What's Your Nature?
Become a Nature Up North explorer to share your encounters with wild things and wild places in New York's North Country. Post your wildlife sightings, landscape shots, photos from your outings, and even your organization's events!
Power Play & Rhiannon Ice Climbing
God was good on groundhog day this year and allowed things to finally work out. Devin Farkas and I swapped leads on Power Play today--one of my goals before the end of the season (now the goal is to get on it again). I led the first 180' to the terrace and Devin took the last 40'--the money pitch. Then it was on to Rhiannon which has formed nicely from bottom to top. I was on that in December, but it was good climb again in less delicate conditions--nice lead by Devin. Good to see Don Mellor today a well :)
Lyon Mountain
First time heading up Lyon, which is just about an hour and 45 minutes from Canton. It was around a 2 hour moderate hike or skin up to a lookout slightly below the summit, with beautiful views of the Adirondacks to the south and Chazy Lake and Champlain to the east. The forest was mostly birch at lower elevation transitioning to evergreens higher up. Definitely a hike worth checking out!
Ice Climbing at Chapel Pond-Lilith
One of the blessings of living down the road is being able to take a morning climb up a multi-pitch route--Lilith (WI4). Dan Plumley joined me for a morning of good ice and relaxing banter.
Adirondack Loon Center to Host Open House for the Winter Carnival Parade
The Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation is pleased to invite the public to its “Winter Carnival Parade Open House” at the Loon Center located at 15 Broadway in Saranac Lake. This event is free to all, and will be held from noon to 4p.m. on Saturday, February 9, 2019.
All are welcome to visit the Loon Center to warm up with some hot chocolate and cookies during or after the Winter Carnival Parade. The Loon Center is most grateful to Hannaford Supermarket for their generous donation of cookies and to Dunkin Donuts for generously providing hot chocolate for all to enjoy.
Winter Spiderweb
I was in the barn and I saw a spiderweb that was all frosted up.
Annual Winterfest Cardboard Sled Races
Join us for the 2nd annual North Country Cardboard Sled Race! Come on over to the SUNY Canton Sledding Hill and race on sleds you create yourself from cardboard. Teams or individuals are invited to enter, and each sled must carry one team member. Registration and sled judging will run from 9:30 - 10:00, with the races beginning at 10:30. Sleds will be judged overall for special categories and by division for fastest time.
*instructions for parking at SUNY Canton the day of the race will be announced leading up to the event.
Winterfest Snow-stravaganza!
An afternoon of winter play for all ages! Join Nature Up North and friends for an open house with many of your favorite winter activities including: snowshoeing, animal tracking, cross country ski clinic, and an indoor cardboard sled building workshop (cardboard sled races Sat 2/16). We will also enjoy an ongoing campfire including free hot cocoa and hot cider.
Mount Arab Winter Hike
Nature Up North celebrated the new year with a snowshoe hike to the summit of Mount Arab in Piercefield. We had great weather for the trip, and were joined by 20 hikers of all ages from all across the North Country. Several people experienced their first winter hike in the Adirondacks while others had a chance to try snowshoes for the first time. The group enjoyed sharing snacks at the summit cabin, searching for wildlife tracks, and learning some common tree species. Thanks to all who joined us!
Panther Gorge Ice Climbing 2019 - Apex Predator (WI4-5)
Pioneering new ice on Mt. Marcy in Panther Gorge. This was a route I've been trying to "put up" for two years. True adventure! January's foray was with friends Aaron Courain and Alan Wechsler. visit adirondackmountaineering.com for the full story.
Emerging Invasive Forest Pests Course
Join Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County for this day course at BOCES Education Center in Canton to learn more about several invasive forest pests of emerging concern. Topics include identification, prevention & management of Asian Spotted Lanternfly, Asian Earthworms, Hemlock Woolly Adelgid, and Oak Wilt. Presentations throughout the day will be led by staff from CCE-St. Lawrence, the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, and the New York State Hemlock Initiative at Cornell University’s Department of Natural Resources.