adventure and travel to discover the unknown and uncommon…with kids
We had driven by the park many many times; flying by the exit on our way up north. The sign, beckoning visitors to stop, faded more and more as the years passed. Finally, one warm May day we decide to stop and look around. We turned in to the large parking lot, now covered with potholes and weeds, and drove down a rutted road; heading back in time. Continue reading “abandoned places: frontier town”
There’s a tree a little ways down the road from where we live. It’s a huge oak tree that stands alone in the middle of a field. A couple weeks ago I noticed that the tree’s leaves had started to turn; a few brilliant red and orange leaves on the very top of the full green tree. I thought of how summer was definitely over and fall was coming. This morning I looked at that same oak tree as I drove by and was shocked to see that the whole top half of the tree was bare! The leaves had not only turned but fallen off. All it’s going to take is a good wind storm to blow off the rest. Where has fall gone?
I love this time of year, but it is so busy. The move from the lazy, hedonistic days of summer to the fast paced craziness of autumn is always a jolt. There’s usually not even time to mourn the end of summer! We are off in a never ending stream of work, school, activities, homework, meetings,and events. I want to notice that oak tree, but it’s so hard to do as I zoom by at 50mph. That’s why I cherish our annual fall weekend in the Adirondacks in New York state. We abandon all activities and commitments in order to head north and gather as a family and just relax…. Continue reading “fall in the adirondacks”
The heat and humidity of the July afternoon had been left behind and the temperature continued to drop as we crawled onward, deeper and deeper into the ever narrowing crevice. The rock surrounding us was now smooth and damp with a slightly yellowish sheen. This dampness had meant the end of the huge black spiders each guarding an even bigger egg sack that we had seen at the entrance. We looked forward allowing our headlamps to pierce the darkness in front of us and wondered just where this tunnel in the cave would lead.
I often wonder how people have found many of the places that we go to. We often find ourselves in the middle of nowhere either bush whacking or following a faint herdpath to our destination. Was the location passed down through the generations by locals or was it simply stumbled upon by someone? Then, what caused someone finally to give up the location? Continue reading “deep into the cave”
What! We have not hiked the Adirondacks most popular hike! How can that be?
We were taking my oldest son to summer camp in the Adirondacks and decided to stay for a long weekend after we dropped him off. If you have read other posts of mine such as conquering the mountain, you know that the Adirondacks are my favorite place visit. It’s beautiful, rugged, rural, and there is so much to do! I began to plan what we would do this time and I came across Blue Mountain in the town of Blue Mountain Lake. We have been to the town a number of times but have never hiked the 2 mile trail to the top of the mountain which many websites stated was the most popular hike in the Adirondacks. Guess it was about time that we hike it! Continue reading “all the way! (with cranky kids)”
Have you ever read an article about some mishap that happened to someone who was out in the wilderness and thought, “boy are they stupid!”? It often seems like people lose all common sense when they go into the woods! One of my favorite examples that I have read was that of a hunter who got lost in the Adirondacks and started walking looking for a way out. He eventually came to the NYS Northway (the major 4 lane highway of the area), crossed it, and kept on going, still lost!!! The movie The Blair Witch Project always bugged me for the same reason. Instead of following the river out, they crossed over it and walked in circles. Well, we had our own example of wilderness stupidity this past weekend. Continue reading “i shouldn’t be alive…”
It was June and the time had come. I had been waiting for this day for a few years and it was finally here. The kids were old enough to hike Mount Marcy!
At 5,344 feet, Mount Marcy is the highest peak in New York State. It is located in my very favorite place, the Adirondacks. My husband and I decided when we first had kids that we would not stop doing the activities we loved just because we had children, nor would we exclude them. Instead, we continued to do what we loved and adjusted accordingly based on the ability of our children. One of our favorite activities was, still is, hiking. All four of our children have been on a hike (in a front carrier) during their first week of life. By 4-6 months they have graduated to our Kelty backpack (best pack ever!) and by 4 years old they can hike 4 miles or so on their own. So, the summer our oldest two were 10 and 8, I knew it was time to conquer Mount Marcy!
June is the perfect time to go. Continue reading “conquering the mountain”
7feetnorth 