Adirondack Park

The word “Adirondack” is a Native American word meaning “bark eaters”. It refers to the Native Americans who, in the 1700s, survived the winters on buds and tree bark. Later, the first white scouts to explored this area made their way along the many waterways in long cedar boats which became known as Adirondack Guide Boats. As word got out about the pristine wilderness area, people began hiring these backwoodsmen as hunting and fishing guides. Even today, for the right amount of money, licensed guides will take you wherever you want to go.

Adirondack Park is a huge expanse of land, mostly wilderness, in Northeastern New York. Bounded on the east by Lake Champlain and Lake George it stretches westward to cover 6 million acres making it the largest park in the lower 48 states. That is roughly the size of Vermont. The park is not all public lands. There are numerous villages within it borders, perhaps the most famous being Lake Placid—the site of the 1932 and 1980 winter Olympic Games.

Winter Olympic Games should give you an idea of the availability for winter sports in this area—downhill and cross country skiing, snowmobiling, snow shoeing. Whiteface Mountain soars above our campground at 4867 feet and has the distinction of having the finest alpine skiing east of the Rockies.

This is a Mecca for fishermen, canoeist, and kayakers with 30,000 miles of rivers and streams and some 2,500 ponds and lakes. They say the Ausable River offers some of the best fly fishing in the nation.

We will be concentrating our efforts in the High Peaks Region which is home to the highest mountains in the state with Mount Marcy being the highest at 5,344 feet. At this elevation we will encounter an Arctic type environment with moss, lichen, and low shrubs above tree line. Near the summit of Mt Marcy the Lake Tear of the Clouds is the origin of the Hudson River.

We plan to spend as many days as possible on the trails, as well as explore the small hamlets, seek out a waterfall or two, tour the Olympic Training Center, and do a little shopping in Lake Placid. Let the fun begin.