SEPT/OCT 2026

Ian Mackay Riding Erie Canalway Trail

ALBANY – Ian Mackay, who is paralyzed from the neck down, is taking on his six Ian’s Ride, this one in New York City on Sept. 19, then from Albany to Buffalo from Sept. 20-28, 360 miles along the Erie Canalway Trail in his mouth-controlled power wheelchair. The trek will highlight what’s to Buffalo possible for wheelchair users when accessible infrastructure makes outdoor recreation more inclusive. Ian, founder and executive director of Ian’s Ride, a Washington State nonprofit, will travel through communities, drawing attention to the importance of accessible trails, and the opportunities they create for people with mobility disabilities.

Following this Ian’s Ride, a feature-length documentary, Good Moment, will be made chronicling his rides in a mouth-controlled power wheelchair. The film will explore Ian’s determination, his relationship with the outdoors, the role of community and adaptive technology in making adventures like this possible. “This is an opportunity to show what’s possible when people have access to the outdoors,” Ian said. “The Erie Canalway Trail is an incredible piece of American history, and I’m excited to experience it with my friends, meet people along the way, and continue pushing for trails that everyone can enjoy.”

The adventure builds on a series of long-distance rides that began in 2016, when Ian crossed Washington State in his power wheelchair. Those experiences inspired the creation of Ian’s Ride, a nonprofit dedicated to making the outdoors more accessible for people living with paralysis and mobility disabilities. Community members are encouraged to join for a portion of the journey, meet the group along the route, and follow updates from the trail. For more info, itinerary, and opportunities to ride with Ian, visit iansride.com.

Saratoga Trails Festival

Join Saratoga Trails Alliance on Saturday, Sept. 26, for an afternoon exploring Saratoga County’s trails and celebrating the outdoor community. The third annual Saratoga Festival invites participants of all ages and abilities to discover the diverse trails that our region has to offer through a series of guided adventures. The Trail Adventures from 2-4pm across Saratoga County and Trail Fest Party from 4-8pm at Glenham Farm in Saratoga Springs – this is a free event and all are welcome! At the party, there will be food and drinks available for purchase. Donations to Saratoga Trails Alliance are accepted. 

The alliance is partnering with local nonprofit organizations to host rides, hikes, walks, paddles and other trail outings during Trail Fest’s “pick-your-own” adventure from 2-4pm (except where noted), including, hiking at Lake Bonita with NYS Parks; a butterfly walk with Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park (8:30am); woods walk in Anchor Diamond Park with ECOS: Environmental Clearinghouse of Schenectady; mountain biking at Luther Forest with Shredders MTB; biking in Saratoga Spa State Park and with STA board members; paddle the Champlain Canalway Water Trail with STA volunteers (noon); a slow roll bike ride at Saratoga Battlefield to mark America’s 250th with Bikeatoga; hike at Graphite Range Community Forest with STA board members, and more.

After a day of adventure, gather at Glenham Farm in Saratoga Springs to enjoy music, delicious food cooked by Chef Kevin London, and connect with other trail lovers in a relaxed, festive atmosphere. Register: saratogatrails.org.

Avalanche Lake Trail Reopened

KEENE – NYS DEC reopened Avalanche Pass Trail in the High Peaks Wilderness Area in Essex County. In July 2025, intense rock and mud slides from Mount Colden swept across the width of the pass, making the trail unusable, temporarily flooded, and dangerous. DEC closed the trail, conducted a full assessment of the damage, and began the trail work planning and approval process to ensure the pass could be reopened safely.  

Avalanche Pass is an iconic and popular hike, ski, and snowshoe adventure. The pass connects Marcy Dam to Lake Colden through a nearly two-mile stretch of narrow ravine. On the western shore of Avalanche Lake, trail users must traverse narrow wooden platforms, known as Hitch-Up Matilda’s, that skirt the lake and cling to a sheer rock face.  

This past spring, DEC staff laid out the trail work in preparation for trail crews. Since then, professional and volunteer teams from DEC, Student Conservation Association, Adirondack Mountain Club, and Adirondack 46ers have replaced displaced rock and soil to stabilize the trail surface; installed essential drainages to divert overflow water away from campsites; and completed span and bog bridges, stone steps, and more. This work is designed with sustainability in mind to withstand heavy use and extreme weather, while protecting the natural area. The work to reroute and repair the pass and surrounding areas is expected to continue through 2027: dec.ny.gov.

Artists Complete “The Mule’s Passage”

WATERFORD – Hudson Valley based artist, Z Behl, along with artist Kimberly Moloney, completed a five-week female-powered upstream canoe expedition and art project called “The Mule’s Passage,” tracing the 350-mile length of the Erie Canal.

The exploration started in Waterford on Aug. 7 and complete their voyage in Buffalo on Sept. 5, as part of the annual Artists-in-Residency sponsored by the NYS Canal Corporation. The Mule’s Passage is a creative interpretation of the woman’s body as both an engine of industry and a narrator of history. Their canoe, decorated like a mule, honored the labor that built the early canal that transformed the U.S. and global economy. Their expedition involved six hours of daily paddling and overnight camping.  

Z is a visual artist working across sculpture, performance, and film. Her work examines labor, power, and myth through physically demanding, research-driven projects that place the body in dialogue with industrial systems and landscape. She has exhibited at museums such as MOCA Tucson, Mana Contemporary, Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art, and CAC New Orleans. Her practice is known for ambitious, durational works that merge endurance, craft, and storytelling. She paddled with Kimberly, an artistic collaborator and union ironworker. 

The voyage featured public stops, interviews with locals, community sing-alongs, and the installation of a glass canoe, a new work by Z, that was unveiled at Guy Park Manor in Amsterdam on Aug. 9, where it’s in display. Guy Park Manor at Lock E11 on the Erie Canal sustained heavy damage during Hurricane Irene in 2011 and has been undergoing renovations: canals.ny.gov.