Find Your Own Trail Ride - Be Active and Avoid the Crowd

By Dave Kraus

As social distancing has become the “new normal” for a while, bicycling alone or with loved ones has become one of the few ways to get together, exercise, and get out of the house. Across the country, thousands of long-neglected bikes have been hauled down from attics, up from basements, out of garages, and returned to active duty on close-to-home urban bike trails across the country. READ MORE

Lessons I Have Learned

By Rich Macha

There are numerous ways we can learn about a subject, but for many of us, there is nothing like first-hand experience to really drive a point home. However, some of those experiences are best avoided and we can learn by listening to the voice of experience whether it be in print, video or in person. There are a few paddling-oriented things that I do not think get enough attention and I will touch on some of them here. READ MORE

Running Reinvention

By Laura Clark

Races canceled. Schools closed. Theaters shut down. Stadiums locked… Overnight we went from overload to scarcity; from no personal time at all to way too much. Accompanying that, we acquired a new vocabulary: abundance of caution, social distancing, new normal, quarantine. As runners we are fortunate that ours is not a contact sport. Or is it? Think Boston, Freihofers or any mega start/finish line, and we have to reconsider. But unlike team players who really need a lineup, we can at least get out there solo or with family for our daily fix. READ MORE

Big Bad Luck

By Bill Ingersoll

Often, the name of a backcountry landmark suggests an interesting tale. For instance, Calamity Pond in the High Peaks got its name when a gun accidentally discharged and killed a man. Good Luck Pond near Arietta was named when the same event occurred but no one was injured. Between those two ponds is Big Bad Luck Pond near Indian Lake. I’m sure there is a story here too, but so far, I haven’t come across it. READ MORE

Anna Laloë - Adventure in her DNA

By Linda Waxman Finkle

If all you knew about Anna Laloë was that she started the Saratoga Girls’ Mountain Bike Group and STEAM Talks for Kids, you’d be impressed by her creativity, initiative, and willingness to take risks. In each case, she saw a need, and harnessed her talents to meet it. The reality is that these character traits have been consistent throughout her life, and these two projects are just the latest tip of the iceberg, a fitting metaphor. READ MORE

Swift Wetland and Van Dyke Preserve - Recreation and Education Close to Home

By Tom O’Grady

We’ve completed nearly two months of quarantine in order to combat the effects of Covid-19. There have been many adjustments that families have had to make in these two months in order to earn a living, educate their children and stay active. With school closings and teachers adjusting to online learning there are likely to be hiccups along the way. With quarantine guidelines tightening to flatten the curve, families that may have wanted to hike in farther away destinations are faced with limited options. One option in these times is to multitask and get out to one of the many preserves available in the Capital Region. READ MORE