Penrith fear Mitch Kenny won’t play again this year while they continue to sweat on Viliame Kikau’s ankle injury ahead of their NRL preliminary final against Melbourne.
Kenny and Kikau are expected to get updates on their injuries on Monday, after both were hurt in Saturday night’s semi-final win over Parramatta.
The Panthers were unable to get full clarity over the pair’s fitness on Sunday after a late-night return to the Sunshine Coast from Mackay.
Kikau’s potential absence would be the biggest blow for the Panthers, given the threat he can offer on their potent left edge.
He pulled off the match-saving tackle against the Storm in their grand final rematch in March, and has provided big impact off the bench.
He returned to the Panthers’ base in a moon boot and the club is hopeful it is not a syndesmosis injury that would likely end his season.
“He just got a really big gash on his leg and rolled his ankle,” coach Ivan Cleary said of Kikau.
“Hopefully, it’s just a lateral sprain and not syndesmosis. Which I don’t think it is.
“Mitch Kenny looks like he has done something pretty serious too … we’ll be trying to find some fresh bodies for next week.”
Kenny was hurt in the dying minutes of the 8-6 win, causing controversy when play was stopped with the Eels on the attack and Kenny behind play.
The Panthers fear the back-up hooker’s injury is serious, and under NRL rules trainers can request play is stopped if a doctor is required on field to treat a serious injury.
However replays show a Panthers trainer had not attended to Kenny or begun to assess him when the request was made to stop play.
That incident remains under the microscope of the NRL, with Parramatta fuming after the match given it cost them momentum and an overlap.
If Kikau is missing, it’s likely Penrith could bring rookie second-rower Izack Tago onto their bench, or use an extra middle – Matt Eisenhuth or Spencer Leniu.
Tyrone May shapes as a possible replacement for Kenny, dependent on him overcoming a knee issue.
Otherwise, Jaeman Salmon is the other option.
Brian To’o should at least return from an ankle injury, giving Penrith back a weapon on their left wing against a Storm team that has spent the past fortnight resting and preparing.
Cleary also conceded halfback Nathan Cleary is continuing to manage his shoulder injury but denied it was affecting the No.7’s on-field play.
The 23-year-old was as rattled as he has been at any point since his return, clearly clutching at his shoulder in pain after trying to make a tackle against the Eels.
He will face off-season surgery that will delay his preparations for next year, but Penrith are hoping the shoulder holds together for two more games.
“I think he is OK. Everyone is a bit bruised and battered after that but it’s certainly better when you win,” Cleary said.
“I don’t think he is playing with discomfort. There is a bit of management there, but he is OK.”
Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin is “really confident” star defender Steven May will be fit to play in the AFL grand final.
The All-Australian fullback is racing the clock to be available for the September 25 decider against the Western Bulldogs at Optus Stadium.
May went down with a hamstring injury in the Demons’ 83-point preliminary final smashing of Geelong.
He attempted to play out the game but was subbed out when Melbourne were assured of progressing through to the last game of the season.
The 29-year-old declared last week there was ” no chance” he was missing the grand final, confident the injury was minor.
May will take part in a training session on Saturday at the Demons’ Perth base.
“He’ll do part of the session,” Goodwin said.
“He’s slowly building his program up towards his full training come the back end of next week.
“He’s in really good shape and really positive about where that sits with him.
“He’s really confident in the way his body’s tracking so (Saturday) is just a stepping stone in that process and we’re really confident he’ll be right to play.”
Forget the deer-spotting stereotypes. Backcountry hunting requires trekking for miles over rugged terrain only to retrace your steps while carrying hundreds of pounds of fresh meat on your back.
“Packing out an animal is hard,” says Dustin Diefenderfer, hunter, ultrarunner and founder of MTNTOUGH Fitness in Bozeman, MT. “You need a strong chassis, like an F-150.” Hunter or not, try his signature 45-70 heavy pack workout. It’s designed to build the muscle endurance and strength required for such a daunting task.
The Best Heavy Pack Workout to Build the Strength and Endurance for Backcountry Hunting
Directions
Load a multiday backpack that has a harness system with sandbags (or wrap free weights with towels) to approximate weight. Perform a descending/ascending ladder with the rep scheme: 30, 20, 10, 20, 30. Rest 2 to 5 minutes between sets. Repeat workout three times a week.
Sandbag Curl to PressNate Hill
1. Curl to Press
Grab the pack on both ends, palms facing each other, standing tall with core engaged. Perform a hammer curl, bringing the pack from waist to chest, then immediately push it overhead in a strict shoulder press. Slowly lower the pack to your chest, then waist without using momentum. Beginner: 25 lbs; intermediate: 35 lbs; elite: 45 lbs
Nate Hill
2. Deadlift
Stand with feet slightly wider than hipwidth apart. Hinge at hips to grab pack on both ends, soft bend in knees so you feel hamstrings engage. Drive through heels and extend through hips as you lift pack off the ground to stand. Squeeze glutes and slightly thrust hips forward at top of motion. Go slow and controlled on the descent, keeping a flat back. Beginner: 60 lbs; intermediate: 80 lbs; elite: 105 lbs
The return of fall means many different things. For some, it means that their yards will soon have a blanket of yellow, orange, and brown leaves. It means the temperatures are growing colder and the days are getting shorter. It also means the return of one of the most seasonally specific beers: the pumpkin ale. They hit the store shelves in September (sometimes appearing in the midst of the August heat). Then they’re gone like a ghostly phantom in the night by Thanksgiving.
If it seems like pumpkin beer is a rather recent phenomenon, it’s not. When European settlers first came to North America, wheat and barley were hard-to-come-by ingredients. If you had any, you were more likely to make bread than alcohol. In place of grains and malt, native pumpkins became an important ingredient in beer. There’s even a recipe that dates back to 1771 for ‘pompion’ ale. In the case of this particular recipe, the writer wrote that due to a “twang,” you might want to wait a couple years after bottling to drink it.
Before we proceed, you should be aware that pumpkin beer is the cilantro of brews. Either you love it in all its pumpkin-y, fall spiced glory, or you absolutely loathe it and you don’t understand why beer drinkers await its arrival. If you’re in the latter group, simply stick to Oktoberfest-style beers, wet hop IPAs, and other seasonal favorites. You’ll be golden until winter. If you’re a pumpkin head like us, keep scrolling to find 20 of our favorite pumpkin beers to drink during fall.
Keep in mind, that while there are countless pumpkin beers on the market, these 20 fully embrace the pumpkin flavor. The pumpkin flavor isn’t hidden by myriad over-the-top flavors. These are pumpkin pie, pumpkin spice, pumpkin flavor through and through.
Note: Some might not be available (yet) due to seasonality.
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Several star midfielders have had exceptional seasons in 2021 and this year’s Brownlow Medal count is set to be the most enthralling in recent years.
The AFL’s night of nights is finally upon us.
A brand new Brownlow medallist will be crowned at the ceremony on Sunday evening.
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The prestigious medal is awarded to the player judged the best and fairest by the AFL umpires.
After each game in every round, the match officials award three votes, two votes and one vote to the three players they believe were the most impressive on the field.
Last year’s Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale and 2019 winner Nat Fyfe both had injury-interrupted seasons, ruling them out of contention for this year’s award.
Unlike the past few seasons, there is no clear-cut favourite with a winner likely to come from a trio of standout midfielders.
This year’s is count is expected to be one of the closest in recent memory and could well go down to the wire.
Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s Brownlow Medal.
When is it on?
This year’s Brownlow Medal will be held on Sunday 19 September with the vote count due to get underway at 7.30pm (AEST).
The Brownlow usually takes place on the Monday of grand final week but the AFL has parted with tradition in the last two years, holding the ceremony on the Sunday instead.
How can I watch the Brownlow?
The Brownlow will be broadcast on Channel 7, with coverage of the red carpet kicking off at 7pm (AEST) before the vote count gets underway at 7.30pm (AEST).
Where is it being held?
The past two Covid-affected seasons have forced the Brownlow to be held at state-based locations instead of the usual glamorous ceremony at Melbourne’s Crown Casino.
Perth is hosting all the major events in the lead up to the grand final, with Optus Stadium to host the main part of this year’s ceremony.
Players from Western Australia and South Australia will be there in Perth, along with some of the favourites for the Brownlow from the two grand finalists — Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs.
Queensland-based players will be at the Gabba, while players from Victoria and NSW will have to tune in remotely from home due to the Covid-19 lockdowns in those states.
AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan will be reading out the votes at the venue at Optus Stadium, where this year’s winner will likely be crowned.
Who are the favourites to win?
The 2021 Brownlow count is expected to be one of the closest in recent years.
There isn’t a runaway favourite this year but most experts believe one of Port Adelaide’s Ollie Wines, Melbourne’s Clayton Oliver or the Western Bulldogs’ Marcus Bontempelli will win.
Pundits have Wines as the narrow favourite to take home “Charlie”, with Oliver to be disadvantaged by his teammates Christian Petracca and Max Gawn taking votes off him.
Bontempelli could also miss out on valuable votes awarded to his teammate Jack Macrae instead.
A rare tie is certainly not out of the realm of possibility and it would be the first time there have been joint winners since 2003 when Nathan Buckley, Adam Goodes and Mark Ricciuto all finished on 23 votes.
St Kilda’s Jack Steele is a smokey for the Brownlow and is expected to poll very well in the second half of the season and challenge the favourites.
Carlton’s young gun Sam Walsh and Essendon’s Darcy Parish are likely to finish high on the leaderboard and be rewarded for breakout seasons.
What are the betting odds?
Wines is the favourite to win the Brownlow according to Sportsbet, only just ahead of Oliver and Bontempelli.
Smack in the Pacific, thousands of miles from the nearest landmass, the Hawaiian Archipelago is as isolated as it gets. It’s the world capital of endemism—with one of the highest numbers of species existing nowhere else on Earth. There are more endangered species per square mile here than anywhere else, making the islands of Hawaii one of the planet’s most unique—and uniquely vulnerable—ecosystems.
Prior to human influence, new plants and animals carried by wind and water were incredibly rare here. A single new species made this commute every 50,000 years or so. Today, invasive species arrive in Hawaii once every 18 days. Most of the species on the island today co-evolved over millennia, creating a diverse and stable balance. Add in one dominant species though, leave it unchecked, and Hawaii’s delicate ecosystem is in trouble.
Environmental imbalance can be tough to gauge globally, but in Hawaii it’s felt almost immediately. Invasive deer, pigs, goats, sheep, and cattle are responsible for widespread destruction of lowland and native ecosystems, including critical watersheds.
What’s the largest invasive threat of all in Hawaii at present? No question, the seemingly benign Axis deer—a relatively new species surging toward a monoculture.
Muise and his team aim to monitor and manage Mauiʻs Axis deer population to a healthy carrying capacity.Lucianna McIntosh
Multiplying like… deer
In 1959, nine Axis deer were introduced to the island of Maui. Today, their population threatens to soar to hundreds of thousands, compromising the island’s open space if they aren’t managed effectively.
Enter Maui Nui Venison, a company founded on a single goal: tackling this problem head-on in a grounded and environmentally sound way.
“We’re never going to have sales goals,” says company founder and CEO Jake Muise. “We’re only going to have management goals.”
Maui Nui officially opened for business last year, but it’s been in the works for over a decade. The catalyst dates back to a clerical mistake during Muise’s college years. A native of northern Canada, he moved to Hawaii and was accidentally placed in an all-Polynesian dorm. This led to extended stays with local families over the holidays who familiarized him with the island’s Axis deer (over)population.
“It started with recreational bow hunting,” Muise recalls. “Eventually, figuring out a way to manage this invasive species became my biggest passion.”
NIght shift. The Maui Nui Venison crew.Courtesy Image
A win-win business idea is hatched
For his capstone project, Muise wrote a business plan mimicking New Zealand’s deer management program.
“My thesis was completely wrong,” notes Muise. “You can’t domesticate Axis deer. But it did put me on a path toward starting a non-profit—the Axis Deer Institute, which eventually became Maui Nui Venison.”
Muise’s first project out of college was removing four Axis deer that had been illegally introduced to the Big Island—a 90,000 square mile area. Despite very few invasive species projects being successful in Hawaii, this one was.
“That spurred a lot of conversations in Maui,” says Muise. “Eventually we realized that to be effective on an island-wide basis, we couldn’t rely on the grant process for funding. That led to the creation of Maui Nui.”
By working with large landowners across the island, Muise and his team aim to monitor and manage Mauiʻs Axis deer population to a healthy carrying capacity. “Having the Axis deer viewed as a resource instead of an invasive species is ultimately best at every angle—for people and the animal too,” says Muise.
Populations of Axis deer are located using Forward Looking Infrared (FLI) technology, which detects heat signatures.Lucianna McIntosh
Maui Nui’s method starts with data. All its venison is sourced from the field—a process unique to the company. Using Forward Looking Infrared (FLI) technology to detect heat signatures, the Maui Nui crew is able to compile deer population surveys and assess large areas with strikingly accurate population density predictions—of about 95 percent.
“This helps us understand resource availability and explain to landowners the cost of deer on their property,” says Muise. “It also forces us to be accountable and harvest responsibly.”
Jake Muise gearing up for the night shift.Courtesy Image
Night time’s the right time…
All the harvesting is done at night. It’s less stressful for the deer, which are never baited, fenced, penned, or corralled. Thanks to the absence of natural predators and seasonal swings, Axis deer experience minimal stress in general. “When animals are stressed, they rapidly deplete sugar stores and lactic acid levels, causing serious effects on meat texture and flavor,” Muise explains. “Our effort to source stress-free is an ethical choice—and a difference you can taste.”
Using a mobile slaughter facility, Maui Nui also does its processing in the wild, while following the regulations of a brick-and-mortar facility. The company’s mobile harvesting process is both USDA and FDA approved, with a USDA inspector for the duration of the harvest and a USDA veterinarian to inspect every animal.
“We only have a three-hour window every night, so the only way to make it happen is to bring the processing part with us,” says Muise.
Night shift. The Maui Nui Venison crew.Courtesy Image
Balance is the key
Thankfully, with years of collected data on Axis deer, Maui Nui is able to harvest with incredible efficiency. Muise says their database details every deer sighting, bullet fired, and weather condition from each harvest along with any other factors that enable effective tracking. “We’re able to harvest seven deer in an hour,” says Muise. “That pace wouldn’t be possible without all the data we’ve collected.”
Muise and his team spent years flying in inspectors from Oahu, all out of pocket. Using a local inspector since last year, Maui Nui can perform up to 14 harvests each month, creating a more consistent supply of venison. The company employs 16 full-time staff—and counting. The company is growing, but the standard exponential growth model isn’t the vision here.
Maui Nui recently partnered with Patagonia Provisions, to scale distribution and gain market exposure.
“I’ve always looked up to Yvon [Chouinard] for his tireless focus on environmentalism while growing a sustainable business. We don’t plan to work with many companies, but Provisions was a perfect fit. We needed their help to tell our story and educate more people. A big part of their business model is to find smaller producers—farmers, fishermen, and hunters like us—to incorporate our products into their platform. It’s a mutually beneficial relationship. And they support our mission of management before profits,” says Muise.
The goal is to achieve balance, working with major landowners to help them manage Axis deer to a population that works with the ecosystem. The population curve is on pace to quickly triple, so time is of the essence.
Once that benchmark is reached, Maui Nui won’t get any bigger. “We’ll actually get smaller, which I guess makes this a fairly odd business structure,” Muise laughs. “Hopefully we’ll be here in three years.”
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Dumbbell Dumbbells—bells of any kind, really—are an essential part of gym life. When the dumbbells ring, it’s time to move on to the next workout.
Spotting When muscular people point out one another’s amazing bodies—spotting them, so to speak.
Ripped When gymfolk swell to the point that they rip through their clothing, à la the Hulk.
Medicine Ball An exclusive annual party that fit people attend.
Elliptical When you work out so hard that time itself becomes circular. A state of euphoria known only to the buff.
Rep Most fit people have their own agents, or reps, who accompany them to the gym, feed them protein, towel off their bodies, etc.
Set To entertain the muscular, fitness studios will often hire the lesser-toned to perform comedy, music, and live theatre.
Free Weight Famous for not knowing their own strength, the burly will occasionally lift a weight so well that it flies through the air.
Burning Calories Dozens of calories will be shed in the course of a workout. A gym’s cleaning staff is responsible for sweeping those calories into the incinerator.
Leg Day A day of observance on which the muscular contemplate their single biggest muscle: the leg. Ceremonies will usually continue well into the evening, at which point it becomes leg night.
Kettlebell Kettlebells ring at teatime, though no tea is served. The term, which originated in the U.K., riffs on the hot bodies of gym-goers, but the allusion to boiling water is mostly lost on the American public.
Bench Press The fitness media, which covers the biggest muscles and the hottest bods.
Core Training Before one may join the gym’s upper levels (where hunks abound), they must grind it out in the boiler room, menacingly referred to as the core.
Pump Iron An homage to the foundries where muscles were first discovered by extruding (or “pumping”) vats of molten iron ore. Hence the variant expression: to ’strude ore.
Resistance Band Turf wars have been known to break out when the iron is pumping and the testosterone is flowing. Gym-goers and their reps will form splinter factions, or resistance bands.
Curl Hair muscle. Key to hotness.
Bulk When an annual gym membership is cheaper than twelve monthly payments.
Cardio A female rapper known for such bangers as “I Like It,” “Money,” and “WAP.” Popular at the gym.
Foam Roller Swollen muscles are treated with the magical power of foam. Foam is effectively a currency of the muscled class, and those who have it in large quantities are affectionately referred to as foam rollers.
Spin Class Shedding calories via centrifugal force. Extremely advanced.
Tone Unbeknownst to most, gym-goers spend as much time working on their manners as they do on their bodies.
Squats Abandoned gyms where people get ripped illegally.
Plyometrics and Isometrics Gibberish-based passwords that will grant you access to most gyms.
HIIT Short for high-intensity interval training, HIIT refers to such gruelling activities as putting on exercise clothing, getting in your car, and driving to the gym.
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Midway through the race, Verstappen and Hamilton found themselves racing each other down the straight at Monza before carnage ensued.
Hamilton was just in front going in to Turn 1 but Verstappen attempted to pass him on the tricky chicane.
However, there wasn’t enough room for Verstappen to overtake and he slid onto the bumpy “sausage kerbs” before colliding with Hamilton’s Mercedes on the tight corner.
Both cars were pushed off the track on to the gravel and the awkward crash left Verstappen’s Red Bull partially perched on top on Hamilton’s Mercedes.
After the race finished, the stewards handed Verstappen a three-place grid penalty, effectively laying blame at the Dutchman. The sanction means Verstappen will start three spots below his qualifying position at the Russian Grand Prix in two weeks’ time.
Now Verstappen has been slammed by three-time F1 world champion Sir Jackie Stewart for not checking on Hamilton’s welfare before storming back to the garage in a huff.
“Verstappen is taking longer than expected to mature,” Stewart told the Daily Mail.
“Not even to go to see Hamilton after a serious accident when you have just driven over the top of the guy is something I don’t really understand.
“Especially when he is still in his car and remained there for a long time before getting out. Max has quite a lot to learn. But who will he listen to?
“He’s very, very good. He’s probably the fastest driver on the grid now, but to be a proper champion you cannot be entangling yourself in crashes all the time.”
Stewart was surprised Verstappen only copped a three-place grid penalty from the stewards, who determined he was at fault for such a serious crash.
“The stewards have more information, but if they were so certain Verstappen was entirely to blame then why does he only get a three-place penalty?” Stewart said.
“If it weren’t for the halo, Lewis could have died, and the supposed culprit only gets a slap on the wrist.”
Stewart believes both Verstappen and Hamilton were partially to blame for the scary crash.
“It was yet another experience of the two drivers being a little bit over anxious to get on with the job,” Stewart told talkSPORT.
“It was an early part of the race and not something you want to push too hard on to begin with.
“It’s a circuit where there is an opportunity to pass on one or two other areas.
“As in Silverstone when there was a collision between both drivers, I think both of those cases could have been avoided.
“They were both too early in the race to be really pushing in that fashion and situations where anybody could have been thrown in the air, upside down, it could have been a very serious situation.
“It would have been very difficult to say who was guilty. The governing body has made a decision, but it was such a weak penalty that only three places at the next Grand Prix Verstappen would have to move back. That’s a very small penalty.
“I think both drivers have to take some responsibility for it.”
Stewart believes the championship battle will go down to the wire but took another swipe at Verstappen, saying the 23-year-old is still in “the puppy stage” of his career.
The criticism could be a reference to the three occasions this season Verstappen has failed to a finish a Grand Prix, often due to his aggressive driving style.
“I think they (Mercedes) have the best package at the moment, but Red Bull have really shown themselves to be hot,” Stewart said.
“I think it will be between both of them. Verstappen, I think now is the fastest driver in the business, but is still slightly in the puppy stage.
“At the same time, Lewis may be approaching the end of his career in Formula 1, so I think the future holds more in the Verstappen field. But don’t count out Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton is an extremely good driver.”
Comments Off on Max Verstappen still maturing and in ‘puppy stage’ of career, says F1 legend MONZA, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 12: Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing prepares to drive in the garage before the F1 Grand Prix of Italy at Autodromo di Monza on September 12, 2021 in Monza, Italy. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)
Can any other season really compare with winter at a top ski resort? In New York’s gorgeous Adirondacks—home to famed Lake Placid and its premier hill, Whiteface Mountain—the answer is an eye-opening, money-saving, crowd-escaping, wildly-adventurous yes. Just don’t tell all those folks waiting in lift lines and shelling out peak-season hotel rates in a few months.
Shoulder seasons like late summer or fall are the perfect other time to discover the alter-ego of any big-name ski destination, whether it’s situated in the Rockies, the Sierras or in New York’s vast wilderness playground—the Adirondacks. Weighing in at about six million acres of mountains, lakes, rivers, and trails (that’s about the size of Vermont, folks) with numerous outfitters offering a wide array of adventures, the Adirondacks fits the bill for off-season exploration in every direction.
Here’s how to appreciate this area before the ski crowds arrive and the whole place is buried in powder.
Re-Introducing Lake Placid
The site of two Winter Olympics, you’ve heard of Lake Placid even if you’re somehow not a fan of epic hockey victories. About a five-hour drive from New York City, the village is situated right on Mirror Lake and just south of the namesake lake. Lake Placid’s main street—lined with bars, restaurants and shops—is also stocked with outfitters to gear visitors up for everything from trail running to SUPing. There’s no better home base for your summer or fall adventure in the Adirondacks.
High Peaks ResortCourtesy Image
Where to Stay
High Peaks Resort
Come winter, this popular Lake Placid resort right on Mirror Lake will be hosting skiers bound for nearby Whiteface Mountain—New York’s fifth-highest peak boasting one of the top verticals in the Northeast. Right now, the property’s three buildings—all with lake views—are another sort of oasis. Guests have access to swimming, kayaking, and SUPing on Mirror Lake with hotel-supplied gear. It’s the perfect spot for families or rookie SUPers, as motorboats are verboten on a lake which is usually as smooth as glass.
Inside the main resort, you’ll find clean rooms, a mountain lodge motif, lovely views of the lake and mountains, two pools, plus solid restaurants and bars. Tip: snagging a room on the fourth floor gives you direct access to your parked car without having to haul gear through the lobby.
High Peaks Resort guests have easy access to the Dancing Bear, situated on the same property. This window-lined, casual spot with views of the lake and mountain is a solid choice for hearty breakfasts (they call it “brunch” here at any hour) and later meals. A solid beer list leans heavily on hard, excellent ciders—best enjoyed on the upstairs deck with those great views.
If breakfast is going to be quick, and if you can get there before the line starts, this bakery covers all the basics from scones to cinnamon buns the size of a fist and coffee. Come with cash or Venmo—they don’t take plastic. If you’re with a big crew, send in one rep because the shop is tiny.
This favorite spot overlooking Mirror Lake specializes in local ingredients and a kid-friendly menu that will appeal to youth of all ages. Think giant handmade pretzels with house-made mustard, or a German smash burger featuring two bratwurst patties under onions and cheese. The beer list features an array of fine local ales complete with tasting notes.
For town-hopping daytrippers, this rustic, lakeside tavern in the nearby village of Saranac Lake (less than 10 miles from Lake Placid) is the perfect casual pitstop for hearty salads, flatbreads and grain bowls. Thankfully, they don’t shy away from a killer poutine as well.
Courtesy of Roost
Best Off-Season Adventures in Lake Placid
Hiking
Families can warm-up with an easy, paved two-miler around Mirror Lake—or, a short drive away, some off-roading in Henry’s Woods. Hikers who aren’t yet up for the Adirondack’s big-league treks featuring its 46 High Peaks (most of them over 4,000 feet) can opt for Lake Placid’s more moderate “9’ers”—a group of mountains hanging below that mark. In-town, that includes a 4.4-mile round trip up Mt. Van Hoevenberg. A short drive away in neighboring Keene is the friendlier-than-it-sounds Hurricane Mountain, where a 3.5-mile climb leads to a 2,000-foot summit with spectacular panoramas.
Rock Climbing
Rock climbers of all levels can hook up with a qualified instructor at Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS) in Lake Placid. The climbing store and school leads classes and trips of all levels—including a popular “101” option which shows first-timers the ropes at some friendly beginner spots. Don’t need the hand-holding? Stop in here anyway for some solid intel on the best climbing routes in the area.
Mountain Biking
Just a short ride from downtown, experienced riders can access over 30 great biking trails tucked behind the Lake Placid Club. Choose from moderate rides, like Twisted Sister, to more difficult routes, like Lumberyard with its featured boardwalk. Nearby, Craig Wood Trails offers an additional three miles of machine-built singletrack. Novice riders can opt for Heaven Hill Trails, a family-friendly multi-use trail system offering short, mostly flat loops with sweet mountain vistas.
Day-Tripping to The Wild Center
Rolling through Lake Placid’s nearby satellite communities—including Saranac Lake, Tupper Lake, and Wilmington—is all part of the fun of exploring the Adirondacks. A top attraction in Tupper Lake (about 40 minutes from Lake Placid), The Wild Center offers a mix of indoor and outdoor interactive exhibits situated on 115 acres showcasing the wildlife of the Adirondacks. Step outside to see wildlife demos or hike groomed trails, including one that weaves around outdoor sculptures to a classical music soundtrack. Don’t miss the Wild Walk, an elevated pathway zig-zagging across the forest floor on suspension bridges, staircases, and a giant trampoline disguised as a spider web.
High Falls Gorge
The signature tromp along cliff-clinging staircases at this stunning 22-acre nature park takes about half an hour, darting across the AuSable River at three different points for epic scenes of water slamming into rock. Seasonal trails are spread across the park, complete with numerous waterfalls and glass-floored viewing platforms above a granite crevice that’s been a work-in-progress carving over the last billion years.
Whiteface Veterans’ Memorial Highway
About 12 miles northwest of High Falls is the toll booth for this drive up famous Whiteface Mountain along the Veterans’ Memorial Highway. The white-knuckler snakes up 2,300 feet in about five miles, with no less than nine pull-offs for spectacular vistas of Lake Placid and the surrounding mountains. Park at the summit where part-two of your ascent begins—a short but breathless 257-foot clamber up some rock stairs to the 4,867-foot summit with the expected payoff panorama at the end.
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Veterans of the Parkes Returned Services League (RSL) sub-branch have received a valuable boost, with a grant provided to assist them with their health and fitness. The Parkes Services Club, through the Club Grants scheme, have once again come to the aid of the sub-branch with a $7500 cheque that will go to the exercise programs available to veterans. Parkes sub-branch secretary Paul Thomas congratulated the Parkes Services Club for its ongoing commitment, which is now entering its fifth year. Paul explains that the ongoing support once again enables the sub-branch to assist its members with a weekly one-hour health and fitness program. The program takes place at the Parkes Fitness-4-All gym under the guidance of local physiotherapist, and Parkes Champion Post columnist, Jeff McClurg. READ MORE NEWS STORIES: – Parkes High blazing a trail in Duke of Edinburgh course – Inspiring Parkes mother ‘felt called’ to foster children – BREAKING: Brighter days ahead with Parkes coming out of lockdown The weekly sessions take place at 9.30am on Wednesdays, and are free to all ex-service personnel. Those who do wish to take part are required to become members of the Parkes Fitness-4-All gym, as well as the Parkes PCYC. Once members join up to those respective organisations, it also allows the sub-branch members to partake in other programs at the gym other than the weekly sessions. Currently some 14 members are taking part and according to Paul, the sub-branch is very keen to see more people take part – especially the members who have retired from the workforce. The Parkes RSL sub-branch has now been conducting this weekly program for the past four years and its members are genuinely grateful of the support given by the Parkes Services Club through the Club Grants scheme. You can find out more about the Parkes RSL sub-branch on their Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/ParkesRSL/ or at https://www.rslnsw.org.au/sub-branch-listing/parkes-rsl-sub-branch/. The RSL is a member-based veterans’ charity founded in 1916, and the largest veterans’ charity in Australia. Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content: Bookmark www.parkeschampionpost.com.au Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Instagram
Veterans of the Parkes Returned Services League (RSL) sub-branch have received a valuable boost, with a grant provided to assist them with their health and fitness.
The Parkes Services Club, through the Club Grants scheme, have once again come to the aid of the sub-branch with a $7500 cheque that will go to the exercise programs available to veterans.
Parkes sub-branch secretary Paul Thomas congratulated the Parkes Services Club for its ongoing commitment, which is now entering its fifth year.
Paul explains that the ongoing support once again enables the sub-branch to assist its members with a weekly one-hour health and fitness program.
The program takes place at the Parkes Fitness-4-All gym under the guidance of local physiotherapist, and Parkes Champion Post columnist, Jeff McClurg.
READ MORE NEWS STORIES:
The weekly sessions take place at 9.30am on Wednesdays, and are free to all ex-service personnel.
Those who do wish to take part are required to become members of the Parkes Fitness-4-All gym, as well as the Parkes PCYC.
Once members join up to those respective organisations, it also allows the sub-branch members to partake in other programs at the gym other than the weekly sessions.
Currently some 14 members are taking part and according to Paul, the sub-branch is very keen to see more people take part – especially the members who have retired from the workforce.
The Parkes RSL sub-branch has now been conducting this weekly program for the past four years and its members are genuinely grateful of the support given by the Parkes Services Club through the Club Grants scheme.
The RSL is a member-based veterans’ charity founded in 1916, and the largest veterans’ charity in Australia.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content:
