This weekend I am heading up north to Lake Placid, New York. This is the epicenter of all things outdoors in any season but is especially beautiful in the winter. And it’s host to many outdoor club weekends during the observance of the Martin Luther King (MLK) Holiday.

For many years the New York/New Jersey backpacking committee of the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) has been hosting this “winter training” weekend using a lodge as a base camp. Each day instructional hikes and ski trips of all levels are offered to participants. There is something for everyone from the first time winter hiker to the more seasoned veterans that want to grab a few high peaks. All the hikes and ski trips are led by leaders for our chapter.

On Sunday, I will be leading a day hike to Wright (4,587 ft) and Algonquin (5,115 ft)…hopefully! I say that because these peaks, as many of the high peaks in winter, are notorious for 50 mph winds, white out conditions as well as rapidly changing weather patterns. It’s definitely not for the faint of heart. This will be a 9 mile round trip day hike.

But before Sunday comes Saturday and I’ll be doing something I have never done before…ice climbing! A bunch of us are using a guide from a local outfitter for the day to take us climbing. I’ve rock climbed before both in and outdoors many years ago. I liked it but never really stuck with it…it involves a lot of standing around while you belay other climbers and wait your turn but ice climbing, now that is going to be exciting. Kicking my crampons into ice and slamming my ice axes into the frozen wall of ice. Now that’s fun!

On my last day in the Adirondacks I plan to do my newest sport, cross country skiing. Prior to last year I was never a skier. While I am a speed freak and like adventure I’ve never liked down hill skiing that much. And starting as an adult is never easy…more aging fragile body parts to preserve! So taking up this cross country thing has been a fun adventure. It’s a great full body workout, I get to be on the trail all day and I’m hoping to get good enough to take on the hut to hut circuit they have in Maine. So I better keep practicing.