Tag Archives: Gary Lee

Gary Lee’s Daybreak to Twilight

Gary Lee marks 25th anniversary of local outdoors column

This marks my 25th year of writing to you folks about the natural world around us, beginning with the newly-launched Express and now for the Weekly Adirondack. I missed only one column in all those years when I was out in Yellowstone Wildfire Complex that first year in 1988. Snail mail was slow in getting it to Express founder and editor Pat Russell in Old Forge.

Everyone tells me I should write a book featuring highlights of some of my columns, but I tell them I’ve already written a book, and it’s about Adirondack Birding.

To follow is my inaugural column which appeared on July 12, 1988. Don’t take everything as if it was written today as lots have changed in 25 years.

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Boat launch stewards monitor vessels for invasive plants

A swimming beaver photographed by Ellie George

A swimming beaver photographed by Ellie George

There sure have been some gully washers in the area but for the most part things have stayed above water. This past week showers were kind of a hit or miss thing with rain in Old Forge but not in Inlet or visa versa.

I’ve dumped three inches of water out of my rain gauge twice this week, two of which came in less than an hour on Friday.

Most of the dirt roads have been holding their own with some scalding in places and major ponds in the road over to Otter Brook from the Big T in the Moose River Area.

Pink Lily

Pink Lily

We were at Helldiver the other morning watching for the Moose. A couple of canoes were already on the pond by 6 a.m. and he was a no-show that morning.

While we were there a big black cloud went by south of us. We could see the rain across the pond but we only got a few sprinkles.

The beaver and single loon were the only entertainment there that morning.

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Gary Lee’s Daybreak to Twilight

Looney weather fit for wildflowers and slugs…

Loon with Chicks. Photo by Ellie George

Loon with Chicks. Photo by Ellie George

We escaped the big gully washers but folks to the east and south of us sure got more rain than they needed. We went to Utica on Friday and saw the water washing through parking lots and across Route 5 by Jay-K Lumber.

Hidden loon on a nest

Hidden loon on a nest

Their plants were getting watered—actually drowned—in brown water that covered the parking lot about five feet deep.

They had over seven inches in a two-day period down there, and all that after several days of rain the week before.

The Moose River hadn’t come up that day but Saturday everything emptied out and it was roaring. Continue reading →

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Industrious loons adding to nests to combat rising waters

Mr. Snyder and his seed planter

Mr. Snyder and his seed planter

Fawn in Big Moose. Photo by Diane Bowes

Fawn in Big Moose. Photo by Diane Bowes

The swamps are full, the streams are full, and the bog is full of water too. I have to apologize to those who showed up for my Ferd’s Bog hike on Friday, June 14 as I was a no show. I was there on Saturday, June 15 and wondered why there were no people for the hike.

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Gary Lee program set at Otter Lake

Outdoor writer and retired ranger Gary Lee will lead a presentation titled, “How to Survive and Navigate the Woods and What to Look for in Food if Lost,” on Saturday, June 29 at the former Otter Lake firehouse on Route 28.

The program will be hosted by The Otter Lake Association and will immediately follow the membership’s 10 a.m. meeting. The public is welcome to attend both the meeting and the program.

Bring your compasses, hiking maps and questions about the outdoors.

The association extends a welcome to attend their meeting commencing at 10 a.m.

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Saying goodbye to an old colleague and NYS Ranger advocate

Adirondack Bluebird

Adirondack Bluebird

We only get one day of sunshine a week, which seems to be the schedule from Mother Nature. Some folks have gotten more than their share of water as the Mississippi River is giving everyone on the downstream end enough to wash some homes away.

Our woods are soaked full of moisture and can’t absorb any more so it’s just running off here as well. It’s good for the rafters and kayakers.

I was over in Lake Luzerne this afternoon (6/10) for calling hours for Lynn D. Day Sr., 76, a retired lieutenant in the Forest Ranger Force. Continue reading →

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Adirondacks’ record-setting brooktrout hauled from Silver Lake

 

Morel Mushroom

Morel Mushroom

I think enough rain has fallen to keep the dust down and even prevent some forest fires. Luckily we didn’t get the wind that was predicted with those storms but today (6/2) southern Vermont up into Maine got the brunt of it. 

There are many power outages over that way tonight. Continue reading →

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