Author: Marjorie Kelting

Our winter/spring 2023 outing schedule is now available. Jane Kelting worked hard with our leaders on creating this schedule and it looks fantastic for our member.

 (Carson Sorrell, one of our Shatagee Woods ADK members, recently sent us this autobiographical account of his efforts to achieve a challenging and admirable goal……to become a 46’er. Here, in his own words, is Carson’s Story. )

I feel truly blessed for doing something that I never thought I would have the chance to do. By all means, I’m glad to share my not so typical story. Here’s a little background.

When I was younger, I was into all kinds of outdoor activities including some limited hiking and canoeing in the Adirondacks.

I had hiked Algonquin and Marcy with my son when he was in high school, but work and family commitments never allowed time to really get serious about doing all 46.

A few years after I retired, I was talking with a friend, and we both got excited about giving the 46 a try. Unfortunately, my friend was still working and just couldn’t break away to the extent we had hoped. But I started hiking that fall with his brother who was already a 46er.

We did Giant on Nov. 12, 2020 about a month after my 71st birthday. Over the next 20 months, David was my mentor. I learned a lot quickly and got 5 peaks in that fall.

At my age, I knew I didn’t have a lot of time to get this done so the next year was important. We did 16 hikes and completed 29 peaks in 2021. Besides the strenuous climbs, I typically had to add 2.5 to 3 hours of driving at each end of a hike.

With David’s help, we did 7 peaks last winter, leaving me within striking distance this spring. I did Haystack solo then David, Mark and I knocked off Skylight, Gray, Redfield and Cliff in 2 days.That was a memorable hike with an overnight at Uphill lean-to.

We had saved Mt. Colden to finish on, and it all worked out. The weather was great and the views fantastic.

I don’t want to see it end. I’ll do more hikes with David as he works on his Winter 46. But I also plan to get in some non-46 peaks, hopefully with my daughter.

 Carson

Check out our latest “Word From The Woods” by Sharon Votraw

It was a beautiful day for a trip to the Silver Lake Bog Preserve. Led by Sue Smith. Please be sure to check out our calendar for future outings.

Join us for our annual dinner, Thursday, June 30 at the WSCS camp on Chateaugay Narrows. Please view the details below.

Applications are open for ADK trailhead stewards at Heart Lake. The following is an announcement from the main organization. If you are interested in volunteering as a trailhead steward, please read below and fill out an application.

The ADK Trailhead Stewardship Program @ Heart Lake is one of ADK’s most successful high-profile programs. Perhaps you have met one of our Trailhead Stewards at the High Peaks Information Center (HPIC). We greet hikers, answer questions and help folks make good decisions for a safe and enjoyable outing. Thorough training in Leave No Trace principles, Authority of the Resource Technique of hiker interaction, NYSDEC Central High Peaks regulations, and your hiking experience and knowledge of the trails that start at Heart Lake will give you the confidence to help us achieve program goals.
Weekend and holiday shifts are available. July and August shifts are weeklong, but there is the possibility of “split shifts” and substitute shifts. Generous volunteer benefits are included.
Applications for the 2022 season are now open. 
Please contact Bobby Clark, HPIC manager bclark@adk.org, or myself if you have any questions or would like more information.
Attached you will find an application, info letter, and program manual with all of the specifics.

We have some exciting winter and spring outings scheduled for 2022. Please view the outing calendar link. Contact our leaders for more information.

IMPORTANT Covid 19 protocol as of January 2022

Organizers and participants must:

• Bring proper personal protective equipment (PPE) in the form of a face covering (mask)
• Wear a face mask when indoors or within 6 feet of others
• Not have any of the signs or symptoms of a respiratory infection at the time of the program, or within the last 10 days prior to the program.
• Not have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 10 days or had contact with a confirmed or suspected COVID-19 case within the last 10 days.

Here are some pictures of our most recent outing at the New Land Trust in Saranac

View the most recent Advisory Council Trustee report and the Conservation report from Sue Smith

We had a very successful 2021 summer/fall outing season. Thank you to our many leaders and to the new members who joined us on trips. Here are a few pictures

Our Shatagee Woods chapter has released the 2020 summer outing schedule. Please note a few COVID-19 precautions. Members must bring a mask and hand sanitizer on all outings. We will be limiting the group size for all outings; please contact the leaders in advance. Our outings are also limited to chapter members only. If you need a membership or need to renew, please visit the membership page. Our chapter is the Shatagee Woods chapter.

View our 2020 summer schedule