Almost a
foot of snow has fallen already. Although we will go through several early
season snow storms before the ground stays covered, it’s easy for everyone to
get in the mood for winter.
That festive
mood will flourish at Thanksgiving, when the community hosts the first weekend
of An Adirondack Christmas on Main Street. People are transported back to an
old fashioned Adirondack holiday. A holiday train from Utica will bring folks
to Old Forge for visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus, horse drawn wagon rides, reindeer,
and small town charm.
Only 38 days until the trails open
for snowmobiling, and the following weekend is SNODEO, the kick-off event of
the snowmobiling season. The fastest growing event at SNODEO is the youth
races, and for many it’s the most fun event. Everyone enjoys watching the next
generation of riders doing what they love in Old Forge.
Only 43 days until McCauley Mountain opens for the season.
The mountain crews are finishing preparations, and the Polar Bear Ski Club
volunteers are completing construction of the second yurt shelter. This new one
is close to the entrance of the Nordic Trail System, and will serve the cross
country races, just as the original yurt serves the alpine racers of the Polar
Bear and Mohawk Valley ski clubs. It’s a fitting addition, and points up the
strength of both race programs, which flourish in the shadow of local Olympian
Louie Ehrensbeck. A veteran of two U.S. Olympic ski teams, Louie is at McCauley
almost every day during the winter, a living example of skiing possibilities
for young racers.