Yellow Yellow, Bear Canisters and Teddy Roosevelt

Yellow Yellow, Bear Canisters and Teddy Roosevelt

by Kathleen Lisson

 Why Hiking is Important

Jack, a volunteer summit steward on Algonquin Mountain, shared the story of Yellow-Yellow, the only bear that ever discovered how to open a bear canister. Yellow-Yellow, named after the two tags that the DEC placed on her ears, roamed the forest below Algonquin. She was shy around humans but opened their bear canisters for the food inside. 

When Jack told me that Yellow-Yellow had been harvested by a hunter a few years ago, I felt sad. There was something awesome about the idea of hiking in the same forest as an ingenious bear that could defeat the best technology that man could invent. Yes, even if it meant that I could not rely on the effectiveness of a bear canister in the Eastern Adirondacks.

I watched a TED talk by Jon Mooallem, author of "Wild Ones: A Sometimes Dismaying, Weirdly Reassuring Story About Looking at People Looking at Animals in America." Mooallem tells the story of President Theodore Roosevelt sparing the life of a black bear, an incident that inspired a nationwide love for "teddy bears" at a time when the reputation of bears was turning from vicious predator to underdog. 

I think Mooallem has a point, not only about bears and other wildlife, but about the wilderness they roam. 

When experienced hikers invite and support inexperienced hikers as they explore the backcountry, we empower them to create their own story about the importance of wild places like the Adirondacks in their world.

Watch the TED talk here: http://www.ted.com/talks/jon_mooallem_the_strange_story_of_the_teddy_bear_and_what_it_reveals_about_our_relationship_to_animals

 The New York Times profile on Yellow-Yellow http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/25/nyregion/25bear.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

Why Do People Climb Mountains?

Flying Carpets and Jonathan Livingston Seagull

By Kathleen Lisson

I was listening to NPR on my way to a dayhike in the Shawangunk mountains recently, and caught a reading of Steven Millhauser’s “Flying Carpets” in an episode of the SELECTED SHORTS program “Wish Fulfillment,” hosted by Parker Posey.

Flying Carpets is the story of a boy who explores his boundaries by using a flying carpet. Being on my way to a practice hike for my upcoming trip to summit Mount Kilimanjaro, this story became very relevant. 

Unlike most of the boys who stayed under their mothers' watchful eyes in the backyard, I am taking my 'flying carpet' WAY out into the blue this July.

The boy decides that flying high and far is not for him, and his carpet ends up in the cellar.

But what if he DID go into the blue?

This story reminds me of a book my mother had in her library when I was a child 'Jonathan Livingston Seagull.'

Watch Ariel Bissett review Jonathan Livingston Seagull here: http://youtu.be/khvC_g3dBqk


Here is a quote from the book: “Why, Jon, why?" his mother asked. "Why is it so hard to be like the rest of the flock, Jon? Why can't you leave low flying to the pelicans, the albatross? Why don't you eat? Son, you're bone and feathers!" "I don't mind being bone and feathers mom. I just want to know what I can do in the air and what I can't, that's all. I just want to know.”

Find out more about Flying Carpets here: http://www.wnyc.org/story/flying-carpets/

Tabletop and Phelps Mountain Adirondack Hike Review

Tabletop and Phelps Mountains Adirondack Hike Review

by Kathleen Lisson

We hiked to the summits of Tabletop and Phelps mountains from Adirondak Loj on Memorial Day weekend. 

Lessons Learned:

• Hiking pace varies from mountain to mountain.

• A waterproof clothing system is a must during spring hikes. 

• Wear waterproof pants even if it is sunny outside!

This hike really drove home the lesson that there is no clear formula for determining hiking pace. Two base to summit hikes with the same mileage and elevation gain can take two VERY different ascent times. 

The two miles from Adirondak Loj to Marcy Dam were quick, the next two miles to Tabletop were slower, and the ascent times for both Tabletop and Phelps initially had us staring in disbelief at the distance markers on the signs. Of course, the signs were true. Hiking up an active stream in the forest on Tabletop and over a boulder strewn path on Phelps slowed us down. 

For me, gaiters are an item of must-wear hiking gear on muddy trails

I got the chance to put my waterproof clothing system to the test again. Wearing waterproof boots, gaiters and waterproof pants made me much more willing to stay on the trail when it was wet / muddy and more willing to climb up wet rocks as well. After the hike, I could take off my gaiters and waterproof pants and look 'presentable' in my reasonably clean hiking pants for dinner at the Adirondak Loj.