As winter starts to fade to spring, sap starts to flow and adventures don't stop.
Winter fun in the trees and on the trails
1.
Sweet Maple Heritage
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! No, it’s not December; Santa won’t be coming for awhile. It’s March, which can only mean one thing: maple!
For the North and Rust families of Conifer, NY, maple is a way of life. For four generations the maple syrup production process at North-Rust Syrup hasn’t changed much, keeping with tried and true traditions that celebrate craft.
2.
Fat Biking Blueberry Hill
If you have visited a mountain town in the last few years, you may have noticed that fat bikes are steadily growing in popularity. More than ever, riders are taking to the snowy roads and trails, adding another outdoor hobby to their list.
3.
Licensed Adirondack Guides
Since 1807, travelers from around the world have enlisted the services of the Adirondacks' accomplished woodsmen and women. Early visitors to the area were intimidated by the vast Adirondack wilderness and quickly learned that the local guides knew where to catch fish, hunt game, build boats and shelters, and survive in the backcountry of the Adirondack Mountains. After the Civil War, visitors flocked to the area wanting the comfort and convenience the local hotels that had begun appearing offered, while still experiencing the Adirondack wilderness lifestyle. The unique talents of these Adirondack guide services, coupled with their local celebrity, are credited for elevating the Adirondacks to an international level.
4.
The Historic Saranac Experience
Saranac Lake has both a celebrated backstory and a devoted group of fans. This makes our local history museum something decidedly different. Through its time as a health destination, Saranac Lake became home to people from all over the world, which added to the eclectic nature of its culture. Today Saranac Lake is a popular heritage tourism destination.
5.
Winter Attractions in the Whiteface Region
While some places muddle through the winter, the Whiteface Region thrives in the snow! Though lovely in the summer, winter brings new life to the charming villages and wild landscapes of this one-of-a-kind Adirondack destination. Imagine snow-capped mountains, glassy lakes, and fun-filled destinations that are even more magical this very special time of year. From Christmas card-worthy scenery to experiences the whole family will enjoy, the Whiteface Region has everything necessary to shake you free from cabin fever and make you fall in love with winter.
6.
Spring Skiing at the VIC!
Spring may be in the air, but I'm still looking forward to at least a few more weeks of skiing. After all, the longer days and warmer temperatures make for excellent spring skiing conditions, when we can head out in fewer layers -- maybe even in our shorts -- and contend less with the cold. And while our recent winter storm may have tracked farther east than expected and missed giving us the forecasted dumping of snow, the several inches we received freshened up our base and made for a great weekend of fun on the trails.
7.
Essential Trail Stops
I've heard it from people who know: snowmobiling in the heart of the Adirondacks is amazing. It's the little things, like the pleasant, uncrowded, Department of Motor Vehicles. Register your out-of-state sled with no lines, and no waiting. We suggest joining a local snowmobile club prior to registration. It knocks the registration fee from $100 down to $45. Joining a club is usually in the $30 range and you can register multiple sleds under one club membership!
It's also the big things, like the over 750 miles of groomed snowmobile trails. Whether you like tight turns or wide open spaces, there's a thrill for every sledder.
8.
A Sneak Peek into Maple Season
At the time of this writing I’m curled up in front of my wood stove, drinking tea and watching the frost send tendrils up my windows. The days are getting longer but winter’s hold is still tight. Sugaring, or maple syrup-ing, marks the first whisper of an approaching spring every year — the sweetness isn’t just a metaphor for the anticipated change of season — it’s the literal energy force of our waking forests. When maple trees sense rising temperatures they send sap, or stored carbohydrates, from their roots upwards to the tree canopy — this is what maple farmers mean when they say the “sap is running.” That sap provides the nutrition necessary for the tree to develop new buds; buds become leaves; leaves spend the long summer days capturing and photosynthesizing energy from the sun; that energy is then converted to sap and stored in roots for the winter and the next budding cycle.