Category: The North Country

Author’s Note: This story appeared in the November 12, 2021 online edition of The Adirondack Almanack. “Adirondack Dinosaurs are far from extinct. In fact, certain species are quietly expanding their territory, migrating. Ancient carnivores slowly reclaiming what was once their domain. Patiently biding their time while they plot their...

“The untold story of how the Adirondack Park Agency’s scheme blocked the Environmental Conservation Department team from certain canoe racing victory” **********       The year was 1977. I was 13 years old. It was the summer before I entered my freshman year at Saranac Lake High School.  My Dad,...

Author’s note: This story appeared in The Adirondack Almanack’s Friday, August 13th, 2021 online edition. “While many pickled pepper’s Peter Piper may have indeed picked, I sometimes ponder: How many pickled pecks would have Piper picked if perhaps Peter were instead picking dill pickle pike.”      My first youthful...

Author’s note: I penned this story several weeks back, right after my son RJ & I came out of what (as can be seen in the photo above of RJ kayaking into camp) after a very wet start, turned out to be a great 4th of July weekend in...

Author’s Note: ( “Spring’s Promise” appeared in The Adirondack Alamanack’s March 20, 2021 online edition.) ********** Winter’s Winds Wild Ice Trickles Flow Melting Deep Drifted Sunlight Bright On White Snow ********** Rabbit Tracks Everywhere Blue Jays Flock Feeder’s Calling Chick-A-Dees “Dee” Powdered Snow, Freshly Fallen ********** Beneath Winter’s Warm...

Some hunt for trophy bucks. Some hunt for memories. In a secluded spot along my trails On an elm by a bridge Hangs a simple wooden sign It reads: “Seven Point” Whenever I reach that spot on my route My mind is transported To one treasured moment Etched forever...

“Don’t heed the voice and put shovel to earth, unless mentally prepared to uncover the truth.” ********** “African-Americans made up approximately twenty five percent of the U.S. Navy during the War of 1812. In July, 1813, Commodore Isaac Chauncey reported “nearly 50 blacks” on board his flagship, the General...

“A  Crossbow Hunter’s Tale”      I bought my crossbow six years ago, fall of 2014, when New York State first made them legal hunting implements. I had read about them in the Department of Environmental Conservation hunting regulations, they showed some modern day crossbow photos there. I was captivated...

Author’s Note: I never know when or how a story or verse will arrive. They always seem to appear out of nowhere and catch me off guard. This poem originally came to me while I was standing in my kitchen making a big pot of wild turkey soup, which...

June 4th, 2020 The Backyard Wedding Planner DAY ONE: A GOOD START! “OKAY… I CONFESS!” “I – Dick Monroe – Father of the Bride – have been planning my daughter Chelsea Rae’s backyard wedding since the day she was born.” I realize that this may not be quite the...