The Adirondacks and its vast domain which encompasses many different regions. These regions each have their own draw, whether it’s rolling mountains, jagged peaks, old-growth forests, or shimmering lakes. This makes the region ideal location for recreational activities including swimming, biking, hiking amongst others. In order to educate the next generation on the value of the park, the next generation must be exposed to what the Adirondack Park has to offer from a young age. There are many initiatives to get young kids into nature. With the Adirondacks being a premier place to recreate, summer camps have popped up all over the region with the goal of exposing kids to nature and educating them on it.

Several different institutions help run these summer camps, including Boy Scouts of America, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), and the YMCA. The list of camps in the park is extensive, but I’m personally acquainted with a few of them. The first of which I will mention is Camp Chingachgook, a YMCA camp located at Pilot Knob on Lake George. My experience with this camp is not one that a typical camper would have due to the fact that we attended with our middle school and our “counselors” were in fact our very own teachers. Although it wasn’t a normal summer camp experience, the experience with nature was still there. Its location on Lake George allows for campers to recreate in the water, around the camp on land, or deeper in the woods of the Lake George State Forest.

The other camps which I have been to are run by the DEC. One of which is is Camp Colby which is located just north of Saranac Lake on Lake Colby. Camp Colby’s location at the edge of a large Adirondack town and the forest allow for campers to feel within nature without feeling uncomfortable. The camp offers hiking, swimming, paddling, and overnight trips on its own property, while still being within view of the local hospital. The opportunities there allow for campers to learn valuable lessons like constructing lean-tos, starting a fire, and cooking food over the fire. Another DEC camp in the Adirondacks is Camp Pack Forest, which is a few miles north of Warrensburg. This being a state-run camp as well, it offers similar activities to Camp Colby, although in a more isolated environment. The opportunities presented to children by summer camps allow them to be better educated on the environment, nature, and activities within it while still enjoying themselves.

Works Cited

“Camp Colby.” Camp Colby – NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation, https://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1877.html.

Anyone who has been to, or even seen the Adirondack Mountains, knows what a naturally beautiful setting it truly is. The pristine environment is almost sure to put individuals at ease, but can it truly heal them? That was widely believed during the 19th and 20th centuries when many individuals were sent to the Adirondack region to be cured of various ailments. Patients battling pulmonary tuberculosis were often sent to the Adirondacks in hope of being cured. This is obviously a starkly different approach than modern day where medicine is used in nearly every case of illness.

Dr. Edward Trudeau made use of this approach in the Adirondacks and often prescribed his Saranac, NY sanitarium patients open-air treatment to heal them of their respiratory illness. While this is relatively unheard of in modern day medicine, it is still regarded as a quite effective technique. Most of his patients were transferred up from New York City, so the fresh mountain air was very much a change from the grimy city situation in that era. The clean atmosphere of the Adirondack Park was very much useful in combating the microorganisms which cause the disease due to the pristine, unpolluted mountain air, as well as the colder climate.

Many stories of people healing in the Adirondacks certainly sound far-fetched, although there are so many accounts of it, its validity is not as much in question. Individuals ailed with TB would arrive in their Adirondack sanitarium in poor condition and just with a literal change in scenery, they would be cured in a short period of time. Throughout their recovery, Dr. Trudeau would have his patients “hunting, hiking, swimming in the Adirondack lakes, and even painting the natural scenery.” The city allowed the disease to fester in its hosts, but the favorable environment of the Adirondacks could have a much greater impact on the disease, claimed Trudeau.

Trudeau brought himself into the relatively primitive Adirondacks of the mid to late 19th century in order to cure himself of tuberculosis, in which he was successful. He insisted on what a great treatment it is for TB. In his road to physical recovery, he found himself being spiritually healed as well. The fresh environment of the Adirondacks made him feel more connected with nature which he insisted should be apart of every patient’s road to recovery. He hoped that the environment would cure his patients of tuberculosis, although he also made sure to hold the goal of making sure his patients became closer to the natural world. Ultimately, judging by the case of Trudeau himself, and the cases of his patients, it appears that the Adirondacks may not have a majestic ability to cure patients. Although, the clean air and recreational activities can help patients recuperate faster than nearly anywhere else.

Works Cited

Doerner, Paige. “Natural Healing in the Adirondacks (Graduate Research).” Imponderabilia, 18 Apr. 2013, https://paigedoerner.wordpress.com/2013/04/18/natural-healing-in-the-adirondacks-graduate-research/.

Although I was born in Virginia, I was lucky enough to spend the next seventeen years of my life only about a half hour drive from the southern Adirondacks. I found myself becoming increasingly thankful for living in such close proximity to a region as beautiful as the Adirondacks. As I grew older, and began to explore the deeper parts of the park, I realized how much I had been missing out on my entire life by not escaping the relatively highly-industrialized I-87 corridor. The park varies greatly in terms of accessibility and it seems that the accessibility defines the types of leisure in different areas.

The most accessible region for myself (and any of the countless others who drive up I-87) was Lake George. The largest lake fully surrounded by the park boasts countless towns such as Ticonderoga, Hague, Bolton, and the village of Lake George itself. These towns vary in practicality, from seemingly normal village, to some that bank heavily on tourism. The towns closer to I-87 typically have more tourism-based economies, while other smaller locales often have a great population who only comes to their extravagant, multi-million dollar lakehouse a handful of time each year. The tourist villages have their share of pulls (mini golf, arcades, fireworks, and even more mini golf), but it doesn’t fit what the Adirondacks should be. 150 years ago, people were fighting for their lives, farming and logging to make a living in one of the most unforgiving regions in the United States. It’s a very interesting concept that the same park now hosts millions of visitors, many coming just to experience mini golf and a drive to the top of a mountain.

The park still has endless opportunities in areas not as highly developed like Lake George. I’m ashamed to admit that these regions are not as well traveled by myself, but their inaccessibility adds to their lure. The High Peaks region has tried its best to resist the surrounding sprawl of tourism. The rugged region attracts a handsome number of visitors, although the activities that take place leave a much smaller impact compared to a permanent mini golf course. Exploring is how the the history of the Adirondacks began, and should continue to be a vital part of it. From, hiking to canoeing to skiing, exploration helps the Adirondacks maintain its value as well as its reputation. The High Peaks foster a healthy environment for recreation on state-protected lands, and organizations, such as the Adirondack Mountain Club, have done an exceptional job promoting the region. The creation of the ADK 46er challenge draws countless people to the region yearly, all of them sharing the same passion and respect for the region. What seems to define the park nowadays is the people that visit it, whether it is the secluded High Peaks, or the more accessible Lake George region. As long as most of the Adirondacks stay wild, there is space for recreation as well.

The Adirondacks are a premier hiking spot in the northeast U.S., with great variance in difficulty, and endless possibilities on the wild land. People flock from all over to explore a connection with nature that cannot be achieved anywhere else. Taking advantage of such a pristine setting is bound to have regulations in place to preserve its natural beauty, and others in place to protect the visitors in such a raw environment. From limitations on group sizes, to camping locations, there are many steps that are taken protect the park as well as the visitors. Even with regulations in place, the park faces challenges such as overuse and misuse due to the fact that it cannot be fully monitored at any time.

With a colossal 12.4 million annual visitors, the Adirondacks needs its fair share of mandates to maintain its appearance. These visitors come year round, with only a portion of them taking advantage of the expansive trail systems. With such a large amount of hikers that come through the region, it leaves a large footprint in all meanings of the word. The constant flow of hikers on these defined paths, leads to the erosion of soil on trails, only to be increasingly eroded by washouts during rainy periods. The erosion of these trails leads to an increase in sediment in local waterways, ultimately altering the ecological structure of nearby bodies of water. Greater levels of erosion are common on trails that experience greater usage.

Another problem that stems from trail usage, or more accurately, misuse, is the widening of trails. Most trails vary in width, sometimes single-track, but can be wide enough to fit a two-way flow of people at some points. Widening starts when someone takes their own path just off the trail, due to the fact that a trail seems inaccessible, often due to erosion. From there, others begin taking that new path which becomes subject erosion just like the rest of the trail. This process goes on continuously, with trails reaching widths of 25 feet in places. Going off the path on trails that are in the alpine zone (3500+ ft above sea level) is especially detrimental to the endangered plant species that are found at those elevations.

There are of course many difficult to enforce restrictions on the more widely used trails, specifically those cared for and maintained by the Adirondack Mountain Club. Most of these trails are in the High Peaks region, where nature is more precious than almost anywhere else in the park. The Club prohibits any groups larger than 15 people, in an attempt to cut down the chances of overusage and individuals being pushed off trail. Also, in an attempt to prevent the trampling of fragile greenery, camping is banned above 4000 ft, and limited to designated campsites even when below 4000 ft in the High Peaks. A destination as popular as the Adirondacks needs regulations to prevent the footprint of visitors from harming the natural beauty that likely lured them there.

Works Cited

“Dec Adirondack Regulations: Adirondack Mountain Club.” Adirondack Mountain Club | Just Another WordPress Site, 21 Nov. 2019, https://www.adk.org/play/hiking-information/hiking-in-the-adirondacks/dec-regulations/.

Council, Adirondack. “Overuse in the Adirondack Park.” Adirondack Council, https://www.adirondackcouncil.org/page/overuse-in-the-adirondack-park-298.html.

When people think of the abolitionist movement of the 19th century, the vastly unsettled, uncompromising, and wild land of the Adirondacks is probably one of the last locations that come to mind. The Adirondacks were an attempted haven for African-American families, though the desolate terrain made it a tall task. The attempt and the people involved are nevertheless quite noteworthy. Gerrit Smith, an abolitionist and philanthropist, and legendary abolitionist John Brown (not to be confused with the John Brown who divided land in the western Adirondacks), divided 3,000 40 acre plots of land just outside of modern-day Lake Placid, in the town of North Elba, with the goal of creating an African-American settlement in the Adirondacks. This land, dubbed Timbuctoo by Brown, would prove to be a well-intentioned failure, but a noble experiment nonetheless.

The motivation for the implementation of Timbuctoo stemmed from a New York law which stated that black New York men were only permitted to vote if they owned $250 worth of land. Starting in 1846, Gerrit Smith created a “scheme of justice and benevolence” which entailed of him transferring the ownership of a total of 120,000 acres of land to willing black families, who would receive 40 acres each. The hope was to pull families from the cities and teach them farming on a larger parcel of land the Adirondacks in hopes of them being able to vote. The “teacher” of farming was none other than John Brown, best known for his rebellion at Harper’s Ferry in modern day West Virginia. He was gifted a plot by Smith and intended to assist the new farmers in their daily toils. The new settlers likely would’ve struggled farming in any conditions as it was a new process to them, the fact that they were in the unforgiving Adirondacks with an uncleared plot of land just added to the nearly impossible task.

Smith’s offer was taken up by numerous families, some of which claiming the land while staying in their original dwellings outside of Timbuctoo, which ultimately gave them the right to vote without the struggle of farming. Most of them who dared to start a new life in Timbuctoo gave up within a few years. The noble agriculture experiment of Timbuctoo was considered complete by 1855, only 9 years after Smith had begun offering land. The land was simply too rugged and for inexperienced farmers and they made their way back to more comfortable ways of life. The spirit of abolition in the Adirondacks lived on in the form of John Brown who would fight for freedom until he met his fate at the attempted raid on Harper’s Ferry. He was convicted of treason after the failed revolt, and ultimately hanged for his crime. His body was buried in North Elba, where his gravesite and farm are on display today. Though the experiment of Timbuctoo was ultimately a failure, it is a very interesting piece of the Adirondacks that is rarely heard of and something that would be otherwise unexpected in such a region.

Sources:

https://www.adirondack.net/history/timbuctoo/

https://www.newyorkupstate.com/adirondacks/2020/10/abolitionist-john-browns-ties-to-the-adirondacks-why-it-matters-today.html

https://www.lakeplacid.com/story/2020/legacy-of-john-brown

Noah John Rondeau was born on July 5th, 1883 and spent his early life in the northwestern Adirondack hamlet of Au Sable Forks. A rough home life characterized by poverty and an abusive father caused him to run away from home with nothing more than an eighth-grade education. Despite this, he had a thirst for knowledge and was a very well-read man. He even would play the violin for visitors to his hermitage, which he self titled the “Town Hall of Cold River City”. It seems Rondeau wasn’t an extreme rebel to society, so why did he choose such a solitary lifestyle?

After working as a barber in Lake Placid, he moved to Corey’s, a remote hamlet on the Racquette River. While staying there, he was taught how to live in the woods, a preview to the many years in the same isolated forest that he would call his “city” for 21 years. He became a guide for hunters and visitors in the western high peaks, and while doing this, staked out his camp on the Cold River that became his home in 1929. Word traveled of the hermit living on Cold River and he would often have visitors once he started living year round at his hermitage and would still provide guiding services to those who found themselves at the self-proclaimed “Cold River City”.

In his time spent at “Cold River City”, he develop a sort of code that he would use to write some of his daily records in during his stay. This code failed to be solved for decades, until a student at Syracuse managed to crack it in an incredible 22 hours. The code was based off of directions on a compass, astrological symbols, as well as other meaningless symbols. Rondeau’s cryptic writings add to his very interesting, yet mysterious stay deep in the Adirondacks.

Rondeau’s choice to be a hermit has, of course, been questioned by many, although he did not live in solidarity for some transcendentalist purpose, like Thoreau once did at Walden Pond. When asked upon the subject, he tends to allot his stay to the economics of the era. It’s no secret that the 1930’s were dominated by Great Depression, so his choice to live an isolated life may have been relatively rewarding given the time. It seems that the era in which he lived in and his love for the wilderness motivated him to live in the life he did. He managed to live a satisfying, solitary life at his hermitage until he was forced to move out following a major blowdown due to a hurricane. He may not have dedicated his life to his solitary ways, but his lore is forever secured in the storybook of the Adirondacks.

https://www.nny360.com/artsandlife/localhistory/noah-john-rondeau-spent-his-life-in-the-woods/article_d78dc1e5-9943-53d5-9b33-28f0571f65e6.html

https://www.behancommunications.com/behan-blog/noah-john-rondeau-famous-hermit-adirondacks

Noah John Rondeau Collection