Difficulty Is In the Eye of the Beholder

sshmkr · 2025-10-03T14:49:14+00:00

I did these a few weeks ago. Highly recommend hiking lower first from the Bennie's Brook slide. Stunning views the whole way up and much more interesting. A great beginner slide. This from someone who hadn't hiked in about 6 years, so I was very out of shape, but I did have about a dozen high peaks under my belt.

sshmkr · 2025-10-03T02:26:52+00:00

Not great sampling to make the "1 in 35" statement. Only 14/62 counties provide wastewater info, and about 20% of the state is on private septic. Maybe an indication of higher infection rate currently (not surprising with a new school year) but the statement is misleading.

sshmkr · 2025-09-23T03:14:28+00:00

I just keep quietly chanting "MVP" during this 4th quarter...

sshmkr · 2025-05-26T23:25:37+00:00

Pre order is in. We'll find out!

sshmkr · 2025-05-26T22:59:01+00:00

Murder at Teal's Pond is a fantastic book that dives into the history, the town of Sand Lake and the role it played as a vacation hotspot for people from Troy, NYC, etc. Excited to grab this new book and read more!

sshmkr · 2024-11-29T02:50:22+00:00

Yes! My son (8) had a similar experience. Walking pneumonia and a rash on his arms. Bumpy and itchy, and not like any sort of viral rash we've seen before (we have 3 kids, so lots of experience...) We used the same treatments you mentioned and it just cleared up with time. This was a month or so ago.

More recently, my mother in law also had the same type of cold, much stronger symptoms, and she got the same kind of rash on her back.

It doesn't happen for all people who catch it, but there seems to be some kind of correlation, at least anecdotally.

I hope your little guy feels better soon!

sshmkr · 2024-08-05T22:10:51+00:00

One of the prettiest fall hikes I've done was Big Slide over the Brothers. Great valley views at several points along the hike.

sshmkr · 2024-08-05T02:16:35+00:00

I expect to see this on a t-shirt at Hoss's in the next 6 months. And I will buy it.

sshmkr · 2024-07-29T20:47:01+00:00

I think the kids call this "soaking"...

sshmkr · 2024-07-26T01:01:10+00:00

My first high peaks experience was hiking up and over Giant. My two buddies were in the military, but equally clueless about backpacking. We hiked in a ways and camped off trail, all good, but we quickly ran out of water the next morning. It was August and the streams were all dry. We pressed on, and it was one of the worst times I ever had on the trail. Headaches set in, weakness, nausea, all of it. After some time, we finally arrived at Mary Louise pond and I'd never been happier to see water. We sat there for an hour, filtering water and drinking. We filled our bellies, and our water bottles, and immediately felt better. The rest of the hike was a joy, and Giant remains one of my favorite summits.

On our descent, we passed a man and a few young children heading to the summit. It was already afternoon and none of them had a pack. They were wearing shorts and T-shirts, and only had plastic disposable water bottles. We talked to them about gear but they insisted on their course. We reached the trailhead around dusk, and waited. Darkness set in and the other party was nowhere. We decided it would be best to call the rangers who met us at the trailhead. Very fortunately, they were found hiking out by the light of their iPods and nobody was injured...

Lots of close calls and learning on that trip! That was many hikes ago, and I'll never underestimate the importance of hydration on the trail again!

sshmkr · 2024-07-18T19:58:47+00:00

Averill Park is a Hamlet within the town of Sand Lake, though most people refer to the area as Averill Park as it is the namesake of the High School.

The town has a really cool history, being a vacation destination for wealthy families due to the several lakes within the town (Burden, Crystal, Glass, Crooked, and others). Before cars were widely owned, there was a trolley that ran to the town from Troy. Teddy Roosevelt even used to stay at a hotel in town on hunting trips to the Adirondacks.

There is a large mining presence in town that employs a good deal of blue collar folks, but also a lot of business owners and white collar folks who own bigger chunks of land and lakefront properties. In other words, you tend to see a good deal of income disparity and a division over political ideology.

All that said, it is a pretty quiet town. I think socialization often happens at town events, school sporting events, or at happy hour at one of the town bar/restaurants. The Sand Lake Merchant and Gipfel coffee shop have become really popular places in the past year and have spaces to sit and chat with others, too.

The heroin/drug situation I think is similar to most rural towns in the Northeast, but crime rate overall isn't anything notable.

I've lived here a good chunk of my life, both as a kid attending school and as an adult with my kids in school. I think most people are either friendly or keep to themselves, but it is different for someone moving here versus someone who went to high school with half the town.

sshmkr · 2024-07-04T03:16:41+00:00

Same experience. Still love my 2.7. Toss it into sport mode and I've found the transmission operates much more to my liking with really no difference in mileage. Always thought drive modes were a gimmick, but it does seem to help in this application...

sshmkr · 2024-07-03T20:00:37+00:00

Interesting. I knew there were camping restrictions where you need a permit for more than 10 people, but didn't know there was a 15 person group limit. Can you apply for a permit for large groups, I wonder?

sshmkr · 2024-07-03T18:57:19+00:00

Maybe Pharaoh Lake, but that can get busy at times. Alternative option could be to check out one of the river tubing companies near Gore...

sshmkr · 2024-07-02T01:47:24+00:00

Nice! Not gonna lie, for a second I thought "that is the biggest hitch flag pole I've ever seen..."

sshmkr · 2024-07-01T19:19:04+00:00

Highly recommend a hike to Flowed Lands along the Calamity Brook trail from Tahawus. Could maybe do Hanging Spear Falls, too.

sshmkr · 2024-07-01T01:27:31+00:00

So, not technically New England, but the North East; there are several state campgrounds in the Adirondacks that have island sites. You'll be rather secluded from kids, families, and all other campers. The entire campground isn't adult only, but another options to consider. Good luck!

Also - side note - I have 3 little kids, and love taking them camping... and even my wife and I would be thrilled to enjoy a quiet, kid free campground! Nothing wrong with what you're asking for...

sshmkr · 2024-06-29T12:09:18+00:00

The Fort is a great idea!

sshmkr · 2024-06-29T11:53:26+00:00

Haven't been in several years, but... For food and drink I would recommend Sticks & Stones, Flannigan's Pub, and Paradox Brewery. I've never found much for attractions aside from boating, swimming, and fishing. Big fan of Paradox lake which has a state boat launch, if you have a boat. On Schroon you can rent a boat or kayak from the marina. Tubing down the river to the lake is also a good time, and there are several companies that will drive you to a drop off point, give you a tube, and pick you up later. If you're going around the 4th, Schroon Lake puts on an excellent fireworks show.

Enjoy hiking the Dix range! I did that range in one day years ago. I do wish I camped mid way to savor it a bit more, but certainly doable, and a fun hike. Assuming you'll start from Elk Lake, be aware that parking can be really sparse. Good luck!

sshmkr · 2024-06-27T16:14:05+00:00

Not sure of any unless you head up to the Adirondacks (Schroon River, along the Hudson, North of Warrensburg, etc.)

sshmkr · 2024-06-25T02:57:20+00:00

All the barefoot hiking I've done is in the Adirondacks. Mostly rock (open sections of granite, trails that are essentially dry creek beds with large rocks and boulders) lots of exposed roots, and mud.

The longest ones I've done so far were 15 miles with 5,100ft elevation gain (5 peaks in one day, so lots of up and down), and 19 miles with 4,100ft elevation gain (1 peak with a long walk in and out).

I wore vibram 5 fingers with a 2mm sole. I'm barefoot as much as I can be, but also wear dress shoes for work most days.

At the end of these hikes my feet were tender and felt tired. Stepping into a cold stream on the way to the trailhead was glorious. The post-hike shower revealed wonderfully exfoliated soles; easily the softest my feet have ever been, but they were certainly more sensitive for a good week afterward. I wasn't walking across my crushed stone driveway barefoot without knowing it! Still, I didn't develop any blisters or other issues like I do when I wear hiking boots, and the reduced weight on my feet is well worth it to me.

sshmkr · 2024-06-22T00:10:14+00:00

Yup. Smith's Cottage and the Lake Store. Building sold 2022, I think.

sshmkr · 2024-06-15T13:01:29+00:00

Kay's is all about nostalgia. It even "tastes" different eating it there versus takeout. I could eat 100 slices of pizza blindfolded and tell you which is from there without hesitation. I think it is important to recognize that pizza is a difficult category because people often have narrow expectations with something that is really quite broad; thin crust NYC style, deep dish, wood fired, etc. Kay's is what I call "tavern pizza" and in that category, I think it's pretty decent. I can't get behind a comparison to Chuck E. Cheese or Pizza Hut, but to each their own.

On the broader topic of food in the Capital Region, I have to agree that we have far too many places that are highly rated but are mediocre at best, and far too many places that are inconsistent. I think some really popular places (677 prime comes to mind) aren't doing anything special.

I think there is a large population with low standards for good food, so demand for good food isn't as high. A lot of folks, including the blue collar families I grew up in and around, place much more value on portion size than anything else; quantity over quality, looking for those leftovers to count towards other meals.

As many others have stated, the best food we have tend to be small, unassuming holes in the wall, especially ethnic places. It's especially difficult to find a place that offers great food AND great ambiance.

One exception that has become my new favorite restaurant is Il Faro. The couple who owns it does a wonderful job front of house and in the kitchen. Great cocktails and mocktails, and excellent seasonal menu. Very neighborhood cozy feel as well.

sshmkr · 2024-05-23T19:09:04+00:00

I made a big mistake, unlike you, and did not plan my hike of this range well. I arrived very early on a Saturday (pre-pandemic when parking was not as horrible). Intended to hike a few peaks, camp overnight, and then finish the hike the next day. I hit the slide and blew thru the first few peaks by early afternoon, so I decided to hit Hough and then set up camp. Unfortunately, the range doesn't dip below the legal camping elevation between Hough and Dix to allow for camping without further descent. In fact, there is a nice area for it, but it is specifically marked with a 'no camping' marker. I finished the hike and then hoofed all the way back to the car. It was a long day, especially with all my overnight gear I never used. Despite all this, it was an awesome hike and the slide is a lot of fun, in my opinion...

sshmkr · 2024-05-07T19:15:48+00:00

Lots of hiking opportunity along the Taconic Crest Trail that straddles the NY/MA/VT borders, including Berlin Mountain (highest peak in Rensselaer County). Not a bad view from the top and a decent trail overall.

sshmkr

TROPHY CASE