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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.)

“I see skies of blue
And clouds of white
The bright blessed day
The dark sacred night
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world”

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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.

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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.”

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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.

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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.)

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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.

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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.

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Fifth Annual King George Fishing Derby


Love to fish? Lake George is ready for the fifth annual King George Fishing Derby on September 13th -15th. Are you ready? Prizes awarded for the heaviest fish in the following four categories: Lake Trout, Landlocked Salmon, Largemouth Bass and Smallmouth Bass

Join hundreds of other anglers and get your entries in during September 13th -15th.

You can find the entry form – electronic or in PDF form – on the event’s website at http://www.KingGeorgeFishingDerby.com

Adults and children are invited to compete, as there are separate divisions for each. Cash prizes for the adult division are $2,000 for first place, $1,000 for second, $500 for third, and $250 for fourth.

Adults can register for $50 and juniors can register for $30. FREE event T-shirt with early registration by August 31, 2019

For more information, please visit the event’s website at KingGeorgeFishingDerby.com or email info@kinggeorgefishingderby.com

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DEC Forest Ranger Rescue near Montcalm Point

On July 30 at 9:21 p.m., Warren County 911 transferred a call to DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch from two young women who were part of a group from Camp Chingachgook who had lost the trail when they went to retrieve water from the lake on their way to a campsite near Tongue Mountain Range. Using the coordinates obtained through 911, Dispatch was able to place their location just north of Montcalm Point on Lake George. Forest Rangers Charles Kabrehl and Arthur Perryman responded to Green Island, where they took a boat out to Montcalm Point. At the request of Forest Ranger Kabrehl, Dispatch contacted the initial caller and instructed them to head back downhill towards the western shoreline. At 10:49 p.m. the Forest Rangers found the 16-year-old from Davidson, N.C., and the 17-year-old from Troy along the shoreline where the Rangers picked them up and took them back to their camp.

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Big Fish That Did Not Get Away

It’s always interesting to see our fisherman friends hold up their “catch of the day.” Lake George has some of the best fishing around so it’s nice to see the folks who can reel them in. Many thanks to Gavin Rodgers and Vinny Benvenuto for sharing these great pictures.

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The Importance of Leashing Dogs

Recently, I was out for a walk early in the morning in Huletts when I encountered an unleashed dog. The dog was unfriendly and quite aggressive and rushed me, barking and snapping. It ignored all commands from its owner to respond. This is a perfect example of why dogs always need to be leashed.

Part of the universal appeal of Huletts, is its safety and the “caring spirit” of the community. Young children and wildlife abound. What if the unleashed dog had encountered a child and a child had been bitten or scratched? What if the dog went after a another animal and was bitten by that animal?

The owner of the dog was clearly ignorant of, or simply disregarded, the rules of numerous Huletts Associations that require dogs to be leashed. By doing so, this person showed little concern for their neighbor’s safety or that of their dog by allowing the animal to be unleashed. The owner’s response to me was that they did not expect to encounter anyone on their morning walk.

I share this story to highlight the importance of keeping pets leashed and under control. The purpose of having a “leash rule” only works if people follow it.

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An Artful Landing


A number of art enthusiasts came to Huletts Landing by boat to find the location that a famous painting was created from.

An art history cruise visited Huletts Landing Monday June 24th, arranged by the Albany Institute of History and Art under the direction of artist Anne Diggory, whose exhibition is at the museum until August 18th.

The group came on shore to view the perspective that David Johnson depicted in two paintings in 1870 and 1874. The 1870 version is in the collection of the museum.


Posing with a reproduction of the painting are Tammis Groft, Executive Director of the Albany Institute of History and Art; Anne Diggory, tour director; and Doug McCombs, the museum’s Chief Curator.


The 1870 version of the painting by David Johnson.

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LGLC Announces Appointment of Clifford David, Jr. to the Board of Directors


Clifford David, Jr.

The Lake George Land Conservancy (LGLC) announced the appointment of Clifford David, Jr. its Board of Directors.

David has been involved in land conservation for over 30 years. He has extensive experience in non-profit, government and private sectors, with a focus on blending conservation and economic development. David has been coming to the Lake George region for more than 40 years, including as a Bolton resident during the last 20.

On joining the LGLC Board, David said, “I have always believed that it is important to support and be involved in organizations that align with my values. The LGLC brings together my deep interest in protecting our ecosystem while enhancing the communities’ interests and uses of this beautiful watershed.”

“Cliff brings extensive experience in the field of land protection to the LGLC,” said LGLC Executive Director Jamie Brown, “from the operation of land trusts and organizational management, to the implementation of land protection on large landscape and watershed-scale levels, and project development for businesses that maximize conservation outcomes. I am confident that he will be vital part of our work and make a positive impact on the Lake George watershed.”

David is the President and CEO of Conservation Economics, a consulting company that provides services to corporate and individual landowners who wish to monetize the value of their property while protecting its natural and historic resources. David has a B.S. in Botany from the University of Vermont, and a M.S. in Organization and Management from Antioch College. He serves on many for-profit and non-profit boards and councils in the greater Philadelphia region of Pennsylvania.