It is time to look back at another exciting and wonderful year.
Ski season is off to a good start, we now have enough natural snow to start cross country skiing and the temperatures have been cold, so Whiteface has been pumping out the manmade snow like crazy.
Ski season is off to a good start, we now have enough natural snow to start cross country skiing and the temperatures have been cold, so Whiteface has been pumping out the manmade snow like crazy.
Last winter was good and my son John, neighbor Rich and I went to Sugarloaf Maine in March for five days of skiing. It was a fun big mountain experience, but we hit some rain and it took the mountain some time to recover. On our way home we stopped in NH to ski historic Wildcat Mt., which is just across the valley from Mt. Washington in the White Mountains. We finished off the trip home with a stop to ski Attitash Mt. on St. Patrick’s Day.
In January I joined, colleague and friend, Leo Kelly and the CT Chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club for a long weekend winter hike to Carter Notch Hut in the Whites. It was a fun and eventful trip. To read about it see my previous blog entry.
It was the start of a good association with the AMC.
It was the start of a good association with the AMC.
 Besides skiing I have been busy hiking, paddling, camping and this year I added some interesting mountain bike rides to my list of activities. |  |
The Mayor of Saranac Lake started a program for hiking the six mountains surrounding the village. It is called the Saranac Lake 6 and around 500 people have completed it since Memorial Day. I am SL 6er number 33. In June, Leo Kelly and I guided six members of the AMC on a week long vacation experience and climbed the 6. Members of the group stayed at beautiful White Pine Camp in Paul Smiths. Leo arranged the lodging and I provided meals. We will be offering another week long vacation trip again in June 2014. Click here to see the details on the AMC Adirondack Adventure Trip.
I had 30 days of guiding, about half as Broadwing Adventures and half with St. Regis Canoe Outfitters. We had three trips scheduled with the Wild Center and enjoyed the mix of people that attended those. We have already identified three trips to do with them in 2014.
Jan and I carved out a couple of weeks together. One week we went to Maine and spent half our time on the coast in Bar Harbor and the other half hiking and paddling in Baxter State Park while staying at Katahdin Lake Wilderness Camps. We spent another week in Wanakena and stayed in a cabin on the Oswegatchie River.
 My friend Bill Ulinski and I went to the Connecticut Lakes of northern New Hampshire. A beautiful lightly used wild lands complex. We did some paddling and a unique hike on the Canadian border. |  |
To top off a year of fun and success, after 41 years, I got together with my Army buddies. We met in Niagara Falls and spent three great days playing tourist and catching up with each others lives since our time together in Korea.
On a personal note, Jan and I have three beautiful granddaughters that fill our lives with love and joy. Sweet, sweet babies.
Hadley is 16 months old and gets prettier everyday. Brian, Danielle and Hadley moved back to Saranac Lake last winter. It is nice to have them in the area.
Jesse and Renee brought twins into their lives in February. Grace and Autumn have unique and charming personalities. They are fun to play with and we all enjoy spending time together.
Hadley is 16 months old and gets prettier everyday. Brian, Danielle and Hadley moved back to Saranac Lake last winter. It is nice to have them in the area.
Jesse and Renee brought twins into their lives in February. Grace and Autumn have unique and charming personalities. They are fun to play with and we all enjoy spending time together.
We have much to be thankful for and joyous about again this year and are looking forward to a festive Christmas and a wondrous New Year. We wish all of you the very best now and in the coming year.
Have a Safe and Happy New Year
Doug
Have a Safe and Happy New Year
Doug
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