LOCALadk Magazine

"We live in a postcard!" at's what my best friend Laurie says about our beautiful Adirondacks. Seeing the Adirondacks from a mountaintop summit is particularly breathtaking, and getting there via hiking adds to the adventure and sense of reward. I was inspired to create the Wonders of Wilmington, NY aer participating in other local challenges, such as the Lake Placid 9, Saranac 6, and Tupper Triad. ese challenges guided us to new trails with beautiful views, and gave us the opportunity to earn fun patches to show off our accomplishments. Wilmington, New York, is somewhat less well-known than other Adirondack towns, but this amazing area has so much to offer that we wanted to make sure it was on everyone's radar. Working with our Wilmington town leaders and ROOST (Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism), we developed three different challenges, with specially designed patches for each, and one specifically for pet companions. We invite you and your crew to enjoy experiencing the WOW of Wilmington, NY through these challenges. We started with the WOW Hiking Challenge and intentionally selected six (optional seventh) trails that weren't part of any other challenge. e trails range in length from two to eight miles round trip and in difficulty from easy to challenging. Wondering if they are too challenging for you and yours? Laurie and I are both in our early sixties and you'll see that we're proudly the first names on the roster. It's not all about hiking, though. Since Wilmington has been dubbed the mountain bike capital of the Adirondacks, a WOW Mountain Biking Challenge was a must. Wilmington has some of the finest mountain biking trails around and features a wide variety of riding for everyone from beginners to advanced riders. Our region is lucky to have the Barkeater Trails Alliance (BETA) as active members of the community. Among other things, BETA builds, maintains, and advocates for a system of community and mountain bike trails. Wilmington is a very family-oriented town. e WOW Family Fun Challenge is designed for multi-generational families and groups to enjoy together. It's a great way to get younger challengers started with the fun and rewards of exploring the great outdoors. ese beginner trails are mostly under half a mile in distance, but the longest clocks in at 2.6 miles round trip. Each can be done at a leisurely pace and provides a rewarding WOW Adirondack experience. My daughter Alex and I completed these together, and I can say personally, it's a great way to spend time with loved ones of all ages. Whiteface Mountain, famous for the 1980 Olympic Winter Games, is one of Wilmington's greatest wonders, but we made it an optional component of all three WOW Challenges because sometimes fees are involved. Getting to the summit of Whiteface in whatever way is most appropriate for you and your crew is highly recommended. If you are an experienced hiker, this is one of the Adirondack 46'ers. In both the summer and winter, you can ride the gondola to the summit of Little Whiteface. In the summer, you can drive your car or ride your bike to the summit via Veterans Memorial Highway. e summit offers a 360-degree view of the Adirondacks and clear-day glimpses of Vermont and Canada. WOW was a vision for me that has become a reality. I invite everyone to come and experience the Wonders of Wilmington, NY via one or all of these challenges and earn your patches. You'll have fun and feel a great sense of accomplishment. I look forward to many new names being added to our rosters. https://www.whitefaceregion. com/wonders-of-wilmington. Dr. Karen A. Keasler is a Wilmington, New York, resident and Wonders of Wilmington creator. EXPERIENCE THE WONDERS OF WILMINGTON, NY THROUGH THREE NEW PATCH-EARNING CHALLENGES LOCALadk 24 Story by Karen Keasler & Photographs by Shaun Ondak

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