Castle Rock at Blue Mountain Lake, NY

Castle Rock rises five hundred feet above the north shore of Blue Mountain Lake in the Central Adirondacks — a jagged peak at the end of a short but steep hike, that starts at the end of Maple Lodge Road.

view of Blue Mountain Lake from Castle Rock

We learned of the Castle Rock hike through Kids on the Trail! — a guidebook recommended in an NYSkiForum thread we posted looking for recommendations on kid-friendly hikes. In our first experience with the book, we found it, for the most part, well organized and easy to use.

Over the last few years, as our now five-year old daughter has gotten more able and interested in hiking, we’ve tried to seek out short rewarding hikes, that would get her excited about walking in the woods.

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Gear Lust: Winter 11-12

Transpack TRV ProWe’re getting into that gear lust time of year again. My wish list is usually a compilation realistic acquisitions and pipe dreams. One must-have and affordable piece of gear for this season is a boot bag that can be worn as a backpack. My current boot bag is falling apart and I’d like to replace it with something that has a lot of capacity and leaves my hands free. As a dad, I’m a pack mule on a lift-served ski morning. I posed this same question in the Gear Forum, and got a near unanimous answer. The Transpack. I’m looking at the TRV Pro, pictured above. This piece of gear isn’t just fantasy — I’m getting it, and soon.

While the new boot bag may well be in my possession very soon, new skis are probably a fantasy. But I’ll suspend reality, and proceed with the tradition of Labor Day gear lust.

I assumed I’d finally have a ski for powder last year when I picked up a pair of Icelantic Pilgrims. Going from at 78mm ski to the 90mm Pilgrims, I was sure I’d be floating on top in 12-18 inches of snow, but the Pilgrims just aren’t powder skis. Don’t get me wrong, the Pilgrims changed my game. They required me to ski aggressively and, eventually, I did. By March when I went to Jay Peak I was holding my own with true expert skiers. And when I got my chance at the Slides in April, I went all out.

Icelantic Nomad
Icelantic Nomad • 168cm • 140-105-130

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Friday Fantasy Photo #24

Riva Ridge • Whiteface, NY • December 26, 2010

“At the summit of Whiteface there’s a sense that the runs drop perilously from the ledge sculpted into the side of the mountain. On this particular day clouds shrouded the valleys below and the High Peaks rose in the distance. I photographed this lone snowboarder as he admired the dramatic view from along the ledge…” -takeahike46er