Ready for Racing Season

By Laura Clark

I can’t believe this is happening again. Here we are stuck in an endless Groundhog Day Covid-19 loop. Still, with vaccinations in place, races are determined to bounce back. The Dion WMAC snowshoe races (plus, other non-series events) are scheduled almost every weekend, including some doubleheaders for an ultra-experience: dionwmacsnowshoe.com. While New York still predominates, there are several events in Vermont and Massachusetts. Check these websites and individual sites before the race to determine snow conditions and any safety protocols. If you need loaner snowshoes, email the race director early. READ MORE

Take the Not-So-Scary Plunge

By Alex Kochon

The holidays have come and gone, and you’re left with this raw feeling of starting anew in 2022 – maybe even those brand-new skis that were left under your tree are beckoning to you.

At the same time, you’re intimidated. You really want to learn to ski, but where do you start and how are you going to experience the least amount of pain or embarrassment? First off, as a lifelong skier, I can tell you that skiing is all about having fun. That’s what hooks us, gets us through the winters, and makes us addicted to snow. READ MORE

A Winter Adventure at “Big” Trout Pond

By Bill Ingersoll

I have been writing about Adirondack trails for 20 years. If you are familiar with my prior articles, you may have noticed that I tend to eschew places that are already well known in favor of the places that don’t get as much love. The Adirondack Park is huge, and rather than telling people about the places they can already see a dozen times a day on Instagram, I’d rather encourage them to take a chance on the less beaten trails. READ MORE

Covid-19 and the ‘New Normal’

By Paul E. Lemanski, MD, MS, FACP

In my first ten articles on Covid-19, lifestyle based risk mitigation strategies – including masking, social distancing, hand washing, targeted quarantine, and, when necessary, lock downs – were recommended to keep the population well until a safe and effective vaccine was developed and “in the arms” of 85% of Americans; in this way, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination would help achieve so called “herd immunity” (see Non-Medicated Life, February 2021 ) and stop the transmission of the virus to those who were not vaccinated. Unfortunately, despite our having a safe and effective vaccine and having boosters that dramatically lower risk of severe disease, many individuals for a variety of reasons have refused vaccination (see Non-Medicated Life, September 2021) and herd immunity has not yet been achieved. READ MORE

Tate Frantz

By Alex Kochon

Growing up as the middle child of three boys, Lake Placid native Tate Frantz was simply along for the ride. His parents, avid outdoor enthusiasts and athletes Mimi Wacholder, a former U.S. national team figure skater, and Ben Frantz, raised them with what Mimi called an “Adirondack lifestyle” as they could be usually found in the woods, on skis and hiking mountains. READ MORE