LOCALadk Magazine

LOCALadk 48 I knew my time as a New York State Forest Ranger was winding down. I wasn't as good as I used to be, physically, at least. I had been engaged in a protracted battle with the department over staffing levels in my capacity as a union representative which le me soured, while the pace of recreational use and incidents had me battling burnout. is was all happening as I approached retirement eligibility, at 25 years of service. I started considering my options last winter, when a tremendous opportunity arose. I could become the director of the Paul Smith's College Visitor Interpretive Center, better known locally in the Adirondacks as simply the PSC VIC, or VIC. A little background on the Paul Smith's College VIC: e center itself and many of the trails were built, by the Adirondack Park Agency and opened to the public May 24th 1989. is effort was designed to provide natural resource history education and promote Adirondack tourism. From a natural resource perspective, its nearly 3,000 acres are ideal and aesthetically perfect. ere are incredible view scapes from trails that areflat and easily accessible to all users and varied abilities. e wetland system and bog habitat are home to unique and interesting flora and fauna. Many species of mushrooms, sedges and sphagnum mosses, as well as heritage strains of brook trout, moose and black-backed woodpeckers, can be found at the PSC VIC. Being the director of the PSC VIC would allow me to focus on something Isaw slipping away from the Forest Rangers: stewardship. As a ranger, my interactions with the public tended to be brief, and in recent years, more commonly with someone I was rescuing or to whom I was issuing a parking ticket. ese were not ideal learning situations, although some of the rescues were painful lessons, indeed. I looked forward to feeling rejuvenated in a new position, one with much of the same purpose I had a sranger. I retired from the Rangers and began working at the VIC this spring. I setout to increase the scope of the educational programs offered. e VIC continued to provide nature-based programs so the public could learn about the Adirondacks and its ecology, including very specific courses on mushroom, plant and bird identification, utilizing local experts from faculty and staff at the college. I added recreational skill programs, and employed other retired rangers and local guides who had impressed me over theyears to teach people how to read a map and compass, fly fish, rock climb, bushwhack, use canoes, and most importantly, do all of these while leaving no trace. is summer, people came to the VIC-lots of people- and for the first time in a while, I didn't feel overwhelmed by the crowds. e VIC has the capacity to handle and withstand greater numbers of users than many other trail systems in the Park. e trails are well designed and well maintained. e facility is a hub for visitors to get information andequipment, providing them the knowledge needed to better understand the Adirondacks and protect the Park and themselves. ere are hazards and pitfalls of outdoor recreation if you don't have the proper knowledge, experience, planning and gear. In the summer, access to the trails and facility, including parking, is all free. ere are 25 miles of trails that make not only for a fun hike, but also an in- depth interpretive experience. e PSC VIC is a living exhibit with stewards on the trails, educational signs and, coming next summer, a cell phone app with detailed, layered information. (Just make sure you still have a papermap and compass, please!) We also have ample camping opportunities, so you don't have to fight for a spot. e competition for backcountry camping spots was something that always frustrated me. In the High Peaks, nobody had any idea if sites would be available until they arrived. e PSC VIC has three waterfront lean-tos that can be reserved for overnight trips. ey can be accessed by canoe or foot, and the trout fishing is incredible! is winter I plan to continue naturalist and recreational programs, but also want the center to function much like a ski center - a fun, new challenge for me. Several years ago, the college invested heavily in the VIC ski trails, adding new trails created by noted Nordic ski race course designer John Morton. ese trails have adequate elevational changes and width to meet international competition standards, where 9 meters are needed so three skiers can skate side by side. A state-of-the-art groomer goes over the terrain almost every day, keeping the trail system in the best condition possible, with $20 thousand available for skate or classic skiing and an additional $40 thousand set with a classic track. For those looking for a more primitive experience (primarily snowshoers), we don't groom our renowned Boreal Life Trail. is trail heads north from the facility and into a peatland complex that is part of the Barnum Pond outlet. is ecosystem is home to many species more commonly found in Canada; here, they are at the southern extent of their range. It is a particularly good spot to find the friendly Canada jay, which actually nests during the winter. Most Saturdays this winter, those who are interested in finding a Canada jay and other birds that winter here, can participate in our free Winter Birding program, which starts at 9 a.m. I am a Paul Smith's College alum. I have always loved the cold and snowy weather there. e snow is what really makes the PSC VIC an exceptional ski destination. It snows early and oen, and the VIC holds onto it longer than any other Nordic ski center in the Adirondacks. Geographically, the PSC VIC is situated to the northwest of the High Peaks region. It sits on the windward side of the mountains, so an approaching weather front quickly drops in temperature, depositing snow in the winter. Some sking is oen possible in November, but good conditions arrive by early December. is year I am planning for a December 4th opening that will kick off with music and a campfire. To add to the ski lodge feel, I have added a limited food menu and live music every Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Great Room.You will recognize many of the musicians: Steve Langdon, Jeff Balerno, and of course, Tyler Dezago, trails manager. e PSC VIC does charge a trail fee in the winter to offset grooming costs. e prices are low. Day passes are $7.50 for children and $15 for adults. Season passes are just $125 for adults and $250 for a Family Pass. Wealso rent gear. A ski setup is $15 a day, and snowshoes are just $10.Coming to the PSC has been everything I hoped it would be. It has allowed me to focus on stewardship and environmental education.

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