I love the Adirondacks.

No, we don’t have the grandeur of the Tetons or the rhythm of the seashore. But we do have startling beauty, wonderful access and a nature ethic that builds on a history recreation and family fun.

Jack Downs

And I love being a dad. I’m an older dad now, with two girls in college and one entering middle school. This blog is an attempt to look back at my years with kids outdoors and look forward in ways that I hope some of you will find helpful.

Spending my life outdoors in the northeastern Adirondacks, a region sometimes vaguely named the Adirondack North Country, my outdoor life has focused on hiking, kayaking, cross-country skiing, biking and horseback riding. But I am no outdoor expert. Although I can speak to some of these topics from my experience, and some of you may find that helpful, I am looking for more voices, your voices and expert voices to chime in with better info.

And finally, in full disclosure, this blog is also part of a class I am teaching at SUNY Plattsburgh where I work in the Journalism and Public Relations Department. We’re learning WordPress and doing some work with photography, videography, blogging and podcasting.