You will hear us!!

GVC has purchased an induction loop to provide those of us who need hearing assistance. It will be in operation at Chapter meetings. You can use it in at least 2 ways: if you use hearing aids that are equipped with a t-coil, just turn on that feature for the presentation. We also have 5 personal receivers for individual use. Either way, you will have an enhanced experience.
Contact Bill Lindenfelser or Katy Kuczek for more info.

Program:

In the Land of Fire and Ice: Hiking the Laugavegur Trail in Iceland

by Steve Bartlett

In the summer of 2024, Steve went on a 5-day trip to Iceland hiking on the world-renowned Laugavegur Trail. The trail is a 55 km (34 mile) multi-day hike that runs through the south central Highlands of Iceland toward the coast. The trail is only open for hiking for three months during the year, due to its short summer season and unpredictable weather, but it is considered one of the most spectacularly beautiful hiking trails in the world. The hike is known for its diverse landscapes, otherworldly scenery, and its stark and dramatic beauty. Along the way, hikers cross lava fields, pass by hissing fumaroles of boiling steam, make icy river crossings, traverse snow-covered fields and lichen-covered hills, view glaciers and volcanos on the horizon, cross a dessert of volcanic ash, travel through grassy plains filled with wildflowers, and walk through lush forests. Following the 4-day Laugavegur Trail trek, he traveled to the south coast of Iceland and visited nearby sights including the Seljalandsfoss and Skogafass Waterfalls, Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach, and then ended his trip with a guided hike atop the Solheimajokull Glacier.

In my presentation, he will talk about:
• What led him to hike the Laugavegur Trail and what makes Iceland (and this trail) so unique.
• How he prepared for the trip and what equipment he brought—including what he found to be essential and what wasn’t used.
• His impressions upon arrival in Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland, prior to starting his hike.
• He will share photos and a day-by-day overview of his 4-day hike—highlighting the diverse landscapes of the trail, as he crossed volcanic rock fields, multi-colored mountains, and glacier-fed streams toward the grasslands and forests of Thorsmork.
• A brief description and images from the visits to other nearby sites following his hike, including the Seljalandsfoss and Skogafass Waterfalls, the Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach, and a guided hike atop the Solheimajokull Glacier at the end of the trip.
• Anecdotes, impressions, and personal reflections from my experience in Iceland.

Steve Bartlett didn’t grow up in the outdoors and had little interest in hiking for most of his life. However, an invitation from a friend to hike Mt. Washington in the White Mountains of New Hampshire gave him a new perspective on the outdoors, and jump-started an interest in backpacking and hiking. He has completed several other trips since then in different locations around the world. In addition to his new-found interest in exploring, Steve enjoys photography and reading—and is especially drawn to memoirs of other travelers who find a special challenge and reward in traversing the natural world.

Program:

Yes, even you can compete in the Adirondack Canoe Classic (aka The 90 Miler)

Joshua Lemon

Joshua plans to detail some of the most important aspects to consider for a successful completion of the Adirondack Canoe Classic, focusing mostly on how to prepare physically, mentally and logistically for the event. Afterwards he will focus on questions from the audience in hope of inspiring others to participate and become part of the wonderful Adirondack Canoe Classic community of racers, organizers, volunteers and fans.

Born and raised in Saratoga County, NY, Joshua began his love affair with the Adirondack Mountains in his teenage years after his first climb of Prospect Mountain in Lake George. Shortly after that, Ihe began his ADK 46 (although he didn’t know it at the time) by climbing Cascade and Porter Mountains during the summer of 1994. After a 26 year pursuit he became ADK 46er #12358 on June 13, 2020 on the summit of Gothics Mountain.

Somewhere during Joshua’s ADK 46 journey (probably early 2000’s) he heard about the Adirondack Canoe Classic – The 90 Miler and thought to himself”who the hell would ever do that?” During the spring of 2022, with the intent of documenting the race for his youTube channel “Adirondack Adventures”, he started to research the race in greater detail. He went into his first 90 Miler thinking it would be a “one and done” bucket list experience. Unexpectedly, his first 90 Miler would be a life changing experience for him and his family (pit crew). Now Joshua can confidently say “Yes, even YOU can complete the 90 Miler!”

Program:

The ADK Fashion Show is back!  This year, we have partnered with Medved Walking & Running Outfitters, L.L.Bean, Land’s End and Eddie Bauer to showcase select outdoor fashions and gear, modeled by several of our brave chapter members. Come see how you can marry form with function to look good on the trails and waterways! As always, the event is free and open to the public, so bring your friends. There will be a 50/50 raffle at the event, with half of the proceeds benefitting the local nonprofit organization Reconnect Rochester.

Program:

Members’ Night. An evening of adventures in the Canadian Rockies and the Amazon

Canadian Rockies from Calgary to Banff to Vancouver

by Jackson Thomas

We toured Lake Louise, Sunwapta Falls, Athabasca Falls, Takakkaw Falls, Maligne Lake and Spirit Island, Moraine Lake, Medicine Lake, the Columbia Icefield (Athabasca Glacier), Peyto Lake, Bow Lake and Jasper, rafted on the Athabasca River, and then traveled from Banff to Vancouver by the Rocky Mountaineer SilverLeaf, where we spent three nights and also toured Butchart Gardens and Victoria.

From Lima, NY to Lima, Peru to the Amazon River

by Barb Brenner

Barb Brenner and Lydia D’Amato live south of Rochester in Lima, NY. Along with Barb’s sister and brother-in-law, they flew to Lima, Peru, followed by a domestic flight to the city of Iquitos located in the north east corner of Peru. Their final destination was the Amazon river and rainforest. Using an Amazonian adventure company as their guide and for accommodations, they spent four days in the Amazon rainforest viewing the flora and the fauna around the river. (The owner of the adventure company was born in the jungle in a small Amazonian village and their boat operator lived across the river in a small village.) Riding in a wooden canoe large enough for the four of them, the boat operator and their guide, they toured the Amazon river and many out-of-the-way waterways connected to the river. Join Barb in hearing about their trip on the Amazon river and in the rainforest.