Discover the Adirondacks book series?

[VermontDacker]

Does anyone know if any new editions of the Discover the Adirondacks Series (begun my Barbara McMartin and carried on by Bill Ingersoll and others) are planned?

These are the best books I have ever found on hiking the 'dacks. Because there is one for each region, they go far beyond the basic "top 50 hikes that everyone else does" books that try to cover the whole region in one book.

Even though my editions are quite out of date, they are still valuable. But an up-to-date edition would be even more valuable. This is especially true for Discover the Central Adirondacks, because as far as I can tell no new edition of Central was issued after the state acquisition of Essex Chain Lakes and the creation of Hudson Gorge Wilderness. So my edition of Central omits many of the excellent hikes that are now possible.

[Wldrns]

I agree, they are the best informative guide books, including interesting historical scketches in many. I even assisted with writing a few of the descriptions for Bill, especially in the off trail areas of the Western Adiorndacks. The last time I talked to Bill, a couple of years ago, he told me that his plan was to release updated editions only as the old ones sold out. But I have the terriible feeling he is finished with all of that now.

[VermontDacker]

Wldrns, I suspect you could write a pretty amazing Adirondack book of your own if you chose...

[Tick Magnet]

I'll agree with you folks that these are some of the best resources for planning and are just flat out fun to read. Bill's research into the history of each area is fantastic and really puts things in perspective when you walk in the footsteps of others. I too was lucky enough to accompany Bill on several hikes while he was writing Discover the Southern Adirondacks. That was a lot of fun! To echo what Wldrns said, Bill was going to re-release once the previous editions sold out. He also said the writing, editing and research didn't really pay a lot of money. Bill is still out there on the trails and I'm sure he's making some detailed notes. 😉

[Justin]

Last time Bill and I talked about the guidebook series he didn’t have any immediate plans to continue the series, which is a bit unfortunate because he asked me to cover portions of the Dix Wilderness for his updated High Peaks book. I still have all my notes and descriptions, and it sure was fun exploring those off the beaten path locations, but unfortunately I don’t think it will ever be published. Bill has been busy with other endeavors, and sadly his hiketheadirondacks website is no more.

[VermontDacker]

I can certainly understand Bill deciding to move on to other things.

Perhaps it's time for someone else to pick up the torch, but the question is whether there is enough demand for traditional books to justify that effort, or if the modern hiker prefers a crowd-sourced online resource.

I don't know the answer.

[Wldrns]

For many years I parked at trailheads and hiked trails as means to get me to my prefered remote exploration hikes off trail. I used excerpts from Barbara's and then Bills books as the means to go from the trailheads to begin my adventures off trail and to read the history of places I hiked through.

Descriptions in B&B's books told me how far and how long it would take to get from one landmark to the next I could use a a general baseline for other travels, and something interesting I might find there if I looked around a bit. I followed topo map details and used my compass for my navigation on and away from the marked trails. I used a quality point and shoot camera with exposusre adjustment controls on it (a "real" camera, not a portable telephone device). People these days look at me strangely when I tell them that is how I still prefer to travel in the backcountry.

[VermontDacker]

Wldrns, that makes perfect sense to me!

[Justin]

I agree that most people just use the internet these days and apps like All trails and social media like Facebook and the like to find out favorite trails to hike. Seems not many people are looking for off the beaten trail type destinations, and if you are, chances are you don’t need a guidebook or an app to do that. All you need is a map, the desire, knowledge, and comfort level to safely venture off trail to discover your own adventures. I completely understand why many people do not want to share their discoveries with the general public these days.

[stripperguy]

Even though there may not be much published info about the Essex Chain Lakes area, there are many of us here with experiences in that area.
I’m sure a PM to various individuals here would be met with gracious sharing of info.
Agreed that an open forum may not be the best place for sharing intimate locales.

[VermontDacker]

I actually did a fair amount of exploring around the margins of Essex Chain Lakes last year, and I think I know what I need to know for upcoming trips.

There are more questions about Hudson Gorge Wilderness and adjacent parts of Vanderwhacker Wild Forest. Wildrns has provided good information on bushwhacking in the Hudson Gorge area, which is also very helpful.

[Justin]

Just a heads up… Beware the poison ivy patches along the banks of the Hudson River in the Gorge area. More specifically the northern shore. I got a nasty infection in the Blue Ledge/Dunk Pond area a couple years ago.

[Wldrns]

I
There are more questions about Hudson Gorge Wilderness and adjacent parts of Vanderwhacker Wild Forest. Wildrns has provided good information on bushwhacking in the Hudson Gorge area, which is also very helpful.

Mistaken identity. I am a western/noorthern/southwestern Adirondack kind of guy. Never been to Vanderwhackker or Hudson Gorge in any wilderness capacity.

[VermontDacker]

Wildrns, my mistake. I thought that it was you who had bushwhacked through much of the Hudson Gorge Wilderness highlands around Whortleberry Pond, Carter Pond, Pine Mountain Pond, and beyond.

That's an area I plan to explore in the future. It doesn't seem to get much visitation.

[Justin]

I’ve been to Pine Mountain Pond, great spot for a sunset.
Not as remote as you may think, there is a trail to it from the Northern Frontier property, and they have a tendency to leave several boats/canoes stashed along the shore on state land of those nearby ponds.