Janelle is a lifelong adventurer and loves all things outdoors. When not writing, she can be found exploring and adventuring all across the Adirondacks.
Janelle Jones
Janelle Jones
Written by Janelle Jones
Birding After Dark
Calling all night owls!
Literally and figuratively.
Birding is not just a daytime activity anymore. Once the sun goes down, the fun world of nocturnal birding is just beginning. All sorts of...
A New "Bang for your Buck" Hike
23Sep2023
Many fire towers in the Adirondacks are 100+ years old now. New ones aren’t being built. But, as the saying goes, old things are better than new because they have more stories to tell.
And fire...
Get Cold Weather Ready
09Feb2023
Winters in the Adirondacks can be extreme: temperatures well below zero (Fahrenheit), snow, ice, wind, and everything. That doesn’t mean the season should be completely avoided. Don’t make like a...
A Fall Hike Up Mud Pond Mountain
Is it just me or is fall really the perfect time to go hiking? The bugs have left for the season, and taken the humidity with them. The scenery is stunning. And, best of all, there are so many places...
Reaching New Heights in Speculator, NY
18Sep2022
Chances are you’ve heard the phrase “it takes a village to raise a child.” This story is not of small children or new families. No, it’s a story of a relic of an older time that has recently been...
5 Reasons To “Moosey” On Over To Indian Lake!
11Sep2022
If there ever was an animal popularity contest in the Adirondacks, the moose would almost certainly win. Moose sightings are rare, but nonetheless amazing. Hamilton County is one of the best places...
A Double Dose of New Fire Towers
11Aug2022
Topics:
Some things are perfect together. Peanut butter and jelly. Rain and a tin roof. Fresh snow and a pair of skis. Pizza and chicken wings. Campfires and warm summer nights. Hamilton County and fire...
Among the Wildflowers
28Mar2022
Wake up! Hibernation is over and it’s time to get out and enjoy spring in the Adirondacks. If you listen closely you’ll hear birds happily singing in the trees, frogs rhythmically adding their...
Twelve Months of Fishing
07Mar2022
Topics:
If you fish, you have a fishing tale. Anglers have a reputation of exaggerating the stories behind their best catches. Sometimes it’s hard to separate fact from fiction. Trust me, I know. I’ve been...
Four Things I Discovered Skiing at Oak
07Feb2022
This blog was written in 2022 and updated in 2024.
Over 20 years ago my parents took me to my first downhill ski lesson. On a very small hill, I grabbed a tow rope and was immediately dragged to the...
A Weekend of Winter Birding
10Jan2022
As the snow falls, many of us think that birding is done for the season. That couldn’t be any further from the truth! In fact, birding in winter is exciting and often leads to unexpected finds....
Skiing at Sagamore
06Dec2021
I’ve been traveling to Great Camp Sagamore for over ten years now. Each time, I fall more in love with the architecture and surrounding landscape. But, truth be told, my visits have been limited to...
Exploring Winter Trails
08Nov2021
I once heard someone say that all other sports wish they were invented by the vikings. Cross-country skiing may have originated in Scandinavia, but it’s certainly become a global activity....
Good Brews and Great Fall Views
09Sep2021
Okay, you can call me a walking fall cliché. I like pretty leaf views, pumpkin spice, and cozy sweaters. What’s that? You don’t like pumpkin spice lattes? I suppose that’s fine if you don’t mind...
How to Have the Best Adirondack Vacation Ever!
12Aug2021
Topics:
Anyone who has spent time in Hamilton County knows this is a special place. People and nature coexist in a wonderfully Adirondack way. Between the small towns and big outdoors, it’s not hard to see...
Historical Hiking in Hamilton County
Woven into the fabric of the Adirondacks is a rich history, both social and natural. It’s possible to discover this history at the variety of museums scattered throughout the region, but perhaps a...
Vroom! With a View
18Feb2021
Gas in the sled? Check. Blue skies? Check. Route planned, food packed, and hand warmers activated? Check, check, and check.
The only thing missing was a few degrees on the thermometer. It was 2-...
Winter Fire Tower Highs
21Oct2020
Hamilton County. It’s a place of small towns and big outdoors. In fact, well over half the county is classified as Forest Preserve. That’s a lot of space to explore!
And it’s all beautiful.
...
Why You Should Drop Everything and Go Whitewater Rafting
26Mar2020
It may still seem far away, but summer is fast approaching. Now, as our rivers begin to unthaw, is the perfect time to start planning warmer weather activities. In between BBQs and trips to the lake...
Early Morning Ice
05Mar2020
Waking up before sunrise is hard. Waking up before sunrise to venture out onto a frozen lake to face the elements head on? Now that just seems mad.
But for ice anglers, this is heaven.
Meet Bethany...
Skiing to Cascade and Stephens Ponds
30Dec2019
The fallen snow that is gently draped over the landscape creates an insulating effect. Silence surrounds you. There isn’t even a whisper of wind. For those who prefer quiet wilderness adventures,...
