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Foot – Loose!

Newsletter of the Susquehanna Chapter of the Adirondack

Mountain Club (ADK), published quarterly – January, April,

July, and October

Volume 28, Number 3 July 2016

Message from the Chair – Linda Seifried

DEC may authorize the public use of ATVs on forest preserve lands by the general public. Who remembers back around 20 years ago, when our Chapter and ADK itself were doing battle to

keep ATV use out of our local State Forests? It was a tense struggle; the DEC hearings were attended by impassioned hikers in great numbers, but also by persons in business suits representing the ATV industry. Great efforts were poured into the fight, and in the end, hikers and birders prevailed, and today our forests are generally free of the noise and destruction [not to mention illegal use] that ATV's bring.

Unfortunately, I was recently alerted by an article from the Onandaga Chapter newsletter that this whole issue has re­emerged, this time in the form of legislation to create a state­wide system of trails for ATVs. To quote Mary Coffin:

“If the proposed bill had passed, the following would have been supported: ATV use on public roads, with speeds up to 55 mph, and riders as young as 12 years of age; ATV use in State Forest

and Wildlife Management Areas; increased allowed ATV weight to 1500 lbs [up from 1000 lbs]; and DEC mandated to regulate their use. This would have placed DEC in a very awkward position, since they have completed studies indicating ATV use is not compatible with their mission of protecting the

environment and managing forests.”

Language proposing this state­wide trail system for ATVs was inserted into the NYS budget bill. The initiative was defeated there, thanks in part to efforts by ADK and other groups; but is

now being presented as a bill in the NYS Senate [S06791]. I have obtained a copy of the bill, which is

complicated to decipher [that's why we have people like Neil Woodworth and his staff on the job]. Not all highways would be opened, to be sure; but when needed as “connector trails”, certain sections could be used. State, Municipal, and private lands, inside and outside the Adirondack and

Catskill Parks, could all be used for this new trail system [which would be funded by fees on ATV owners]. The bill has huge support among ATV owners and by the manufacturers, and so our State legislators are being heavily lobbied.

Information on this matter is at under 'Advocacy: Action Alerts'. Anyone can sign up to receive alerts on this matter. Thanks to Mary Coffin and the ADK Advocacy team for alerting us to this issue; I'm sure the time will come when we should start contacting our legislators

with our feelings on the subject!

Director’s Report – Al Martel

I attended the Board of Director's meeting at Lake George, representing our chapter on April 2, 2016. Following are some highlights.  I have the full packet of handouts if anyone wishes more details.

Financial:

 - 2015 was "our most successful financial year since 2010". (John Gilewicz)

 -Program revenues are up by 9% to 1.7m.

 -Net assets up $108,500 to $2.2m.

 -Total revenue (all sources) up 1.1% to $4.3m.

 -Financial statement is on the website.

Chapter Questionaire

 -We were given a two page questionaire dealing with Chapter issues. It is requested that we complete and return this asap.

Fall Outing

 -Headquarters is desparately seeking a Chapter (or two adjacent Chapters) to host the Fall Outing and combined President's dinner. If no Chapter volunteers, it will be the first time in memory that this function wasn't held. It involves finding a facility to house 70-80 overnight guests, a meeting space for about 135 participants, outings and leaders for same for Friday andSaturday, a dinner and a person to oversee the registrations and initial get-together. The person that did the last event,Lalita Malik, volunteered to assist and advise the Chapter undertaking this event. We were encouraged to "use your cell phones to contact your Chapter President to get their okay now!"

Grow ADK

 _ADK has gained 6000 plus members since the inception of this program, roughly a quarter of which are 25 years old or younger. (What are they trying to tell us?!)

Advocacy

 -'BE WILD': the last big parcel (80,000 Acres) of the Adirondacks are still pending. This is the Boreas Tract parcel that Neil Woodworth spoke to us about.) ADK is lobbying for Wilderness classification to preclude motorized usage.

 -the Thayer case, dealing with the definition and use of 'Navigable Waterways' is due to be ruled on in 6-8 weeks.

Winter Outing at Heart Lake

 - well attended with all usual activities except ice skating and curling due to thin ice concerns. An international group of students, many of whom had no camping experience, spent the night in the ADK yurt.

Development

 -Catherine Forbes is trying to visit all Chapters, either at an Executive Meeting or monthly function for a BRIEF review of her function and to develop Major Giving and Legacy Society potential donors. She has been succesful in boosting revenues for ADK in the short time she has been hired.

Investments

 - have recovered slightly after the Jan./Feb. downward trend.

Please clip and post

SUSQUEHANNA CHAPTER Summer 2016 OUTING SCHEDULE

ALWAYS CALL LEADERS FOR DETAILS

Area codes are 607 unless otherwise noted

Riders should contribute a fair share toward gas. Each trip’s leader must have all participants sign the liability release form, which may be downloaded from our website: . 

Email: HYPERLINK "mailto:smithj3@hartwick.edu"smithj3@hartwick.edu to sign up for a hike. Do not hit return.

Trip leaders must have all participants sign a liability release form, which may be downloaded from our website: HYPERLINK "". It is the hiker’s responsibility to check with the leader to see if a hike is cancelled.

Phone numbers are in area code 607 unless shown otherwise

If you have any questions regarding a hike, including CANCELLATION:

1)  CONTACT THE TRIP LEADER

2)  Check the website

3)  Check email messages.

Dates Leaders Phones Destinations

| |

|July 5 Linda Pearce 432-8969 Betty &Wilbur Davis State Park |

| |

|12 Roberta Austin & Kathy Carey 435-1319 Delancy Trails |

| |

|19 Rod &Sally Hebbard 829-5811 Franklin Mountain |

| |

|26 Jack & Jann Ewen 432-1269 Sharon Springs |

| |

|August 2 Julie Smith 432-8642 South Columbia Rail Trail |

| |

|9 Ruth Schaeffer 988-7036 Vroman’s Nose & Long Path, Middleburgh |

| |

|16 Norma Lee Havens 432-3154 Gilbert Lake State Park |

| |

|23 Jim Austin 437-5734 Homer Folks State Forest |

| |

|30 Julie Smith 432-8642 Joe Cornell Rd. Trail |

| |

|September 6 Maureen Willis 286-9821 Crumhorn Mt. |

| |

|13 Pam Lea 315-274-2664 Schuyler Lake |

| |

|20 Bev Hensle 286-9126 Clark’s Tower, Cooperstown |

| |

|27 Ruth Schaeffer 988-7036 Gifford Hill, Oneonta |

Phone numbers are in area code 607 unless shown otherwise

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Programs Ahead - 3rd Wednesdays

June 15  Gilbert Lake State Park Annual Picnic at the first pavilion.    Bring a dish to pass. You may come to the park anytime but we

will begin to eat at 6 PM. If you are over 62, even if you are in a car of youngsters, and you are not the driver,-  your driver's

license is your free passport into the park.  (Weekdays only) Otherwise $7 per car.  (The park may not be charging anyone

during this one.

July 20    Picnic at Wiggens' Crumhorn Lake Camp   Arrive anytime after 3.  Swimming and boating available.  Bring a dish to pass,

drinks, and table service.  We will eat at 6 PM. For more information call Lucille 432-1022 or email lucillew@stny.

August 17  Noon Time Picnic at Joe and Jean Serok's Riverfront Park in Otego.  Bring a dish to pass, (in a cooler if necessary), table

service, lawn chairs. You could canoe or kayak in the river, hike on a 1/2 mile loop and check wildflowers. For more

information or directions call Jean or Joe at 988-7007, or email jjwilser3@.

September 21   Jack Ewen  will present  "Our Trip to China" Our trip to China was the most thought provoking trip ever.  The wars in

Asia had planted many negative images in our minds. Our visit redefined our perceptions of this old civilization.  We saw

illustrations of early inventions, creativity,  adaptions to modern times---but also examples of immoral practices. Our China trip

was truly "A Visit to another World on our Planet"

October 19   John Skinner will present  "A  Fall Harvest".  John, a farmer in Richfield Springs, will talk about some of the crops he

grows, especially his fall produce- apples and squashes.  He will bring some samples of his fall harvest of  different varieties of

apples.

November 16   Kathy Mario will present  "Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro" In September, 2015, Delhi ADK member, Kathy Mario,

climbed Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa. Kathy will show us day by day pictures of the all-women climb and will tell us about the

supports they utilized. Their 7 day climb was followed by a safari in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Caldera Conservation Area

where they viewed the “big 5” and a multitude of birds and animals at close range.  They camped in tents, listening to the roaring of

pawing of big game each night!

December 21    Member's Choice   Bring in some pictures of a favorite trip or place you have been. We have a projector for your flash

drive or CD.

January 18  Annual Meeting    Committee Chairs and/or members will briefly speak about the activities our Susquehanna Chapter

           has accomplished during the  preceding year.    A short program will be presented.

Memorial Day, May 30 General Clinton Canoe Regatta

Jean and Joe Seroka hosted a Memorial Day picnic at their Riverfront Park in Otego on Monday May 30. Potluck dinner began around 2 p.m. with observers providing dishes, beverages,

tableware and lawn chairs. Many thanks to Jean and Joe who fired up the grill and served hots and burgers. A good time was had by all.

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New & rejoing members

Barbara Baumann

Leonard F. Boshammer

Sarah Caron

Betsy Cunningham

David Hassik

Ronald and Dorothy Luettger

Larry Roseboom

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Annual Meeting report, january 21, 2016

 Secretary read last year’s minutes. They were approved and seconded. All in favor.

PUBLICITY  (Moira) Jobs are 1. Keeper of A-V equipment. 2.  Preparation of press releases for weekly hikes.

3. Make posters monthly for upcoming hikes. 4 Send emails to 145 families of the weekly hikes and ADK business. Currie Marr maintains the chapter website and Jan Ewen distributes posters.

CONSERVATION (Erika) Noted the article in the Daily Star which stated that trees must be cut for the pipeline by March. Al said the DEC is trying to reverse this decision. 

NEWSLETTER Volunteers needed to assist in the development and publication of the newsletter.  There is a lack of people coming forward to share in the fun. 

HOSPITALITY (Jean & Joe). Next month, February, is soup and/or chili. March is the corned beef dinner.

OLD BUSINESS (Linda S.). Chapter received a letter from Neil Woodworth thanking us for our donation.

On Jan 30, Subaru Winterfest Winter festival will be held at Gilbert Lake State Park from 11-3.  ADK members can lead hikes, assist  people who are new to using snowshoes on the trails,answer questions, etc.  Good time to share what we do.

Advocates are promoting an Adirondack High Peaks Wilderness Expansion with 35,000 new motor-free acres.

 Meeting adjourned at 7:40 pm.

                                                                                                Barb Means, Secretary

FINANCIAL REPORT, YEAR OF 2015

 

ACCOUNT BALANCES  12/31/2014_____

Savings       …....................................      2406.04

Checking     …...................................      1185.42

Chapter Deposit Note (est)     ….......        2181.07

                                                             TOTAL     5,772.63

REVENUE for 2015__________

Dues Share    ….............................          1973.75

Interest      …..................................             27.09

Other  ….........................................             10.00

                             TOTAL INCOME    2,010.84

 EXPENSES for_2015___

Newsletter Printing     ….....................     106.30

Newsletter Postage     …......................    193.45

Hospitality    …....................................    213.48

Director Expenses   ….........................    350.00

Exec. Comm. Expenses  …..................      10.93

Donations    ….....................................    850.00

Rent   …...............................................   385.00

Programs  …........................................       0.00

Other  - Web Licence Fee…................      52.47

                      TOTAL EXPENSES      2,161.63

                              NET GAIN (LOSS)

 

ACCOUNT BALANCES as of  12/31/15

Savings  ….........................................   2407.24

Checking   ….....................................     911.63

Chapter Deposit Note (est)  …..........     2245.00

                                         TOTAL     5,563.87

A Few Guidelines/Reminders for Susquehanna Chapter Trip Leaders

1) No more than six days prior to the outing, send information to both Moira Beach at adksusq@ who will forward it to those on the e-mail list, and to Currie Marr at

cmarr@stny. who will put the info on the website calendar. Information should include location, approximate distance and difficulty, meeting time and/or carpooling info, as well as your name and phone number.

2) If a trip has to be cancelled, notify Moira and Currie by e-mail as soon as possible. Also, you can call Currie (432-5434), Julie (432-8642) or Linda (432-8969).

3) When the Liability Release Form has been signed by all participants, turn it in to Julie Smith or Linda Pearce. The Form

can be downloaded from the Website .

4) If you should be asked about bringing a dog on the outing, our chapter’s policy is not to allow dogs. An exception would be if a leader in on their own property, and chooses to have their

own dog along, and the dog does not pose a problem for the hikers in any way.

5) Following the outing, you may send a trip report to Currie (cmarr@stny.) who will post it on the website and it will later appear in Footloose.

If you have any further questions, contact Julie Smith, 607 432-8642, smithj3@hartwick.edu or Linda

Pearce, 607 432-8969, lpearce42@ .

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WHITE Pine recollections

As a Forestry student in Paul Smith's College, I was housed at the White Pine Camp.  We were given an interesting talk mentioning this facility by Aleda in February.  I spent a year there (1969 - 1970) and stayed at both buildings. My favorite was the 'Owners' building. I had one of the two rooms on the second floor. I have attached my dorm picture again, in the event that you did not see the other that I'd sent earlier. I'm the fellow in the middle row (standing) on the right end.

As you can see, we were not the most formal of individuals. 'Piners' were thought of roughly as the Hell's Angels of Smitty's.

Perhaps this was partly due to discouraging rival 'Hotelies' from dropping in uninvited by 'introducing' them to Osgood Pond. We were young and foolish. I have some pictures (somewhere) of our reconstructing the footbridge to the point where the Bowling Alley was.  It involved a team of work horses run by me (and therefore the pictures). So we did do some worthwhile improvements that hopefully offset the work boots on the parkay floors, etc.

A favorite pastime was bowling at the aforementioned building. Keep in mind that the White Pine Camp was the original summer home to President Calvin Coolidge.  There was no electricity to the building, so we took turns as 'pin setter'. Extra points were given if the pin setter was hit by

flying bowling pins, or even the ball, if you could catch him unawares. You will be stunned to learn that alcohol was usually involved.

Some of my best memories are the summer nights on the porch of Owner's Dorm. They were screened in to deal with the Adirondack mosquitoes, etc. There were Murphy beds that lowered out of the outside wall and overlooked Osgood Pond. The red pines along the pond would be sighing gently in the evening breezes.  I never had trouble sleeping!

My last view of the White Pine Camp was from a DEC helicopter. I was picked to participate in the north country eagle survey.

I asked if it was due to my experience in Catskills surveys? "Nope". Was it due to my trained eyesight that I was afforded this priviledge? "No". Well, what, then? "You can fly five hours in the Huey without puking!" Anyway, I have a great picture of an adult eagle in a nest on the outlet, bitching us out as we flew by.  We were at a distance great enough not to spook her off the nest, but close enough to almost fill the frame with the telephoto lens. Try looking through a camera lens at 120 knots while pointing perpendicular to the line of flight. THAT can cause you to 'decorate the aircraft' if you have a queasy stomach!

Al Martel

A BETTER WAY TO RECEIVE “FOOT-LOOSE”

If you’re reading a printed, black & white, version of Foot-Loose and have e-mail service, please contact the editor and request to be added to the e-mail recipient list. You’ll get “Foot-Loose” more quickly, see pictures in color, save the club postage, and save trees.

FROM OUR ADK WEBSITE

Boreas Ponds Tract was recently purchased by the State of New York and instantly added almost 21,000 acres to the Adirondack Park. The character and quality of this special parcel, located in Newcomb and North Hudson New York, make it uniquely suited to be the newest addition to the High Peaks Wilderness. A 2016 study by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) illustrates the ecological importance of the Boreas Ponds Tract and the need to protect the parcel as wilderness. A Wilderness Classification is the only designation that will ensure the Boreas Ponds area will remain protected from motorized use which destroys the aesthetic quality of backcountry experiences, impacts wildlife and habitat, and spreads invasive species. This last remaining Finch Pruyn parcel offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to expand the High Peaks Wilderness Area. Off limits to the public for 150 years, the Boreas Ponds Tract will be available to you, the hikers, anglers, and paddlers, Adirondack lovers from near and far. The Boreas Ponds Tract and other recent acquisitions connect the High Peaks Wilderness to the Dix Mountain Wilderness. With a Wilderness designation these parcels would combine to form a nearly 300,000 acre Wilderness area. A Wilderness area of this acreage rivals the size of the Rocky Mountain, Mount Rainier, and Zion National Parks!With the ever present threat of climate change, the best way to protect our public lands is to keep them pristine by only allowing footprints, not tire tracks and motorboats. ADK is proud to be a partner in the BeWildNY campaign to protect this incredible piece of land and expand the High Peaks Wilderness. We are working together to counter the lobbying efforts that are pushing to classify the entire Boreas Pond Tract as Wild Forest, open to motor vehicles, snowmobiles, motorboats, and floatplanes. Now is our best opportunity to protect these lands from motorized use, which would destroy the pristine nature of this wilderness. A Wilderness Area classification provides an additional layer of protection from noise, pollution, traffic, and the introduction of invasive species. By design, Wilderness Areas are motor-free.

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Foot-Loose!

Newsletter of the Susquehanna Chapter ADK



c/o Lucille Wiggin

80 Chestnut Street

Oneonta, NY 13820

Susquehanna Chapter Officers and Committee Chairs

Chair: Linda Seifried

265-3780 sseifried@

Vice-Chairs: Aleda Koehn 267-4586

akoehn40@

Secretary: Barbara Means 432-4903

meansbar@stny.

Treasurer: Stef Seifried 265-3780

sseifried@

Director, ADK: Al Martel 588-6945

almartel@

Conservation: Erika Heinegg

432-0405 eheinegg21@

Hospitality: Jean & Joe Seroka

988-7007  jjwilser3@

Membership:Lucille Wiggin 432-1022

lucillew@stny.

Newsletter editor: Fred Johnson

783-2567 jfred212@

Outings: Julie Smith 432-8642

smithj3@hartwick.edu &

Linda Pearce 432-8969

lpearce42@

Publicity: Moira Beach 433-2832

adksusq@

Trails: Al Martel 588-6945

almartel@

Website: Currie Marr 432-5434

cmarr@stny.

Chapter meetings are held the third Wednesday of the month, September through May, at the Elm Park Methodist Church, 401 Chestnut Street, Oneonta (except where noted). Members and the public are invited to our early evening potluck supper at 6 p.m. (please bring a dish to

pass, your own table service and mug or cup); programs begin at 7 p.m., followed by a short business meeting.

Adirondack Mountain Club annual membership dues are $50 for individuals and $60 for families (other membership levels are available, including seniors and students). Benefits of membership include:

•discounts on ADK merchandise

• discounts on ADK workshops and programs

• invitations to member only outings and extended trips

• reduced rates at ADK facilities: lodges, lean-tos, cabins, and

20% discount on ADK trail guides, canoe guides, maps

campgrounds

• books and calendars

• membership in one of ADK's 27 chapters throughout the Northeast

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