LOCALadk Magazine

Summer 2016 LOCALadk Magazine 50 LOCALadk Since 1979, Cascade X-C Ski Center has been a winter recre- ation destination for both visitors and locals alike in the Lake Placid region. A lot can change in 37 years. Often, the need for change and resistance to it becomes a struggle. This struggle has characterized much of the some- times politically turbulent history of the Adirondack Park. Our North Country heritage is something to hold on to. To- days' residents and landowners must embrace and honor the resilient grit of the settlers, who first blazed trails into the Peaks. Instead of a trail-less wilderness, the generations of today face the challenge of a changing climate. As the climate changes, so too must our business models. If the winter of 2015-2016 is any indication, small busi- nesses must remain cre- ative and proactive in the face of changing weather patterns. Businesses locat- ed in the Adirondack Park are uniquely positioned to prove that a sustainable economy can exist in har- mony with nature. New Generation, New Ideas A new collaboration aims to address some of these challenges. Experience Outdoors, an outdoor ad- venture course developed by Lake Placid resident Bill Walton, will lease land from Cascade Ski Center to bring a completely new attraction to the High Peaks region. The expansion into summer recreation will allow the ski cen- ter to remain open year round. Cascade Ski Center is excited to start offering a new farm to table café & bar, lodging, and special events. Experience Outdoors The fully accredited canopy tour will feature zip lines and utilize both high and low ropes elements integrated into the natural landscape. The 2-3 hour tour will create a unique eco-tourism experience traversing above the established trails of Cascade Ski Center. The combination of low rope/high rope team building ele- ments with the thrilling experience of zip lining will fulfill Ex- perience Outdoor's mission statement to give customers: "an experience that you will harness for a lifetime." Zip lines are extremely strong cables. These cables will pro- vide transportation leaving from platforms and going tree to tree. Participants wear full body harness and are attached to the cable using specialized equipment allowing them to glide down the cables for an unmatched tour of Adirondack wilder- ness. Guides will not only aid in a tour of the tree tops, but provide local history and facts about the native wilderness. The low rope elements of the course are designed and geared toward teambuilding. These exercises take place much closer to the forest floor. This allows the embodiment of their pur- pose, to ground and center. Facilitated by an instructor, and occurring in small groups, no team will be able to complete all the features of the course unless they work together. The low ropes adventure is ideal for encouraging problem solv- ing and instilling trust amongst peers. At the course's end, a debriefing session offers team members a forum to reflect and share their ex- periences. Wild Bar & Café The new Wild Bar & Café will augment year round recreation operations. Farm to table cuisine will showcase regionally lo- cal produce and specialty foods. The Wild Bar will serve up regionally in- spired craft cocktails and also be the tasting labora- tory for Forever Wild Bev- erage Company, in-house producer of wild tonics. The Future The impending environmental and climate crisis is real. Will we carry on business as usual, accepting snowless winters? Not likely. Adirondackers feel an inherent responsibility to the land. We've kissed the sky on Marcy and the felt the thunder of the Ausable's raging waters. We're blessed with an urgency to preserve and share with future generations what it means to live in such a beautiful place. We are bound by a mission to share the wilderness experience, which has played such a large part in shaping our lives. It is in that spirit we forge into the future together with the formation of a new adventure experience at an age-old ski center. The adventure center aims to open on July 1, 2016. This project is currently subject to pending APA approval. For more information: www.experienceadkoutdoors.com www.cascadeski.com www.drinkforevewild.com The Changing Face of Business By Jen Jubin

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