Adirondack LettersNo.4: A Lake Placid Story Hints of Balsam and Pine: Nature Reflections in a minor key from our quiet corner of the Adirondacks. For Fourpeaks Guests and anyone who ever dreamed about a wilderness getaway. CLICK & GO! (On this page.) Adirondack Letter No.4: "A Lake Placid Story." More stuff in An Adirondack Miscellany. (On the next page.) List and Links to all the Adirondack Letters in this series. 
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to get on our mailing listAnd receive occasional Adirondack Letters like this. "A Lake Placid Story" Adirondack Letter No.4 Subject: "A Lake Placid Story" Adirondack Letter No.4 Date: Sun, 10 Sep 2000 05:00:23 From: < YourAdirondackGuide@4peaks.com > To: < youremailname@youremail.address > To: Fourpeaks Visitors At: < youremailname@youremail.address > Dear Fourpeaks Visitor, It was the late sixties and my wife's idea of a weekend away was downhill skiing. She liked tour buses, too. So my first look at the Adirondacks began at a tacky bus company on the West Side. The package (I've hated that word ever since) included a room at the (even then) run-down hotel across from the Alpine Mall on Main Street. I remember we ordered a meal at the Golden Arrow and I got up from the table and went over to visit the old couple at the cash register. She reminded me of my bubba (hair in a bun with a sweet creased-up smile). The old gentleman took just a minute for his answer--"Wilmington." Only a few days later I was 4-wheeling up a backcountry road with a real estate agent who knew land like I knew --well, say-- book printing. We turned into an abandoned field, bounced along a rough woods trail for a bit, and then I got my first look at The Cabin. To say it was "Love at first sight," is putting it mildly. By next Spring I had split with the lady and was spending every weekend I could manage right here at camp. In those days we got water from the brook and did without a fridge. The rest is history--which you can read about at http://4peaks.com/fstry.htm This year--our third in this business--bookings were strong. I got to thinking how we found this place--the quiet woods, just empty space and no people. Looking back to those first days in Lake Placid the contrast was striking. More so today. A new 3% add-on Occupancy Tax (half million dollars in just six months) goes to the Visitors Bureau ad budget to bring thousands and thousands even more touristas to their choked streets, tasteless shops and plastic ho-motels (since redone as Adirondack "inns"). We just decided to move a bit further away from it all. The big project this year was trail building. We were lucky to find an environmental student with experience on wilderness trails in Idaho and Alaska. He worked wonders with just a handsaw, mattuck, shovel and peevee. The summits of both Rattlesnake and Ebenezer may now be found with ease. The old Smith Road from pioneering days is open again from Sugar Camp to their tin-roofed logging camp and beyond. 150-year old maples the oldtimers sugared alone are worth the visit. The most successful effort is the 1/4-mile long foot path along the AuSable. Three flights of stairs cut into the bank and a broad swimming pool we discovered for the first time. See http://4peaks.com/fotrails.htm A dead tree fell down across Stonehouse Road yesterday. The weather's changing. Apples are doing well after the heavy pruning two years ago. The Princess apples at the side of the Stone House are the most abundant and best tasting. Jam making time in the next few weeks. Thanks for reading this. If you've ever been a guest with us, go to http://4peaks.com/fgift.htm to learn about our midweek specials and free upgrades. Come see us again. If you've never been--think about it. There's a lovely quiet season coming up. And please visit us On-Line: http://4peaks.com/ "A 700-acre private rest and play-ground." http://4peaks.com/fcamp.htm Pretty Camps in a Hidden Valley. http://4peaks.com/fotrails.htm Walks with views & Beauty spots. http://4peaks.com/fgstbndx.htm Photo Guest Book--What they said. Your Adirondack Host, Martin Schwalbaum P.S. If you liked this Letter, CLICK HERE to Tell a Friend! If you didn't like it please reply to this with "REMOVE" in the subject heading. Thanks. Former Member Lake Placid/Essex County Visitors Bureau Tourist stuff: www.lakeplacid.com 800/2PLACID ************************************************************* This is No.4 of a really occasional Letter, "Hints of Balsam and Pine from our Corner of the Adirondacks," for Fourpeaks guests or anyone who ever inquired about a Fourpeaks Vacation/Getaway. To get off this list reply with "REMOVE" in the subject heading. *************************************************************
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to get on our mailing listAnd receive occasional Adirondack Letters like this.  An Adirondack Miscellany Newspaper and Magazine articles, Books and lots more. January 1998 Ice storm of the Century Devastates Northcountry. May 1998 Town of Jay Happy 200th Birthday Party at the 1829 Southmayd Stone House June 1998 Natives and Outsiders at the Jay Old Covered Bridge. July 1777 Jane McCrae Murdered by Indians in Ft. Edward NY Adirondack Great Camps: Adventures in the Wilderness. Miss P, the famous www.Internet web purrcat, interviews Tramp, our Fourpeaks barking cocker. Ironman USA comes to Fourpeaks. Chickadees In Winter Flying Critters on your Adirondack Vacation. Adirondack Letters: "Hints of Balsam and Pine from our corner of the Adirondacks." AuSable River Swimming: Where the Pools Are Never Crowded, And Water Slides Are Nature's Own (New York Times) A new novel about Fourpeaks: Moss Krupnick's Daughters of Utopia, 196 pages, $9.98 For your Adirondack experience--"Stay Awhile In Style!" Plattsburgh-Republican November 2002. NATURE WITHIN REACH: Luxury Camping. (July 2004, Southwest Airlines SPIRIT (In-flight Magazine.) Annual Jay Yard Sale. (First Sale August 19, 2006.) Glamping. (Glamorous Camping.) (Jan-Feb, Nov-Dec 2008, Women's Adventure Magazine.) .  Are you in this picture? Fourpeaks hosts now welcome paying guests to a 700-acre rest and playground for vacations in the Adirondack Great Camp tradition. Couples appreciate Fourpeaks secluded settings. Outdoor loving families have fun exploring our accessible wilderness. Folks with dogs enjoy the open spaces to run their pets. A private nature rereat. For a vacation away from it all. Are you in this picture? CLICK HERE to find out! [More about this at Frequently Asked Questions.]  Inquire about a Fourpeaks Adirondack Vacation/Getaway. (Easy Inquiry Form.)
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