NO place, remotely close, is nearly as good as the 'dacks!

[twochordcool]

The White Mountain National Forest is relatively small and developed.

Same goes for the Greens.

The Catskills are small.

Acadia is a tiny, tiny joke.

Baxter has potential if it was multiplied by at least 2!

How far would one have to go to find something as large and as beautiful as the Adirondacks?

IT'S VITAL THAT WE PROTECT THE ONLY SIGNIFICANT PLACE OF IT'S KIND IN THE EAST!!!

[redhawk]

Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder.

While the Dacks are one of my favorite regions, Alaska is much more remote and well, HUGE.

One of the most beautiful places I have ever been is a canyon in Whitewood, SD that opens onto a view of four states and Bear Butte.

Sunrise and sunset in the badlands is just breath taking. When I set foot in the Badlands, I feel my roots.

I have been in several places including the Bitter roots, The Bighorns, The The Tetons, The Rockies, The Sierra Nevada's, where hardly a man has been. I have met the Creator in those places.

Then there are the Cascades, the Mighty Sequoias, Grandparents of all trees, the Great Glaciers with their icy heartbeats.

So yes, I agree that the Dacks are beautiful and unique, that's why I choose to live here. But there are places that are as spectacular and more remote and less inhabited.

There are many places where the Creator has chosen to leave his handprint, each is equally beautiful.

[kwc]

The White Mountain National Forest is relatively small and developed.

Same goes for the Greens.

The Catskills are small.

Acadia is a tiny, tiny joke.

Baxter has potential if it was multiplied by at least 2!

How far would one have to go to find something as large and as beautiful as the Adirondacks?

IT'S VITAL THAT WE PROTECT THE ONLY SIGNIFICANT PLACE OF IT'S KIND IN THE EAST!!!

While each of the places/areas you mention are smaller than the 'dacks, all of them are quite beautiful. There have been many times when my family and I spent hours alone and away from the Bar Harbor crowds while visiting Acadia ... small as it is, it's definitely not a joke. All of these places are indeed significant ... and deserve our reverance for their beauty.

[twochordcool]

So yes, I agree that the Dacks are beautiful and unique, that's why I choose to live here. But there are places that are as spectacular and more remote and less inhabited

Yes, but nowhere within a thousand miles of the Adirondacks - except maybe in Canada.

All of the places that you have mentioned ARE amazing but none of them are east of the Mississippi.

[twochordcool]

While each of the places/areas you mention are smaller than the 'dacks, all of them are quite beautiful. There have been many times when my family and I spent hours alone and away from the Bar Harbor crowds while visiting Acadia ... small as it is, it's definitely not a joke. All of these places are indeed significant ... and deserve our reverance for their beauty.

But you have to admit that they all, at least in size, pale in comparison to the Adirondacks.

I'm sorry, I'm just not very impressed with meager sized parks that have no significant wilderness. You really can't get lost in Acadia!

[Judgeh]

I haven't been to nearly any of the places that have been mentioned. One exception is Alaska and I have to say that it is immense and "suck the breath out of you" beautiful. Actually too much so for human beings to fully appreciate.

I love the Daks, make no mistake about that, but nothing ever got my heart racing more than when I got a closeup of Denali and the Alaska Range from a small plane.

[Neil]

I have to admit it took me a while but I think the dacks are really great. I spent a lot of time hiking/bushwhacking in Manitoba, Northwestern Ontario, Quebec and in the Cdn Rockies so at first I found the ADK's to be too crowded and too small. Then I found out there was a little more to the place than Mt. Marcy and Algonquin. In fact, even though I've hiked more than 60 different mountains and a dozen slides and hiked in the W. Canada Lakes region I've really only scratched the surface. It truly is a great (big) place and I honestly don't know what I would do if I couldn't go there but there's no need to compare it to anywhere else. The ADK is what it is and those other places are what they are.

[Boreal Chickadee]

Acadia is a tiny, tiny joke.

Beauty, is in the tiniest raindrop.

[twochordcool]

I haven't been to nearly any of the places that have been mentioned. One exception is Alaska and I have to say that it is immense and "suck the breath out of you" beautiful. Actually too much so for human beings to fully appreciate.

I love the Daks, make no mistake about that, but nothing ever got my heart racing more than when I got a closeup of Denali and the Alaska Range from a small plane.

That's all fine and all, but let's face it, unless you have a lot of money and/or have a lot of vacation time, or live in Alaska or on the west coast, most people are not going to be able to conveniently explore Alaska.

My point is that the Adirondacks ARE incredible and they really are the only place like it on the entire east coast -

I think it's fair to say that in terms of beauty AND remote wilderness, nothing else on the east coast comes close - not the Smokies, not Shenandoa, not the Greens or the Whites, not even Baxter (because it too small) or Acadia, even with it's proximity to the ocean, because it's on such a significantly smaller scale.

[twochordcool]

Then I found out there was a little more to the place than Mt. Marcy and Algonquin.

Agreed - I had that big mountain tunnel vision at first too, partly because I have done a lot of hiking with my father, and my father has less of an appreciation for simply walking in a beautiful forest than I do - he hikes for the wide dramatic panoramic views. Whereas I have come to appreciate and love hiking and camping in a beautiful, remote forest near a lake or a stream, despite the lack of dramatic views - to me the forest and the peace and quiet is what it's all about!

The western high peaks are amazing if you can appreciate these kinds of places and don't HAVE to hike a peak!

Having said that, I wish they would somewhat limit and police the eastern high peaks a little more - especially in the summer and on big weekends like July 4th, Labor Day and Colombus Day - WAY TOO MANY backpackers, especially amateurs flock there during these times and really don't obey the "leave no trace" rules.

More and more I have been exploring the Five Ponds wilderness and just recently have wandered in the West Canada Lakes - I'd like to explore the Siamese Ponds and Silver Lake too...but that is about as small a wilderness area that I would like to explore!

[Gray Ghost]

Love the Adirondacks....i wouldn't want to live anywhere else, but I find many areas of coastal Maine to be just as picturesque. Plan on going to Acadia for the first time since I was very young this summer and I can't wait.

[Dick]

Agreed - I had that big mountain tunnel vision at first too, partly because I have done a lot of hiking with my father, and my father has less of an appreciation for simply walking in a beautiful forest than I do - he hikes for the wide dramatic panoramic views. Whereas I have come to appreciate and love hiking and camping in a beautiful, remote forest near a lake or a stream, despite the lack of dramatic views - to me the forest and the peace and quiet is what it's all about!

The western high peaks are amazing if you can appreciate these kinds of places and don't HAVE to hike a peak!

Having said that, I wish they would somewhat limit and police the eastern high peaks a little more - especially in the summer and on big weekends like July 4th, Labor Day and Colombus Day - WAY TOO MANY backpackers, especially amateurs flock there during these times and really don't obey the "leave no trace" rules.

More and more I have been exploring the Five Ponds wilderness and just recently have wandered in the West Canada Lakes - I'd like to explore the Siamese Ponds and Silver Lake too...but that is about as small a wilderness area that I would like to explore!

Having just returned a couple of hours ago from backpacking to Siamese Ponds, I can attest to the fact that it is indeed a spectacular area with much to see and to explore. We also love the high mountain vistas, but ALL of the places you've mentioned are equally and wonderfully good in their own way.

Apples and oranges.

Dick

[kurtteej]

Boundary Waters Canoe area is large and remote, just not mountainous.

Canadian Rockies are stunningly beautiful, have you ever seen the color of the water in the lakes?

Adirondacks are beautiful and very convenient because it's 'only' 5 hours away and it has what I love, mountains. I go to the dacks at least twice a year, which is more often than I go to the Atlantic Ocean 12 miles away.

Acadia was lovely when I was there in autumn. Central Maine was great.

I can escape into myself only a few hundred yards from a highway, just as long as I can't hear it.