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Upcoming Events at Lapland Lake
Lapland Lake Nordic Vacation Center will host Winter Trails Day on Saturday, January 10 from 1:00pm – 4:30pm. Winter Trails Day is a national event offering those new to snow sports an opportunity to try cross country skiing and/or snowshoeing.
Facility use passes, cross country ski or snowshoe rentals and hour-long cross country ski lessons for adults and children from age 5 will be offered free of charge to first-time participants who register in advance. Pre-registration is required.
A new program designed to introduce members of the public to snowshoeing is scheduled Sunday, January 11 from 10-11am at Lapland Lake Nordic Vacation Center.
The resort’s fun and educational “Introduction to Snowshoeing and Animal Tracking Tour” is intended for novice snowshoers. Participants will be fitted with snowshoes and poles, and a staff member will lead members of the group along the resort’s picturesque, easier marked and mapped snowshoe trails allowing participants to become comfortable with equipment and technique.
The tour will wend alongside brooks, streams and near scenic Woods Lake. A brief stop along the way will give guests an opportunity to meet and greet Viima, the resort’s resident reindeer. Each participant will receive an animal tracking guide to assist in identifying the many animal tracks that may be seen along the way.
Cost for the program is $23 and includes rental snowshoes and poles, guided tour, animal tracking guide and hot beverage. Facility use pass is additional. Participants are welcome to retain their snowshoes for the balance of the day or to exchange them for another set of rental gear to enjoy another activity (rental surcharge may apply). It is recommended that participants bring along water and an energy snack.
The tour is prepaid and is 100% refundable if the program is cancelled for any reason. Minimum age to participate is 12. Preregistration is required; space is limited.
Lapland Lake Nordic Vacation Center will host a women’s-only ski program Saturday, January 24 from 9:30am – 2:30pm. Pre-registration is required.
The popular five-hour ski program, “Lapland Ladies Love to Ski”, is geared to beginner and intermediate skiers. Focus is on classic ski technique.
Cost for the program is $50 or $73 if participants need rental equipment. Included is a day-long facility use pass, instruction, lunch with equipment & clothing discussion, social group ski with instructors, group wrap-up, hot beverage and equipment discount coupon. The program is led by Lapland Lake’s PSIA-certified instructors Sherry Dixon, Susan Henriksson and Jan Mares.
Future programs are scheduled for February 21 (classic ski technique) and March 14 (skate ski technique). Women are encouraged to participate in one, two or all three programs!
A complete cross country ski and snowshoe facility celebrating its 37th winter season, Lapland Lake offers fully equipped rental and retail shops, a comfortable two-story warming lodge with snack bar and the trailside Tuulen Tupa Grill. The trail system has 50km of trails for all ability levels. 38km are marked, mapped and snowcat groomed with trackset and skating lanes; 12km are ungroomed, marked, mapped snowshoe trails.
In addition to cross country skiing and snowshoeing, other resort activities include ice-skating, tubing on two junior hills, wilderness ski touring and visiting with the resort’s domesticated reindeer!
Lodging is available in private rooms and 10 private housekeeping cottages. Lodging packages include use of trails each day and evening including days of arrival and departure, use of the Finnish wood burning sauna and 50% off one regularly scheduled group ski lesson per person. Attractive lodging discounts are offered non-holiday Sunday through Thursday nights.
Lapland Lake has been the recipient of numerous awards and honors through the years including Top Ten Snowshoe-friendly Nordic Center by Snowshoe Magazine, the Tourism Partner Award by the Fulton County Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Adirondack Regional Tourism Council’s Private Sector Tourism Partnership Award; Best XC Ski Resort in the Mid-Atlantic Region and Best XC Ski Resort for Families, Best XC Ski Resort Poll; and Top Ten XC Ski Resort Catering to Families, xc ski resorts.com.
Located in the south-central portion of the Adirondack Forest Preserve, Lapland Lake is just over an hour’s drive from Schenectady; only 60 miles from Albany and Utica; four hours from New York City and Boston.
To make reservations or for additional information, please call Lapland Lake at 518-863-4974, email: vacation@laplandlake.com or visit online: www.laplandlake.com.
Fishing University Episodes Filmed in Fulton County to Air
The Fulton County Tourism Department announces the Fishing University schedule for the episodes filmed on the Great Sacandaga Lake and Canada Lake. The Outdoor Channel show, hosted by fishing legends Charlie Ingram and Ray Brazier, is in its 28th year making it the second longest running outdoor show of any type anywhere. The Fishing University crew was in Fulton County to film during September 2014.
While in Fulton County, Ingram and Brazier toured Taylor Made’s factory on Harrison Street, Gloversville and attended a “Meet & Greet” that was held at Lanzi’s on the Lake, Mayfield. Filming included two high school segments at Mayfield High School and Hamilton-Fulton-Montgomery Board of Cooperative Educational Services (HFM BOCES) which will be featured in each episode.
Each episode will air six times throughout the 2015 season. The first quarter airings are as follows. Please check local providers for the Outdoor Channel listings:
| Date | Day | Eastern Time | Show Title |
| 12/30/2014 | Tuesday | 12:30pm | Great Sacandaga Lake, NY – Strike King |
| 1/3/2015 | Saturday | 4:00pm | Great Sacandaga Lake, NY – Strike King |
| 1/4/2015 | Sunday | 8:00am | Great Sacandaga Lake, NY – Strike King |
| 1/6/2015 | Tuesday | 12:30pm | Canada Lake, NY – TufLIne |
| 1/10/2015 | Saturday | 4:00pm | Canada Lake, NY – TufLIne |
| 1/11/2015 | Sunday | 8:00am | Canada Lake, NY – TufLIne |
Filming was made possible by the continued support of the Fulton County Board of Supervisors, Frank’s Gun and Tackle Shop, Taylor Made Products, Allwater Guide Service, Rob Javarone, and many others. For more information, please contact Gina DaBiere-Gibbs, Director of Tourism, at (518)725-0641. Photos from the filming can be found on the Visit Fulton County, NY Facebook page.
A Cross Country Ski Program Designed For Women, Taught by Women
Lapland Lake Nordic Vacation Center will host a women’s-only ski program Saturday, December 20 from 9:30am – 2:30pm.
This new addition to the program line-up, “Introduction to Lapland Ladies Love to Ski”, is geared to first-time and novice skiers only. Focus is on classic or traditional cross country ski technique.
Cost for the five-hour program is $50 or $78 if participants need rental equipment. Included is a day-long facility use pass, instruction, lunch with equipment & clothing discussion, social group ski with instructors, group wrap-up, hot beverage and equipment discount coupon. The program is led by Lapland Lake’s PSIA-certified instructors Sherry Dixon and Susan Henriksson. Pre-registration is required.
“Come learn to classic ski in our supportive, non-competitive environment. This program is taught by women and designed for women,” according to Susan Henriksson. Future programs for novice and intermediate level skiers, who will be grouped by ability, include January 24 and February 21 with focus on classic technique and March 14 with focus on skate ski technique.
A complete cross country ski and snowshoe facility in its 37th winter season, Lapland Lake offers fully equipped rental and retail shops, a comfortable two-story warming lodge with snack bar and trailside Tuulen Tupa Grill. The trail system has 50km of trails for all ability levels. 38km are marked, mapped and snowcat groomed with trackset and skating lanes; 12km are ungroomed, marked, mapped snowshoe trails.
In addition to cross country skiing and snowshoeing, other resort activities include ice-skating, tubing on two junior hills, wilderness ski touring and visiting with the resort’s resident reindeer!
Lodging is available in private rooms and 10 private housekeeping cottages. Lodging packages include use of trails each day and evening including days of arrival and departure, use of the Finnish wood burning sauna and 50% off one regularly scheduled group ski lesson per person. Attractive lodging discounts are offered non-holiday Sunday through Thursday nights.
Lapland Lake has been the recipient of numerous awards and honors through the years including this season’s fourth place ranking in North America’s Top 10 Snowshoe Friendly Nordic Centers Snowshoemag.com, Tourism Partner Award by the Fulton County Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Adirondack Regional Tourism Council’s Private Sector Tourism Partnership Award; Best XC Ski Resort in the Mid Atlantic Region and Best XC Ski Resort for Families, Best XC Ski Resort Poll; and Top Ten XC Ski Resort Catering to Families, xc ski resorts.com.
Located in the south-central portion of the Adirondack Forest Preserve, Lapland Lake is just over an hour’s drive from Schenectady; only 60 miles from Albany and Utica; four hours from New York City and Boston.
Lapland Lake may be contacted at 518-863-4974, vacation@laplandlake.com and online at www.laplandlake.com.
Holiday Open House at Johnson Hall
In conjunction with the City of Johnstown’s Colonial Stroll holiday activities, Johnson Hall State Historic Site will hold an Open House on Friday, December 5 from 5pm to 8:30pm.
Johnson Hall’s first floor will be decorated for the holiday season, where music of the 18th century will be performed by Liaison Plaisantes. Refreshments will be offered in the historic butler’s pantry. The museum shop will offer 20% off for holiday shopping that evening. Horse-drawn wagon rides of the mansion’s south lawn will be available to visitors between 6pm and 8pm.
In addition, between 6pm and 8:30pm, a shuttle van will loop between Johnson Hall and a shuttle stop on Main Street in front of the park.
The evening’s event is free and open to the public. Donations will be gratefully accepted and will be earmarked for the continued restoration efforts of Sir William and Molly Brant’s historic home.
Along with Johnstown Historical Society, this year’s event is co-sponsored by Johnson Hall, the Friends of Johnson Hall, Goderie’s Tree Farm and Hewitt’s Garden Center.
Johnson Hall’s Open House is the first event of this year’s “Heritage Holidays in the Mohawk Valley”, a collaboration of Mohawk Valley Museum Consortium member sites to promote holiday celebrations over two weekends. All events are free, with donations gratefully accepted. Visitors should pick up a passport and have it stamped at three of the sites to be entered into a Heritage Holiday gift basket drawing. Joining Johnson Hall are:
December 6 – the Fort Plain Museum will feature ”Christmas at the Fort” from 10am to 6pm, with a book signing, crafters and holiday fun – for more information call 993-2527.
December 6 and 7 – the Mayfield Historical Society’s Rice Homestead will hold their “Holiday Open House” from 11am to 4pm each day, featuring mulled cider and homemade cookies, with homemade pies for sale also – for more information call 661-5576.
December 13 – the Walter Elwood Museum’s “Holiday Open House” from 1pm to 5pm will feature live music, light refreshments and holiday shopping, and a special quilt exhibit and 3pm lecture by Hallie Bond on “Common Threads: Adirondack Quilts” – for more information call 843-5151.
Johnson Hall State Historic Site is located at 139 Hall Avenue in historic Johnstown, just off West State Street (State Highway 29 West). For more information, visit www.nysparks.com, or email darlene.rogers@parks.ny.gov to be placed on the Site’s emailing list.
Lapland Lake Nordic Vacation Center’s Annual Open House
Lapland Lake Nordic Vacation Center will host its two-day annual Open House Saturday and Sunday, November 22 and 23 from 9:00am – 4:30pm each day.
Visitors may enter a Grand Prize Drawing for a choice of any new pair of skis in stock OR a 2014-15 Season Pass Membership. If the individual whose name is drawn has already purchased their 2014-15 Membership, his or her purchase price will be refunded.
During the two-day Open House all new in-stock cross country skis and ski packages will be discounted 30%. All other retail merchandise will be discounted 10% (sale items excluded). Season-long ski equipment rentals ($75 – $180 plus deposit) will be available. Lapland Lake’s operator, former US Olympian Olavi Hirvonen, and his carefully trained staff will assist with proper equipment selection and sizing.
A free children’s Reindeer Rally will take place at 10am each day. Pat Ferri, PSIA-certified instructor and Assistant Nordic Director, will lead fun and crazy games for children ages 5 – 12 on grass or on skis/snow!
At 3:30pm each day Pat will offer free hour-long wax clinic and ski care tips sessions. All are invited!
Spencer Morrissey, author of Adirondack Skier, a guide to some of the best trails in the Adirondack Park for cross country skiing, will be at the resort’s Finnish Line Lodge Saturday from 12:30 – 4pm both days to meet with customers and to autograph copies of his book.
Lapland Lake Season Pass Memberships will be available at normally reduced early-season rates; regular Membership rates will go into effect Monday, December 1st. For the seventh consecutive year all children ages 17 and under will receive free Memberships when at least one parent or legal guardian purchases a 2014-15 Lapland Lake Season Pass Membership!
Open House is free of charge. Facility use fees will be half-price both days for those wishing to ski, snowshoe and tube (conditions permitting). If there is no snow, visitors are welcome to enjoy complimentary hiking on the resort’s 50km trail system.
Attendees may visit with Lapland Lake’s reindeer at his lakeside home and enjoy complimentary cookies, hot chocolate, coffee and tea at the resort’s Tuulen Tupa Grill from noon-4pm both days.
Lapland Lake has been the recipient of numerous awards and honors including the Adirondack Regional Tourism Council’s Private Sector Tourism Partnership Award; Best XC Ski Resort in the Mid Atlantic Region and Best XC Ski Resort for Families, Best XC Ski Resort Poll; Top Ten XC Ski Resort Catering to Families, xc ski resorts.com and Fulton County’s Tourism Partner Award.
A complete cross country ski and snowshoe facility, Lapland Lake offers fully equipped rental and retail shops, a comfortable warming lodge with snack bar, a trailside restaurant and overnight accommodations in private housekeeping cottages. The trail system has 50km of trails for all ability levels. 38km are marked, mapped and snowcat groomed with trackset and skating lanes; 12km are ungroomed, marked, mapped snowshoe trails. Cross country ski lessons are offered daily by the resort’s staff of PSIA-certified instructors. Other activities include ice-skating, tubing, sledding, kicksledding and wilderness ski touring. A full winter Calendar of Special Events is also offered.
Located in the south-central Adirondacks, Lapland Lake is conveniently located just over an hour’s drive from Schenectady; 60 miles from Albany and Utica; four hours from New York City and Boston. Interested individuals may visit online at www.laplandlake.com or contact Lapland Lake for information at 518.863.4974 or vacation@laplandlake.com.
Fulton County Foliage Report: Week of October 15-21
I LOVE NY started the “New York Fall Foliage Report” on September 10 and will continue until the end of the foliage season, around the first or second week in November. Fulton County has its own “foliage spotters” to participate in this annual report.
Typical color remaining in downtown Gloversville the week of October 15.
Percent of trees predicted to have changed by the coming weekend 100%
Brilliance Dull to Average
Predominating colors Some yellow and orange remain
Rating Past Peak
Some color remains, but many leaves have fallen. Rain is in the forecast for the week and it is likely many more leaves will drop. The predominating colors at this point in the season are yellow and orange with a few hints of red.
There are still many fall events happening and plenty of apples and pumpkins to be picked!
FREE Harvest Tour, Route 29A Chain of Lakes, and Great Sacandaga Lake informational maps are available.
1.800.676.3858
Fulton County Foliage Report: Week of October 8-14
I LOVE NY started the “New York Fall Foliage Report” on September 10 and will continue until the end of the foliage season, around the first or second week in November. Fulton County has its own “foliage spotters” to participate in this annual report.
Reporting station Southern Adirondack Pines Campground & Cabins, Pine Lake (Adirondack Park) and Gloversville
Percent of trees predicted to have changed by the coming weekend 100% higher elevations and 50-75% lower elevation (another week for peak)
Brilliance Average
Predominating colors Some reds, yellows, and browns with green still visible in lower elevations
Rating Near Peak to Peak
This is probably the last weekend to see any color in the higher elevations. The Town of Caroga has reached peak and the leaves are starting to fall. There most likely won’t be many leaves remaining the following week.
Lower elevations have slowed in the color changing process. They may reach peak this weekend but are starting to fall and the color is not as vibrant as in past years. Let’s hope for sun and not too much rain and wind to keep the leaves on the trees a little longer.
There are still many fall events happening and plenty of apples and pumpkins to be picked!
FREE Harvest Tour, Route 29A Chain of Lakes, and Great Sacandaga Lake informational maps are available.
1.800.676.3858
Triathlon seeks Charitable Organization
The Peck’s Lake Protective Association (PLPA) Board of Directors is seeking applications from not-for-profit organizations to be awarded as the designated charity to receive a portion of the proceeds raised by the 2015 triathlon. The applicant organization must be a 501(c)(3) corporation (or be able to demonstrate to the PLPA Board’s satisfaction appropriate financial safeguards for the distribution of funds); must serve Fulton County residents with 100% of the funds used for direct client benefit/services. The application and complete criteria are available at: http://www.fultonmontgomeryny.org/pages/PecksLakeSprintTriathlon/. The application deadline is December 15, 2014.
The Peck’s Lake Sprint Triathlon is scheduled for August 1, 2015. Photos from the 2014 event can be found on the Visit Fulton County, NY Facebook page.
Letter to the Editor
Dear Editor,
During the week of September 21, Fulton County had the opportunity to welcome the Outdoor Channel’s Fishing University hosts, guests, and crew. The fishing legends who host Fishing University, Charlie Ingram and Ray Brazier, were graciously greeted with warm upstate New York hospitality wherever they went in the community. “From the car wash to restaurants to marinas” they were welcomed with open arms.
Fulton County should be proud of the reception these important guests received and proud of the final product that will air in early 2015. Fishing University’s season includes 13 episodes, two of which were filmed in Fulton County. The show filmed on the Great Sacandaga Lake and Canada Lake as well as school segments at Mayfield High School and Hamilton-Fulton-Montgomery Board of Cooperative Educational Services (HFM BOCES). Each episode will air six times during the season and has the potential to reach 40 million viewers.
The filming of these episodes could not have taken place without the help of the sponsors, guides, businesses, and community members that 
helped make this happen. Thank you to John Havlick and Frank’s Gun & Tackle Shop for helping sponsor the filming and the “Meet & Greet” at Lanzi’s on the Lake, coordinating the week’s events, and so much more. Thank you to Jason Pajonk, David Karpinski and Taylor Made Products for helping sponsor the filming and for the fantastic factory tour of the Harrison Street, Gloversville facility. Thank you to Stephen George of Allwater Guide Service and Rob Javarone for guide services and fishing coordination. Thank you to the Holiday Inn staff, Cranberry Cove Marina, Canada Lake Store and Marine, Lanzi’s on the Lake, and many others for their hospitality and service. Thank you to Mayfield High School and HFM BOCES students and staff for helping us highlight the great assets of Fulton County. And thank you to the Fulton County Board of Supervisors for their continued support and awareness of the importance of tourism in Fulton County.
Sincerely,
Gina DaBiere-Gibbs, Director
Fulton County Tourism Department
Harvest Tour Maps Available
The Fulton Montgomery Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Montgomery County Business Development Center, and Montgomery County Agriculture Economic Development have announced that the official 6th Edition Harvest Tour in Fulton & Montgomery Counties Map has been revised, printed, and ready for distribution. The 2-county map is a guide of agritourism properties that exist in both counties.
Agritourism is tourism based on attracting visitors to agricultural operations. This type of tourism is comprised of businesses such as crop and animal farms, u-pick operations, wineries, aquaculture and for-fee fishing operations, Christmas tree farms, herb farms and greenhouses, maple syrup and cheese producers, and farm stands.
“The Harvest Tour Guide is a great tool to showcase our local farmers and producers. Fulton and Montgomery Counties have such a variety of fresh local products as well as wonderful resources that reflect the area’s agricultural heritage, and it is important to continue to promote that aspect of our region,” states Karl Gustafson, Economic Development Specialist, Montgomery County Business Development Center. “This year’s map has an updated look, new categories, and includes information about the regional CNY Fresh campaign and the new Fulton Montgomery Quilt Barn Trail
.”
“We are pleased to continue our partnership with Montgomery County to produce this valuable guide which provides added resources and cost-savings to each organization. Visitors and residents are exposed to a tremendous amount of information about our combined counties and the agri-businesses located here,” adds Director of Tourism for Fulton County, Gina DaBiere-Gibbs. “This valuable resource for tourism in the area highlights the vast agricultural community that many visitors from the New York City and Albany areas may not be regularly exposed to. Many want to see how cheeses and milk are made and want to know where their vegetables and meats come from. Many of the farms and businesses on the map not only sell you the product, they will show you how it’s made,” continues DaBiere-Gibbs.
The FREE agritourism map is available at the following locations:
Fulton Montgomery Regional Chamber of Commerce, 2 North Main Street, Gloversville
Fulton County Visitor Center, State Routes 30 & 29, Vail Mills
Montgomery County Business Development Center, 9 Park Street, Fonda
Montgomery County Soil and Water Conservation District 4001, State Highway 5S, Fultonville
For more Montgomery County tourism information logon to www.visitmontgomerycountyny.com. For more Fulton County Tourism information visit www.44lakes.com.