Narrow island seen in the distance from Huletts Landing on Friday, March 20, 2020. (The first day of Spring.) Most of the ice is now gone from Lake George. (Click image to see larger version.)
Lake George Ice Breaking Up
The ice on Lake George is breaking up. (Click image to see full scale.)
Today, there are large areas of open water on Lake George as the ice begins to break up. Much of the lake north of Huletts is already open. While there is still ice near the center of Huletts and to the south, it should be gone shortly.
State Plastic Bag Ban Begins
New York state has implemented, as of March 1, 2020, the New York State Plastic Bag Waste Reduction Act. New Yorkers were using approximately 23 billion plastic bags per year, with approximately 85% of this total ending up int the trash, recycling machines, lakes and highways.
Good News Abounds
With all the trouble going on in the world, I thought a post reflecting on all the good things happening in Huletts would be appreciated. To begin, there is no doubt in my mind, that our nation and society will get through COVID-19’s visit.
To begin, the weather is getting warmer and the days are getting longer, meaning the ice on Lake George is getting thin. Water is beginning to be seen in shallow areas along the shore. I would highly caution that no one venture onto the ice at this time.
The ice is getting thin and cracks are appearing on the lake.
There are many contractors and projects going on in Huletts right now. Houses are being constructed, docks are being worked on, and assorted landscaping projects are all underway. New furniture is arriving and life is returning for another season. The number of people investing in Huletts is a fantastic sign.
I have spoken to individuals who are either moving into the community for the first time or who have purchased additional homes in Huletts. We’ve also seen incredible demand for rental units. We got calls this week wanting to know when the Soda Fountain and Golf Course would open. (Those are a little farther away.) I’m also happy to report that there will be more marriages taking place in Huletts in 2020.
While I can’t share everything I am aware of, good things are happening and more are in ‘the works’ for this upcoming season. I’m looking forward to seeing what Spring brings and so should you. I believe a great season with many blessings is ahead for all.
Snow All Around
Looking up Margot Way toward the Casino (Click image to see full-scale.)
My usual rule of thumb is that if you want to see snow in Huletts, February is a great month to observe it. Here you can see Huletts has about 7-8 inches of snow on the ground with drifts all around.
DEC Statewide Forest Ranger Rescue Near Lake George
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Forest Rangers respond to search and rescue incidents statewide. Working with other state agencies, local emergency response organizations, and volunteer search and rescue groups, Forest Rangers locate and extract lost, injured, or distressed people from the backcountry.
On Feb. 23 at 7:53 p.m., Warren County 911 transferred a call to DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch from two hikers on the Northwest Bay Trail. The hikers started their hike that morning and one of them, a 36-year-old male from Selden, was suffering from exhaustion and dehydration. Coordinates obtained through 911 placed the hikers about four miles from the Clay Meadows Trail. Forest Ranger Evan Donegan responded, along with the Bolton Landing Fire Department and their airboat. At 8:31 p.m., the responders were on Lake George and heading to the hikers’ last known location. They were located at 9:23 p.m., returned to shore, and hiked back out to the trailhead.
Winter from the Top of Black Mountain
Looking north up Lake George from Black Mountain shows the northern end of the lake is still open water. (Click image to see full-scale.)
Looking northwest from the same spot shows the middle of the lake is mostly frozen. The snow covered mountain in the upper left center of the photo is Mt Marcy. The sharp peak in the far distant close to center of the photo is Whiteface. (Click image to see full-scale.)
And clouds of white
The bright blessed day
The dark sacred night
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world”
All’s Quiet
It has been a very quiet winter in Huletts so far. Wherever you may be this winter, right now Huletts is asleep.
LGLC Protects 212 Acres in Bolton
One of the streams that cross the newly protected property, once part of Bolton’s Twin Pines Resort. (Click image to see larger view.)
The Lake George Land Conservancy (LGLC) closed on the purchase of 212 acres in the Town of Bolton on December 20, 2019, ending the year with a significant conservation win for the lake.
The property was part the Twin Pines Resort owned by the McGurl family. The resort will continue to be run unaffected by this sale. The LGLC will hold the property until the Town of Bolton is able to purchase it from LGLC encumbered by a conservation easement. This transfer is expected to take place in early 2020.
The property includes about 20 acres of wetlands and 3,000 feet of stream corridor, and is adjacent to the popular Cat and Thomas Mountains Preserve owned by the New York State Department of Conservation (NYS DEC).
The LGLC will work with the McGurls and the Town of Bolton to make sure that future trails are well thought-out and have minimum impact on the land and landowners around Trout Lake. Similar to its collaboration with the Town in 2015 when the LGLC protected the Pinnacle, the LGLC will help manage the property and its trails, once they are established.
“We thank the McGurl family for their patience throughout this process,” said LGLC Executive Director Jamie Brown, “and for wanting to work with us to protect the land that has been a part of their family since 1986. This great property will simultaneously protect the water quality of Lake George in perpetuity, while also providing recreational access to some of Bolton’s most beautiful forests.”
Tom McGurl, Jr. said, “As we looked to the future, we wanted to be sure that Twin Pines would continue as a destination for our guests who have enjoyed the property for many generations, while ensuring that the land, views, and water would be protected in perpetuity. Working with the LGLC was a natural fit to accomplish this goal. Ultimately, lands that have sat mostly unused will, in time, be added to the recreational hub, linking Trout lake to the recreational opportunities of the Pinnacle, and Cat and Thomas Mountains. This will further enhance of Bolton Landing as an outdoor recreation destination.”
The Bolton Recreational Hub (the Hub) is a collaborative effort between the LGLC, Town of Bolton, and Bolton Landing Chamber of Commerce, that combines the goals and outcomes of land conservation for water quality protection with the access to quality recreational opportunities and commerce within the Town of Bolton. A comprehensive Bolton Recreational Hub Strategy was published in 2019, and provides guidance for conservation and recreational projects going forward.
“The addition of these 212 acres in such a key area of Bolton is a huge step forward for the Hub,” continued Brown. “The trails anticipated for the property as well as possible connectors to Cat Mountain and beyond are highly appealing for any outdoor enthusiast. In addition, the LGLC plans to install educational signage along these trails so that hikers leave with knowledge about the significance of land protection and water quality.”
“Twin Pines on Trout Lake has been an institution in Bolton Landing since the early 1920’s,” continued McGurl. “Over the years, the business has adjusted to meet the needs of our customer base. One thing, however, has remind constant. Twin Pines is a labor of love and dedication to the property, the lake we enjoy, and our community. The reputation of the LGLC as stewards of the Lake George Basin has enabled our property to be protected from development while still being enjoyed by the public.”
Bits of Everything
The Fund for Lake George posts an update regarding the Jefferson Project here.
IFLScience.com investigates the UFO seen near Huletts.
William Shatner recently visited the bridge of the Star Trek Enterprise in Ticonderoga, NY. The Times of Ti has the story.
Video: 2019 Lake George Association Protection Highlights
The Lake George Association posted a video of their conservation efforts from 2019 which includes a great segment about their work replacing the ‘firehouse’ culvert in Huletts Landing. Many thanks to the Lake George Association and their benefactors for their work in the Lake George basin.
Looking Down from Above
I always like posting aerial pictures of Huletts. I received a nice one yesterday on Christmas day. So here it is. (Click image for slightly larger version.)
Culverts: Not Just for Human Use
As everyone knows, Washington county is a large county with much of its total acreage dedicated to farming and dairy production. I like to occasionally spotlight things going on in the county that might be of interest. Today, I wanted to explain what the Washington County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) does.
The Washington County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) is a unique unit of local government that was founded in 1945. Their mission is to assist agricultural producers, rural landowners and municipalities with the management, conservation and best use of our natural resources. In plain terminology – they protect the County’s soil and water resources while maintaining the viability of agriculture as a preferred land use.
Culverts: Not Just for Human Use
by Laura Generous, District Technician
While many of us pay little attention to the culverts or bridges we pass on our daily commutes, or maybe just look at the picturesque water that flows through, aquatic critters must face the challenges they pose to get from one section of stream to the next. The North Atlantic Aquatic Connectivity Collaboration (NAACC) has set up a protocol to inventory culverts and bridges across the northeast.
Trained individuals use a variety of tools to record field observations of culverts and bridges along transportation routes such as roads, railways, and trails. These observations are then entered into a database, scored, and mapped. While the primary objective is to determine if the culvert is passable to aquatic organisms such as fish, frogs, and turtles, it also considers passage for our four-legged friends such as chipmunks, fox, and deer.
It is also a great way to determine the condition of the culvert, which can help highway workers add another — just cause for replacing something that may fail soon. These inventories help conservation efforts of several agencies and non-profits by ranking culverts as to the ability for an aquatic critter to get from one side of the culvert to the other.
This ranking can show funding sources and be used in grant applications to help replace these culverts, so they are safer for use to drive over as well as easy to pass through for our aquatic friends. Look at the pictures and think about which you would rather “swim” through, and which are a little unwelcoming.
Administrators Note: Many thanks to the Washington County Soil & Water Conservation District and Laura Generous for their permission to reprint their article and pictures here.
Leaves Are Falling
The last few weeks in Huletts have been spectacular. The weather has been warm and sunny and the nights have been cool. Plan on coming back again before it starts to get colder. Here are some leaves from this past week.