LOCALadk Magazine

LOCALadk 7 Contents Contents LOCALadk LOCALadk 10 Up and Comer: Meet Maddie Olson Maddie is LOC ALadk's Up and Comer. Share in Maddie's triumph as she recounts taking on her first winter camping adventure. Living with Cerebral Palsy, Maddie overcomes physical and environmental challenges to discover inner-strength, perseverance, and an ever- growing connection with nature. 12 When the Light Runs Low Erik confronts the psychological weight of Adirondack winters, exploring the impact of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and offering practical tools to meet it head-on. Drawing on clinical insight and backcountr y wisdom, he urges readers to choose values, take action, and step outside into the vastness of Adirondack Park. 16 From Paddle to Palette: The Artistry of the 3P Joe shares the stor y of the Saranac Lake 3P — Pole, Pedal, Paddle — a multi-sport race that unites skiing, biking, and paddling. Through the collaboration between racer Jim Sausville and artist Sarah Calzada Cain, the event comes alive as a celebration of Adirondack adventure, artistr y, and community spirit. 20 TMax-n-Topo's: A Community-Driven Hostel Troy chronicles how TMax-n-Topo's Hostel in Lake Placid defies the region's high-end trend, building a hiker-first haven rooted in campfire conversation, community sacrifice, and Adirondack grit. Meet Terri and David, whose basement basecamp proves that human connection is at the true heart of the High Peaks. 23 UNSUPPORTED: A Story of Moving Fast and Letting Go Bethany announces her memoir Unsupported, chronicling a record-setting, unsupported thru-hike of the Adirondack 46 High Peaks with partner Katie Rhodes. Blending grit, grief, and fierce determination, she explores what it means to be supported in the mountains and in life while confronting loss and letting go. 24 Kelsey O'Driscoll's Adirondack Ascent Siobhan captures Kelsey O'Driscoll's rise from Gore Mountain ski patroller to 2026 Paralympian, tracing how an incomplete spinal cord injur y reshaped — but never dimmed — her drive, as Adirondack grit and commu- nity carried her from patrol cross to the starting gate. 28 The Enduring Legacy of a Miracle Paul celebrates the enduring legacy of the 1980 U. S. Olympic hockey team, whose "Miracle on Ice" victor y over the Soviets still inspires awe. From Congressional Gold Medals to new documentaries and monuments, he explores how this iconic moment continues to unite and uplift generations. 31 Ghosts of the Creek: Tracking the Elusive Ermine George delights readers with a patient pursuit of the elusive ermine, tracing its ghostly winter tracks through the creeks and forests of Adirondack Park. Enjoy learning about natural histor y, ecology, and quiet reflection as he reveals how one tiny predator teaches the art of attention. 34 Cold Mornings, Warm Jackets: Seniority with Skiing Carolyn introduces the tight-knit senior ski crews of Whiteface Mountain, where "Geriatric Crew," "Brown Bag-ers," and "Lemmings" rack up enviable days on snow. Through cold mornings and double-ski after- noons, these devoted locals prove there are no "bad ski days" — only community, commitment, and joy. 38 The First Adirondackers Curt reflects on a two-row collaboration with Haudenosaunee artist David Kanietakeron Fadden to confront the Adirondacks' "myth of absence," blending science, art, archaeology, and family legacies into a powerful narrative honoring Indigenous presence since the last ice age while discovering unexpected connections. 40 Meet the NOCO Kneedroppers! Nathaniel introduces the Noco Kneedroppers, Saranac Lake's lively telemark ski crew. From Tele Tuesdays to the annual Tele ADK day, this group shares gear, laughs, and lessons, bringing skiers of all levels together to master tele turns and celebrate community on snow.

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