Adirondack Family Time™

In History: The Battle of Plattsburgh, (September 11, 1814) 15,000 British soldiers invaded New York from Canada supported by the Royal Navy on Lake Champlain. The purpose was to reach New York City and split the nation in half. With only 1,500 men led by General Macomb (32) and a small flotilla commanded by Commodore Macdonough (30) the two armies fought valiantly in the village of Plattsburgh. The Americans were overwhelmed and outnumbered but a lack of wind gave them the advantage to overtake the British fleet. The ground troops were withdrawn after the defeat of the British ships. It was an unexpected victory but with a great loss of life. The American victory scuppered the British plans to control Lake Champlain which is said to have a direct effect of the signing of the Treaty of Ghent ending the War of 1812.

 © Diane Chase, author of Adirondack Family Time: Tri-Lakes and High Peaks (Your Four-Season Guide to Over 300 Activities) for the towns of Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, Jay/Upper Jay, Wilmington, Keene/Keene Valley which is available online or bookstores/museums/sporting good stores. Diane is currently working on the second guidebook in the four-book series of Adirondack Family Activities.

Cascade Mountain 4098' #36 of 46 Adirondack (Adk) High Peaks Distance = 2.4 miles to summit  The waterfall on Cascade Mountain has widened due to effects of Tropical Storm Irene According to the DEC  THE EASTERN ZONE of the HIGH PEAKS WILDERNESS, GIANT MOUNTAIN WILDERNESS and DIX MOUNTAIN WILDERNESS are closed through Labor Day Weekend and beyond due to dangerous conditions and extensive damage to trails and interior infrastructure. DEC intends to fully enforce this closure . Over the next several weeks DEC will be evaluating the conditions of all trails in the closed areas, prioritize work to rehabilitate trails and determine what trails may be reopened for public use. TRAIL ADVISORIES (8/31) : Hurricane Irene has created dangerous conditions across most of the Eastern Adirondacks including flooding, bridge wash outs, trail wash outs and blow down of trees and other debris. Back country travel is difficult, if not impossible, throughout much of the backcountry of the Eastern

I can't be the only one who just doesn't feel like cooking. A quick stop to Villa Vespa in Lake Placid puts all my worries behind me. Fresh homemade pasta, garlic bread and an amazing Eggplant Parmagiano is all I need. Of course there are plenty of other options at this Italian specialty store.   from fresh soups

© Diane Chase, author of Adirondack Family Time: Tri-Lakes and High Peaks (Your Four-Season Guide to Over 300 Activities) for the towns of Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, Jay/Upper Jay, Wilmington, Keene/Keene Valley which is available online or bookstores/museums/sporting good stores. Diane is currently working on the second guidebook in the four-book series of Adirondack Family Activities.

Adirondack Family Activities™: By Diane Chase Mount Baker (Baker Mountain) Saranac Lake, New York Distance:  1.8 miles RT  Ascent:  884′  Elevation:  2452′  Mount Baker is a relatively short climb (1.8-miles round trip) and perfect for our first mother-daughter hike. She is constantly talking to herself as I sign the registry, a running commentary, gathering and lining up all her imaginary friends. We have quite a gang climbing with us, though only two of us are visible to any passersby.

By Diane Chase This WPTZ video  of the flooding shows just some of the damage around the Adirondack High Peaks area.  Here are more pictures as well as a video of the bridge around the Whiteface/Lake Placid Olympic Ski Jumps. So much flooding, so much to overcome. Phil Brown with Adirondack Explorer reports on the loss of the Marcy Dam Bridge and devastation to the Adirondack Loj road. Update:  The Cloudsplitter Gondola and Veteran's Memorial Highway are currently closed while damage from Irene is accessed. Please note Route 86 between Lake Placid and Whiteface is also closed at this time. photos are the © of WTPZ.com and only used to direct people to the WTPZ video and warn visitors of the damage of the Routes of 73 and 9 in the Adirondack Park.  Diane Chase is the author of Adirondack Family Time: Tri-Lakes and High Peaks (Your Four-Season Guide to Over 300 Activities) for the towns of Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, Jay/Upper Jay, Wilmington, Keene/Keene Valley which is