Occasional Musings by Kevin Russell
July 21, 2020 Continuing my New York State adventures along the North Country Trail, I did further exploration of the Black River area in the southern Adirondacks. This river is very similar to Vermont’s Mad River in size and the fact that it runs north. It is however, far longer at 125 miles, flowing from North Lake to Lake Ontario. The river lives up … Continue Reading →
Since there is no youth music education for me to tour with this summer, I decided instead to explore the North Country National Scenic Trail (NCNST) in my native state of New York, one of eight states that hosts the nations longest NST. Born out of the National Trails Act of 1968, the NST system has grown to 11 recognized NST systems. Last summer … Continue Reading →
By Kevin Russell I recently returned from two days immersed in Vermont’s forests, though I spent most of my time indoors, seated at a conference table. I attended the Vermont Forest Industry Summit, a Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund conference held at the Burke Hotel and Conference Center at the venerable ski area in the Northeast Kingdom. This was the second annual gathering of representatives … Continue Reading →
October 17, 2019 – Fayston, Vermont Everyone should spend a day substitute teaching in their local Kindergarten Class. Ok, since this is not practical or possible, let me share my thoughts about how restorative this can be to your hopefulness for the future and how important it is to continue supporting our small elementary schools. Maybe you read my blog last year: A Day … Continue Reading →
Ah, when to the heart of man…* October 4, 2019 12:00pm Outdoors is so much more than fun. This ethic I share with a friend who first wrote these words. It guides me daily, today more than ever. I am writing this at the Sucker Brook Shelter on the Long Trail, my journey’s end for this trek. Yup, I schlepped up my laptop, knowing … Continue Reading →
Miles to go before I sleep…* October 3, 2019 I’m sitting here at the Moosalamoo Campground off of Forest Road 32 in the Green Mountain National Forest, Moosalamoo National Recreation Area. I am drinking the up and down beer, a Chinooker’d. It is the one I packed up in case of an emergency but did not drink on the trail. It was a two-beer … Continue Reading →
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood…..* October 2, 2019 And, I only got lost twice. Only because I was not paying attention well enough as the Trails Around Middlebury (TAM) are well maintained and well maintained. Once again, I am grateful to the folks at Middlebury Area Land Trust (MALT ) for providing me with a shuttle ride and some guidance along the … Continue Reading →
Nature’s first green is gold….* October 1, 2019 Well, the first day turned out to be quite all right. I arrived early at the rendezvous location, the Weybridge Hill Church, unloaded my bike and began packing my backpack with the necessities that I would need for the three legs of the days tour. John Derick arrived in his pickup and greeted me with a … Continue Reading →
O hushed October morning mild…..* September 30, 2019 My dining room table has become one big gear salad as I prepare for my upcoming trek along the North Country Trail in Vermont. “Heed the call, bring it all.” Of course, October is always more of a challenge being a shoulder season. One day it is Indian Summer and the next arctic-like. You know, if … Continue Reading →
Out through the fields and the woods…* September 23, 2019 Last Saturday, I completed another reconnaissance for my upcoming adventure to traverse the Vermont section of the nation’s longest National Scenic Trail – the North Country Trail (NCT) on October 1 through the 4. It is never a trip wasted to visit one of the most interesting parts of Vermont, the Champlain Valley. So, … Continue Reading →