ADK Talks

In this episode of ADK Talks, we have a fascinating conversation with Ian Tomasch from Gore Mountain, New York’s largest ski area. Located in the heart of the Adirondacks in North Creek, NY, Gore Mountain boasts a rich history of catering to skiers, snowboarders, and winter sports enthusiasts in the southern Adirondacks.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• Gore’s origins as the North Creek Ski Bowl 
• SKI Magazine’s readers’ poll and Gore’s top rankings
• America’s first organized ski patrol was formed at Gore Mountain
• North Creek’s Nordic Center
• The webcam’s at Gore’s base area, summit and on Bear Mountain
• Making skiing (and snow) in the Adirondacks more sustainable
• Staying in North Creek
• Summer at Gore Mountain
• Where to get the latest news on current snow conditions at Gore Mountain
• Using Gore Mountain’s website to plan and make the most of your visit

Also mentioned in this podcast:

• The Alpine Lodge near Gore Mountain
• Goose Pond Inn
• Veteran’s Memorial Highway in Lake Placid
• Whiteface Mountain Ski Center
• Titus Mountain
• Lapland Lake Winter Vacation Center
• Garnet Hill Lodge Outdoor Center
• Tupper Lake’s James C. Frenette Park

ADK Talks is brought to you by ADK Taste. We provide insight on the best places to stay, shop, eat and things to do in the 6-million-acre Adirondack Park in upstate New York. Visit our website, ADKtaste.com, and sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Do you have questions or comments? We'd love to hear from you! Email us at [email protected].

In this episode of ADK Talks, we delve into the Adirondack’s unique culinary culture with a sizzling conversation with Chef and Adirondack restaurateur Billy Trudsoe, proprietor of Lizzie Keays Kitchen and Cocktails in Warrensburgh and Basil & Wick's in North Creek.

We hear about Billy’s journey from a drive-in king to head chef at top restaurants in Lake George and Florida, which led him to the ultimate culinary competition, Gordon Ramsay’s “Hell’s Kitchen.”

Billy shares his inspiring story of how his experiences culminated in establishing two of the southern Adirondack’s hottest restaurants.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• A lifetime training from the ground up in Adirondack kitchens
• The decision to reimagine long-time apres ski destination Basil & Wick’s near Gore Mountain
• Resurrecting Lizzie Keays restaurant in a historic Adirondack landmark
• Lessons learned from his time during season 21 of “Hell’s Kitchen” with globally acclaimed chef and rascal/genius Gordon Ramsay
• The art and science of building, maintaining and growing two successful dining establishments simultaneously

Mentioned in this podcast:

• The Algonquin in Bolton Landing
• Hell’s Kitchen
• Historic Empire Shirt Factory in Warrensburgh
• B Trues Mad Flava
• Paradise Bay on Lake George
• The Pinnacle Preserve on Lake George
• Izzy’s Deli in North Creek
• George Henry’s in Warrensburgh

ADK Talks is brought to you by ADK Taste. We provide insight on the best places to stay, shop, eat and things to do in the 6-million-acre Adirondack Park in upstate New York. Visit our website, ADKtaste.com, and sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Do you have questions or comments? We'd love to hear from you! Email us at [email protected].

Mixed & Edited by Next Day Podcast
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In this special Halloween episode of ADK Talks, we delve into some of the Adirondacks' top haunted spots—places where people report having seen ghosts or experienced the paranormal.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• Hotel Saranac, one of USA TODAY’S Top 10 Best Haunted Hotels in America
• Saratoga Homestead
• Rhinelander Estate
• Adirondac - Tahawus
• Haunted Lake George
• MacDonough Hall at SUNY Plattsburgh
• John Brown Farm
• Fort Ticonderoga
• Fort Crown Point
• Champ: The Mysterious Monster of Lake Champlain
• Tracking the Elusive Sasquatch in the Adirondacks

Also mentioned in this podcast:

• Adirondack Experience
• The Caldwell House

ADK Talks is brought to you by ADK Taste. We provide insight on the best places to stay, shop, eat and things to do in the 6-million-acre Adirondack Park in upstate New York. Visit our website, ADKtaste.com, and sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Have questions or comments? We'd love to hear from you! Email us at [email protected] and let us know your thoughts.

Mixed & Edited by Next Day Podcast
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In this ADK Talks episode, we have the privilege of speaking with Jeff Berry and Elena Lumby, two dedicated members of Search and Rescue in the Northern Adirondacks (SARNAK). 

SARNAK is an all-volunteer organization based in Saranac Lake, primarily serving the Upstate New York region. It works closely with NYS DEC’s Forest Rangers, who, in addition to protecting and managing forests, parks and wildlife habitats, play a vital role in ensuring the safety of visitors. SARNAK also collaborates with other law enforcement agencies and first responders to assist with backcountry emergencies.

Jeff and Elena delve into the rigorous and comprehensive training the SARNAK team undergoes, instilling confidence in their ability to assist NY’s dedicated Forest Rangers in any backcountry emergency.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Stories from their Search and Rescue experiences
• Why “cotton can kill” in the wilderness
• How Snickers bars, Swedish Fish, and Stewart’s chocolate-covered espresso beans are good for you
• Why you shouldn’t go into the woods without two headlamps
• The rise in wandering seniors
• Where to learn about the 10 hiking essentials

Also mentioned in this podcast:

SARNAK

SARNAK on Facebook

NYS DEC Forest Rangers Assistance 833-697-7264 

North Elba Local Enhancement and Advance Fund – LEAF Grants

CalTopo Search and Rescue Mapping Software

NYS Forest Ranger Reports Archive

NCPR: Rangers rescue hypothermic, frostbitten hiker in Adirondacks amid snowstorm

New York Times: A Hiker Was Lost in the Woods. Snow Was Falling. Time Was Running Out.

Hike Smart NY 10 Hiking Essentials

Find Your Local Search And Rescue Team

90-Miler Northern Forest Canoe Trail

Paul Smith’s VIC

Fiddlehead Bistro

Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK)

The LOJ at Heart Lake

Crossroads Country Store

Stewart’s

ADK Talks is brought to you by ADK Taste. We provide insight on the best places to stay, shop, eat and things to do in the 6-million-acre Adirondack Park in upstate New York. Visit our website, ADKtaste.com, and sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Questions or comments? Email us at [email protected]. We'd love to hear from you!

In this ADK Talks episode, we recommend top autumn activities in the Adirondacks. From foliage to festivals, we share our favorite things to do in the fall in the ADK.

While the list of great things to do in the Adirondacks is almost endless, our listeners have been asking us to share our favorites. Who are we to say no?

Our Top 10 list includes:

1. Gore Mountain Harvest Fest
2. Mt. Van Hoevenberg’s Thrilling Cliffside Coaster in Lake Placid
3. Lake George Oktoberfest
4. Thurman’s Fall Farm Tour
5. Apple picking, apple cider, and apple cider doughnuts
6. Adirondack Experience, the Museum at Blue Mountain Lake, and FallFest
7. Fright Fest at the Great Escape
8. Lake George Historical Association’s Ghost Tours
9. Adirondack pub and restaurant firepits
10. William Shatner Weekend at the Star Trek Original Series Set Tour in Ticonderoga

Listen now and subscribe to ADK Talks to never miss an opportunity to learn more from the people behind the best places to visit, stay, eat, shop, and do things in the Adirondacks. 

Visit our website, ADKtaste.com, and sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Also mentioned in this podcast:

Bolton Landing Brewing Company

Adirondack Pub & Brewery in Lake George

Lemon Tree Brewery in Speculator

Raquette River Brewing in Tupper Lake

Fort William Henry Haunted History Ghost Tours

beck’s TAVERN in North Creek

Sticks ‘n Stones in Schroon Lake

Lake Placid Film Festival

Questions or comments? Email us at [email protected]. We'd love to hear from you!

In this episode of ADK Talks, we connect with Denise Silfee, the Education and Communications Director at the Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation in Saranac Lake, New York. 

The Common Loon, specifically Adirondack loons, is a favorite topic among the adktaste.com community. This super informative, educational and engaging conversation with Denise could have probably filled three podcast episodes (which is why we can’t wait to have her back).

In addition to explaining the vital work the Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation does, Denise helps us answer questions like:

• Why do people find loons so fascinating?
• What are the biggest threats to loons, and how can we protect them?
• How are loons important to the overall Adirondack ecosystem? 
• What makes loons unique among other birds and waterfowl?
• Where do loons go in the winter, and do they always return to the same Adirondack lakes each year?
• Do loons mate for life, and how do they find their partners?
• What are essential guidelines for encountering and interacting with loons safely? 
• Are loons endangered, and how do we ensure the long-term viability of the Adirondack loon population?
• Where can we learn more about loons?

Listen now and subscribe to ADK Talks to never miss an opportunity to learn more from the people behind the best places to visit, stay, eat, shop, and do things in the Adirondacks. 

Visit our website, ADKtaste.com, and sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation

Rosalie Barrow Edge — Feminist, Naturalist and Conservationist

Get the Lead Out: A Simple Change to Save Loon Lives

Loon-Friendly Lake Certification Program

SUNY ESF Loon Dive at the Newcomb Adirondack Interpretive Center (AIC)

Adirondack Loon Celebration 2024

Northern Forest Canoe Trail

ADK Loon Facts

Questions or comments? Email us at [email protected]. We'd love to hear from you!

Mixed & Edited by Next Day Podcast
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In this episode of ADK Talks, we have an intriguing conversation with Noel Jennings, a third-generation proprietor of one of the central Adirondack’s most beloved ice creameries, Custard’s Last Stand in Long Lake.

This iconic ice cream stand has served visitors and the community since 1958 (over 65 years). We talk to Noel about what it takes to keep a family business afloat for over six decades; the eternal appeal of soft serve ice cream; why spruce gum may be the next kombucha, macha, salted caramel, or lavender; his grandmother’s impressive pun-making talents; and what’s next for Custard’s Last Stand.

We also discuss swirling the perfect cone, ice climbing, scuba-diving in Adirondack lakes, mid-century modern architecture, and life in a northern town.

Listen now and subscribe to ADK Talks to never miss an opportunity to learn more from the people behind the best places to visit, stay, eat, shop and things to do in the Adirondacks. 

Visit our website, ADKtaste.com, and sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Check out Custard’s Last Stand’s website, and if you can, stop by. They will be open until mid-October. 

Mentioned in this podcast:

Speculator Creamery

Spruce Gum

Adirondack Creamery

Indian Lake Theater

Pines Country Store

Ice Climbing – Pitch Off

The Town Keene

New Vida Preserve

Northwood Cabins

OK Slip Falls

Adirondack Architectural Heritage

90 Miler — Adirondack Canoe Classic

Questions or comments? Email us at [email protected]. We'd love to hear from you!

Mixed & Edited by Next Day Podcast
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In this episode of ADK Talks, we are privileged to host a fascinating conversation with Paul Bartholomew, a distinguished Sasquatch expert renowned for his meticulous research and study of Bigfoot in New York and the New England states. He has been on a quest to unravel the mystery: Does a hulking 7-foot-tall humanlike creature, unrecognized by science, wander the lush forests of the Adirondacks?

Joining our talk is Barbara Spoor, who, for the last five years, has organized the enormously popular Sasquatch Festival and Calling Contest in Whitehall, NY, a place that has seen a remarkable number of credible Sasquatch encounters. 

Under Barb’s stewardship, this festival has blossomed into a vibrant, entertaining, and educational event that is loved by families. It has grown tremendously, drawing Bigfoot enthusiasts from all corners of the U.S. and North America. This year’s event, on Saturday, September 28, 2024, promises to be the most exciting one yet.

Barb and Paul also provide some pointers to help you prepare your best Sasquatch call so you can enter and win this year’s contest.

Listen now and subscribe to ADK Talks to never miss an opportunity to learn more from the people behind the best places to visit, stay, eat, shop and things to do in the Adirondacks. 

Visit our website, ADKtaste.com, and sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Check out the 2024 Whitehall Sasquatch Festival & Calling Contest Facebook page for the latest information about this fantastic event. 

Mentioned in this podcast:

Big Foot Research Organization

Bigfoot Expert Talks About Several Sasquatch Sightings | Finding Bigfoot (Video)

“Sasquatch: The Apes Among Us” by John Green

“Monsters of the Northwoods” by Paul Bartholomew, Robert Bartholomew, William Brann and Bruce Hallenbeck

Bigfoot audio recordings by Ron Morehead

Ron Morehead’s website

Skene Manor

Revolution Rail – Railbiking in the Adirondacks

Adirondack Balloon Festival

The X-Files Preservation Collection in Saratoga Springs

Questions or comments? Email us at [email protected]. We'd love to hear from you!

Mixed & Edited by Next Day Podcast
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In this episode of ADK Talks, we speak with Nick Friedman, Executive Director of Accessible Adirondack Tourism, who shares his insights and experience on making the Adirondacks more accessible to everyone.

And we learn about the first annual Adirondack Nature Festival for People with Disabilities.

Listen now, and subscribe to ADK Talks for more intel on the best places to visit, stay, eat, shop and things to do in the Adirondacks. Visit our website, ADKtaste.com, and sign up for our weekly newsletter.

And, be sure to check out the Accessible Adirondack Tourism website and consider supporting their outstanding efforts.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Adirondack Nature Festival for People with Disabilities

Accessible Adirondack Tourism

Adirondack Riverwalking and Forest Bathing

Paul Smith’s Visitor Interpretive Center

Tri-Lakes Center for Independent Living

Ausable Chasm

Questions or comments? Email us at [email protected]. We'd love to hear from you!

Mixed & Edited by Next Day Podcast
[email protected]

In this episode of ADK Talks, we talk with Mary Alice O’Connor, the Executive Director of the Indian Lake Theater, who shares what it takes for a not-for-profit movie theater to survive and thrive in a town with a year-round population of 1,400 people.

Mary Alice paints a vivid picture of the theater's history, which has been a part of the town’s life since 1937. She underscores the pivotal role the Indian Lake community plays in ensuring the theater's continued presence in the 21st century, fostering a sense of shared responsibility and pride.

In addition to showing a new movie each week, hear about the creative programming and special events Indian Lake Theater hosts year-round and discover the secret behind its famous popcorn.

Listen now, and subscribe to ADK Talks for more insights and intel on the best places to visit, stay, eat, shop and things to do in the Adirondacks. Visit our website, ADKtaste.com, and sign up for our weekly newsletter.

And, be sure to visit the Indian Lake Theater website and consider supporting this local gem.

Mentioned in this podcast:

The Architecture of Ward Shippey - Adirondack Architectural Heritage

Adirondack Foundation

Stewart’s Shops

Raquette Lake Navigation

PIne’s Country Store

Snocade

PAPA Dukes BBQ

Questions or comments? Email us at [email protected]. We'd love to hear from you!