So far this winter, the conditions have been better for the ice climber rather than the skier. By Thanksgiving, it was still fairly warm and rainy. Many hikers would slosh and slog through the November niuck up the John's Brook trail, but soon run into snow and ice above 3200'. By late November, the cold settled in and snow has since covered the ground. The week of December 12 - 16, it warmed up and rained, ruining all snow and ice conditons. Usually, the higher elevation and proximity to the storm track enables the Lake Placid area to accummulate @ 8" more snow than in Keene Valley.

This recent threat in the Adirondacks comes to us via the rivers and waterways. Giardia is ten microns in size very small: 16,000 cysts sit on a pinhead. This tiny protozoan, when injested, loges in our small intestine and causes a diarrhea virus reguiring antibiotics for a complete cure. It is best related to Mexico's "Montezuma's Revenge", but in our case, a "Marcy's Doom". It is to be avoided.

by Tony Goodwin published by the Adirondack Mountain Club.

Tony has spent many years cross country skiing in the North Country, and he is currently (back in 1984) manager of the ski trails at the Mount Van Hoevenberg Recreation Area near Lake Placid. Over the years, he has compiled a wealth of information on ski tours.