Poetry of the Mountains

Jim and Marion Elder have been coming to Garnet Hill Lodge for over 40 years.  They are in fact our most loyal and long standing guest.  They have generally come to the lodge each of those forty years for Nordic skiing as well as for the Autumn colors in October.  They are wonderful people and we cherish their company when they are here.
This past week when they were here, Jim presented us with a poem he had written as he contemplated making the trip up here.  He said it just came to him and flowed from his pen with virtually no effort.  And so we present it here in its entirety. We will also be displaying it on our web site too.

Garnet Hill Lodge

An Adirondack Gem

I’m off to the mountains and away from it all,

Where the air is clear and the trees grow tall;

Walking through the woods where nature abounds,

And listening to the silence that’s all around.

If this sounds like a place you've been looking for,

Garnet Hill Lodge has it and a whole lot more;

Hiking, biking, and Nordic skiing, too,

But no matter the season, there's always something to do.

It’s over forty years since I first walked through the door,

And I've been back every year to enjoy it some more;

They have a great staff to take care of the guests,

And they all do their best to fulfill your requests.

Now your hosts Don and Mindy--what an amazing pair,

You can tell by their efforts that they both really care;

To make sure their guests enjoy the time that they spend,

While visiting their beautiful Adirondack Gem.

Jim Elder

September 2014

A Beautiful September Wedding

And a Fun Reception to Follow

And Joe Wiegand came as Teddy Roosevelt again this year and put on a great show that was entertaining, educational and just plain old bully.

And here are some photos taken by various guests from their treks to nearby points of interest:

Peaked Mountain

Thirteenth Lake from the other side

William Blake Pond

And last but not least, the view from Hooper Mine

Endless Summer Fun with an Eye Toward the Winter Season

As the days of summer start to get shorter now and folks start to get ready for school and other non-vacational thoughts, there's still a few top 10 days left in this beautiful summer we've been experiencing.  And we're using those beautiful days to our best advantage, which is to get ready for winter skiing, of course.  So it's been trail work and signage work for our staff while guests go out and enjoy the sunshine, lake, beach and hiking and biking trails.

A very nice family group posed for us on the lawn as part of the reunion celebration

Trail Signage is one of the things we're currently working on to get ready for the winter season

Mindy's Dad, Dennis has been doing a great job with them.

Don proudly displaying a newly added and much needed sign.

New signs at the top of Sugarhouse Trail before the descent to Roger's Rd.

 Couple Relaxing in a very nice boat on Thirteenth Lake

Our new dock on the lake on a beautiful summer day, of which we've had quite a few 

Rock Piling out on the lake - a popular pass-time these days in the Adirondacks.

Summer Season at Garnet Hill Lodge

Welcome to summer at Garnet Hill Lodge! 

Spring passed by quickly as we worked to prepare for an exciting summer of activity & events.  Pleasant spring temperatures and sufficient rain to raise the water level of the mighty Hudson River has continued bringing guests for the wonderful hiking and exciting rafting conditions. Rafting continues through the summer and fall.

We have made significant improvements to the rooms, ammenities, and property over the last several months and we hope you get a chance to enjoy them.   Planting of new flower beds and gardens helped us bring the landscape to life after our long cold winter. As you can see, we've installed a beautiful new railing on the patio of the Loghouse and a new dock has been installed at the beach as well.

Summer Time Activities

Explore the woods and waters at Garnet Hill and the surrounding area… on foot, bicycle, canoe, kayak, raft or train! Hike the numerous trails at Garnet Hill and the neighboring Siamese Ponds Wilderness or hike to OK Slip Falls - the newest nearby destination on recently acquired state land. Contact our Guest Services desk about raft & stay packages for rafting on the Mighty Hudson River Gorge. The opportunities for mild to wild adventures are endless… Join us this summer and make some wonderful memories!

Hop in the car to take in more Adirondack sights & sounds…
Natural Stone Bridges & Caves in Pottersville

• Tannery Pond Community Center in North Creek (concerts, workshops & gallery)
• Arts Center in Blue Mountain Lake (concerts & more!)

Play a round at one (or all) of the top-notch golf courses in the area…
 

• Cedar River Golf Course
•  High Peaks Golf Course Club
• Cronin’s Golf Resort
• Sagamore Golf Club  

Nordic Skiing and Winter Trail Maintenance
Our trail maintenance and winter preparations are in full swing at this time. We've been mowing, clearing, leaf blowing and trimming along all of the trails during the spring months and have signage, grading, bridge building and tree cutting underway for the summer and fall.
We will also be opening a small trail around the tennis courts near the Ski Shop to allow for skiers, especially beginners, to have easier access to the Putty Pond trails for lessons and training. So while winter is still many months away, we'll be hard at work making sure our wintertime experience is every bit as good as our summertime experience.