-oconnor/chaga-cancer-healer-and-king-all-herbs

http://www.chagatea.org/chaga-tea-benefits/

The First Conservationist President

People often want to point fingers at wealthier people in the Park—those who have built the Great Camps in the Adirondacks and are continuing to develop the park with second homes. However, the United States political system attaches political power with wealth, and it is with that power that people are able to protect nature, such as the Adirondack Park. The powerful and wealthy individuals vacation in the Adirondacks--consequently falling in love with it and protecting it. Teddy Roosevelt’s love for nature led him to become one of the first conservationist Presidents, and he used his power to conserve and preserve nature all across the United States. The Adirondack Park is currently in its well-protected and preserved state as a result of individuals like Teddy Roosevelt.

            Roosevelt, a child of of wealth and privilege, was born in New York City, but was instantly drawn to the natural world (1). He was 12 when he first visited the Adirondacks in 1871, and returned many times after his initial visit. He published his first ornithological observations from the Adirondacks, The Summer Birds of the Adirondacks, in 1877 (1). He grew up visiting the Adirondacks, and by the time he became governor of New York in 1899, he was adamant in working to protect natural resources across the nation.

On September 14^th, 1901 in the town of Newcomb, New York, at approximately 2:15 A.M., Theodore Roosevelt was informed of the death of President William McKinley. Today, Roosevelt still holds a special place in the hearts of Newcomb, NY residents, besides for his conversation efforts.. Newcomb was the starting point of his midnight ride to the presidency, and the town hosts a Teddy Roosevelt weekend every year to honor the past President (3). Roosevelt became the President of the United States while hiking in the Adirondacks, and he became the first president of the 1900s, a crucial time of great expansion and development. Yet his Administration is marked by incredible conservation across the nation, as he was the first American President to find the long-term conservation of our natural resources an important goal (2).

Every year, the Town of Newcomb hosts a celebration weekend in honor of Teddy Roosevelt. (http://www.adirondackalmanack.com/tag/theodore-roosevelt)

Roosevelt used his power to “protect wildlife and public lands by creating the United States Forest Service and establishing 150 national forests, 51 federal bird preserves, 4 national game preserves, 5 national parks, and 18 national monuments by enabling the 1906 American Antiquities Act” (4). The American Antiquities Act allowed him to create national monuments without congressional approval, leading to the easier creation of national monuments compared to national parks. Roosevelt wasn’t planning to run for reelection, and thus he was “unconcerned about the reaction of lumber barons, cattlemen, and ine operators or their minions in Congress” (1). Throughout his presidency, he protected approximately 230 million acres of public land, 150 million of which was set aside at national forests (4).

Roosevelt’s conversation efforts, in a time pushing for industry and development, had lasting impacts on the environment today. His conversation efforts can be seen in the national parks, monuments, and preserves. He was born wealthy, with a love for nature, and it was through the combination of wealth, power, and love for nature that he was able to protect nature.

Sources:

(1) http://www.adirondackexplorer.org/book_reviews/the-wilderness-warrior-theodore-roosevelt-and-the-crusade-for-america

(2) http://www.adirondackalmanack.com/2008/09/teddy-roosevelt-and-the-adirondack-forest-preserve.html

(3) http://www.adirondack.net/things-to-do/teddy-roosevelt-days.cfm

(4) http://www.nps.gov/thro/learn/historyculture/theodore-roosevelt-and-conservation.htm

Trampling Alpine Habitats: Humans vs. Humans

Alpine ecosystems exist atop the highest peaks of the Adirondacks, hosting plants with adaptations to the windy conditions, varying temperatures and poor soil but none adaptable to their largest unprotected threat – humans. We trample over these plants who are already struggling to survive. Yet we as humans do try to undo our damage by providing aid to these alpine habitats. Although we cannot make up for our destruction in the alpine areas, our moral efforts to reestablish what is natural proves that we are more than an entirely damaging invasive species.

These alpine plants have been around since the glaciers passed about 12,000 years ago. These plants were spread throughout the Adirondacks until the temperatures warmed. Now isolated to only 16 "islands in the sky", the plant communities are threatened by so many hiking visitors. Alpine scientist Ed Ketchledge has enlisted many volunteers to spread fertilizer and seed around the peaks and inform hikers of the fragile habitats under foot.

This problem is thematically similar to almost everything we've learned about in the Adirondacks. It all comes down to a simple pattern: humans come to the Adirondack park and cannot live sustainably, the park suffers ecologically, and lastly, humans try to undo their actions. (Saying "humans" doesn't refer to the Native Americans who lived peacefully in the region before Europeans came.) Often we are able to restore the park's natural beauty, but then again I really don't feel comfortable calling something unnaturally remade natural "natural".

But our moral hatred of our unnaturalness in the park is what separates us as a species from every other invasive species that causes damage to the park. Environmental morality is really all we can depend on if we hope to maintain a sustainable Earth going forward.


Sources: Adirondack Life p. 28-33 June 2016

Considering Lake Placid for 2026 Winter Olympics?

The mayor of Quebec City Regis Labeaume has initiated talks for a possible bid of the 2026 Winter Olympics. Now what does this have to do anything with the Adirondacks? Well Quebec City does not have all the necessary infrastructure needed to hold the Winter Olympics. If the Olympics were to be held in Quebec then they would need to built all the necessary facilities, which would end up being very expensive. Now to offset the cost, the mayor came up with a plan. He suggested teaming up with Calgary, Vancouver, and Lake Placid. As we all recall from our latest quiz, Lake Placid hosted the Winter Olympics in 1932 and 1980. The Winter Olympics were also held in Calgary in 1988 and Vancouver in 2010. This means that Calgary, Vancouver, and Lake Placid have the facilities needed for the Winter Olympics. From our trip we know that Lake Placid has a certified sliding track for bobsled, skeleton, and luge which are facilities that Quebec City does not have. The mayor has recently contacted the mayor of Lake Placid, Craig Randall, to ask if Lake Placid would be interested in joining Quebec City for the bid on the 2026 Winter Olympics. Randal responded “to please keep Lake Placid included in his investigation for possible venue use in an Olympic bid”. Now would is it even possible for Quebec City to hold the Winter Olympics and have some events occur in Lake Placid? Well luckily in 2014 the International Olympic Committee (IOC) changed its rules to allow events to be held outside of the host city or country. Quebec City’s mayor will be meeting with the IOC officials in April to further discuss this.

If events were to be held in Lake Placid, what would this mean for Lake Placid? Obviously the events would bring major tourism back into the village. Maybe the tourists will explore other parts of the Adirondacks and bring in the economy boost it needs. Quebec City and Lake Placid is about a 4 hour drive, so it is not far apart. Stay tuned the host city for 2026 Winter Olympics will be chosen at an IOC conference in 2019.

Look Familiar? Lake Placid Olympic Jumping Complex
source: http://www.whiteface.com/facilities/lake-placid-olympic-jumping-complex

http://calgary.ctvnews.ca/quebec-city-s-mayor-proposes-multi-city-olympic-bid-including-calgary-1.2832716

http://www.wcvb.com/news/quebec-city-to-explore-joint-2026-olympic-bid-with-lake-placid/38706612 

http://www.newsjs.com/url.php?p=http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3708883-155/olympics-lake-placid-may-be-part