Jockeybush Lake in the Winter

[kwc]

Today we took a short hike (3 miles r/t) into Jockeybush Lake in the southern Adirondack, about 35 minutes from our home. Temp at the trailhead was 16 degrees. It was beautiful!

We used micro spikes all the way. It was a little breezy up by the lake. I am leery of walking on the lake ice right now ... maybe in another week or so with lows in the teens and single digits it’ll be safe enough (for me). Sadly my cell phone doesn’t quite capture how sparkly the snow was.

 

[John Morrow]

Lovely! Wonderful to see that low-sun, near solstice, lighting. Along with the sprinkling of evergreens in the forest. Are those hemlocks along the shore and, perhaps, a spruce in the upland woods by the trail?

Is there a short definition of what parameters constitute a "Wild Forest", in terms of Adirondack Park management?

 

[kwc]

Lovely! Wonderful to see that low-sun, near solstice, lighting. Along with the sprinkling of evergreens in the forest. Are those hemlocks along the shore and, perhaps, a spruce in the upland woods by the trail?

Is there a short definition of what parameters constitute a "Wild Forest", in terms of Adirondack Park management?

Hi @John Morrow! Yes, those are hemlocks along the shore with a few spruce here and there. DEC designation below:

B. Wild Forest​

[APSLMP] A wild forest area is an area where the resources permit a somewhat higher degree of human use than in wilderness, primitive or canoe areas, while retaining an essentially wild character. A wild forest area is further defined as an area that frequently lacks the sense of remoteness of wilderness, primitive or canoe areas and that permits a wide variety of outdoor recreation.
[CPSLMP] A wild forest area is an area of Forest Preserve land whose character as a natural plant and animal community receives the same degree of protection under Article XIV of the Constitution as in areas classified as wilderness, but which differs from wilderness in that generally:

• The physical characteristics of wild forest areas are capable of withstanding higher levels of recreational use;
• Wild forest areas convey less of a sense of remoteness and provide fewer outstanding opportunities for solitude for visitors, and therefore;
• Wild forest areas are managed to provide opportunities for a greater variety of recreational activities and a higher intensity of recreational use.

 

[Traildog]

Great hike! I'm curious, what's the snow depth off trail. Would you need snowshoes off trail?

 

[kwc]

Great hike! I'm curious, what's the snow depth off trail. Would you need snowshoes off trail?

Maybe six inches off trail with some ice underneath. Snowshoes would make travel a little easier I think.

 

[John Morrow]

Hi @John Morrow! Yes, those are hemlocks along the shore with a few spruce here and there. DEC designation below:

B. Wild Forest​

[APSLMP] A wild forest area is an area where the resources permit a somewhat higher degree of human use than in wilderness, primitive or canoe areas, while retaining an essentially wild character. A wild forest area is further defined as an area that frequently lacks the sense of remoteness of wilderness, primitive or canoe areas and that permits a wide variety of outdoor recreation.
[CPSLMP] A wild forest area is an area of Forest Preserve land whose character as a natural plant and animal community receives the same degree of protection under Article XIV of the Constitution as in areas classified as wilderness, but which differs from wilderness in that generally:

• The physical characteristics of wild forest areas are capable of withstanding higher levels of recreational use;
• Wild forest areas convey less of a sense of remoteness and provide fewer outstanding opportunities for solitude for visitors, and therefore;
• Wild forest areas are managed to provide opportunities for a greater variety of recreational activities and a higher intensity of recreational use.

That is great, thanks kwc. Could you post the language for Wilderness, too? State management is unique and interesting.
John

 

[kwc]

That is great, thanks kwc. Could you post the language for Wilderness, too? State management is unique and interesting.
John

Wilderness​

[APSLMP and CPSLMP] A wilderness area, in contrast with those areas where man and his own works dominate the landscape, is an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man - where man himself is a visitor who does not remain. A wilderness area is further defined to mean an area of state land or water having a primeval character, without significant improvement or protected and managed so as to preserve, enhance and restore, where necessary, its natural conditions, and which

1. generally appears to have been affected primarily by the forces of nature, with the imprint of man's work substantially unnoticeable;
2. has outstanding opportunities for solitude or a primitive and unconfined type of recreation;
3. has at least ten thousand acres of contiguous land and water or is of sufficient size and character as to make practicable its preservation and use in an unimpaired condition; and
4. may also contain ecological, geological or other features of scientific, educational, scenic or historical value

 

[John Morrow]

Wilderness​

[APSLMP and CPSLMP] A wilderness area, in contrast with those areas where man and his own works dominate the landscape, is an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man - where man himself is a visitor who does not remain. A wilderness area is further defined to mean an area of state land or water having a primeval character, without significant improvement or protected and managed so as to preserve, enhance and restore, where necessary, its natural conditions, and which

1. generally appears to have been affected primarily by the forces of nature, with the imprint of man's work substantially unnoticeable;
2. has outstanding opportunities for solitude or a primitive and unconfined type of recreation;
3. has at least ten thousand acres of contiguous land and water or is of sufficient size and character as to make practicable its preservation and use in an unimpaired condition; and
4. may also contain ecological, geological or other features of scientific, educational, scenic or historical value

Not quite, but almost verbatim with the Federal Law: Wilderness Act of 1964. With some unique language that likely pertains to the "rewilding" of once logged landscapes. NY may be the only state with such strong language. Is there a map that isolates the wilderness area boundaries from the rest of the ADK Park lands? Hopefully New Yorkers have some understanding of it. Something to be proud of (though I need a map to understand fully!)
"APSLMP and CPSLMP"....I take it C is Catskill, what is the S?
How many people's jobs in the DEC are dedicated solely to wilderness and wild forest management/administration I wonder?

 

[kwc]

Not quite, but almost verbatim with the Federal Law: Wilderness Act of 1964. With some unique language that likely pertains to the "rewilding" of once logged landscapes. NY may be the only state with such strong language. Is there a map that isolates the wilderness area boundaries from the rest of the ADK Park lands? Hopefully New Yorkers have some understanding of it. Something to be proud of (though I need a map to understand fully!)
"APSLMP and CPSLMP"....I take it C is Catskill, what is the S?
How many people's jobs in the DEC are dedicated solely to wilderness and wild forest management/administration I wonder?

I believe that the Nat Geo maps have the boundaries on them. Some Wilderness areas, like the eastern high peaks region, have special rules such as no fires, bear canisters required, and so on. Catskills Park State Lands Master Plan
There are roughly 134 Forest Rangers in New York State. This includes not only rangers in the field but supervisors and directors as well. As clearly evidenced by this past year’s overwhelming use of the Adirondacks and Catskills, there are not enough rangers to take care of the state lands. The recent photo of the NPS ranger and all the garbage that he picked up reflects pretty much what has happened in the Adirondacks this past year.
Also remember that the Adirondack and Catskill Parks are a mixture of public and private lands. It’s about 75% public land in the Adirondacks.
And public land within the Adirondack Forest Preserve was designated “Forever Wild” by the state constitution so there is no logging, etc., on those public lands.