The River Calling
Beneath forgotten trestle’s flow Rainfall bounty, melted snow Where heron, bass, and beaver go I can hear The river calling Misted memory’s mountain home Rocky rapid’s rippled foam Long lost laughter skipping stones I can hear The river calling We swam, we fished Wind’s whispered wish Wild water’s kiss...
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What Defines “Adirondack”?
The original version of this story 1st appeared in the June 17, 2021 on-line edition of the Adirondack Almanack I had an interesting conversation with my brother a while back in camp. It began innocently enough, with an observation he made about the difficulties the Saranac Lake Elks...
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Bedroom Window
I awoke to the sun. Its warm morning rays gently knocking on my bedroom window. I sat up, yawned and stretched, kicking back my hand quilted comforter. I looked out from my second story vantage point across Stevenson Lane to the day. To my left was Carpenter’s...
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Snowshoe Tracks
Author’s Note: The snowshoes pictured here are my dad’s vintage pair. He made them in Ranger School during his time at Wanakena. He graduated from Ranger School in 1961, two years before I was born. They are still sturdy, solid and strong. I have taken great care to maintain...
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A Trail of Broken Hearts
An Adirondack Outlaw Wandering Lost in Love’s Wilderness ********** Author’s Note: This story was featured in the February 13, 2022 online edition of The Adirondack Almanack ********** There’s a mystic trail in these mountains. Myths, tragedies, and harrowing rescue tales surround it. It’s not marked on any map. Oldtimers...
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Hall of Fame Family Heirlooms
The “Say Hey Kid” Willie Mays *This story is dedicated to the memory of my Aunt Viv & her son, Jack Lilley. He was my 2nd cousin. He collected baseball cards. He died in a car accident six years before I was born. I’ve been honored to carry on...
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Single Word Poetry
Author’s Note: This is a little something different, an experiment of sorts that I wanted to try. Combining a photo with a single word in an effort to capture a particular emotion, feeling, or moment using just one word. ********** “BE” ********** “MEMORIES” ********** “LIFE” ********** Until Our Trails...
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Hunter’s Reflections
A Season’s End Hunter’s Poem ********** Each Season’s End Harvests Hunter’s Reflections What Was What Wasn’t What Might Have Been ********** Fallen Waterfowl Feathers Fall Foliage Breeze Trail’s First Frosted Tracks Fresh Buck Rubbed Trees ********** Morning Pre-Dawn Stealth Silence Hunter’s Hart Prayers for Luck ‘Til That True Shot’s...
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Life’s Strange Circle
Author’s Note: This story appeared in The Adirondack Almanack’s December 6, 2021 online edition under the title: “Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction, So Too, Is Life’s Circle”. Truth is quite frequently stranger than fiction. Each day that I spend in life’s circle re-proves it. At this point...
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The Great Canoe Race Conspiracy of 1977
“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,...
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