Adirondack Park Agency wrong about rail trail

The APA’s decision to get rid of railroad for hiking trail will hurt campers, hikers, fishermen and hunters.

The meanie-greenies are at it again. You know how some spoiled children or self-important weenies get upset when they lose a game and decide to change the rules?

Well, the Adirondack Park Agency is in the same mode after losing a court case last year that determined New York state and the Adirondack Park Agency were over-stepping their bounds and trying to destroy the Adirondack Railroad by making the Travel Corridor a hiking trail.

Since the court said that a Travel Corridor is not a hiking trail, the APA has announced that they will review the classification of the Rail Corridor. It does not take a genius to figure out what their plan is. By reclassifying it, they will make it possible for NYS to proceed with their half-witted scheme to tear up the railroad and create the $11 million hiking trail so locals can walk their dogs or go jogging after work.

This would destroy the current Lake Placid Railroad and end any plans of the Adirondack Scenic Railroad to run excursions through to Lake Placid. It would cut the Adirondack Scenic Railroad off at the knees and effectively end the possibility of having drop off access for campers, hikers, fishermen, and hunters to places such as the Five Ponds Wilderness and other areas that are now inaccessible.

The spin of New York state and other advocates of this “super trail” is that the Railroad can still run trains up to Tupper Lake. Are you kidding? Raise your hands if you want to go to Tupper Lake! I thought so.

All of this is based on the selfish ideas of wealthy zealots like Lee Keet who have spent money to convince some residents of the Tri Lakes area that a super trail will bring in millions of hikers from out of state to the area. There are already plenty of hiking trails on level ground that rarely ever see any hikers. People today want to hike where they get a view or can “bag one

of the 46 High Peaks” and show others on social media.

If you believe that this “Rail Trail” will bring an economic windfall to the area, you probably also believe in Bigfoot.

If you care about access for sportsmen, if you are interested in taking an excursion to Lake Placid by rail, if you want to see scenery that you will never see otherwise, you should let the Adirondack Park Agency know that you oppose any plan to change the Travel Corridor. If you care about principle, honesty in government, and the welfare of the average resident of the Adirondacks, contact the APA and tell them to oppose any plan to change the Travel Corridor. There will be a public hearing on the matter (as required by law) in late April in Old Forge.

The Adirondack Park Agency is supposed to make decisions on issues brought to them, not to be proactive and interfere on behalf of some state agency or some special interest groups. Remember that it is your Adirondacks too!

Short Casts

Outdoor Expo at Del Lago Cancelled: The Outdoor Expo sponsored by Runnings and Wight-Ox productions scheduled for Del Lago Casino at Waterloo on March 16 – 18 has been cancelled. Norm Wightman, President of Wight-Ox said that they were saddened to have to cancel on short notice but they did not feel it was in the best interests of everyone concerned to continue with the plans, due to circumstances beyond their control.

State of the Lake Meeting: The annual state of the lake meetings regarding Lake Ontario will be hosted by the DEC and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. The local meeting will be held on Thursday, March 15 from 6:30 – 9 p.m. The location will be Pulaski High School Auditorium, 4624 Salina St., Pulaski. There will be presentations by DEC, US Fish and Wildlife Service and others on various issues, including updates on trout and salmon fisheries, stocking plans, and other related topics. There will be time for questions from the audience at the end. For more information contact Steve LaPan head of Great Lake Fisheries at 315-624-2147.

Armadillo Gaiters: Winter is not over. The nasty storm last weekend left some areas of heavy snow and deep drifts. The forecast for this week calls for more snow on the way. If you are out snowshoeing, walking, hiking, backcountry skiing, or any activity you should consider Armadillo Gaiters to protect your lower legs and ankles from snow, rain, or mud. These versatile, waterproof, breathable, and durable gaiters will keep your feet warm, dry, and free from debris while you¹re in snow country. Remember that there is going to be snow in the Adirondacks, especially in the higher elevations, for some time.

The Armadillo LT Gaiters were designed to meet the demand for affordable, high performance gaiters for outdoor enthusiasts. The lightweight and breathable construction is guaranteed to keep your legs, socks, and feet dry during your outdoor adventures. The 1000 denier nylon on the bottom half provides protec- tion against scrapes and punctures from crampon spikes. The waterproof YKK zipper gives a contour fit that won¹t fall down or need to be readjusted during activity. Breathable Flexia threelayer fabric on the upper half offers four-way stretch to fit snugly around your leg and ensures protection from the elements.

I especially like the boot-lace hook that adds stability to the gaiter and ensures it will not move off the shoe. With an updated durable instep strap, you won¹t have to worry about it wearing out or falling off. The lower part is a 1000D, high density nylon, providing protection from the elements. Like all Hillsound gaiters, the Armadillo LT comes with a lifetime warranty. Check out Hillsound Equipment¹s Armadillo LT Gaiters. (www.hillsound. com/products/armadillolt-gaiter)

Wolverine Crossbuck LX Hunting Boots: Hunting in the Adirondacks or Tug Hill means covering rough country with lots of rocks, fallen timber, and slippery slopes often covered with ice. Mud, snow, and wet conditions are the rule. Since I put a lot of miles on in a typical day’s hunt I want a boot that is comfortable, waterproof, tough, and with a good grip on the soles. Wolverine has been my boot of choice for over 40 years. I own several pairs of them

My latest is the Wolverine Crossbuck LX Hunting Boot. They have full grain leather uppers that are waterproof and have moisture wicking mesh lining. They are very comfortable with removable dual density anti-fatigue footbeds. The outsole is lightweight yet sturdy enough to give comfort while traveling on rocky, uneven surfaces.

The new design of 4 mm lug depth and wide lug design provides maximum surface contact. The Vibram polar grip outsole provides superior grip to slippery wet conditions and slippery wet ice. The reinforced toe and heel give protection and durability. Light, comfortable, dependable, and great grip all characterize the Wolverine Crossbuck boots. www.wolverine.com

DEC Annual Tree & Shrub Sale: The DEC’s Saratoga Nursery will hold its Annual Tree and Shrub Seedling Sale during the next few weeks. This provides landowners low cost native plants to enhance the environment. There are 45 species of trees and shrubs available ranging from shelter trees like maples to willows for stream bank stabilization to highbush cranberries or other shrubs that provide food for wildlife.

The Saratoga Nursery sells primarily bare root stock for direct planting but has a few containerized stock varieties. Landowners can receive free planting advice from the nearest DEC Forestry office. The 2017 Tree & Shrub brochure is found on the DEC website or can be obtained by calling Saratoga Nursery (518) 587-1120.

The DEC provides free resources for schools of 50 trees or a mixed packet of 30 shrubs. Contact the nearest regional Forestry Office. Applications are due by March 31.