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Good afternoon!
I want to make a nod to Emily Russell’s story about the mudslides that happened on Mt. Colden over the past couple days.
Colden is a really special mountain to me — I was the Lake Colden Caretaker for a year, built wooden ladders on the southwest side while on trail crew, had numerous rescues along its trails as an Assistant Forest Ranger, and have skied and climbed many of its slides in the wintertime.
But most intimately, as the caretaker, I got to watch the mountain change every day in the light and seasons of that place. Every night I’d walk around to all the campsites in the Lake Colden area and chat with campers about their hiking plans, answer questions, and provide guidance to be the best steward to the land that they could be. And every night I’d walk back to the Outpost, through the heli-pad, and marvel at the sight of that mountain, right out my back door. It’s a time in my life I’ll never forget.
And I can only imagine all of the work that will need to be done to find the trails again under all of that mud and debris. If you’re heading out into the High Peaks, mind the trail closures (Avalanche Pass trail from ADK Loj to Lake Colden, the Algonquin Loop, etc.) and mind the DEC crews who will surely be out there cleaning up!
As someone who has spent most of a decade working out in those woods, I’d love to hear any stories you might have of camping, hiking, and skiing in the Avalanche Lake/Lake Colden area.
Hope you’re staying cool! Until next time, here’s the news —
Caitlin Kelly, North Country Public Radio
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