In this episode of the Wild Thoughts Podcast, Bill Ingersoll and Pete Nelson discuss the meaning and value of wilderness with eminent Adirondack historian Philip Terrie.
Mourning the Loss of Robbi
As the weeks have ticked by, it’s hard to put into words the loss that the Adirondack community has been facing with the passing of Robbi Mecus. She meant so much to so many people; touching the lives of LGBTQ+, climbers, outdoors enthusiasts, those who worked with her and who loved her.
Keep Debar Pond Un-Intense
Debar Pond should not be intense—it should be a place to unwind, a place to connect with a wild landscape on its own terms.
Wild Thoughts Podcast #6: Strange Natures
In this half-hour conversation, Kayla, Pete, and Bill share their reactions to this thought-provoking and sometimes controversial book.
Keep Debar Pond Forever Wild
Debar Pond and its associated buildings are the subject of what might soon become the next amendment to Article XIV, the “forever wild clause” to the New York State constitution that has made the Forest Preserve uniquely protected since 1894.
A Road is a Road—Any Questions?
The Wild West vs. the Reserved North
Almost any kind of backcountry experience in Algonquin requires some kind of permit. You need to reserve campsites and parking spots. In addition, since Algonquin is such a popular destination, you need to make plans well in advance.
Adirondack Road Agency
Adirondack Park Agency seems to be following the same trajectory as some of its predecessors, in that in 2022 it is explicitly seeking creative ways to get around its own restrictions—in this case, “no material increase.”
Have a Little Faith in the Forest Preserve
The Forest Preserve has been and will continue to be the best tool we have in the Adirondacks to keep land – and the community of life it supports – in a “forever wild” state. Now is not the time to lose faith, nor to indulge in the conceit that nature is static and can be kept unchanged under a glass bubble. The Follensby Pond Tract needs to be added to the cultural and natural heritage we call the Forest Preserve, and the public needs to be invested in its future.
This Land Is Your Land
What made these new lands different from most others, though, was undoubtedly the fact they were already occupied by hundreds of hunting camps. This was not simply opening up vast acreages of forest that had been previously denied to the public-at-large, but driving out the leaseholders who were already there. One can rightly argue that as public lands they will serve more people and provide all sorts of wilderness-based benefits, but I’m sure it still stings for the minority who find themselves at the losing end of the equation.
So Much Work to Be Done
Part 4 of 4 I believe that it is important to know the history of Adirondack trails in order to participate in the public process of creating plans for the units of the park. So, I have written this to give perspective to those who will do the planning.
An Advocate for Trails
Part 3 of 4 Here this account takes on a new perspective, because I view what happened during the past quarter century as one who was actively involved. In the early 70s I completed my graduate work, started hiking again, and became an advocate for trails. As an advocate for dispersing hikers throughout the Park, I was frustrated from the start in ways I never expected.