Life In Lumberzac's Adirondacks

“Dark Skygazer??

Is that a character from some lame ass Star Wars episode??”

“Forget the bags, is that George Bush??? (Senior)”

“That's Unca Gremlin!!”

“Sorry Grem, no offence LOL”

“What's with the pictures DorkO?”

“GOOGLE Images of lumberzac, dat's whut.”

“[urlhttp://www.adirondackdailyenterprise.com/news/articles.asp?articleID=2256]APA OKs Tahawus Tract subdivision[/url]
By LEE MANCHESTER, Lake Placid News


RAY BROOK � The Adirondack Park Agency voted unanimously on Friday to approve the subdivision of the 10,000-plus acre Tahawus Tract in Newcomb � but not until after last-minute negotiations resolved a veto placed by one commissioner.

The Tahawus Tract was purchased for $8.5 million in 2003 by the nonprofit Open Space Institute from NL Industries, which operated a titanium mine and mill on the site from the early 1940s until 1989. The tract was originally part of a 105,000-acre holding that had included most of Mount Marcy.

OSI�s purchase of the Tahawus Tract was initially hailed as a major breakthrough for conservation interests because of the thousands of acres it would add to the Forest Preserve, highly coveted land that had been in private hands since 1826.

Over the last year, however, the Tahawus Tract subdivision application has run into opposition from several wilderness advocacy groups. Leading the opposition has been the Association for the Protection of the Adirondacks, which has objected to OSI�s plans to hold onto three small lots within the tract for historic-preservation purposes.

The three �in-holdings� included 1.6 acres for a rustic cabin on Upper Preston Pond, 0.41 acres for the Mount Adams fire tower, and 0.3 acres for an old fire-observer�s cabin at the base of Mount Adams. All three structures are historically significant, according to OSI.

The Upper Preston Pond cabin, one of the only intact structures remaining from the Tahawus Club�s presence in the area, has been declared eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Mount Adams fire tower, built in 1917, is one of just 33 fire towers remaining in the Adirondacks.

The Adams fire-observer�s cabin is the only surviving example of the standardized Model 1922 design built all over the state for New York�s fire observers. The Adams fire tower and cabin were both listed last year on the National Register.

OSI had decided to keep title to those in-holdings in response to pleas from historic-preservation groups, not offering the three small lots for sale to the state along with the land to be added to the Forest Preserve.

Wilderness advocates objected to the in-holdings, especially the cabin on Upper Preston Pond.

�To hold out a piece of private property so deep in the Forest Preserve from a transaction like this, that�s what we find unacceptable,� said Dan Plumley, director of park protection for the Association for the Protection of the Adirondacks, on Thursday.

APA Commissioner James Townsend also had reservations about the three small in-holdings proposed in the tract subdivision application. Townsend expressed those reservations Thursday morning when the application came before the APA�s four-member Regulatory Programs Committee.

Though Townsend was the only vote against the Tahawus Tract subdivision, it effectively blocked the application, at least for the moment.

The matter required the approval of at least three of the Regulatory Program Committee�s four members. One of them, Katherine Roberts, had recused herself. Roberts, a former executive director of the Open Space Institute, currently serves on OSI�s board of directors.

Agency Chairman Ross S. Whaley, also a member of the Regulatory Programs Committee, called Townsend�s vote Catch-22. �We have a willing seller and buyer to add public land to the Forest Preserve, but we�re questioning the impact of the withholding from that sale of these three tracts � which will block the expansion of the Forest Preserve, � he said.

Whaley arranged for APA staff to work with Townsend and OSI President Joseph J. Martens Thursday afternoon to negotiate a mutually agreeable solution.

Friday morning, when the APA reconvened, that solution was announced by John Quinn, the APA�s review officer for the Tahawus Tract subdivision application.

The solution adds language to the subdivision permit placing a 15-person cap on the number of people allowed to use either of the in-holding cabins during the day. A 6-person overnight limit was already contained in the permit.

�Finally, in the unlikely event that adverse impacts to forest preserve lands result from the use of [the Upper Preston Pond cabin],� the new permit language added, �the State may exercise its option to acquire that parcel and discontinue that use.�

�That makes me much more comfortable with this,� Townsend said. �I withdraw my objection.�

Stuart A. Buchanan, who serves as an APA commissioner in his capacity as the regional director of the state Department of Environmental Conservation, added, �I want to commend [OSI] for making the reservations necessary to make things like this work.�

�I second that,� said Townsend.
Copyright � 2006 � The Adirondack Daily Enterprise”

“Kewl!”

“http://www.adirondackdailyenterprise.com/news/articles.asp?articleID=2256”

“Santanonnis, anyone?”

“I think I want to wait a bit to go back. I don't feel like pulling my snowshoes out again until at least November.”

“Great news. That will be a wonderful addition.

Anybody know the fate of NL's open pit titanium mine?”

“Anybody know the fate of NL's open pit titanium mine?�
Geobeet
1:24:09 PM
4/10/06

NL will retain the property immediately around the mine.”

“I don't imagine they'll ever fill that thing in. More likely it will become a very deep lake. Is it still producing?”

“It stopped producing some time in the 1980's, but no one wants to touch it due to potential hazardous materials it may contain.”

“If they route a trail past the tailings hill and every hiker who passes by throws one rock into the pit, it will still never get filled. I remember standing at the lip of that pit in the mid-70s and being simply over-awed. That said, the damage wasn't even fractionally comparable to mountaintop removal coal mining now being practiced in West Virginia and Kentucky.”

“I find these maps interesting.
1904, before the Ti mine
http://docs.unh.edu/NY/sant04se.jpg
1953, during early operation
http://docs.unh.edu/NY/sant53se.jpg
1990�s after the mine closed.
http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lat=44.04583&lon;=-74.06028”

“Mountaintop removal is evil!!”

“So is lake removal.”

“Thanks Zac. Interesting, to say the least. They had an overlook on the east side of the pit where people could drive in and look down into the pit. They also had an interpretive sign there about the ores they were mining. I still have a piece of ilmenite I picked up there on that trip. Maybe that's why they went belly up - one nugget short of a full load.”

“The original 1830�s � 1850�s iron mine partially went belly up because of the impurities in the iron, which was titanium. The 1940�s � 1980�s titanium mine partially went belly up because of the impurities in the titanium, which was iron. Go figure. lol”

“Better One Nugget Short than be One Inch Wang.

He so sad.....

They sure made a mess of that place!”

“Yes, there were a number of anomalies about that mine. David Henderson lived in Trenton and Archbald McIntyre lived in Albany. David was livid because it took a whole two days to get a letter from Trenton to Albany by stage coach. It now takes a day longer by air.

The 1830s is an interesting era in American history. Although we have come far in technology, many of the industrial processes that are familiar were already in full operation. The main difference was scale, plus it was not as ecologically damaging back then.

There was no use for titanium back then. At least in the 20th Century, there was a use for the iron, but it was just not enough to be economically feasible (read that profitable).

And then David Henderson met his end in a freak accident at Calamity Pond. There may be many worse places to die, but not under those circumstances.”

“Do tell...............”

“�Do tell...............�
markO
5:19:18 PM
4/10/06http://www.adirondack-park.net/history/mcintyre.mine.html”

“I was looking for an easy trip in the 'Dacks and had settled on the Northern Section of the Northville-Placid Trail. Then I saw LZ's photos of The Pharaohs. Are there some easy trips in here? Should I pick up The ADK Eastern Region book?
last edited: 4/15/06 4:35:06 PM”

“When are you planning on going? There are also some nice hikes you could do in the West Canada Lakes' area as well.”

“why you askin zac, he is clueless!”

“Sometime in July or August. Depending on the blackfly situation. Where is the West Canada Lakes' area?”

“It's in the Central/Southern Adirondacks, near Indian Lake. The Northville-Placid Trail also passes through this area. It's quite a bit farther away from I-87 than Pharaoh Lake Wilderness, but it will probably have fewer people as well. The trails (grade wise) would be similar for both areas, which tend to stay in the valleys. Both areas, as well as the northern section of the NPT, would be well worth visiting.”

“Thanks. One last request: could you recommend a hike in the Cranberry Lake region?”

“I�ve only hiked in that region once on my first TT trip. The area was nice, but its about a 4 hour drive for me to get there, which is why I�ve only been there once. Here�s a link to the trip�s TR. http://www.thebackpacker.com/trailtalk/thread/23111,-1,4.php?
You might also what to ask some questions at www.adkforum.com and http://www.adkhighpeaks.com/forums/ . There are a lot of knowledgeable people at both forums.”

“Got it. Thanks again!”

“hey??”

“Cranberry Lake Area? That's where we did the SYAO.

Pictures are here:
http://community.webshots.com/album/84208723tdvSwY
last edited: 4/15/06 9:05:11 PM”

“West Canada Lakes Area is cool too... trails aren't well traveled!”

“OK. I sent for the Eastern Region & Central Region Guide books. It'll be a nice edition to my Northern & High Peaks books!”

“Addition...............dork!!

Ask Pin Pin...............or Pin Pin Jr.”

“I guess I can't put my snowshoes away yet.
This is wat Mount Colden looked like on April 17, 2006. The picture was taken by the administrator over at ADKHighPeaks Forum.
http://www.adkhighpeaks.com/albums1/colvin/IMG_0030.sized.jpg

Here's a link to his trip report.
http://www.adkhighpeaks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1360

I wonder when the snow will be gone? I'm guessing not until late May or early June.”

“Yo Zac, not to long ago you mentioned something about a loop in the Daks that I might be interested in. I think it included Dial. Can ya tell me about it? perty pleeze?”

“Ah yes, I meant to discuss it with you during the Devil�s Path trip.

Here is the plan.
Friday night:
Park at St Huberts and hike in to the AMR. Follow Lake Road until you reach the Gill Brook Trail. Shortly after you cross into NYS land there is a small campsite to set up a base camp.
Distance 4.8 miles, Gain 1410�, Loss 175�

Saturday:
Dayhike up and over Fishhawk Cliffs and Indian Head before descending down to Lake Road. Next, hike up Sawteeth via the Scenic Trail. For the summit of Sawteeth, hike southwest to Upper Ausable Lake. From there take The Carry Trail to Lower Ausable Lake and hike up to the col between Blake and Colvin. From there tag Blake and Colvin and hike back down to camp.
Distance 13.9 miles, Gain 6240�, Loss 6240�

Sunday:
Pack up and take full packs up and over Nippletop, Dial, Bear Den and the shoulder of Noonmark. From there you would hike back down to Lake Road and back to St Huberts.
Distance 9.7 miles, Gain 3160�, Loss 4395�

I could email you the NG Topo! file if you like.”

“yeah, I like that plan. I'm tinkering with doing something in the Dacks this coming weekend, and that fits. Please email me that Topo file when you get a chance. Thanks!

ps... you wanna do it?”

“I'll send the map to you tonight. I might be able to fit a trip in the weekend. I'm not 100% at the moment, but things do look pretty good.”

“"Ah yes, I meant to discuss it with you during the Devil�s Path trip."
Zac

Too busy hiking............can't talk, hiking.

You guys really ought to slow down and smell the hikers.

>8^)”

“You guys really ought to slow down and smell the hikers.

>8^)�
MarkO
7:20:30 AM
6/05/06

I smelled the hikers and I ended up gasping for breath from the stench so much that I couldn't talk.
8p”

“Hmmmm, kinda take your breath away.

Just don't barf through your nose.”