We're dressing up for the holidays here in Hamilton County. The county got a grant (!) to purchase energy efficient holiday lights. I'm sure that the cynics among us will criticize whichever bureaucracy hands out money for such things, but beauty is uplifting and cheerful and, therefore, good. Consider how beautiful many ancient churches and cathedrals are in relatively small communities in
There will be all kinds of downtown celebrations in Hamilton County communities this weekend as they deck themselves out for the holidays and retailers vie with urban areas and the internet for local dollars. Adirondack Christmas on Main Street, Friday through Sunday in Inlet, will feature a tree-lighting, a Holiday Dog Parade and Santa. Speculator has a "one night only" event Friday from 4 to 7
I took a short walk today to the undeveloped pond pictured above. It was a beautiful day and I encountered no people, no signs that warned me against trespassing, no abandoned appliances or waterfront mega-mansions. I could, in that moment, pretend that I was the first person to visit this pond. It was all mine. In fact, it is mine. And yours. It is part of the New York State Forest Preserve,
I continue to hike during the hunting season (big game season, that is) here in the Adirondack Wild. Mid-October and November are some of the best times to hike. Colorful understory foliage persists through October, and in November when trees are completely nude, you find summit views you'd never enjoy in the summer. In more than 20 years, I have rarely crossed paths with a hunter or even
