Hillbillies Invade My Town

[n2ize]

You do have a point about Old Forge and some other areas. I actually almost moved to Old Forge back in the early 90's when I was still young and sorta free and I lived in Little Falls and Dolgeville for a few years, which if you don't know, is just a smidge south of the park border. The way you made it sound though, these people are like southern hillbillies and quite frankly, as you clarified, nothing could be further from the truth. I lived down south too, in Southwest Virginia and I traveled all over the place down there, including to many remote places on hilltops that accommodated transmitter sites. Same as when I lived in Little Falls, because I always worked on transmitters. There's definitely a huge difference between a southern hillbilly and an Adirondacker, despite their both being able to live off the land.

Indeed I fully agree. I haven't been to rural / remote Alaska or Canada's Yukon territory yet but I must say the Adirondack region is probably one of the most beautiful places that I have ever seen east of the Mississippi. I particularly love the boreal pine forests that seem to stretch on forever speckled with white birch trees. I particularly loved my day hikes along the Boreas River and along Elk Lake shadowed by the higher peaks. The views both far and short were breathtaking. Late one afternoon I got stuck and had to camp along a trail because I underestimated how fast darkness falls in such a forest shadowed by mountains. Also I meandered too long along the way mesmerized by the scenery. But within a matter of minutes I could no longer see the trail much less find my way back to the trail head. That night this city boy learned what a great fire starter is white birch bark. Oh and speaking of being a city boy, when I would mention to some of the local people that I am "from the city" they assumed I meant Glenns Falls, or maybe Albany or possibly Quebec. They were surprised when I told them, no, I mean "the city" as in New York City. In any event all the local people I met up there were very friendly and would always engage in conversation.