Adirondack Sports December 2020

COVERING 

UPSTATE NY 

SINCE 2000 

Mt. Van Hoevenberg 

FREE! 

DECEMBER 

2020 

Celebrating 

20 

Years! 

NORDIC MANAGER, 

CHRIS CHENEY SEYMOUR, 

WELCOMES SKIERS. ORDA 

SKIERS CLIMBING A HILL 

ON THE NEW TRAILS. 

BOB UNDERWOOD 

NEW MOUNTAIN 

PASS LODGE FROM 

OVERPASS BRIDGE ON 

OPENING WEEKEND. 

BOB UNDERWOOD 

CONTENTS 

1 Cross Country Skiing 

& Biathlon 

Mt. Van Hoevenberg: 

New & Improved for All 

3 Running & Walking 

Snowshoe Racing: 

Season Preview 

5 News Briefs & 

From the Publisher 

7 XC Skiing & Snowshoeing 

OK Slip Falls & 

Three Ponds 

9 Cross Country Skiing 

Get Outside: New Adventures 

10-11 Athlete Profile 

Hiking with Raquelle 

& Bernie Landa 

12-14 CALENDAR OF EVENTS 

Find Races, Events 

& Things to Do! 

15 Community 

Virtual Lake George Swim 

18 Community 

Moreau Half Ultra Race 

19 Non-Medicated Life 

Light at End of Covid Tunnel 

AdkSports.com 

Facebook.com/AdirondackSports 

New and Improved for All 

By Bob Underwood 

Welcome to the new and 

improved Mt. Van Hoevenberg. 

ORDA and New York State have 

embarked on an overhaul and update of the 

facilities for Nordic and sliding sports. This 

new effort will benefit racers, spectators, 

and recreation skiers alike. 

Most of Mt. Van Hoevenberg is located 

in the Adirondack Park Forest Preserve and 

constrained by the Forever Wild provision 

of the State Constitution. This has prevented 

ORDA from further development and 

changes to bring the facility up to World Cup 

racing standards. Back in the early 1990s 

there was a push to create a paved track 

and add snowmaking around the existing 

biathlon range area. This area is located in 

the forest preserve and these upgrades never came to fruition. 

Lake Placid, the village that hosted the 1932 and 1980 Olympics 

could no longer host World Cup events as trails could not be widened 

and snowmaking was not allowed. Over the years ORDA 

has worked to try to bring back World Cup events to the Olympic 

Region. Adjacent to the Nordic trails sits the sliding track on land 

that is part of the Town of North Elba. The bobsled track and surrounding 

areas have been developed as they are located on land 

owned by the North Elba and not subject to the same limitations. 

ORDA developed an ambitious plan to build world-class 

DESCENDING WITH NEW 

BIATHLON RANGE IN 

BACKGROUND. ORDA 

Nordic race trails in a small area on this town land. This enables 

the five kilometers of new trails to have the required width, snowmaking, 

a new biathlon range, and even a paved roller ski loop. 

This brings the ski center up to international standards for cross 

country skiing and biathlon. This along with a new multiuse lodge 

have been fit into a small area around the existing bobsled, luge 

and skeleton run. 

ORDA has already booked the 2023 World University Games, 

as well as the NCAA Skiing Championships for 2023. They hope 

to attract World Cup events in the future. 

See XC SKIING & BIATHLON 17 ▶

2 Adirondack Sports 

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RUNNING & WALKING 

DECEMBER 2020 3 

START OF GORE 

SNOWSHOE RACE. 

Snowshoe 

HOOT TOOT 

& WHISTLE IN 

FEBRUARY 2020. 

BEN KIMBALL 

By Laura Clark 

Racing 

Season Preview 

We have all been there. Now it is 

my turn. The paper, report, article 

is due, and cannot be put off 

any longer. This is an unfamiliar position for 

me to be in as normally I am not a procrastinator. 

But in this case, I was holding off, 

hoping against hope that a miracle would 

occur and I could once more produce a reasonably 

definitive snowshoe racing season 

schedule. Or as definite as anything involving 

snow can be. Still, here we are with 

images of the past and wishy hopes for 2021. 

In a normal year the Dion Snowshoe 

Series would extend across state boundaries 

into Vermont and Massachusetts. But 

this is not a normal year. Unless you have 

big money or significant career advancement 

riding on your snowshoe racing portfolio, 

you would not want to endure a 14-day 

quarantine for the sake of a single race. Even 

the United States Snowshoe Association has 

cancelled Nationals this year: snowshoeracing.com. 

So, at this point, our series is confined 

to the New York borders. Ironic, really, 

because Dion Snowshoes are manufactured 

in nearby Bennington, Vt. Fortunately, 

they have recently joined with NeviTREK 

Snowshoes, located in Delanson: dionnevitrek.com. 

Normally, we have a representative 

at all of our races to supply advice and 

loaners, but Dion advises that this will be on 

a case-by-case basis. 

With so much in flux, it is understandable 

that race directors are waiting until 

the last minute to firm up plans, so it would 

be advisable to check for weekly updates: 

dionwmacsnowshoe.com. As with most 

snowshoe races, runners and walkers are 

welcome. 

The first race of the season will be the traditional 

Gore Ski Bowl 5K Snowshoe Race 

on December 27 at 2pm at the Gore Mountain 

Nordic Center in North Creek: goremountain. 

com. Fortunately, there’s plenty of snowmaking 

so it will happen as long as the temperatures 

are consistently cold enough to make 

snow. The lodge will be open for bathrooms 

only so be sure to bring warm clothing for 

before and after. If there is enough natural 

snow, we will utilize a scenic wooded loop as 

well as the groomed sections. The course consists 

of several loops and it is fun to try and 

increase your pace on each repeat section. 

Registration is at skireg.com. 

The Gore Nordic Center will also be 

hosting one of my favorite events, the Gore 

Mountain Citizen’s 5K Races at the Ski 

Bowl in North Creek at 6pm on Tuesday 

evenings from January 12 through February 

16. Twelve dollars at the door will earn you 

1-4 laps (each about 1.25K) of snowshoeing 

or cross country skiing, depending on 

what you’re comfortable with. This is a family-friendly 

event on wide groomed, trackset 

trails including kids, teens, parents and 

grandparents all participating within their 

comfort level on racing snowshoes, traditional 

hiking snowshoes, and cross country 

skiing – both classic and skate technique. 

There is wintertime magic under the lights 

and the star canopy, with everyone finishing 

calmer and happier than when they started 

out! And that’s a big plus for this year! Again, 

if the lodge is not available, the indoor bathrooms 

will be. Normally, the event concludes 

with raffles to include eggs donated 

by a local farmer and knit hats from local 

crafters. By the end of the series, acquaintances 

have become fast friends. Learn more 

at goremountain.com. 

The next definite race on the schedule 

is January 24, the Gurney Lane Snowshoe 

& Fat Bike Day, race directed by Bob 

Underwood of Underdog Race Timing. 

SNOWSHOED 

FEET ARE 

READY TO RUN. 

Held at Gurney Lane Recreation Area in 

Queensbury, the route encompasses the 

fun ups, downs and arounds of singletrack 

mountain bike trails, with occasional wide 

stretches providing breathers. Fat bikers 

have their rides and races in the afternoon 

and Grey Ghost Bicycles has some demo 

rental bikes are available to try after your 

race! Normally, there are good quality raffle 

awards, but again that will depend on current 

protocols. For snowshoe, visit runreg. 

com or fat bike, go to bikereg.com. 

So far, the final event in the series will be 

the Garnet Hill Snowshoe Race on March 

6 at Garnet Hill Lodge & Outdoor Center in 

North River. The course has a mix of wide 

cross country ski trails and woodsy singletrack 

snowshoe paths, incorporating enough 

rolling terrain to make it a challenging experience 

– amid beautiful snow-laden pines! 

I always enjoy looking at the many cabins 

peppered along the route, envious of those 

who can just step outside their rented front 

door, and ski to the Garnet Hill Lodge for 

breakfast, lunch or dinner! Learn more at 

garnet-hill.com. 

The Winterfest 5K Snowshoe Race is 

scheduled for February 7 at the Saratoga 

Spa State Park and Camp Saratoga 8K 

Snowshoe Race for February 13 at Wilton 

Wildlife Preserve & Park. I’m the race director 

and am currently awaiting approval from 

HOOT TOOT 

& WHISTLE IN 

FEBRUARY 2020. 

BEN KIMBALL 

local and state entities. As soon as that happens, 

registration will be on runsignup.com 

and information on saratogastryders.org 

and dionwmacsnowshoe.com. 

That much said, it is impossible to overlook 

the elephant in the room, which in 

this case is not related to global warming. 

Examination of new required race protocols 

lead you to expect staggered starts, masks 

at gathering zones, contactless bib pickup, 

BYO water and snacks, and rapid dispersal 

soon after you finish. Socializing is clearly 

not the name of the game. Don’t expect to 

show up at the last-minute as most events 

will be online registration only, preferring 

to limit contact, and stay within legal race 

numbers. Bear in mind that most events are 

outdoors only so dress properly. This is an 

excellent way to prevent spreading the virus, 

but necessitates a be-prepared mentality 

with plenty of dry clothes, and a good heater 

in your car. 

As we inch closer to the yellow, orange 

and red cluster zones, it will not be unexpected 

that towns, parks and private lands 

reconsider previously granted permissions. 

Not only do we have to scan the sky for snow, 

we now have to scan area maps for colors. 

In that scenario, some events might go virtual 

or some might pop-up spontaneously 

as conditions change. Keeping in mind that 

“The only certainty is that nothing is certain,” 

please do check for updates. We’ll have further 

updates next month so stay positive! 

Laura Clark (snowshoegal133@gmail.com) 

of Saratoga Springs is an avid trail runner, 

ultramarathoner, snowshoer and crosscountry 

skier. She is a children’s librarian 

at the Saratoga Springs Public Library.


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News News Briefs Briefs 

Kicksleds: A New Winter 

Experience 

SARANAC LAKE – Would you like a new way to 

glide across ice or snow? Are you a bit tentative 

trying the balance skills required for ice skating or 

cross country skiing? You might want to try kicksledding. 

Kicksleds are simple and easy to use for 

all ages and athletic abilities. 

The traditional kicksled consists of two steel 

runners with a wooden seat and handlebars, along with foot rests behind to stand on. 

Simply stand on the foot rests, hold onto the bars, and use a kicking motion with one 

leg to push forward and glide, just like a scooter or skateboard. The seat can be used to 

carry a passenger. 

Used in Scandinavia as a major form of transportation for over a hundred years, kicksleds 

were used during the Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway in 1994 – sleds were 

everywhere! People of all ages used them to get around, transporting children, groceries, as 

well as camping and ice fishing equipment. Kids even use them to get to school in the winter. 

In 2018, I and my associate, John Dimon, at Human Power Planet Earth Bicycle Shop 

in Saranac Lake purchased a couple of antique kicksleds to try them out, and we loved 

them. We first used them on frozen lakes and ponds using the ice runners they all come 

equipped with. They glide easily over the roughest ice, often in conditions that were 

unskatable. The two-mile ice path on Mirror Lake in the village of Lake Placid was especially 

fun. With the addition of the clip-on snow-runners they came with, we then started 

exploring packed snow trails and railroad beds, going for miles on them. 

By the next year we had purchased ESLA Kicksleds of Finland to sell at the shop. We 

rent them, give demos, and put a skate path on Lake Colby in Saranac Lake and have 

them available for all to try during the Skate Lake Colby Event as part of the Saranac Lake 

Winter Carnival in 2019 and 2020. We found everyone could easily use them due to their 

simple design and low center of gravity. 

Performance models, called kicksparks, are also available with a one-piece aluminum 

construction, and mushing attachments can be added to either the traditional or 

performance models for a dog sledding experience. We’ve already taken them down the 

snow-packed railroad tracks in Saranac Lake during the first snowstorm in November 

2020. You don’t need much snow to kicksled. This winter, try kicksledding over packed, 

snowy trails or frozen lakes – it’s a blast! Learn more: humanpowerplanetearth.com. 

–Birgit Schulte 

FROM THE PUBLISHER 

One Bad Step... and Crack 

Instead of gathering around the table on Thanksgiving, we met 

my brother’s family for a hike on Buck Mountain. On the way 

down, 2.3 miles from the trailhead I took a steep step down, my 

right foot stopped at an angle, but my leg kept going, and I heard 

a loud crack. I dislocated my ankle and have three fractures in 

my lower leg. Thanks to the NYSDEC Forest Rangers for getting 

me down safely. After Saratoga Hospital ER, orthopedic visits 

and now surgery, I’m in recovery… Now, all I want for Christmas is trekking poles! 

It’s been a heck of a year, best wishes to all of you for happy 

holidays. Thanks for reading us and supporting our advertisers 

and exhibitors. Cheers to better days in 2021! 


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well-being. Let Fleet Feet help you with your “Outdoorzing” this winter. Outdoorzing 

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Fleet Feet will be giving you a daily outdoorzing tip to help you prepare and prosper 

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website, plus their Facebook page, Instagram and Twitter accounts. Fleet Feet Albany & 

Malta looks forward to you joining them on outdoorzing adventures this winter. Go to: 

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ADK Members Recognized 

for Trail Work 

SCHENECTADY – NYSDEC would like to congratulate 

dedicated trail volunteers, Norm Kuchar and 

Walt Hayes, for each receiving the North Country Trail 

Association ADK Affiliate Honor Award: northcountrytrail.org. 

For the past 12 years, these two members of 

the Schenectady Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain 

Club have taken more than 120 trips to scout and GPS routes 

for the eastern Adirondack section of the North Country National 

PRE-COVID 

PHOTO 

Scenic Trail. Norm and Walt have been critical partners to DEC planners and foresters 

as they’ve helped define the best route for this trail in the Adirondacks. Congratulations 

on this well-deserved honor! 

When completed, the North Country National Scenic Trail will stretch approximately 

4,700 miles from North Dakota to Vermont, with about 160 miles passing through the 

central Adirondacks from Black River Wild Forest to Crown Point State Historic Site. 

Learn more: adk-schenectady.org. 

NYS Ski Racing Assn: Nordic 

KATTSKILL BAY – NYSSRA Nordic’s highest priority is to assure the health and safety 

of club members and the skiing community – racers, their families, event organizers, 

officials and volunteers. To affirm this position, NYSSRA Nordic representatives at the 

fall meeting focused discussion on how to implement safe, motivating, and successful 

competition for cross country, biathlon, and ski orienteering events amid precautions 

for the spread of Covid. 

Although it’s a bit early to know exactly what limitations to expect this winter, we do 

know that race formats will be different, participants will need to be safely distanced from 

others, face coverings will be required, and you can prepare to base out of your vehicle 

– like the ole “back-to-basics” experience that some may remember. Watch for specific 

competition rules and guidelines in the coming weeks. 

NYSSRA Nordic has purchased Tyvek bibs that will be issued to all members who will 

be racing. Athletes will use the same number all year to reduce the contact of bib hand out 

at registration on the day of the race. All registration will be done online this year through 

skireg.com registration site. Day of race registration will be discouraged. All events will 

be interval or rolling start to keep competitors distanced during the race. 

NYSSRA Nordic has also lowered the membership fee for school age athletes. The 

membership is free for first-year members and only $5 for any racer from years past. With 

the uncertainty of high school sports, we hope to offer a safe way to participate in Nordic 

competition this year for junior skiers. 

We look forward to a safe and healthy year out on the Nordic trails. This winter is the 

perfect time to get out of the gym and head out to the Nordic trails for some exercise. See 

you all on the trail. Visit: nyssra-nordic.org. 

CELEBRATING 

80 YEARS 

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Locally Owned & Independent 

Adirondack Sports & Fitness, LLC 

15 Coventry Drive, Clifton Park, NY 12065 

(518) 877-8788 • Fax (518) 877-0619 

info@AdkSports.com 

ISSUE 

#240 

Publisher/Editor/Founder: Darryl Caron 

Art Director: Karen Chapman 

Consulting Editor: Mona Caron 

Adirondack Sports is published 12 times per year with a 

monthly circulation of 18,000 copies. © 2020 Adirondack 

Sports & Fitness, LLC. All rights reserved. Please recycle. 


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OK Slip 

Falls 

● GOOD SKI CONTROL 

IS REQUIRED AS YOU 

APPROACH THE TOP 

OF OK SLIP FALLS. 

and Three Ponds 

By Rich Macha 

The Hudson Gorge Wilderness not 

only contains the most exciting 

stretch of the Hudson River, but also 

one of the highest waterfalls in New York, 

plus several seldom-visited ponds – as well 

as a few small, trailless mountains with 

views. The trails to the falls and three of the 

ponds can be cross country skied by strong 

intermediate skiers when there is over a 

foot of snow on the ground; they can also be 

snowshoed by just about anyone in halfway 

decent shape. 

A trip to the falls and all three ponds 

would amount to close to 15 miles of travel, 

so most folks opt to go to either the falls 

or the ponds. The trip to OK Slip Falls has 

become very popular, but the ponds see less 

visitation, especially in winter. The trailhead 

and the first half-mile are the same for either 

trip, so when you get to the fork in the trail, 

would you take the trail less-traveled to go 

for a little bit of Bad Luck? Or slip and slide 

over to the more than just OK attraction? 

The parking area is located on the south 

side of NY Route 28, halfway between North 

Creek and Indian Lake. You have to walk 

west alongside the road for 0.2 miles to reach 

the actual trailhead. The trail passes through 

conifers at first, then mixed woods of sugar 

maple, beech, spruce, hemlock, and some 

large white pines. After a bit of a climb, the 

trail reaches a junction at the 0.7-mile mark 

– a right turn heads toward the falls, and a 

straight-ahead route leads to the ponds. 

Ross, Whortleberry and Big Bad Luck 

Ponds – From the junction, the route 

is mostly downhill, then it crosses Ball 

Mountain Brook. The trail then climbs over 

200 feet in 0.4 miles, going over a shoulder 

of Ball Mountain, before leveling out somewhat. 

Some beaver meadows can be seen 

to the north before reaching a junction, 2.2 

miles from the start – a right turn puts you 

on the short trail to the south side of Ross 

Pond, but I usually just ski down through tall 

evergreen woods to the pond’s west shore. 

My notes from last winter describe the pond 

as “cute, with a couple of small islands.” 

Back on the main trail, now mainly going 

downhill, another junction is soon reached 

– a left turn reaches Big Bad Luck Pond in 

0.5 miles. Going straight and continuing 

downhill, the trail to Whortleberry Pond is 

not marked as well as the others in the area, 

so some added attention to the route may be 

necessary. If I had to skip one of the ponds, 

this would be the one. However, curiosity has 

won out every time I’ve been out this way. 

The spur trail to Big Bad Luck Pond is wellmarked 

and a pleasure to ski. The trail ends at 

the outlet on the east end of the large pond. 

If the ice is solid, which is likely in mid-winter, 

you can ski across to the campsite on the 

north shore. As you ski out onto the pond, look 

● IT’S BEGINNING TO 

FEEL A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS 

ON THE WAY TO OK SLIP FALLS. 

down the pond for a view of Snowy Mountain. 

The return trip will have a couple of exciting 

downhill runs. If you visit all three ponds, you 

will have traveled at least eight miles, more if 

you skied out onto the ponds. 

OK Slip Falls – From the junction, the 

trail to OK Slip Falls heads northeast over 

rolling terrain through a mature forest. A 

beaver pond is passed and the trail then 

goes through an area that was logged more 

recently so the trees are smaller. A woods 

road, which gives access to the private 

Northern Frontier Camp, is reached after 

traveling over two miles from the Route 28 

trailhead. The trail follows this road for less 

than 100 yards then turns off it to the right. 

The grade is then gently downhill at first, 

but steepens as the trail gets closer to the top 

of the falls, and hardwoods transition into 

a forest of large hemlocks and white pines. 

Switchbacks ease the grade to a certain 

extent but good ski control is needed on the 

descent. At a junction, the way right leads to 

views of the top of the falls – the combination 

of water and ice can be breathtaking. Be very 

careful if there is any iciness since the drop 

over the cliff is well over 200 feet. 

At this last junction, the trail left soon 

drops steeply to cross OK Slip Brook on a 

bridge, then goes up a short steep stretch 

before leveling out for a bit. The trail then 

drops steeply, losing well over 300 feet, via 

switchbacks down to the Hudson River. I 

have fantasized about skiing this 0.8-mile 

trail, but have only hiked it in late winter with 

little or no snow on the ground (March 2016 

was the end of a low-snow winter). In reality, 

I cannot recommend this section to most 

skiers, but do go for it if you are on snowshoes. 

At the end of the trail, Kettle Mountain 

looms over the river on the opposite shore. 

I have skied up Kettle, a bushwhack from 

Northwoods Club Road, and viewed OK Slip 

Falls from above and across the river. 

▲ THE TOP OF OK SLIP FALLS. 

◀ BIG BAD LUCK POND. 

▼ BIG BAD LUCK POND. 

▼▼ WHORTLEBERRY POND. 

PHOTOS BY RICH MACHA 

Round-trip to and from the top of OK 

Slip Falls is over six miles and close to eight 

miles if you go down to the Hudson River. 

Whichever route you travel, you’ll be sure to 

leave civilization well behind. Make sure you 

carry the “10 Essentials” and more for a safe 

and pleasurable trip. For the 10 Essentials, 

see my “Prepare for Late Fall (and Winter) 

Adventures” article in the November 2020 

issue: adksports.com/2020. Before you head 

out, check the NYSDEC website for updates 

and recommendations: dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7865.html. 

A lover of wild places, Rich Macha 

has led many trips for the Adirondack 

Mountain Club, and has spent 20 years 

in the paddlesport/snowsport business. 

More of Rich’s adventures can be found at 

northeastwild.blogspot.com.


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CROSS COUNTRY SKIING 


Get Outside for 

New Adventures 

◀ BEAUTIFUL TRAILS AT 

LAPLAND LAKE IN FEBRUARY 2020. 

▲ HAPPY SKIER AT LAPLAND 

LAKE, DECEMBER 2019. 

By Michele Pearsall 

We’re heading toward the holidays, 

a time when we can usually enjoy 

family and friends, and express 

our gratitude for what we have. I want to 

keep that optimism and encourage you to do 

the same responsibly – preferably outdoors! 

The health crisis has wreaked havoc on 

many. For me, it was loss of a job in higher 

education, and with that I was lucky enough 

to have a new/old opportunity to be hired 

as the Outdoor Center Manager at Garnet 

Hill – this takes me back to my years in ski 

area management and recreation. If we look 

at things the right way, we can find a reason 

to be thankful, and to be grateful. 

Now more than ever, we all need to 

take time to unwind and relieve stress. 

Snowsports are the ideal winter activity to 

help us with this, providing numerous proven 

health benefits to participants. According 

to the World Health Organization, “Regular 

physical activity benefits both the body and 

mind.” The WHO says that physical activity 

increases strength and fitness, reduces the 

risk of cardiovascular and other physical ailments, 

and improves mental health – specifically 

reducing the risk of depression. 

If you are an alpine skier, you may feel 

like “skinny skis” are not for you, it is excursion 

with a cardiovascular benefit. There 

are also skills involved and there are many 

options: classic, skate skiing, touring and 

backcountry – all with similar benefits. 

With Nordic there are no lift lines and 

no cold chair ride up. With both sports, it is 

natural physical distancing, especially this 

season as you’ll probably be booting up in 

your vehicle. 

While the option for type of skiing is varied 

so are the cross country ski center venues, 

all with a distinct flavor and all beautiful. 

With each venue there will be varied 

processes for rentals, season passes, equipment 

purchasing, warming areas and ticket 

sales. Don’t be surprised if these change as 

we move forward so be patient as resorts 

do their best to meet customers needs and 

provide safe places for employees and skiers. 

Garnet Hill Lodge & Outdoor Center – 

Located in North River, about 10 miles from 

Gore Mountain, Garnet Hill has 40K+ of 

trails for skiing and snowshoeing. Last year 

at the March shutdown, they received 90” of 

snow for the season. They encourage skiers 

to purchase season passes and day passes 

can be purchased online up to 2pm the day 

prior to skiing. When purchasing online 

you save time and money. Rentals include 

cross-country skis, snowshoes and fat tire 

bikes. Lessons with PSIA certified instructors 

both private and semi-private or with a 

group of family members. 

There will be warming areas outdoors 

near the Outdoor Center, with the option of 

skiing to the Log House main lodge, where 

an outdoor fire and takeout food will be 

available – or you can eat inside the Log 

House (reservations required). On a nice day 

the deck will be open and you can still order 

your favorite beverage or lunch created by 

Chef Michael Crandall. Visit garnet-hill.com. 

Lapland Lake XC Ski & Snowshoe 

Center – Near Northville, Lapland Lake 

averages 108” of snow with 50K of skiing and 

snowshoeing trails. Founded in 1978, the 

resort features unparalleled woodland skiing 

on a superb trail system designed by Olavi 

Hirvonen, former U.S. Olympic skier (1960, 

Squaw Valley). Some programs may not be 

offered this year, and as with all ski centers, 

things may change as we move forward so it’s 

always a good thing to call, check webpages 

or Facebook for current status. 

Lapland’s one-way trails offer a good safe 

distancing option. While there will be no 

indoor seating, there will be the option of takeout 

food, and if you plan on staying, the lodging 

has kitchens for helpful housekeeping. Lessons 

with PSIA certified instructors will be available 

with private and semi-private or family groups 

with a six-person limit. I have enjoyed many ski 

days with plentiful snow and skiing along the 

lake. Check out: laplandlake.com. 

▲ GARNET HILL TRACKS AND 

SCENERY. MICHELE PEARSALL 

Mt. Van Hoevenberg – The 50K venue 

combines outdoor recreation with the Lake 

Placid Olympic Legacy. See the cover article as 

it has seen many transformational improvements 

that bring the center to international 

standards for Nordic skiing and biathlon. The 

new snowmaking covers a 5K, with 2K being 

easier terrain, while the remaining is challenging 

for training and racing. 

The new lodge offers a restaurant, bar, 

full ski shop and rentals, and a fieldhouse 

that will include showers, indoor climbing 

wall, fitness center and locker rooms. PSIA 

certified lessons are available. A Citizens 

Race Series is being planned and the Lake 

Placid Loppet is scheduled for March 13. Go 

to: mtvanhoevenberg.com. 

Gore Mountain Nordic Center – At the 

North Creek Ski Bowl, wide open space in 

front of the lodge makes for a great learning 

area and a great venue for high school, collegiate 

and citizen races. Snowmaking makes 

Gore a solid bet for skiing and snowshoeing. 

Ski and snowshoe rentals are available. PSIA 

Nordic instructors are available for lessons. 

This year they again will hold Citizen 

Series Races on Tuesday evenings from 

January 12 through February 16. These fun 

races are timed however awards are not 

given for places, but raffles awarded postrace 

with many local businesses providing 

gift certificates. For this season, registration 

for all events will be online. The races will be 

doing a rolling, individual start to make it as 

safe as possible. Visit: goremountain.com. 

Cascade Cross Country Ski Center – 

With 25K of groomed trails, Cascade is located 

just outside of Lake Placid. They offer 20K 

of trails for classic skiing as well as snowshoe 

trails. Cascade normally offers a cozy lodge 

with fireplace, this year it is moving outside, 

and you can still purchase a beer or take a 

▲ MICHELE PEARSALL WITH 

LISA GUIDE AT GARNET HILL. MATT PEARSALL 

bagged lunch for sitting outside by the fire, 

as well as preorder lunch options. The retail 

shop is available with personal service for 

equipment purchases. 

As with other Nordic centers ticket sales 

and rentals can be pre-purchased online. 

Lodging in the bunkhouses is on-hold but it’s 

still to be determined so contact them for info. 

For this season, rentals are shifting to a new 

system with pick-up outdoors for safety. While 

the famous Full Moon Parties are canceled 

for this season, but they look forward to their 

return next year. Check out: cascadeski.com. 

Dewey Mountain Recreation Center – 

Located just outside the village of Saranac 

Lake, Dewey offers skiers 13K of groomed 

trails for skate and classic skiing. There are 

also ungroomed trails to the summit for 

skiers and snowshoers, and four nights of 

lighted skiing available per week. 

Dewey’s events are limited for this season, 

but as always there will be a lot of activity 

at this popular community resource that 

welcomes visitors from near and far. Dewey 

is managed by Adirondack Lakes & Trails 

Outfitters. For info: deweymountain.com. 

Pineridge Cross-Country Ski Area – 

Located on the Rensselaer Plateau, east of 

Troy, Pineridge often receives snow while 

lower elevations nearby miss it. It’s the largest 

ski center in the Capital Region with 35K 

of groomed trails, 15K of snowshoeing trails 

and 5K of backcountry trails. They have ski 

and snowshoe rentals and season rentals for 

kids. Learn more at: pineridgexc.com. 

Michele Pearsall (mpearsall@garnet-hill. 

com) is the Outdoor Center Manager at 

Garnet Hill Lodge in North River. She lives 

in North Creek, enjoys sharing outdoor 

adventures with her husband Matt, and is 

a yoga instructor at Solstice Yoga.


ATHLETE PROFILE 

● ROCKY RIDGE PEAK. 

● CASCADE MOUNTAIN. 

Raquelle and 

Bernie Landa 

Daughter and Dad 

Dynamic Duo 

FAMILY: Bernie, 48; Cheryl, 48; 

Raquelle, 12; Reed, 10 

RESIDENCE: Clifton Park 

PROFESSION: Bernie, Systems Engineering 

Technology Leader at GE 

Renewables – Wind; Cheryl, 

Physical Therapist at Eddy Visiting 

Nurse & Rehab Association 

SPORTS: Hiking, Skiing, Mountain 

Biking, Swimming, Triathlon 

● 2019 LAKE 

PLACID LOPPET. 

By Linda Waxman Finkle 

Raquelle Landa is not your average 

12-year-old. As one of the youngest 

in Shenendehowa Nordic Club’s 

“Wall of Fame,” she’s used to exceling in 

sports, academic endeavors, and in other 

activities as well. Maybe that’s why no one 

in her family questioned her becoming an 

Adirondack 46er. And why her dad, Bernie, 

jumped at the chance to pursue this goal 

with his daughter during the early Covid 

days of 2020, finishing in one season by 

summiting Mount Marcy at the end of 

October. 

The family had heard about the Bill Koch 

Youth Ski League from friends who participated 

in Massachusetts. At the 1976 Winter 

Olympics, ‘Kochie’ won the silver medal 

in the 30K cross-country skiing event, the 

first American to win a medal in international 

competition; years later, he captured 

the World Cup title, and championed the 

skate-skiing technique. A Google search 

revealed that there was a BKYSL in Clifton 

Park through the Shenendehowa Nordic 

Club, which, since 1985, has supported 

cross-country skiing in southern Saratoga 

County, grooming trails in two town parks 

and on the Shen campus, offering beginner 

lessons, and boosting the Shenendehowa 

High/Middle School Nordic ski teams. 

But let’s return to March, when all four 

Landas – mom Cheryl, Bernie, Raquelle, and 

10-year-old brother Reed – were spending 

more time than usual in the Adirondacks 

due to the pandemic and fully remote learning. 

As a family who mountain biked and 

skied together, they didn’t hesitate to put on 

their winter traction devices and begin with 

a hike up Mt. Jo, and at the end of March, 

climbed Cascade and Porter, their first High 

Peaks – mountains with shorter round-trip 

distances. After a few more climbs in April, 

when the mountains were still icy and 

covered in snow, Bernie and Raquelle 

set the goal of becoming Adirondack 

46ers. And, over the next month, the 

Landas continued hiking as a family, 

but more often than not, it was 

just dad and daughter who set out 

in the early morning hours. “We’re 

very similar,” offers Bernie. “We’d 

never had the opportunity to spend 

this much time together one-onone, 

and we’re both organized, 

prepared, and not intimidated by 

challenges.” 

Hailing from a family of sheep 

ranchers in Idaho, Bernie, an engineer, 

spent much of his youth assisting with the 

livestock operation, and hiking was another 

way to enjoy the outdoors. He’d always 

wanted to do the 50 High Peaks throughout 

the U.S., and has already completed about a 

dozen. He’s also a triathlete, mountain biker 

and cross-country skier, competing in the 

Lake Placid Loppet 25K or 50K cross-country 

ski race for many years. Cheryl, a physical 

therapist, who’s also very active and did 

a lot of hiking in the Berkshires after college, 

had both kids out on skis and bikes at very 

young ages. “Raquelle’s brave and adventurous, 

driven and mentally tough,” Cheryl 

says admiringly. “She is very proud of this 

accomplishment.” 

On May 16th Raquelle and her father 

set out for an epic hike in the Dix Range. 

It was clearly going to be a long day when 

they realized the approach hike to the base 

of the first climb already had been six miles. 

Raquelle had her courage tested at the 

Macomb scramble where the trail was a mixture 

of seasons: ice sheets, mud from snow 

run off, and granite scree left behind from 

winter snow slides. “I was totally freaked 

out,” Raquelle said, “but I pushed on and 

my dad encouraged me to put one foot in 

front of the other.” After a four-peak series 

in the Dix Range, the descent was on the 

Lillian Brook Trail where Raquelle said she 

basically “checked out from exhaustion,” but 

dug deep to find the strength to keep going. 

The Dix Range made for a memorable hike 

and an unspoken level of trust and determination 

for these hiking companions. 

When ascending the rock face of 

Gothics, she was nervous about falling, and 

on the same day, around Upper Wolf Jaw, 

they ran out of water, with no stream in sight 

for quite a while. A little over a week later, 

they were out on the Seward Range, her least 

favorite of all, with another long walk to the 

base, constant rain, and a 10:30pm return to 

their campsite. 

Her dad didn’t care for that weekend 

either. “When we got caught in the dark in 

thunderstorms, and were soaked and worn 

out, I wondered if we should throw in the 

towel,” Bernie remembers. “Going every 

weekend, I felt it in my knees, and it started to 

become job-like. Then Raquelle said, ‘Dad, 

it’s going to be okay.’ We were in mud up to 

our knees, and had two handfuls of trail mix 

to eat before falling asleep. But the next day, 

● NEAR INDIAN FALLS. 

the sky cleared, and we were both in better 

spirits. She never showed that she was terrified, 

and I didn’t expect that. She taught me 

the value of patience and awareness.” With 

the benefit of hindsight, he would plan differently 

next time, and spend multiple nights 

in the backcountry, affording easier access 

to distant peaks. 

A seventh grader at Shenendehowa’s 

Gowana Middle School, Raquelle plays the 

flute in the school band, is on the Capital 

District YMCA swim team, and is working 

hard on her Silver Award in Girl Scouts, 

focusing on decreasing plastic pollution by 

convincing restaurants to cut down on plastic 

usage. In several accelerated classes, her 

favorite subjects are math, and now English 

as well, and she hopes to become an elementary 

school teacher. “I can comprehend 

topics easily and then share that with others.


● FOOTBRIDGE ALONG 

AVALANCHE LAKE. 

● SEYMOUR MOUNTAIN 

IN SEWARD RANGE. 

● MOUNT HAYSTACK. 

● 46ERS ON MOUNT 

MARCY, OCT. 23. 

Teachers inspired me, and I want to do what 

they do,” she says. Although she swims many 

different strokes, Raquelle hopes to qualify 

for a state championship in the breaststroke, 

and also cross-country ski on a more competitive 

team, perhaps at the high school 

level, if that’s allowed. 

Her advice to younger girls? “The sky’s 

the limit – if you want to do it, you can do it,” 

she says confidently. “Make sure that you’re 

prepared because you don’t want to go into 

something that you can’t handle. You need 

to put in the time to make sure that you’re 

physically strong, but just keep persevering. 

Some things will be difficult… that’s life.” 

For all families, balancing time together 

is challenging, especially as kids gets older 

and choose different activities. “Reed, our 

fifth grader, appreciates team sports and 

is very involved with youth hockey,” says 

Bernie. “He also enjoys being outdoors and 

snowboarding, mountain biking, and camping 

are some of his favorites. Recently, he’s 

expressed more of an interest in doing the 

Adirondack 46, but I also don’t want to lose 

out on family activities, doing things that we 

all enjoy.” There are new goals, including 

the White Mountains in New Hampshire, 

Saranac 6ers, Fire Tower Challenge, maybe 

a triathlon, maybe the Adirondack 46 during 

the winter months. Who in the family will be 

attempting these, only time will tell! 

Younger kids have completed the 

Adirondack 46er over time; Maebh 

Nesbitt did it just two days shy of her fifth 

birthday in July 2019. The daughter of 

Siobhan Carney-Nesbitt, President of the 

Adirondack Forty-Sixers, she’s working on 

becoming a Northeast 111er. And back in 

the ‘80s and ‘90s, Lisa Sawtelle (Macander) 

and two sets of twin boys, the Turners and 

Espers, all completed it at five years old. 

While these are all incredible athletic 

accomplishments, they’re somewhat different 

than what Raquelle and Bernie achieved. 

“We can have a very easy conversation about 

anything because I understand how she 

ticks,” Bernie affirms. “She knows that I’m 

available for her whenever she has a question, 

and we established a bond that might 

not have been there earlier. We’ll always be 

father and daughter, but now we’re buddies.” 

“While on the trail we would have deep 

conversations about current events – social 

issues to politics to life lessons,” Raquelle 

said of her dad, “and we both learned a lot 

from each other in a unique way.” She continued, 

“The outdoors allow both of us to 

disconnect from daily distractions and talk 

with each other.” But Bernie also acknowledged 

hours of silence. “I think we both were 

consumed by the challenges that was ahead 

and too anxious to talk to each other. It was 

usually on the descent where conversations 

would spark up between us, with the most 

thought-provoking and sincere attention.” 

It was on the descent of Marcy, on the last 

hike, of the last day, when Raquelle suggested, 

“Dad, it is more about the journey than 

the destination.” And it was at that moment 

that Bernie knew that every step, every mile, 

every difficulty that they had encountered, 

had all been worth it. 

Linda Waxman Finkle (lwf518@gmail. 

com) is a writer, kayaking instructor, and 

event coordinator in Albany. She also 

enjoys hiking and cycling, and learning 

something new each day.


ALPINE & BACKCOUNTRY SKIING 

ONGOING 

TBD Intro to Ski Mountaineering Clinics. Call for 

dates/details: 518-523-3764. ADK Adirondak 

Loj, Lake Placid. highpeakscyclery.com. 

DECEMBER 

13 Alpine Touring & Telemark Demo Day w/High 

Peaks Cyclery. 9am-4pm. Weather day: 12/20. 

Whiteface, Wilmington. HPC: 518-523-3764. 

highpeakscyclery.com. 

BICYCLING 

ONGOING 

TBD Fat Biking & Cross Country Skiing Programs. 

Call for dates/details: 518-523-3764. Paul 

Smth’s College Visitor Interpretive Center 

(VIC), Paul Smiths. highpeakscyclery.com. 

JANUARY 

24 Gurney Lane Fat Bike Rides/Races & Snowshoe 

Hike/Race. 5K snowshoe: 10am. Fun group bike 

ride: 12pm. 10M & 5M bike races: 1pm. Frozen 

Ring Donut Bike Race: 2:30pm. Gurney Lane 

Recreation Area, Queensbury. runreg.com & 

bikereg.com. 

CALENDAR OF EVENTS 

DECEMBER 2020 TO MARCH 2021 

CROSS COUNTRY SKIING & NORDIC SPORTS 

ONGOING 

Tue Bill Koch Youth Ski League. 4-5:30pm. 11/3- 

3/30. Outdoor fun (Cross country skiing & 

winter activities, with or without snow) for 

children ages 4-12. Parents welcome. Collins 

Park (locations will vary), Clifton Park. Eric 

Hamilton: 518-810-4853. Shenendehowa 

Nordic Club: shennordic.org. 

Tue Gore 5K Citizen Races. Tuesday eves: 5:30- 

6:30pm starts. 1/12-2/16. Cross country 

skiing (classic & skate) & snowshoeing. 

Gore Mountain Nordic Center, North Creek. 

goremountain.com. 

TBD Fat Biking & Cross Country Skiing Programs. 

Call for dates/details: 518-523-3764. Paul 

Smth’s College Visitor Interpretive Center 

(VIC), Paul Smiths. highpeakscyclery.com. 

DECEMBER 

19 Gore Mountain Cross Country Ski Race. Classic 

technique. 5K Scholastic Juniors: 11am-12pm. 

7.5K Seniors/Masters: 9:30-10:30am. 

Individual, rolling starts for racer safety. Gore 

Mountain Nordic Center, North Creek. Paul 

Allison: 518-222-9207. skireg.com. 

20 Gore Mountain Cross Country Ski Race. Skate 

technique. 5K Scholastic Juniors: 11am-12pm. 

7.5K Seniors/Masters: 9:30-10:30am. 

Individual, rolling starts for racer safety. Gore 

Mountain Nordic Center, North Creek. 

Paul Allison: 518-222-9207. skireg.com. 

21 GHN-ADK Vauhti Socially Distant Cross Country 

Ski Relay. 2K in-person or virtual (12/19-21). 

NYSSRA-Nordic. Maple Ski Ridge, Schenectady. 

518-417-2409. skireg.com. 

JANUARY 

3 Shenendehowa Nordic Cross Country Ski Races. 

Youth, Scholastic & Masters: classic technique. 

Fundraiser for Shenendehowa Nordic Club. 

Gore Mountain Nordic Center, North Creek. 

Eric Hamilton: 518-810-4853. skireg.com. 

9-10 Junior National Qualifier Cross Country Ski 

Races. Classic & skate. Mt. Van Hoevenberg, 

Lake Placid. skireg.com. 

12-2/16 Gore 5K Citizen Races. Tuesday eves: 5:30- 

6:30pm starts. Cross country skiing (classic & 

skate) & snowshoeing. Gore Mountain Nordic 

Center, North Creek. goremountain.com. 

16-17 Junior National Qualifier Cross Country Ski 

Races. Classic & skate. Gore Mountain Nordic 

Center, North Creek. skireg.com. 

21 Shenendehowa Nordic Moonlight Cross Country 

Ski & Snowshoe. Vischer Ferry Nature Preserve 

or Garnsey Park, Clifton Park. shennordic.org 

or facebook.com/groups/shennordic. 

Gear-To-Go Tandems 

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WINTER SALE 

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HIGHPEAKSCYCLERY.COM 

Alpine • Nordic • Snowboard 

Friendly & Professional Service and Sales 

SPORTEN 

FIZAN 

VOLA 

SALOMON 

643 Upper Glen St. 

Queensbury 

(518) 793-5676 

insideedge.biz

28-31 Empire State Winter Games. Canceled. Lake 

Placid. empirestatewintergames.com. 

FEBRUARY 

6 Shenendehowa Nordic & Clifton Park 

Winterfest. 9am-1pm. Cross country skiing 

& snowshoeing on groomed trails for 

adults/families. Garnsey Park, Clifton Park. 

shennordic.org or facebook.com/groups/ 

shennordic. 

MARCH 

13 Lake Placid Loppet. 50K/25K Classic & Skate 

Races. Mt. Van Hoevenberg Nordic Center, 

Lake Placid. mtvanhoevenberg.com. 

HEALTH & FITNESS 

ONGOING 

M-F Rock Your Fitness: Total Body Training. 

Outdoor Boot Camp: MWF 5:15am, 6:30am & 

9:30am. Tue 5:30pm. Malta Community Center, 

Malta. First class free (text): 518-522-9765. 

facebook.com/rockyourfitnessllc. 

HIKING, SNOWSHOEING & CLIMBING 

ONGOING 

Thru 12/31 Champlain Area Trails Grand Challenge. 

Hike any or all three challenge trail loops for 

patch. Fundraiser for CATS. Westport & Essex. 

Info & maps: champlainareatrails.com. 

DECEMBER 

21 ADK Albany: Seymour Mountain Hike. 13M. 

Claudia Warren: 518-764-2460. albany.adk.org. 

JANUARY 

9 Winter Survival 101. 9am-5pm. Heart Lake 

Program Center, Lake Placid. Adirondack 

Mountain Club: 518-523-3480. adk.org. 

16 Winter Survival 101. 9am-5pm. Heart Lake 

Program Center, Lake Placid. Adirondack 


17 Backcountry Snowshoeing for Beginners. Heart 

Lake Program Center, Lake Placid. Adirondack 


21 Shenendehowa Nordic Moonlight Cross Country 

Ski & Snowshoe. Vischer Ferry Nature Preserve 

or Garnsey Park, Clifton Park. shennordic.org 

or facebook.com/groups/shennordic. 

23 Esther Mountain Winter Trailless Hike. 6.6M. 

8am. Adirondack Mountain Club: 

518-523-3480. adk.org. 

24 Tabletop Mountain Winter Trailless Hike. 9.8M. 

8am. Adirondak Loj, Lake Placid. Adirondack 


30 Street & Nye Trailless Winter Hike. 9M. 8am. 

Adirondak Loj, Lake Placid. Adirondack 


31 Phelps Mountain Winter Hike. 8.2M. 8am. 



FEBRUARY 

6 Shenendehowa Nordic & Clifton Park 

Winterfest. 9am-1pm. Cross country skiing 

& snowshoeing on groomed trails for 

adults/families. Garnsey Park, Clifton Park. 

shennordic.org or facebook.com/groups/ 

shennordic. 


9 Fire Tower Day Hike: Hurricane Mountain. 6.8M. 

Trailhead: 8am. Adirondack Mountain Club: 

518-523-3480. adk.org. 

19 Esther Mountain Winter Trailless Hike. 6.6M. 

8am. Adirondack Mountain Club: 

518-523-3480. adk.org. 

20 Tabletop Mountain Winter Trailless Hike. 9.8M. 

8am. Adirondak Loj, Lake Placid. Adirondack 


22 Street & Nye Trailless Winter Hike. 9M. 8am. 



26 Phelps Mountain Winter Hike. 8.2M. 8am. 



OTHER EVENTS 

DECEMBER 

11-13 Snodeo. Kickoff snowmobile season. 

Hiltebrant Recreation Center, Old Forge. 

oldforgeny.com. 

FEBRUARY 

5-14 Saranac Lake Winter Carnival. Ice Palace, 

traditional winter sports, gala parade, 

non-traditional activities. Saranac Lake. 

saranaclakewintercarnival.com. 

RUNNING, SNOWSHOEING & WALKING 

ONGOING 

Thru 12/31 American Trail Running Association’s 

Virtual Challenge. Celebrate ATRA’s 25th 

anniversary w/three trail running challenges. 

Anywhere. trailrunner.com. 

continued 

St. Regis 

Canoe Outfitters 

Helping people fall in love 

with wild places since 1984... 

◾ Lightweight Canoe/Kayak Rentals & Sales 

◾ Quality Camping Gear Rentals & Sales 

◾ Shuttles, Maps, Guidebooks 

◾ Guided Trips & Instruction 

73 Dorsey Street • Saranac Lake 

www.canoeoutfitters.com 

• 518-891-1838 

ADIRONDACK 

ULTRA CYCLING 

BIKE SHOP 

Sales • Service • Fits • Wheel Building 

Long-Distance Rides & Races 

adkultracycling.com | 518.583.3708 

160 BROAD STREET • SCHUYLERVILLE 

PINERIDGE 

CROSS-COUNTRY SKI AREA 

“the largest 

in the Capital Region” 

✸ 35km Groomed Trails with 

20K for Skate Skiing 

✸ 15K Snowshoeing Trails 

& 5K Backcountry Trails 

✸ Ski or Snowshoe Rentals & 

Season Rentals for Kids 

✸ Groups & Events Welcome 

1509 Plank Rd • East Poestenkill 

518-283-3652 • pineridgexc.com 

For the warmth of 

an Irish Christmas 

visit 

Celtic 

Treasures 

* Durable for all trail conditons 

* Use any type snow boots 

* Easy to use 

* Gift certificates available 

* Fun for the whole family 

dionnevitrek.com 

Made in NY 

Imported Jewelry, 

Woolens, Crystal, 

China & More! 

456 Broadway, Saratoga Springs 

CelticTreasures.com 

800.583.9452 

Extended Holiday Hours


CALENDAR OF EVENTS CONT. 

FROM 

PG 13 

DECEMBER 

1-31 Albany Last Run 5K. Virtual. Albany or 

anywhere. zippyreg.com. 

13 Doug Bowden Winter Series. Canceled. 3M/15K. 

University at Albany, Albany. hmrrc.com. 

19 Holiday Classic 5K Run. Canceled. Altamont. 

facebook.com. 

27 Gore Mountain Ski Bowl 5K Snowshoe Race. 

2pm. Walkers welcome. Gore Mountain 

Nordic Center, North Creek. 518-251-2411. 

goremountain.com. 

31 Saratoga Arts’ First Night 5K. Canceled. 

Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs. 

saratoga-arts.org. 

JANUARY 

12-2/16 Gore 5K Citizen Races. Tuesday eves: 5:30- 

6:30pm starts. XC skiing (classic & skate) & 

snowshoeing. Gore Mountain Nordic Center, 

North Creek. goremountain.com. 

9 35th FMRRC Winter Wimp Foot Race. Canceled. 

4.4 or 2.2 miles. Hagaman Fire House, 

Hagaman. fmrrc.org. 

12 Grafton Trails 10K Snowshoe Race. Grafton 

Trails & Outdoor Center, VT. Mike Owens: 802- 

843-2350. graftonponds.com. 

17 Cock-A-Doodle-Shoe 5K & 10K Snowshoe Races. 

10:30am. Kids’ 0.5M Snowshoe Scramble: 

10am. New Land Trust, Town of Saranac. 

cockadoodleshoe.com. 

24 Gurney Lane Snowshoe Hike/Race & Fat Bike 

Rides/Races. 5K snowshoe: 10am. Fun group 

bike ride: 12pm. 10M & 5M bike races: 1pm. 

Frozen Ring Donut Bike Race: 2:30pm. Gurney 

Lane Recreation Area, Queensbury. runreg. 

com & bikereg.com. 

FEBRUARY 

7 Winterfest 5K Snowshoe Race – Tentative. 

Saratoga Spa State Park, Saratoga Springs. 

Laura Clark: 518-581-1278. saratogastryders. 

org & dionwmacsnowshoe.com. 

13 Camp Saratoga 8K Snowshoe Race – Tentative. 

Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park, Wilton. Laura 

Clark: 518-581-1278. saratogastryders.org & 

dionwmacsnowshoe.com. 

MARCH 

6 Garnet Hill Snowshoe Race. Walkers welcome. 

Garnet Hill Lodge & Outdoor Center, North 

River. garnet-hill.com. 

SPEED SKATING 

JANUARY 

12 Try Speed Skating. All levels and ages, except 

absolute beginners. Speed skates & required 

equipment available for rent. Saratoga Ice Rink, 

Saratoga Springs. 518-951-0702 or 518-430- 

7600. Maxine: mlautenberg@nycap.rr.com. 

saratogawinterclub.com. 













FEBRUARY 












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Your Journey Home 

begins with Beth Gryzboski 

✔ Selling and buying single family homes 

✔ Homes in transition: divorce, downsizing, 

estates, relocations 

✔ Preparing home improvement plans for 

selling your home 

✔ Social media sales strategies executed to 

sell homes to today’s tech savvy buyers 

Beth Gryzboski, 

MBA 

Associate Broker 

Accredited Buyer Representative 

Senior Real Estate Specialist 

Your resident realtor ® proud to call Clifton Park “home!” 

www.GoSeeBethG.com | 518-877-5929 | GoSeeBethG@kw.com 

R✪CK 

Your Fitness 

Facebook.com/RockYourFitnessLLC 

RockYourFitnessNY.com 

Becky Weyrauch, certified personal trainer 

TBT = total body training 

• 1st class is FREE • 

Your Success Is Our Goal 

First Class FREE Virtual/Live 

To redeem, text: 518-522-9765 

Promo code: RockFit Adk Sports 

Motivation for ALL Fitness Levels 

BOOT CAMP 

MON, WED, FRI 

5:15AM • 6:30AM • 9:30AM 

★ 

TUE • 5:30PM 

Malta Community Center 

1 Bayberry Dr, Malta 

★ 

REGISTER: BeckyRock@nycap.rr.com 

or call/text 518-522-9765 

Snowshoe racing season is here! 

Get the best & the lightest! 

HEALTH 

FITNESS 

Masks required, social 

distancing & safety 

precautions will be practiced 

CELEBRATING 15 YEARS! 

EXPO 

March 20-21* * Crowd size will be limited 

and monitored for safety 

SAT 10-5 • SUN 10-4 

RECREATION 

TRAVEL 

Your Familiar Gathering in the New Normal 

*Saratoga Springs City Center – or Outdoor Expo in April or May 

AdkSports.com/expo

COMMUNITY 

Virtual Races, School 

and Family Zoom, but 

Virtual Swim? 


● VIRTUAL SWIM “WE CAN 

DO IT!” TEAMMATES, 

TRISHA JOHNSON, 

SUE NEALON, KITTY 

FAIR (MISSING KATHY 

PFEIFFER). 

● VIRTUAL LAKE GEORGE 

SWIM SWAG. 

● CANDI SCHERMERHORN 

FINISHING HER VIRTUAL 

LG SWIM WITH 

CHEERING FROM 

FELLOW SWIMMERS. 

● KATHY PFEIFFER BIKING 

TO LAKE GEORGE. 

By Kathy Pfeiffer 

This summer I signed up with my running 

friends for several virtual races. I also did a few duathlons. 

Tricia Johnson of Burnt Hills and I qualified for 

duathlon nationals and had to participate virtually. 

One of the races we completed was the Virtual Lake George 

Marathon Swim, an eight-week, 32-mile swim across the 

“Queen of American Lakes.” It was Tricia’s birthday when she, 

Sue Nealon of Glens Falls, Lori Langdon of Saratoga Springs 

and I were swimming at Moreau Lake State Park when we 

heard about the virtual Lake George, and we all signed up to 

start it on August 1 so we complete it by September 30. Many 

of my runner friends are swimmer friends too. A friend of 

Sue, named Kitty Fair of Fort Ann signed up as well. Sue, Kitty 

and Tricia swam typically four days a week at Moreau Lake. 

Candi Schermerhorn of Diamond Point and I swam three 

to four times a week at Glen Lake. Candi swam twice a week 

in Lake George, whereas I swam in Moreau on Thursdays 

and Sundays. YES, we swam six days a week to complete 

this virtual race! Candi and I swam a mile-plus most days, 

whereas my Moreau friends were swimming two-plus miles 

at a time. It’s a fact, we all loved 

swimming as much as we loved running! 

The always punctual Sue Nealon finished first of our 

swimmers on September 4. Tricia and Kitty were returning 

to work at schools so Tricia finished on September 6 and we 

were there to cheer her on. Candi finished around that date 

on Glen Lake with several swimmers to cheer for her. 

Kitty and I both finished on September 18, and it was a 

glorious day. I had to swim doubles to finish up, so swam at 

the Glens Falls YMCA for a mile or two, then went back to 

Moreau Lake. The water temperature on September 18 was a 

chilly 58 degrees! I wore a full wetsuit on May 6, my first open 

water swim of the year, and again in September for my last 

swim. I swam 1.3 miles that day and my friend Casey swam 

the last half-mile with me. 

I recommend that you do this virtual race in 2021; no 

worries, the in-person Lake George Swim (2.5K, 5K or 10K) 

is also planned to be back! On lakegeorgeswim.com, virtual 

participants can chat with each other and there are fun 

digital milestones along the way, such as Diane’s Rock, 

Anthony’s Nose, Silver Bay, Harbor Islands, The Narrows, 

Dome Island, Pilot Knob, Diamond Island and The Finish. 

These digital badges were a source of encouragement and 

motivation for us swimmers! I swam with Kerri Thomas of 

Granville on one day, and she swam six miles that day to earn 

the Silver Bay digital badge. 

Next year’s virtual race dates are June 27 to August 21. The 

T-shirt, bathing cap and finish medal were amazing. Whether 

you’re a runner, biker, paddler or hiker, give swimming a try 

as there are many cross-training benefits! 

Finally, I also enjoyed completing the “Corona Lisa” 100- 

Mile Challenge – a masterpiece run (or walk), with a really 

cool medal – think Mona Lisa! 

Kathy Pfeiffer (fiveks@datatouch.net) of Queensbury 

has been married to Keith for 44 years and is a mother 

of three strong women and grandmother of nine. She’s a 

Credentialed Alcoholism & Substance Abuse Counselor 

and teacher. In her free time, Kathy is an active member of 

Adirondack Runners, Saratoga Tri Club, Saratoga Cycling 

Club, Adirondack Multisport, and Leukemia & Lymphoma 

Society’s Team in Training. 

Fastest human-powered sport… Try Speed Skating! 

Skate with the legendary SARATOGA WINTER CLUB 

SaratogaWinterClub.com 

– Select Tuesdays and Thursdays, January 12, 21 & 26 and February 4 & 9 – 

All levels/ages are welcome except absolute beginners 

NOT learn-to-skate sessions • Must be able to stand, move forward and stop 

Speed skates and required equipment available for rent 

Info/sign-up: 518-951-0702 • 518-430-7600 • mlautenberg@nycap.rr.com • swc.skt.fst.brn.trn@gmail.org 

ITR 

Technology 

Integrated 

Resources 

We Can Fix Your Computer Problems! 

Old Computers Need Replacing? 

Computer Servers Need Updating? 

Virus/Spyware Removal • Data Backup/Recovery 

Your Business or Home IT Department at Affordable Prices! 

Contact Mike Kaplan at 

518.796.6951 or Mike@ITRNY.com 

SERVING THE ALBANY, SARATOGA, GLENS FALLS 

AND ADIRONDACK REGION 

Motel and cottages on the 

beautiful shore of Lake Placid 

• Weekday, non-holiday rooms start at $78! 

• Indoor pool, whirlpool, and sauna 

• Family operated • Groups welcome 

WildwoodMotel.com 

518-523-2624 • 2135 Saranac Ave, Lake Placid 

Welcoming outdoor enthusiasts since 1971 

GURNEY LANE 

SNOWSHOE & 

FAT BIKE DAY 

Sunday, January 24 

Gurney Lane Recreation Area, Queensbury 

GURNEY LANE 5K 

SNOWSHOE RACE 

10AM 

Dion WMAC Snowshoe 

Series • Overall and age 

group awards 

Dion rentals available 

Register: RunReg.com 

GURNEY LANE FAT TIRE BIKE DAY 

12pm – Fun Group Ride (30-45min): 

No-drop intermediate (limit 25, pre-reg.) 

1pm – 10M long & 5M short races: 

Overall and age group awards 

2:30pm – Frozen Ring Donut Race 

(3 laps): Ride lap, eat donut… repeat! 

Sponsored by Grey Ghost Bicycles – 

Some demos available 

Register: BikeReg.com 

All ages/abilities welcome • Heated warming area with bathrooms 

Playground/sledding hill for kids • Funds for Gurney fat bike groomer 

Presented by Queensbury Parks & Recreation 

OPEN FOR 

TAKEOUT ONLY 

Wednesday to Sunday, 4-9pm 

EASY ORDER ONLINE 

amigos2go.com 

Choose pickup time, pay online, 

apply promo/cards, no busy phone 

Make the Drive, Keep Us Alive! 

Outdoor dining in the spring 

Voted BEST Mexican restaurant 

in Saratoga – five years in a row! 

42 Ferry St, Schuylerville 

Refueling athletes since 2007 

The Y — So Much 

More than a Gym! 

Join the Y, Join a Cause! 

The Y provides food to the 

hungry and critical childcare, 

at the same time we offer 

virtual and in-person classes, 

personal training, and more! 

CAPITAL DISTRICT YMCA 

518.869.3500 

www.CDYMCA.org


• BURTON • SALOMON • MARKER • ARMADA • LIB TECH • CAPITA • FLYLOW • 

DISCOVER INLET... 

◾ FREE CROSS-COUNTRY 

SKI & SNOWSHOE TRAILS 

◾ FREE ICE SKATING RINK 

WITH WARMING HUT 

◾ FREE SLEDDING HILL 

◾ GROOMED SNOWMOBILE 

TRAILS 

◾ COZY ACCOMMODATIONS 

◾ GREAT FOOD 

◾ FUN FOR THE 

WHOLE FAMILY 

LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED FOR OVER 24 YEARS! 

Winter Sports 

New 2021 Gear Arriving Daily! 

YOUR WINTER SPORTS HEADQUARTERS 

Drastically Reduced Prices on all 2020 Gear 

Alpine Skis • Snowboards • Boots • Bindings • Poles 

Cross-Country Skis • Ice Skates • Snowshoes • Sleds • Coats • Pants 

Expert Ski & Board Tech Services 

BEAT THE RUSH! 

Buy, Sell, Trade New & Used Gear 

And all the 

Beauty That 

Surrounds Us 

For maps & more: 

INLET AREA INFORMATION OFFICE 

1-866-GO-INLET 

www.inletny.com 

Landyachtz 

Longboards 

952 Troy-Schenectady Road, Latham 

Peter Harris Plaza, 1.6 miles west of I-87 

(518) 785-6587 • Mon-Sat 10-8 • Sun 10-6 

PlayItAgainSportsLatham.com 

in Stock! 

GIRO • UA • SMITH • ELAN • TRESPASS • FLOW • DALBELLO • SCOTT • TRANSPACK • K2 

• VOLKL • ATOMIC • FULL TILT • ROME • UNION • LINE • ALPINA • ANON • GNU • SEGO • 

Great Ski School 

Outstanding Ski School 

100% Full Snowmaking Snowmaking 

Night Skiing & Riding & Riding 

Full Service Retail Retail Shop Shop 

Cafeteria & Lounge & Lounge 

Tubing Park 

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The Finest Paddling Boats on the Water 

Inventor of integral infused 

gunwale technology 

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illard 

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ountain 

263 Station St, Lake Placid • 518-524-2949 • placidboats.com 

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Terrific Lesson Programs for 

Outstanding Lesson Programs for 

Groups or Individuals of all ages! 

Groups or Individuals of All Ages! 

Old Forge 

McCauley Mt 

Ski Area 

Adirondack 

Base Camp 

Cold Water Kills! 

NYS Navigation Law: 

Must wear your life jacket from November 1-May 1. 

Smart paddlers wear their life jackets 

if the water is less than 60°F 

New York’s Best Family Mountain 

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Ours! . . . 

Do You? 

Wear Your Life Jacket! 

Scan for a free online 

Paddle Safety Course 

It’s Our Nature 

Info & Webcams: OldForgeNY.com 

WearItNewYork.com 

nysparks.com 

Fall Adir Sport and Fitness AD.indd 1 

3/27/15 10:34 AM


XC SKIING & BIATHLON CONT. FROM 1 

These facilities will benefit not just the 

Nordic racer, but recreational skiers as 

well. ORDA has added a new and improved 

lodge that offers a restaurant, bar, full ski 

shop and rentals. The new facility includes 

locker rooms, a fitness center, climbing wall, 

and the new Cliffside Coaster ride. The new 

coaster is the longest mountain coaster ride 

in the USA and follows the 1980 bobsled 

track. The Cliffside Coaster will add a new 

dimension to visitors to Mt. Van Ho for those 

who want a different experience. 

The expanded lodge will be welcomed as 

over the years the old lodge has been filled to 

overflow on most weekend days. The addition 

of an overpass bridge allows the facility 

to run races and have recreational skiing 

with no overlap. The lodge offers separate 

areas for racers and the recreation skier. 

Recreation skiers can watch the racers and 

then head out for a ski on their own. 

Reliable snow has been a problem for 

many ski areas over the years. This year, 

snowmaking started up for the first-time 

in over 40 years since the 1980 Olympics. 

Snowmaking will ensure good conditions 

for all, thanks to the new 3.5-million-gallon 

reservoir, and over 170 snow guns. Snow can 

be made and pushed and moved out onto 

the older existing trails as well to enhance 

the trail system we all love. 

I had the pleasure of skiing on the new 

trails and manmade snow on opening weekend 

and it was extraordinary. The improvements 

bring Mt. Van Hoevenberg to a whole 

new level of facility and excitement. Make 

sure you get up to Lake Placid and enjoy all 

the excitement that is offered by the new and 

old at Mt. Van Hoevenberg. 

NEW CLIFFSIDE COASTER 

IN SNOW. ORDA 

SNOW GUNS IN 

ACTION. ORDA 

Bob Underwood (underdogracetiming@ 

gmail.com) is the executive director of 

NYSSRA Nordic, NYS High School Nordic 

Ski Coordinator, and an avid skier and 

outdoor enthusiast. When he’s not enjoying 

the outdoors, you can find him timing a race 

for his company Underdog Race Timing. 

SKIING THE FINAL 

UPHILL, THEN DOWNHILL 

INTO THE STADIUM. 

BOB UNDERWOOD


COMMUNITY 

DARRYL AND LAURA 

AT ABOUT MILE 12. 

MOUNTAIN DOG 

RUNNING 

Moreau Half 

The Inevitable Staircase of Death 

By Laura Clark 

At my relaxed age, I no longer worry about every 

race. I just like to spend a day outdoors with friends 

and complete the course as best I can. Or so I tell 

myself. And while I no longer stress over race times, there 

is still something inside me that longs to set myself apart, 

to tread a path chosen not by the followers of the herd, but 

by those more focused on personal achievement. I have 

gravitated towards ultrarunning then mountain running, 

which is often pretty much the same thing. For a number 

of years, I pursued PEAK Snowshoe Marathon in Pittsfield, 

Vt. with four rounds of 1,200 elevation gain/loss, then the 

Nor’easter Merck Ultra in Rupert, Vt. with repeated summits 

of Mt. Antone. The snowshoe hare left me in his powder, but 

I plodded behind and finished. 

Immediately after this year’s Nor’Easter edition, life as we 

knew it ground to a halt, thanks to Covid. I figured Mountain 

Dog Running’s production of the Moreau Half might be my 

last 2020 opportunity to defeat the Grim Reaper. As with the 

above, this would be a reach for me, where simply crossing 

the finish line would – and did! – justify a chilled bottle of 

champagne. 

The trails at Moreau Lake State Park require serious effort. 

The yellow, orange, pink, purple, green, red, yellow/red, etc. 

trails intertwine crookedly, making the map resemble a twoyear 

old’s rambling sketch. The colors doggedly skirt three lakes, 

cross numerous streams, and feature two two-mile climbs. 

This is an event not to be undertaken lightly. Although I 

was familiar with the trails, having run the old Moreau 15K race 

course, my rule for that park is to never, ever venture out alone, 

even though I am normally fine with solo enterprises. The terrain 

is so rugged that it takes monumental effort to watch for 

markers with roots and rock gardens awaiting every footfall. 

What made the difference for me was that Moreau is close 

by so our group made several practice runs. Jen Ferriss of 

Saratoga Springs, Darryl and Mona Caron of Clifton Park, 

and I split the route up into two exploratory weekends while 

Jessica and Brian Northan of Guilderland powered through 

in one round. Since Darryl had generously offered to be the 

race sweep, and my support, it was imperative that he know 

the course. He referenced his Avenza Maps app and Garmin 

watch to keep us updated. 

We started off in waves on the sandy beach of Moreau 

Lake, cheered on by a raucous crowd of barking geese, who 

also seemed to have their own takeoff flight protocol as they 

ascended in small groupings to resume their fall migration. 

It was a heady experience to feel part of something bigger, 

a finale to the summer season. After a pleasant, blessedly 

flat tour around the lake, we were treated to a half-mile warmup 

introduction to the terrain, leading to the Staircase of 

Death. Anchored firmly between miles one and three, the 

staircase treated us to 900 feet of elevation gain. It didn’t help 

that beforehand I Googled the phrase “staircase of death” and 

learned that staircase falls are responsible for 12,000 deaths 

per year, being the second leading cause of accidental injury 

in the U.S., right behind automobile accidents. Who knew? 

In the interest of retaining Darryl’s company, I kept this bit 

of information to myself. 

The second two-mile climb up the ridge begins at mile 

eight with only 600 feet of elevation gain. But mentally it 

seemed much worse than the first set being in the middle of 

the race and attempted on less than enthusiastic legs. The day 

before, unbeknownst to the race director, some park angels 

cleared parts of the trail. Naturally, the only serious accident, 

a broken leg, took place on a cleared patch. The eight- to 

10-mile stretch, however, wasn’t cleared, with rocks and root 

buried under inches of slippery leaves. Navigation was made 

more challenging because the zigzag route required you to 

look up for markers and down at your feet simultaneously. 

Somewhere just before this section, I turned left on a 

clearly marked right hand trail and while I was only disoriented 

for a few minutes, I lost Darryl up ahead. He had the only 

phone since we decided we would be together and I wouldn’t 

need a second one. Bad decision. Luckily, there were quite a 

few hikers on the yellow trail because of its great views (at that 

point I didn’t much care), so they relayed a meeting point and 

we eventually reconnected. Poor Darryl said, “I had one job 

and lost Laura.” But really, it was my fault. 

The final three or four miles were really difficult. I got 

annoyed at myself because I had been looking forward to 

them and not just because they were near the end. I was disappointed 

to discover that they weren’t nearly as simple as 

they should have been, given the previous tricky terrain. Some 

of this may have been mental, too. Advertised as a 14-mile 

self-supported “half” marathon with 2,700 feet of elevation 

gain over winding, technical singletrack, co-race director Bill 

Hoffman warned that runners should expect to double their 

road half marathon time. For me this was a moot point as 

my last half was on snowshoes. Be that as it may, as Darryl’s 

Garmin approached the 14 mile mark we were still nowhere 

near done. My only goal was to finish and I knew I could, but 

it was that extra unplanned for mile that sucked me in. 

By some quirk of fate my bib number was 33, my late husband 

Jeff’s old Army Aviation call sign (Bulldog 33), and I felt 

as if he were there at the end, pushing me on, telling me how 

proud he was of me. I couldn’t disappoint him. 

Finally, we reached the sandy beach once more and my 

two training buddies, Matt Miczek of Saratoga Springs and 

Jen Ferriss, were still there, hours later, to form a cheering 

finish line. Usually we carpool, but since April we’ve been 

traveling in separate, socially-distanced vehicles, so there 

was no compelling reason for them to remain – other than 

they are truly amazing friends! Darryl followed me, good citizen 

that he was, with a handful of pink course-marker flags. 

The geese were landing on the lake, again in waves, for 

their nighttime rendezvous. I would like to think that these 

were different geese, a day behind on their journey south. 

But this being Moreau Lake State Park, I wouldn’t discount 

the possibility that they had gotten lost, and were resting up 

for another attempt the following day. 

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NON-MEDICATED LIFE 

Light at End 

of Covid-19 Tunnel 

By Paul E. Lemanski, MD, MS, FACP 

Editor’s Note: This is the 97th in a series on optimal diet and lifestyle to help prevent 

and treat disease. Any planned change in diet, exercise or treatment should be discussed 

with and approved by your personal physician before implementation. The help of a 

registered dietitian in the implementation of dietary changes is strongly recommended. 

In my last article on Covid-19, I discussed 

the transitioning from a lifestyle-based 

approach to a vaccine. In the interval 

since my last article, four vaccines have had 

preliminary data support their efficacy and 

safety. These include the mRNA vaccines 

from Moderna and Pfizer, and more traditionally 

developed AstraZeneca vaccine, 

and the Russian Sputnik 5 vaccine. In that 

same interval, the United States and the 

world have seen a surge in new cases of 

Covid-19, and unfortunately, an increase in 

hospitalizations and deaths. This surge may 

have been caused by a preference for staying 

indoors in colder weather where the virus is 

more easily transmitted; or it may be due 

in part, as well, by Covid fatigue, in which 

the population reduces the use of proven 

mitigation strategies – including masking, 

social distancing, handwashing, targeted 

quarantine and contact tracing – because of 

the sheer mental fatigue of sustaining such 

strategies for months. 

Pending final FDA approval of the 

Moderna, Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines 

and their distribution and implementation, 

the rise in infections and deaths have had 

some suggesting a reinstitution of lockdowns, 

closing of schools, and return to 

more draconian means of “controlling” the 

spread of the virus. While acknowledging 

the real concern behind the suggestion and 

the evidence that it has worked in the recent 

past to reduce transmission, I still believe a 

more balanced approach is best, reserving 

such draconian strategies as a last resort. As 

I’ve shown in prior articles, there is not just 

an economic consequence, but also a real 

health cost to a resumption of such draconian 

methods. Moreover, there is the additional 

concern that even if resumed such 

extreme methods may not be adhered to by 

a population suffering from the current high 

level of Covid fatigue. 

Instead, a more “balanced” approach 

that relies on risk-stratifying the population 

may be more practical; such an approach 

reserves the more aggressive and socially 

disruptive interventions, such as lockdowns 

and stay-at-home orders, only for 

those older and sicker individuals because 

of their higher risk. The majority of the population 

at lower risk would rely on proven 

lifestyle-based mitigation strategies to keep 

the rate of infection lower. Of course, those 

lifestyle-based strategies work only if universally 

implemented – or nearly so. 

I would suggest the mandating of universal 

masking in public – even if enforced 

with significant economic penalties – is 

a more socially acceptable solution than 

lockdowns, school closings, and shutting 

down the economy. Such a mandate, however, 

needs to be communicated clearly and 

consistently. The fact that many of our politicians 

still do not mask in front of the public 

sends a mixed message that undermines the 

importance of universal masking, which is 

one of the simplest, “relatively” easy, and yet 

most effective mitigation strategy available. 

If the population is getting fatigued 

with “doing it all” let’s choose the easiest 

to enforce and single most powerful mitigation 

strategy – masking – and mandate 

it. Perhaps lawyers in the federal government 

can find a way to legally force states 

to achieve 95-97% masking or lose some 

future federal funding (as part of a Covid 

relief bill) for every percentage point the 

state average falls below 95%. It would then 

be up to the states to impose escalating economic 

penalties on individuals to achieve 

masking rates of 95-97%. A masking mandate 

is strong medicine and not everyone 

will like it. However, again, it is better than 

lockdowns, school closings, shutting down 

businesses and the economy, and precipitating 

economic recession or depression. 

It is equally important to emphasize to 

the population that the most recent vaccine 

efficacy and safely results provide light at 

the end of the Covid tunnel. The antidote to 

Covid fatigue is hope that in six months, we 

will have achieved a degree of herd immunity 

from the vaccine and natural infection, 

that will prevent further transmission of the 

virus – and allow a return to a more normal 

life. That hope should help us to “hang in 

there” and combat the fatigue. 

The logistical challenge of first effectively 

distributing and then immunizing many 

millions of people remains. So is the challenge 

of convincing people to take the available 

vaccine. A masking mandate will need 

to be maintained probably till the third or 

fourth quarter of 2021, but is more acceptable 

than thousands of more deaths and 

overwhelming our hospitals and healthcare 

system. We may also observe, as the 

populations of many Asian countries have 

learned, that masking in public works to 

decrease multiple upper respiratory infections 

including influenza. As the benefit 

of masking in public becomes clearer to 

Americans, we may also become more 

accepting of its practical value and see it as 

a voluntary beneficial tool rather than an 

imposed restriction of our freedom. 

In conclusion, despite a recent rise 

in Covid-19 infections, hospitalizations 

and deaths, there is reason to be hopeful. 

Extremely promising Covid vaccine efficacy 

data and acceptable safety data suggest an 

end to the pandemic in 2021 is achievable. 

There is, thus, light at the end of the Covid- 

19 tunnel. In the meantime, our population 

needs to do a better job at slowing transmission 

of the virus using proven lifestyle-based 

mitigation strategies. A universal masking 

mandate would help in this regard, as it is 

the single most effective – as well as enforceable 

– mitigation strategy. Additionally, a 

consistent, clear message needs to be sent 

by our political leaders and they need to 

be seen to lead by example of their own 

masking in public, and their lining up first 

to receive the vaccine in a public display 

meant to reassure their constituents. 

Paul E. Lemanski, MD, MS, FACP is 

a board-certified internist practicing 

internal medicine and lifestyle medicine 

in Albany (centerforpreventivemedicine. 

com). Paul has a master’s degree in 

human nutrition, he’s an assistant clinical 

professor of medicine at Albany Medical 

College, and a fellow of the American 

College of Physicians. 

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Adirondack Sports December 2020

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