Passage of the Pharaohs – Pharaoh Lake via Crane Pond

By Bill Ingersoll

For many people familiar with the Adirondack wilderness, Pharaoh Lake hardly requires any introduction from me. This 441-acre pond lies at the heart of its namesake wilderness area, and it is the home of six lean-tos and an uncounted number of primitive campsites. The lake is approached by trails from nearly every compass direction, and some of them are quite well known. READ MORE

Middle Saranac Lake and Weller Pond

By Rich Macha

Of the three Saranac lakes – Lower, Middle, and Upper – Middle Saranac Lake offers the paddler a quieter and more relaxed experience. It also adds bonus excursions into Weller and Little Weller ponds which are quite likely to end up being the highlights of the trip. Day-trippers will find much to explore, and overnighters can savor the beauty of dawn, dusk, and darkness from a primitive campsite. READ MORE

Fall Distance Racing – Many Superb Opportunities!

By Megan James

The dog days of summer are here! With the heat and humidity, it can be hard to envision running hard, chasing PRs, and tackling long race distances in just a couple of months. But the time and energy you put in now pays off down the road. There are many great races in the region, and some may serve well as tune-ups for later races. Check out this preview of some popular road and trail races, and a few summer training tips to get you to the start and finish lines! READ MORE

Zach Rabeler

By Josh Clevenstine

Zach Rabeler grew up in Oneonta, where he developed a fondness for mountain biking and trail work. When he moved to further north in 2013 to attend SUNY Adirondack in Queensbury, Zach noticed how few purpose-built mountain bike trails existed in the area. Here he was living in the foothills of the Adirondack Park and most places to mountain bike were old logging roads and hiking trails. In 2014 this all started to change when the Town of Queensbury committed to building singletrack trails at Gurney Lane Recreation Area – this was the same year that Zach happened to start an internship at trail builder Wilderness Property Management. READ MORE

Mushrooms – Potential Health Benefits

By Paul E. Lemanski, MD, MS, FACP

In the first 127 installments of the Non-Medicated Life, a healthy diet and lifestyle have been shown to accomplish naturally for the majority of individuals most of the benefits of medications in the prevention of the chronic medical conditions mentioned above. With respect to a healthy diet this column has championed a predominantly whole foods, plant-based diet. Such a diet includes diverse fruits and vegetables including mushrooms. This article reviews the emerging evidence for the potential health benefits of mushrooms and may convince you to more frequently include them in your diet. READ MORE

Physical Activity and Dehydration – My Firsthand Experience

By Skip Holmes

Endurance athletes and active people participate in many sports and recreational activities. During the summer months and even in some winter environments it is possible to experience dehydration symptoms.

The symptoms of dehydration are numerous. They can include dizziness, fatigue, lightheadedness, extreme thirst, dry mouth, headaches and muscle cramps. Athletes and those who simply overexert themselves can find that they can experience these issues. If you or someone else experiences severe symptoms, such as extreme dizziness, confusion, fainting, rapid breathing, or no urine output, seek emergency medical attention immediately. This is a dangerous health concern. READ MORE