LOCALadk Magazine

66 Summer 2019 LOCALadk Magazine LOCALadk Inhaling deeply to gain my composure, I was finally able to peer over the precipice. The climbing route appeared much steeper from the ledge compared to my initial evalua- tion from down below. The Ausable River tumbled along its course in the narrowing valley, emphasizing this prominent perch. The vantage point offered a dizzying perspective of the Adirondack Park. Thankfully, I had teamed up with reli- ably comedic climbers that day. It was only a matter of time before one of them would diffuse my outdoor top roping trepidations. "I'll go first," Matt Baer offered as he locked the final carabiner. "Let's hope the mountain gods are mer- ciful today." "You better go first; our lives are in your nim- ble hands!" Jeremy Utz quipped as we made our roundabout way back to the bottom. The teasing continued, " When it's my turn to climb please do not, I repeat, do not let Tyler be- lay me." After a long workweek, I cherished the distinctive back-and-forth banter of this group. Harnesses on and ropes affixed, sincere shouts of encouragement built up our con- fidence as the successful ascents began. Levity made its im- mediate return when Wade Bastian, another novice climber, took to the wall only to be ominously encircled high above by turkey vultures. The mountain gods were skeptical, but they granted us another fun-filled day in nature. It seems unlikely that a punk rocker from the United King- dom, a professional chef from America's heartland, a woolly woodsman from Alaska's frontier and an energized college counselor would converge in such a setting. Despite our dif- ferences, we quickly realized what we share in common: we all intentionally decided to make the Adirondack Park our home, we have a collective passion to protect wild spaces and we engage in the niche sport of magnet fishing. Group chemistr y soon translated into an imaginative opportunity. Foot Stuff Podcast— celebrating the comedic side of out- door recreation—was born. While this online radio show might not physically transport you to the mountains, the overarching goal is to bring the Adirondack wilderness spirit to you. With the help of fre- quent characters like "Celia from Work" and "Dr. Science," each episode spotlights stories of outdoor adventure, an- tics, and activism. While we consistently underscore the im- portance of practicing low-impact Leave No Trace skills and ethics on your next Adirondack adventure, our show deviates wildly from the typical, much more serious, outdoor podcast. Whether you live inside or outside of the Park's Blue Line boundar y, this is another accessible medium to stay engaged with a place you love. You can find archived episodes on Apple Podcasts, Goo- gle Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotif y, or through footstuffpod- cast.com. All episodes are free for your enjoyment, but be advised that adult language is used in each episode. New to podcasting? Don't worr y, a year ago we were too! Here are a few suggested episodes to get your feet wet: • Episode 28: Jacqueline Keating from the Alaska De- partment of Fish and Game comes all the way to the Adiron- dacks to discuss bears and human-wildlife interactions. • Episode 29: A lively Northville-Placid Trail trip re- port with ADK Volunteer High Peaks Summit Steward Troy Tetreault. • Episode 31: Forest Ranger Scott van Laer stops by the studio to share epic tales of mishaps in the mountains. • Episode 37: Author and visionar y thru-hiker Erik Schlimmer discusses the Trans-Adirondack Route and his as- cents of all 600 peaks over 2,500 ft. across the Park. • Episode 58: Local USA Olympic Biathlete Maddie Phaneuf talks shooting targets while skiing fast. Honorable mention: • Episode 10: A hilarious deep dive into cr yptozoolo- gy, which includes sightings of Adirondack Bigfoot and our under water ally in Lake Champlain. Hearing relatable stories of Adirondack excursions, com- bined with unsolicited puns and bountiful '90s pop culture references, might just help you recall your own favorite memories in these mountains. Foot Stuff Podcast may even incidentally facilitate your appreciation and understanding of some of the world's other remaining wild spaces. Back in our studio, just outside of New York State's largest Wilderness Area, the whole gang is eager to share their var- ious adventures from the previous week. Inhaling deeply to gain my composure, I peer downward at my show notes and color printouts. Matt taps on the microphones to check the audio levels. Wade settles in to his eponymous studio lounge. Jeremy, in his inimitable fashion, simultaneously cracks his knuckles and a cheap joke as we cue the musical genius of Dr. Science. I'm on the edge of my seat, and Foot Stuff Podcast is about to begin. Ostensibly LIVE with Foot Stuff Podcast The Outdoor Recreation Comedy of the Adirondacks By Tyler Socash

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