Black Bear Mountain in Inlet NY

Continuing the theme from our last adventure, Farah and I wanted more Adirondacks. This time we were not alone though, planning the weekend with our friends Alex and Katie. What started as a very ambitious plan for some fall camping, soon turned to the more reasonable plan of a nice autumn hike. It had been some time since I was on the top of Black Bear mountain in Inlet, and it was looking like the perfect day to ascend.

Black Bear Mountain trail map
Black Bear Mountain trail map courtesy CNY Hiking

Black Bear is down the road from Bald Mountain along route 28. It’s longer and more difficult than Bald. The trail forms a 4.9 mile lollipop with two choices to the top: the steeper blue trail and the longer but more mellow yellow trail.

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Mountain Bike World Cup at Mount van Hoevenberg

I was at Mount van Hoevenberg for two days for the final UCI mountain bike World Cup weekend. I didn’t make it over to Whiteface for the downhill races. On Friday, I was a volunteer, and on Saturday, I returned as a spectator.

Short Course Men's podium

Why volunteer at ORDA events? It can be fun, and every day that you volunteer, you get a voucher that’s good at any of the ORDA venues.

When my kiddo visits from NJ, there will be free trail passes at the Ho. Same thing if a friend visits and wants to go to Whiteface.

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Fourth Lake Paddle to Alger Island

The air has started to turn crispy in upstate New York and the dog days of summer are now in the rear view. Farah and I weren’t quite ready to let the summer go yet and have been squeezing the last bit of juice out of the warmer days.

Alger Island access point
Alger Island access point

We’ve spent a lot of time in the Finger Lakes over the last few months, neglecting our beloved Adirondacks. As a result Old Forge was square in our sites last Saturday for the last official paddle of the summer.

Old Forge was bustling when we drove down Main Street around 10am. The leaf peepers and fall aficionados were out in full force combined with the crowd of firefighters and their families who attended the weekend drill school.

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