Finally, after a two-year absence due to a nagging knee injury, I once again participated in the Audubon Society’s Birdathon this past weekend. For the third time, I ventured into the wild and trailless heart of the Pepperbox Wilderness in the northwestern Adirondacks. Unfortunately, I was not alone, as a nasty and tenacious head cold
Frostbite Overnight 2013: Hoxie Gorge and some chickens
Change is in the air this spring. At least as far as the Frostbite Overnight is concerned.
The Frostbite Overnight (FBON) is an annual backpacking trip taken the three days before Easter. Typically, the trip’s destination is somewhere in the Catskill State Park, in southeastern New York State. This tradition dates back to 1986, when my friend Dave and several co-workers journeyed down to the Catskills for a night of partying in a motel room, followed up by a single night of camping. As the years passed by, there has been a great turnover in the roster of participants, while the emphasis switched from partying to backpacking. In recent years, the arduousness of the Friday hike has lessened, perhaps marking the increasing average age of the participators.
FBON 2012: Leaving Pelnor Hollow and Revisiting Trout Pond
The final day of FBON 2012 starts early at Pelnor Hollow lean-to in the Cherry Ridge/Campbell Mountain Wild Forest of the Catskill State Park, but thankfully it is a much warmer one than the day before. Unfortunately, the night was no more restful than the first night here, as the Breathe Right strips, generously provided
FBON 2012: Hiking to Split Rock Lookout
The second and only full day of the Frostbite Overnight (FBON) is where the bulk of the adventuring occurs. Typically, in the past, we rise early and summit a mountain, or at least make a worthy attempt, but anything that takes some physical effort is game, just to get our blood circulating. Last year, we
FBON 2012: Exploring Pelnor Hollow
As the snow melts and the cold temperatures recede, the early plants begin to emerge from the once frozen ground and the Easter bunny begins collecting his eggs, these signs can mean only one thing, the Frostbite Overnight (FBON) is fast approaching, of course! In 2012, this annual backpacking event is in its 27th year,
Frostbite Overnight 2012 Teaser
On April 5-7, 2012, I participated in the 27th annual Frostbite Overnight (FBON). This year, in addition to Dave and me, Tom, a past co-worker, joined in on the festivities for the first time in several years. If memory serves me correctly, this particular combination of participants had never been in attendance during a Frostbite
Isle Royale Bird Report
The fifteen-day long hike from one end of Isle Royale to the other yielded a total of sixty-eight different avian species, none of which were new additions to my life list. That is, if I kept a life list. The number of species would have been greater if I did not allow my fall warbler
Isle Royale: The Long Drive Home
With my two-week trip hiking from one end to the other of Isle Royale National Park complete, the journey home took center stage. My plan for the two day, one thousand mile sojourn is to repeat the route taken to get Copper Harbor back in August, with the slight exception of avoiding all the construction
Isle Royale Aside: Briefly Revisiting the McCormick Wilderness
When I originally planned my Isle Royale trip, I included a side trip to McCormick Wilderness for a few days, never really deciding whether it would be before or after the main two-week event. Storage of food for the second trip, while on the first one became a logistical nightmare, so I quickly abandoned the
Isle Royale Aside: Bearly Losing a Race
Typically, I am not the racing type. At least not the kind involving motorized vehicles. Although I participated in foot races when I was younger, it has been many years since the last one. And in none of those races were any of my competitors a black bear. This all changed when I drove home
