trail in a dense forest in autumn

Lost and found on the old trail

By David Gibson, Managing Partner, Adirondack Wild The old trail was familiar. I walk it monthly. The loop meandering along the state and private land line was only two miles long. It showed some blazes on the trees left by the hunting parties and solo hunters who have hunted this section for generations. Less than…

Gravel pit

Awkward Moments at the APA

By David Gibson, Managing Partner, Adirondack Wild During the APA’s October 12 meeting, I noted with appreciation the Adirondack Park Agency members who asked pertinent questions about the staff’s proposed permit for Carver Sand and Gravel in the town of Ephratah, Fulton County (Project 2022-0037). These questions and concerns included but were not limited to…

Five adults smiling and holding their award

Adirondack Wild holds annual meeting, announces 2023 awards

By David Gibson, Managing Partner, Adirondack Wild Newcomb, NY – The Adirondack Interpretive Center in Newcomb played host this month to Adirondack Wild: Friends of the Forest Preserve’s annual meeting and 2023 award presentations. The Paul Schaefer Wilderness Award, named after 20th century wilderness preservation leader Paul Schaefer, was presented to Steven Englebright. Englebright represented…

Moose River Plains

Our Forest Preserve: A Wildland System

By David Gibson, Managing Partner, Adirondack Wild Adirondack Explorer’s reporter and writer Gwendolyn Craig has authored a fine article this month titled “The Long Wait for Forest Preserve Plans,” referring to the lack of unit management plans (herein, “UMP”) for some significant Forest Preserve Wilderness areas, like West Canada Lake and William C. Whitney, and…

Hiker standing at the edge of a lake in the Adirondacks

Before there were motor free lakes

By David Gibson, Managing Partner, Adirondack Wild Before there were motor free lakes Although by 1973 Wilderness areas had been officially designated on about one million acres within the Adirondack Forest Preserve, the question of whether waterbodies within those million acres would be similarly free of use by motors was still highly uncertain. In June…

Trees in a dense forest

Proforestation in the Adirondacks and Statewide

By David Gibson, Managing Partner, Adirondack Wild Proforestation in the Adirondacks and Statewide Two recent public forestry panel discussions at Paul Smith’s College and the Adirondack Research Consortium have led me to consider both private and public forests in the Adirondacks in an economically innovative, pro-climate way. Both forestry panel discussions that I attended focused…

Memorial items and family photo inside of a guide boat

Keeping forests as forests: Clarence Petty’s vision

By David Gibson, Managing Partner, Adirondack Wild Keeping forests as forests: Clarence Petty’s vision Clarence Petty (1905-2009) grew up in the Adirondacks and eventually had a career with the state conservation department. His biography by Chris Angus, The Extraordinary Adirondack Journey of Clarence Petty. (Syracuse University Press, 2002) is still available.  After a few years with…