Category: Inspirational

Author’s Note: I penned the first drafts of this story as a poem in the summer of 1983, while working out of Lake Colden’s Interior Headquarters as a trail hand on the NYSDEC trail crew, during one the two summers I served as assistant to Lake Colden’s caretaker. I...

Little did I know that what began as a three hour tour would end up as an epic adventure, leaving me stranded on… It all began innocently enough, taking advantage of summer 2025’s dry weather to reconstruct my Swamp Pond’s beaver blown outlet channel & dam with one sunny...

One Man’s Journey Backward Through Time Who else besides me grew up watching the morning cartoon “Jonny Quest”? Dr. Quest, Race Bannon, Jonny himself, Hadji, and of course, their dog Bandit. From remote jungle to sea floor, spanning the globe on one peril filled adventure of discovery after another....

My 2025 Mission As with most of my missions, it arose from a mix of epiphany, frustration, cold calculation, determination and boredom. It was late February. With hopes and plans for winter snow’s exit and spring’s at some point arrival seeping into my brain, I suddenly realized I had...

He awoke every morning at 5am, without fail. Through threescore north country winters, the old man had evolved his own ruggedly well regimented daily routine. Harsh was the price paid for deviation or lackadaisical lay about laziness. A lesson winter’s other old man had no qualm reminding him of,...

I was out along one of my back trails on my afternoon walk yesterday. I love walking my network of trails. It’s so tranquil and quiet. Whether it’s the fluttering flush of a frantic ruffed grouse, or a crisp set of critter tracks breaking trail through fresh fallen snow,...

New Year’s Greetings to All As one year’s trail ends Another’s journey begins What lies ahead Are tales unknown What lies behind Are stories now owned ********** To all my ADKO readers, followers, family & friends, May your 2025 journey be joyful Wishing everyone a Hoo-Hoo-Hoo-ppy New Year! Until...

Welcome to North Country Winter Where Great Lake Winds Growl Where Hardy Souls Steel Themselves For Snow Season’s Prowl Praying Mother Nature Will not Bury Them Deep Beneath Lake Effect’s Howl ********** Welcome to 2024’s rendition of North Country Winter. The first lake effect storm of the season blew...

An Adirondack Outlaw Update It’s been a while since I’ve shared anything from my ADKO world. So, I thought I would give a brief update on what I’ve been up to and some of the outlaw adventures I’ve got planned on the trails ahead. First, a bit of an...

A Pre-Civil War Bean Pot & Mysteries Surrounding an Early 1800’s Ale Bottle Researching a Pair of Early Adirondack Artifacts My Ongoing Quest for “Before” ********** “Before” That’s a powerful word. The desire to discover it is in large part what drives me. I just love finding old bottles....