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Get-together? (With a group of friends or neighbors.)  Visiting together on vacation? We have the High Peaks outdoors for you! There are great outdoor pleasures (and a few pitfalls to be avoided). The gate is open! CLICK & GO! (On this page.) Welcome. Where to stay. Fourpeaks Activities and R&R. (A complete vacation.) Vacationing with another family or couple. With a group of just friends. To get started. We need a Guest List. "I called your establishment to inquire about about lodging for 4 couples . . ." (An Email Exchange.) MORE ABOUT planning a group visit (On the next page.) 
Welcome to our 700-acre private rest and play-ground. Fourpeaks backcountry camps offer an unequalled opportunity for a private get-together--in a place of great natural beauty. No crowds. Maybe no other people at all.
 Authentic Adirondack accommodations in the Great Camp tradition.None of the feel of commercial tourism. For some--a wilderness experience!Hiking, biking, river swimming and floating, field games, skiing, skiing, sledding and more outdoor activities right here at Fourpeaks.Lake swimming, canoeing, hoeseback riding, fishing and downhill skiing nearby.Dog and kid-friendly.Where to stay. Each of our attractive accommodations was designed with only one couple or family in mind. From our "just for two" places (New Camp, Wolf's Nest and Gypsy Camp) to Mom and Dad with up to six kids (Ridge Camp, The Cabin and Camp Barn). Your group vacation get-together may require more than one of our places for housing. We invite you to look them over and see what you like. A key goal should be to select places that (taken together) offer exclusive use of a major portion of our Fourpeaks property. That insures total privacy for your group of friends vacation. Here are some suggestions. Many more are possible. Please let us know your interests and we'll help.  Rent one or more of our backcountry camps at the end of Stonehouse Road--The Cabin, New Camp, Sugar Camp and Gypsy Camp, on over 10 acres of open space for outdoor games and get-togethers. 8 bedrooms, 4 fireplaces and 4 complete kitchens in all. And while each camp is in its own private setting, they're close enough together for easy visiting, with room at The Cabin for food preparation and dining in the Screen House.[CLICK HERE for complete pricing information and CLICK HERE for On-Line Availability Calendar.]Fourpeaks outdoor activities. Fourpeaks offers a wide range of outdoor activities both here on the property and in the nearby High Peaks. Swimming and floating the AuSable river right at the farm. Hiking and picnicking on our our 4 mountains with many beauty spots. Ball games and lawn games (equipment supplied). Boating and canoeing at nearby Taylor Pond--a rare treat. Tell us about your planned get-together. We'll make suggestions that will fit with the interests of your group. Our style of hosting is personal and involved. [CLICK HERE for more about Activities right here at Fourpeaks and in the High Peaks nearby.] 
Fourpeaks offers lots more than just lodgings. Explore our 20 miles of private hiking/skiing trails, an unequalled nature experience with no people. Enjoy scenic river swimming and fishing the nearby AuSable River. Or just R&R in our accessible wilderness. Pet-friendly. Browse our 10 activity pages. [CLICK HERE for Fourpeaks Adirondack Activities.]
Planning a vacation with another family or couple? (Maybe your sister's family or your old neighbors from Detroit.) We encourage you to rent a separate Fourpeaks place for each family. That way we can be sure there is adequate privacy and living space for all our Fourpeaks guests. However, if separate accommodations are not available for your dates or if a shared occupancy works out best for you, that's all right with us. Prices will be higher than for Single or Double Occupancy. Please note that where accommodations are shared by another family we require contact information for the additional guests.
Planning a vacation for a group of friends. (Maybe your office buddies or your old gang of college chums.) As each Fourpeaks backcountry rental is designed for just one family, there is often not enough privacy for additional guests. And a group of unrelated friends or acquaintances, unlike functional family guests, may not meet our housekeeping standards or satify us in the matter of personal safety. [CLICK HERE for Rental Terms, including Housekeeping Responsibilities, and Safety First! for Fourpeaks Guests.]
Frankly, like most owners of private rental places, we are reluctant to rent to groups of friends, especially more than just a few persons. But you may feel your friends group is responsible and especially well suited for an outdoor getaway vacation at Fourpeaks. Give us a call. We'll be happy to learn about it. With the proper planning, you can enjoy being with your friends in a place of such natural beauty you'll never forget it! ( CLICK HERE for Martin and Reto and friends at Ridge Camp--what they had to say about it with 32 photos. )Please note that We're sorry if this sounds like a lot of trouble. There are many area properties that provide full maid service and have no safety concerns whatever. They welcome groups of all kinds. [CLICK HERE for a list of attractive High Peaks accommodations. Or Email/Phone us for suggestions.] We know the places well and we'll help you find one that fits your group. Think of Fourpeaks when it's just you two and maybe your dog. To get started. 1) PHONE. Fourpeaks website is a thorough guide to the accommodations and the activity opportunities here. We hope you like it. But it's important to allow us to amplify or clarify things by phone. Please phone us 518-524-6726 or CLICK HERE for Toll-free calling any time. 2) LIST. To make a rental offer we need to know who's coming by family units. Send us your proposed Guest List--full names and addresses will not be needed at this stage. Use our Guest List Form or make one of your own. Thanks. Your Guest List. Please provide a Guest List for booking additional guests. The list should be arranged by family units that ordinarily occupy the same household. (Our form for Guest List shows the information we need.) Your hosts at Fourpeaks make a personal effort to insure that all guests are comfortable and having a good time. We'll write each family in advance of their visit to familiarize them with the amenities and the vacation opportunities here at Fourpeaks. We'll send maps and photos and invite them to contact us directly for special needs or activity interests. "I called your establishment to inquire about about lodging for 4 couples . . ." (An Email Exchange.) Date: Mon, 4 Jun 2001 09:06:31 -0400 From: "Margaret *****" m****@nycap.rr.com To: "Fourpeaks--Adirondack Camps" VisitUs@4peaks.com Please take me off your list. I called your establishment to inquire about lodging for 4 couples and was immediately rebuffed by the owner who said it was probably not a good match. He didn't even ask a question about our backcountry experience or interest, just assumed we were partiers. Will be glad to give my business to someone else. Subject: We're sorry you were offended Date: Mon, 04 Jun 2001 10:44:49 -0400 From: MartinAndLouise YourAdirondackHosts@4peaks.com Reply-To: VisitUs@4peaks.com Organization: Fourpeaks--Adirondack Camps To: "Margaret *****" m****@nycap.rr.com Margaret-- We're sorry you were offended and felt rebuffed when you inquired about a Fourpeaks stay for last New Years. We have no room for four couples at any of our places, so this type of booking could not be accommodated. We've retrieved our email response from our files (see below) and we agree it could have been friendlier and more informative. For example, we could have offered more than one of our places for your group, so everyone could fit. Our excuse is that (like others in the lodging business) we do get quite a lot of party group inquiries over the holidays. Such groups are not welcome, aside from the fact that they simply can't fit (not enough bedrooms or even beds in our Backcountry Camps). More importantly we don't often rent to groups because typically they're not responsible housekeepers. Groups don't function like just one couple or family when it comes to housekeeping. It's not that we're worried they'll trash the place. They're disorganized and they won't (can't) leave it in the clean and orderly condition that we request--"Leave it as you find it." We explain why this is important to us in our Rental Terms http://4peaks.com/foshort.htm And we make our position clear about how we feel about renting to groups as politely and as thoughtfully as we can at a special "Planning a Get-together?" webpage http://4peaks.com/fparty.htm We do host some groups quite sucessfully. Martin, Reto and friends made not just one, but two visits to Ridge Camp in 2000 and one of them was over New Years. See http://4peaks.com/fgst1749.htm for photos of their summit hikes and camp fun. They're really the kind of outdoorsy folks who appreciate our place. I'm sorry you didn't take the hint at our special "Planning a Get-together?" webpage http://4peaks.com/fparty.htm and let us know how outdoorsy and campy your group was. That might have made a difference. Your name has been taken off our mailing list (as you requested) but we really hope you'll consider staying with us in the future. For anyone with a love of backcountry quiet and beauty, Fourpeaks is a unique vacation opportunity--wilderness accommodations with views (not a cabin colony) in a comfortable place with high quality furnishings (not a tent or leanto). You say you'll "be glad to give [your] business to someone else." Where? Not here in the Northeast. Except you get above the tree line in Colorado or 50 miles off paved roads in way Eastern Quebec you won't find anything comparible. Please reconsider. Thanks for your feedback. Even if we never get to host you here at Fourpeaks, your response has been helpful. Best wishes, Martin and Louise (Martin Schwalbaum and Louise Merriam) Fourpeaks Hosts and Owners .........................Email Copy....................... [File Copy of Email sent Dec 6, 2000 in response to a phone inquiry for accommodations for a group of (maybe, not sure how many) 5 couples over New Years.] (Reformatted from Fourpeaks information database.) To: Meg **** At: m****@nycap.rr.com Dear Meg, [Thanks for your phone call.] Meg--I'm sorry we don't have anything that would suit you for New Years. Please think of Fourpeaks for just you two. Your Adirondack Vacation/Getaway, a secluded mountain valley this Winter . . . 'New Camp,' on a granite ledge, a porch with distant views, complete kitchen, fireplace, a supply of firewood--enough for your visit--4 mountains, a jar of homemade jam, a hammock with space, the friendly attention of your hosts, 700 acres with hiking/skiing trails, an Adirondack River to fish and swim in, a high degree of privacy in the accommodations & Quiet: $350/3nights for 2 persons. [10% Room Tax applies. See NOTE.] [Photos, maps, full details at http://4peaks.com/fcamp.htm ] Consider another Camp on Fourpeaks 700 wilderness acres? 'Ridge Camp' 3 buildings, High Peaks Views from open balcony $500/3nights for 2 persons. [10% Room Tax applies. See NOTE.] Meg--There are six more Fourpeaks PLACES to choose from and many alternate DATES to consider. See our On-Line Availability Calendar http://4peaks.com/femail0.htm or phone 800-xxx-xxxx. For 4-Season ACTIVITIES--miles of private hiking/skiing trails with views and just R&R. River swimming, floating, fishing. Lots more to do nearby--things most visitors don't find. We'll guide you-- http://4peaks.com/foguest.htm Want to consider other places? We suggest Jay Lodge, Huntington Cottages and more choices all of them right here in the High Peaks area at our ALTERNATE ACCOMMODATIONS page http://4peaks.com/folove.htm Thanks for finding "Fourpeaks." Please visit us On-Line at our award winning 300-page website "4peaks.com." The photos, maps, full descriptions, informative articles and area links will enhance your appreciation of the natural beauty here. http://4peaks.com/ Explore our 700-acre rest and play-ground. http://4peaks.com/fcamp.htm Pretty camps in a secluded valley. http://4peaks.com/fotrails.htm Walks with views and beauty spots. http://4peaks.com/foguest.htm Activities right here and nearby. http://4peaks.com/foshort2.htm Safety First! & Rental Terms. Your Adirondack Hosts, Martin Schwalbaum/Louise Merriam P.S. For reservations phone 800-xxx-xxxx (US) or 518-946-xxxx. P.P.S. A 10% Essex County Occupancy Tax applies to rentals of less than 7 days duration. Member Whiteface Mountain Visitors Bureau Member North Country Chamber of Commerce 518-563-1000 Subject: RE: We're sorry you were offended Date: Mon, 4 Jun 2001 13:05:51 -0400 From: "Margaret *****" m****@nycap.rr.com To: VisitUs@4peaks.com For future reference, your comments were made to me when I inquired by phone, not by email. I suggest that you query potential guests before making conclusions. MORE ABOUT planning a group visit (On the next page.) Are there enough beds? Fourpeaks Room Plans. Will everyone be comfortable with the amenities at Fourpeaks? A Word About Adirondack Vacation Value. Fourpeaks Adirondack Camps: What they're like! & What they're not like. .  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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