We could see the snow on the tops of the Catskills as we drove north on the NY Thruway, as if inviting us to keep going, keep searching for winter. But the Catskills were not our destination, we wanted something a bit more-the Adirondacks. Friends had asked us, “Where are you going?” Followed by, “Why?” We wanted to find winter! Not the winter weather we’ve been experiencing for the past few years in SE PA-rain, freezing rain, a few cold days with a dusting of snow here and there, then weeks of mild, 60 degree temps. I’m talking real winter, like the kind I remember as a kid growing up in northern PA. You know, lots of snow, cold temperatures that stay cold, lakes and ponds frozen solid enough you never had to worry if the “ice was thick enough!” That kind of winter, that’s what Theresa and I were searching for. We just wanted a real winter get-away, or more like a winter come-to!
The headwaters of the Hudson River starts up in the Adirondacks, as the sun rises on the peaks above 13th Lake
OK, I admit it. As I’ve grown older, I don’t necessarily need to have five months of what I just described above, but I still crave being outdoors in this season. Thick blankets of fresh snow combined with freezing temperatures. Weather that keeps you moving, keeps you alert, keeps you curious!
Our destination was Adirondack State Park in upstate New York. This is where we found winter. We settled on an area in the central part of the Adirondacks, and stayed at a traditional lodge called Garnet Hill Lodge, near North River. The lodge sits at an elevation of 2,200 feet and is well known as one of the best cross-country ski (Nordic) areas in the region, with beautifully groomed trails. Our goals were simple- go find winter, try our and hand (more like feet and legs) at cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, and most importantly, enjoy being outdoors in winter. We accomplished all three, but not without a few “bumps in the trail.”
Theresa and I in a rare “vertical” photo of our cross-country skiing experience. We looked real good, until we actually had to start skiing! A mountain stream is blanketed in fresh snow.
Our first adventure was to take a ski lesson, then hit some of the beginner trails on our own. Our lesson started in the ski shop where two teenagers showed us how to properly hold the ski poles. I had a weird feeling that I might be in over my head when I almost whacked Theresa in the face with one of my poles, then almost fell backwards over a bench, before I ever stepped foot outside. Read on, it gets better!
We then ventured outside and learned how to put on our skis. I managed to quickly slip, slide, and crumble to the ground before we even moved, as two 10-year olds chuckled then started snapping photos of me with their cell phones-probably to post on some social media site. Did I describe the trails as “beautifully groomed?” They were so beautifully groomed I felt a little guilty after falling on my butt so many times I kinda messed them up. If you wanted to track me, it would have been fairly easy because all you had to do was look for a series of large snow divots. Oh, and you wouldn’t have had to travel far. All this “practice” took place about 16’ from the ski shop! Theresa and I had some difficulty keeping up with our two, young Nordic instructors, as they shouted something about bending my knees as they zoomed in front. The first lesson we learned was how to properly get back up after falling-we practiced this one a lot for the first half hour! Just when we felt we mastered our stand-up recovery, our teen teachers looked at the clocks on their cell phones, announced that our lesson was over and pointed us toward a trail that looked like it should have been in the Winter Olympics. Just like that, we were Nordic skiers-not! The final straw in our new winter past time was a slight downhill collision between husband and wife, when husband panicked a bit as he lost his balance, headed for a large oak tree, then swerved in front of his unknowing wife, bringing them both crashing down on the beautifully groomed trail! Cross-country skiing-done! But as quickly as we ended our Nordic ski activities, we strapped on the snowshoes and enjoyed the next two days hiking the forests and frozen lakes of the Adirondacks! We both agreed, this was our preferred mode of winter travel, and we had a ball!
Snowshoeing in the Adirondack Mountains
Checking out a beaver lodge on a frozen pond, and a chilly selfie on frozen 13th Lake
A Hemlock branch sticks out of a frozen waterfall, and a Red Squirrel jumps for joy!
We took a couple hours and drove north to visit the Adirondack Interpretive Center, where we enjoyed watching Red-breasted Nuthatches, BC Chickadees and Hairy Woodpeckers at their feeding station.
Although cross-country skiing wasn’t our thing, snowshoeing allowed us to continue doing one of the outdoor activities we like best, hiking, even when the ground was covered with 18” of snow. We finally found winter, and it was just as we had hoped it would be! Enjoy the outdoors, all year round! Get Out & About!