As I write this in the beginning of January, winter activities are in full swing with the 56+ inches of snow we’ve had. As we look towards spring, one of our important events will be the dinner and meeting on April 12. The program for that night will be Neil Woodworth and Laurie Schweighardt, Membership Director, so save your questions about the club for that night.

When I became Chair, I was asked to keep the membership up to date on Executive Committee information. In that vein a few items: The Bylaw changes you voted on in November passed overwhelmingly and the voting results are listed elsewhere in this Newsletter. (See Home page. Ed.)

Our chapter’s budget was in the black for 2009. According to our treasurer, Kathy Disque, the preliminary report shows revenues of $13,683 and expenses of $11,568 against a 2009 budget of $11,500.

The issue of our chapter’s donations arose again at the annual meeting. A comment was made inferring that we make most of our donations to other groups. Our donation budget his year was $3800. In December the Executive Committee voted to give the following donations: Dewitt Library $50 (this is where we usually meet), North Country Trail Association $150 (membership), ADK $1400. Four years ago, our donations were about $7100 and have declined each year. I’ve been told the chapter spent down our “reserves” in the past several years. This year we opted for a balanced budget. Percent of 2009 donations: ADK 47%, NCTA 17%, FLTC 13%, Finger Lakes Land Trust 5%, Save the County 5%, Tughill Tomorrow 3%, Dewitt Library 1%, DEC camper 9% (not actually a “donation”, but his registration was deducted from this section of our budget).

A new initiative was presented to us by Bob Manning, secretary of ADK and a resident of CNY. Through Bob’s efforts we are working with the Onondaga County YMCA to develop some joint programs. We hope these programs will encourage some of the Y members to get outside exercising and will provide younger people exposure to ADK and all we have to offer. At this point, we are in the planning stages.

Finally, we ran into a minor problem: the printer for our newsletter decided to retire. Mike Loftus has been investigating alternatives and, since you currently hold a copy of the Newsletter, has found an alternative. Unfortunately, we were getting a great deal on past printing and now must pay “normal” printing costs. Our costs will be close to double previous years. I hope at some point we will send most Newsletters electronically. We could better spend $2000.

I hope you are following the news stories about gas drilling. This has become a major issue in New York State. Many of these drilling areas are where we hike, especially along the Finger Lakes Trail and in Cortland County State Forests. Gas companies have leases throughout our area, even as far north as my home in the Town of Van Buren. Mistakes made by drillers could have devastating consequences. Groups such as New York City, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and environmental groups are opposed. It appears our state government is looking at dollar signs, not the damage that could occur. Stay vigilant and informed.

P.S. A committee of three or more people is needed to select a slate of officers for our Chapter.  Officers will be voted on at the Annual Meeting in November and will begin their term January 1, 2011.  Executive Committee members are not eligible for this committee as per Bylaws and volunteers must be confirmed by our Executive Committee.  If interested, contact Jon Bowen, jkbowen@gmail.com.

An interesting item, for those familiar with the Stillwater Reservoir area, has surfaced regarding commercial use of the public landing area there. The business owners providing water taxi service (there are two), tour boat trips on the reservoir, and ferry service to Beaver River has been served notice by the DEC that use of state lands and facilities for private revenue or commercial activities must cease. I am not sure if this includes water taxi service to the campsites or to the start of the Red Horse Trail. Certainly public safety and convenience will be affected if the service ceases to exist. Families without boat take a water taxi to campsites or to the trailhead, or to Beaver River for the restaurant or hotel. Sometimes people who have paddled to a campsite find the water rough enough to make a risky paddle back to Stillwater Landing against the prevailing wind, especially if they have a young family and a lot of equipment. They opt for pick up by the water taxi (cell phones work on the reservoir at most locations).

Stillwater Reservoir, though bordered on the north by the Five Ponds Wilderness Area, could be considered a commercial water body, as it is used for flood control and power generation and is fairly heavily used by power boats. Both the parking lot/boat launch and the reservoir are heavily used by snowmobiles in winter. What do you think of the DEC allowing the continued commercial use of the boat launch area with proper permitting and oversight (such as under a Temporary Revocable Permit)? If you are familiar with this area and situation, I would like to hear your opinion! You can email me at mk-l@juno.com or call me 315 697-3387 if you want more info and/or can comment. Thanks!

I would like to emphasize the importance of being prepared to take care of yourself while waiting for emergency help when going in the woods, even for a quick leg-stretcher. Even the most experienced hiker can have a mishap. I know from first-hand experience- I broke my lag in August south of the Camel’s Hump. The difference between an “oh, my gosh, this is awful” and a life threatening experience can be the safety gear you have with you.

The key things you should always have, even for the simplest hike in beautiful weather are: a whistle, a space blanket, an extra layer of clothing, a hat, food, water, a small first-aid kit, a bandanna, guidebook, and more clothing, especially raingear.

In the best circumstances, backcountry rescue takes a long time, and these items make a huge difference in survival. I was fortunate that my accident occurred close to Montclair Glen Lodge, which has a caretaker who was available to place a 911 call. The nearby side trail shortened the distance to get to me and carry me out to under three miles and professional backcountry rescuers were available. Still, the terrain and number of people required to effect a safe rescue meant a three hour wait before the arrival of first responders, an another 51/2 hours until I was in an ambulance. Having that survival gear was critical.

After many miles and years of hiking carrying my pack with survival gear, passing folks enjoying “unencumbered” hiking, I am truly glad that I have always “walked the talk” about carrying emergency gear.

This article originally appeared in the Winter 2009 edition of The Long Trail News and was used with permission; it was submitted by Hal Boyce

ADK-ON would like to know about and recognize chapter members who have accomplished personal achievements or volunteering outside the scope of chapter trail work. Chapter trail work and chapter volunteering have long been recorded and recognized but what about other accomplishments?

We would like to recognize chapter members completed hiking challenges such as but not limited to: Fire Tower Challenge, Wilderness Quest, 46 Peaks, FLT, NPT, NCT or AT trail end to enders, Cranberry 50, etc. So let us know.

Please also share your volunteer time to the hiking community and experiences such as but not limited to: Adirondack trail, wild land or lean-to stewardship, National Trails Day, other ADK trail events, JBL, HQ and Heart Lake volunteer days, ADK & FLT committee work, ADK campground host, FLT or ADK event volunteer.

The chapter would like to know members’ accomplishments and volunteer work outside the chapter that support the hiking organizations we support. Report your accomplishment and be recognized or report for a shy friend to ADK-ON Awards Committee, maryccoffin@gmail.com, 315-687-3589.

You’ve noticed when hiking on a cloudy day that it’s darker under a tree or when driving in your car in the rain there is a shadow under the car in front of you. This principal will aid you to determine where the sun is, then use your watch as a compass and, bingo, you’ve got direction. Position yourself in the largest opening you can find and follow these steps.

1. Take out your white handkerchief or any light colored object.
2. Open it up and lay it over the up turned palm of your left hand.
3. Hold your hand flat, hanky up, close to your body.
4. Rotate your body slowly around 360 degrees. At the some point your hanky will appear brighter. This is generally south.
5. Face generally south; hold your hand and hanky out where you can see it real well, at almost eye level.
6. Hold a pencil, pen, or a stick, or even your finger perpendicular to the hanky and slowly move it downward toward the hanky.
7. Just before the object touches the hanky you will see a slight shadow. This shadow will be opposite the sun.
8. Use your watch to determine direction and you’re on your way.

Caution: On days with broken clouds you may get false readings due to reflected light through a hole in the clouds.

Try this out under a lot of various conditions. You will soon be able to find the sun easily.

The following members contributed over 100 hours of their time working on trail construction or maintenance in 2009:

• Bill Brousseau-369 hours (Equivalent to over 46 eight-hour days)
• Mary Coffin-281
• Anne Brousseau-235
• Bill Coffin-206
• Chuck Caster-184
• Tony Rodriquez-183
• Ray Sergott-170
• Sigi Schwinge-170
• Dick Lightcap-135

These nine people contributed a total of 1933 man-hours, 63% of the time spent by all persons.

Also, five members completed 50 or more outings. This is the most number  of members participating in 50 or more outings in any year that these records were kept.

• Mary Dineen-90
• Chris Kotula-69
• Dick Lightcap-61
• Jill BorgStede-52
• Jon Bowen-50

With less than a mile to go what is left for our NCTT on the 22 mile Onondaga Trail Extension Project? We will be busy completing the 0.5 section on hold due to logging in DeRuyter State Forest; Tromp Rd. to Fairbanks Rd. Our crew will be cleaning up after the loggers along our flagged route, benching and blazing the hillside down to Fairbanks Road. Also we will be working on a short section in the Tioughnioga WMA.

Trail stewards have been assigned to all new trail sections to maintain the trail in good condition for hiking.

Trail work is never really done so the team will be working on some trail relocations to improve trail or to move it off road. We are relocating the trail around Armstrong Pond to meet a landowner requirement for the trail easement there. At Tinker Falls we will be working with the DEC and FLTC Alley Cat crews to improve the steep grade above Tinker Falls. There are several off road and trail improvement projects along the FLT/NCT Onondaga Trail also planned.

The NCT Team will also be working closely with the new ADK-ON Landowner Relations Committee to establish positive rapport with landowners, introduce stewards to landowners and in some cases pursue trail easements to protect the trail.

If you would like to become involved in trail work, or be a trail steward or work with the Landowner Relations Committee contact maryccoffin@gmail.com, 315-687-3589.

HPIC

The ADK Construction Bug team renovated the men’s bathroom at the High Peaks Information Center in early December. New tile flooring, stall dividers, wall covering, vanity and sinks and storage closets make it much more attractive. Two waterless urinals, a highly efficient air hand dryer and compact fluorescent lighting demonstrate ADK’s commitment to conservation. The women’s room will get the same treatment in March.

Lows Lake

ADK and Protect the Adirondacks! filed a lawsuit on Monday, January 11) over the APA’s failure to classify Lows Lake, which is part of a key wilderness canoe route in the Adirondacks. In September, APA voted to classify part of the lake Wilderness and part Primitive, but reversed that decision in November, leaving the lake unclassified. A copy of our Conservation Update is available on the ADK’s web page

Avalanches

Enough snow has accumulated on Adirondack slopes to create conditions conducive to avalanches. DEC recommends backcountry users follow basic safety precautions.

Leave No Trace

ADK is one of only nine organizations across the United States to be designated as a provider of Leave No Trace Master Educator training.  Outdoor Leadership Coordinator Ryan Doyle, Summit Steward Coordinator Julia Goren, Interpretive Programs Coordinator Matt Maloney, High Peaks Information Center Coordinator Danielle Mangold, Trails Coordinator Matt McNamara and Community Outreach Coordinator Thea Moruzzi have received instructor-level training. This will allow us to provide Leave No Trace Master Educator courses and continue to weave low-impact information into our school outreach, outdoor skills, trails, summit steward and backcountry education programs.

President’s Dinner

The ninth annual President’s Dinner was held in Guilderland, an Albany suburb, on Oct. 24. The Eleanor F. Brown ADK Communication Award was presented to Phil Brown, editor of Adirondack Explorer. David Pisaneschi, ADK’s conservation chair, received the David L. Newhouse ADK Conservation Award; the Mid-Hudson Chapter received the Arthur E. Newkirk ADK Education Award for its Breakfree Program; Marilyn Gillespie received the ADK Trailblazer Award; Woody Glebe and Jane Geisler received the Distinguished Volunteer Awards; and Neil Woodworth received the President’s Award. Full details of the event and awards will be included in the January-February issue of Adirondac.