Name an attraction or town close to home that you still haven’t got around to visiting.
Another provocative Bloganuary prompt. I’ve exercised a little creative license nevertheless. The emphasis of the prompt is visitable places. I’ve amplified my picks to include activities in most of the places. In fact, for some of the attractions I’m listing, the activity is even more notable than the location.
As with previous prompts, limiting my choices to five is challenging, but I’ve trimmed and culled (and cheated just an itty-bitty smidgeon by sneaking in a sixth!) i’ve treated this post as a resource for others, who might be interested in pursuing one or all of these selections. To that end, I’ve included useful excerpts with source links so that you can learn more. in other words, this is turned into a bit of a list post directing you to sources of better information than I can provide.
Ride to Rodin
For no good reason at all I’ve never viewed the Rodin sculpture (possibly depicting Camille Claudel) located at the base of the Champlain Memorial Lighthouse in Crown Point, near the Champlain Bridge. It’s time.
And to make the outing even more enjoyable, I’d like to incorporate it into a pedal power loop. Bicycling from Essex south to Crown Point by way of Westport and Port Henry looks like it will be about 30 miles. Perfect appetite builder for lunch at the foot of Rodin’s La France. Perhaps a postprandial snooze on the shore of Lake Champlain, then resume my bike ride across the Champlain Bridge to Chimney Point in Vermont. The afternoon would be spent cycling north back to Charlotte (+/-30 miles) where I’d ride the ferry home.
So what about this Rodin sculpture?
The story begins in the year 1909, the Tercentenary of Samuel de Champlain’s exploration of the Lake Champlain region. To commemorate that 300th anniversary, New York State and Vermont collaborated to convert a 72-foot-tall granite lighthouse… into a memorial to the great explorer and navigator.
As a contribution to the memorial, the government of France donated to the people of Vermont and New York a bronze bas-relief called La France, to be embedded in the lighthouse’s exterior wall. It was created by Auguste Rodin, who sculpted the head of a woman to personify France. Camille Claudel, his muse and fellow sculptor, was his model.
The bas-relief was completed and installed, and the Champlain Lighthouse Memorial was dedicated in May 1912.
(Source: Alliance Française of the Lake Champlain Region)
I’ve been a fan of Rodin for most of my life and of Claudel since the early 1990s when I watched the enrapturing film named for her.
Claudel was Rodin’s apprentice, model and mistress before being involuntarily committed to an asylum by her mother and brother in 1913. She spent the last 30 years of her life locked up and prevented from writing, sculpting or communicating with the outside world. Much of her work has been lost. Her tragic story has been chronicled in books and in the 1988 movie Camille Claudel, starring Isabelle Adjani and Gerard Depardieu.
(Source: Lady on the Lake | Seven Days)
Intrigued? I’ll meet you at the monument!
Dive the Champlain II
I grew up swimming and boating in Rock Harbor, frequently passing by the submerged wreck of the Champlain II. I’ve been scuba diving for about 15-16 years, but always in the Caribbean, never Lake Champlain. It’s time to put these two things together!
I’m hoping to scuba dive the Champlain II wreck, hopefully either my nephews who were certified to dive a year or two ago.
If you’re unfamiliar with the Champlain II backstory, this just might intrigue you.
Champlain II‘s career ended on the night of July 16, 1875. While at dock in Westport, NY, the pilots changed shifts with John Eldredge taking over the wheel from Ell Rockwell. Rockwell would later recount that John Eldredge had “appeared glum.” The Champlain II headed north out of Westport, and a short time later the enormous steamer ran aground near Barn Rock.
… All persons on board were safely disembarked on shore. An investigation found that Eldredge had been taking morphine to relieve the symptoms of a disorder called gout.
… The Champlain Transportation Co. tried to recoup some of its losses by salvaging the engines and superstructure, but the submerged stern section was allowed to remain.
(Source: Lake Champlain Maritime Museum)
We chartered an outing with the Lake Champlain, Maritime Museum a dozen or so years ago during which we anchored at the rec site and enjoyed a virtual tour via high definition video sent up from a submersible ROV.
The experience was impressive, and I can only imagine how much more fascinating it will be to experience firsthand by scuba diving the wreck.
Rediscover ADK MTB
Over the years have fallen into a routine. I’m mountain bike when we’re in Santa Fe, and I rode bike when we were in Essex. There are reasons, but none good enough to get stuck in a rut.
In recent years an impressive network of mountain biking trails have been built in Elizabethtown, NY. I’ve never ridden them, and I’m increasingly curious.
Elizabethtown is quickly becoming a destination for recreational trail users. Over 24 miles of trails are already developed for mountain biking, trail running and skiing, and plans for additional trails are in various stages of development.
(Source: Barkeater Trails Alliance (BETA))
The Blueberry Hill Trail system is a network of multi-use trails on town-owned property. Directly adjacent to Blueberry is a new project undertaken by local riders and community advocates. The “Elizabethtown Mt. Bike and Climbers Ranch” will add approximately 325 acres of access, a cliff system and fantastic 360-degree views to the already scenic town system.
On the south side of town, Otis Mountain is a privately owned 1940’s ski hill that has evolved into a challenging trail network. Directly adjacent to the Otis Mountain trail system is another 425 acres of private property made available by a strong community supporter. Trails have been built on this property already, with more in the works.
Perhaps this spring I will bring a mountain bike back to the Adirondacks and finally discover the Blueberry Hill Trails and the Otis Mountain Trails. Perhaps by then the new “Elizabethtown Mt. Bike and Climbers Ranch“ will be ready to ride!
Kiteboarding
I’ve been interested in learning to kiteboard since the first time I saw the sport. It’s spectacular!
I’ll be a total beginner, but I’m a wake surfer, wakeboarder, and windsurfer. It seems to me that this adrenaline pumping activity should be viable for me. And I’m aware of two outfits on Lake Champlain that give kiteboarding (and kitesurfing) lessons: ChamplainKites and Northshore Kite-N-Paddle. Hopefully I’ll manage to make the leap next summer!
Here’s a sneak peek at one of them.
Welcome to ChamplainKites, your premier destination for kitesurfing and kiteboarding adventures on the beautiful Lake Champlain… we are your reliable neighbor, ready to enhance your kitesurfing and kiteboarding experiences.
Are you captivated by the thrill of kitesurfing? Do you want to ride the waves, feel the cool breeze on your face, and witness the beauty of the vast blue sky from a fresh perspective? If so, you’ve come to the right place.
(Source: ChamplainKites)
I need to do a little homework to better understand the pros and cons of kite boarding versus kite surfing. Hhhmmm…
Ski Whiteface Toll Road
Skin up. Ski down. Possibly cross country ski. More likely telemark ski.
For the unfamiliar, here’s the skinny.
How many other roads do you know that lead you directly to the summit of a 4,867’ mountain, with gorgeous views spanning hundreds of miles of wildland reaching as far as Vermont and Canada? Nowhere else is the beauty and vastness of the Adirondack Park so apparent and so easily accessible. The paved road rises over 2,300 feet in five miles from the Toll House.
(Source: Whiteface Memorial Highway – Lake Placid, NY)
I’ve heard about this beautiful ski outing for years, but I’ve never managed to make it happen.
Ever dreamed of skiing up one of the tallest mountains in New York? Well, those dreams can come true at the Whiteface Toll Road! (Insider tip: this is the Veterans Memorial Highway, but locals always call it the Toll Roll when skiing.)
How to get there
From the 4-way intersection in Wilmington take a left onto Route 431 (Whiteface Mountain Road). Follow here for 3-miles to the Toll Road on the left, park near the gate; but not in front of it.
By the numbers
Distance: 10.5 miles, round trip to the Castle
Elevation gain: 2,400 feet to the Castle
(Source: Whiteface Region)
What a way to earn your turns, right? It’s often heralded as a good early season cross-country ski or telemark adventure. The ideal balance is enough snow coverage to avoid hitting pavement, but not too much icy snow pack and windburned snow. Might still be able to squeeze this one this winter.
Wildlife Wish List
So I warned you at the beginning that I was going to sneak in one extra “to do” item for this list. I know that’s cheating. And I’m sorry. Mea culpa.
I’d like to close with a wish that I’ll finally witness a bobcat in-person AND that I’ll finally experience a wilderness sighting of a northern timber rattlesnake.
The Instagram post above is one of many wildlife photographs we’ve been fortunate to document with our unmanned cameras. But I’ve never seen a bobcat up close and personal except via the wildlife cams. Stealthy cats!
As for the northernmost population of timber rattlesnakes, I’ve been lucky to spot quite a few over the years. But they’ve all been residential and roadway sightings (the latter unfortunately being the majority of my sightings). I’d like just once to come across Crotalus horridus in its natural habitat.
That’s it. Five (plus one extra) goals to visit and experience. Onward!
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