Adirondack Family Time™

Smokey the Bear, the iconic American symbol for forest fire prevention, actually was preceded by an earlier fire prevention strategy. President Franklin D. Roosevelt first started a fire prevention campaign when millions of acres of National Forest were being lost due to careless people. The campaign started with Uncle Sam and took a r eligious turn before tapping into the war movement. When Japanese planes attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and Japanese submarines fired shells exploding a Santa Barbara, California oil field - the war was brought to American soil. With young men and experienced firefighters enlisted in the war and stationed away from the home front, fear grew that these attacks would continue to destroy lives, property and National Forests.  Citizens were encouraged to take a personal interest in fire prevention and organize community prevention efforts. With the success of Disney's 5th animated movie, Bambi, the fire prevention campaign shifts

newly renovated Stillwater Mountain Fire Tower Stillwater Mountain Fire Tower Hike Distance = 1.0-mile one way Elevation = 2,244' Vertical Ascent = 470' After many years of the Stillwater Mountain Fire tower only being accessible through private lands, the new 1.0-mile trail is now open to the public. My family has not completed the Adirondack Firetower Challenge, but we do enjoy a beautiful hike to a beautiful view and the Stillwater Mountain Fire Tower fits the bill. We've been told by friends that the trail is finally finished after hours of volunteer work by the Friends of Stillwater Mountain. We drive through Inlet to get to Eagle Bay, It's always such a beautiful place so the ride is always a delight. The old trail started near the Observer's Cabin on Stillwater Rd and was marked by pink flagging tape. The new trail has a new parking area, signage with bridge crossings and even a picnic table at the summit. Stillwater Mountain new parkin

Digging for treasure is something that one doesn’t seem to grow out of. No matter our age it is still exciting to unearth a precious object. Sometimes the search for treasure is much more fun than the finding of it.   Barton Mines is one of the oldest continuous family-owned operating mines in the United States. Located in the Adirondack Park since 1878 Barton Garnet has produced garnet abrasive products.  While on our tour we are told that not only is the garnet New York State’s official gemstone, it is the hardest garnet in the world.  Barton Mine is located in North River (NY) , about 35 minutes from Lake George, Blue Mountain Lake and Long Lake. The Gore Mountain area has one of the largest deposits of this particular garnet, sometimes called the “Adirondack Ruby,” in the world. It is used in all sorts of industrial applications from sandpaper coatings to waterjet cutting abrasives.  This particular mine ceased operation in 1984 when a water vein flooded the p

Fred's Bog is a quick easy hike to a beautiful bog Ferd's Bog trail Distance = 0.3-mile Elevation and Vertical Ascent = n/a Walking along the Ferd Bog trail in Inlet, NY is a brief, but well spent hike. The 0.3-mile trail is not only a great way to stretch your legs after a road trip, but it is the perfect place to view rare Adirondack bog plants and boreal birds. The trailhead and register is right off Uncas Rd.  After spending a beautiful day in Inlet, my family is always looking for easy, short hikes to take the jitters and wiggles out of my ADK kids. Fred's Bog has a slight descent before reaching the level boardwalk After signing the register the trail starts out level, but does have a slight descent where the woodlands meet the wetlands. Watch out for roots as you descend. A plastic boardwalk finishes this easy hike into the beautiful bog.