CATS Grand Opening of Mount Inez Trail

LEWIS – Champlain Area Trails invites you to celebrate the grand opening of the new Mount Inez Trail on Saturday, Aug. 1, honoring the remarkable legacy of Inez Milholland, the women's suffrage advocate, attorney, and longtime Lewis resident whose name now graces the mountain overlooking the Boquet Valley. The celebration will bring together community members, local leaders, and project partners to commemorate a new public trail and the successful effort to rename the mountain in recognition of Inez’s lasting contributions to the fight for women’s voting rights and social justice.

The evening begins with a dedication ceremony featuring speakers who played key roles in the mountain renaming effort, followed by a special musical performance by students from the Meadowmount School of Music. After the ceremony, participants are invited to join a guided hike on the newly completed Mount Inez Trail or the shorter Meadowmount Woods Trail.

The Mount Inez Trail is a 3.2-mile round-trip hike rated moderate to challenging, starting at the trailhead on Ray Woods Road in Lewis. Hikers are rewarded with sweeping views of the High Peaks, the rocky ridgeline above the Boquet Valley, and the surrounding Champlain Valley landscape. The trail begins with a gradual climb before ascending more steeply during the final mile, gaining approximately 600 feet in elevation to the 1,566-foot summit. For those seeking a shorter outing, the new Meadowmount Woods Trail offers a scenic 1.5-mile walk through beautiful forestland.

The event includes light refreshments and is sponsored by Covered Bridge Realty. Parking at the trailhead is limited. Attendees are encouraged to park at the Meadowmount School of Music and take the free shuttle to the trailhead between 4:15-4:50pm. Following the ceremony and hike, participants can return to their vehicles by walking the scenic Meadowmount Woods Trail. Advance registration is requested: champlainareatrails.com.

S.O.S. Triathlon Celebrates 40 Years

NEW PALTZ – The Survival of the Shawangunk (S.O.S.) Triathlon in New Paltz marks its 40th year on Aug. 30. The SOS is an eight-stage triathlon that consistently ranks among the best adventure triathlons in the world, and among the most scenic. The SOS has become so popular that the event sells out in minutes. The race involves a 30-mile bike, 4.5-mile run, 1.1-mile swim, 5.5-mile run, 0.5-mile swim, 8-mile run, 0.5-mile swim, and 0.7-mile run from Ulster County Fairgrounds.

Fewer than 200 athletes compete each year on the scenic highways circling the northern ridge of the Shawangunk Mountain Range and through Minnewaska State Park for a combination run/swim journey through some of the most beautiful hiking, biking, and cross country trails and spring fed lakes, finishing at Skytop Tower at Mohonk Mountain House.

Created by Don Davis, a veteran triathlete and founder of the New York Triathlete Association, the first official running of the SOS was in 1983. The SOS course was previously run by Don and friends as a training course to prepare for Ironman: sostriathlon.com.

Lake Sophia at Sojourner Truth is Open

KINGSTON – The Lake Sophia swimming facility and bathhouse pavilion at Sojourner Truth State Park, north of Kingston, is now open to the public. Featuring a swimming area larger than two Olympic-size swimming pools, Lake Sophia accommodates hundreds of swimmers a day and help area residents safely cool off during the hot summer months. The new swim area is open daily from 10am-6pm through Labor Day weekend.

The first new swimming facility to open at a state park in more than 20 years, Lake Sophia offers visitors a one-of-a-kind experience. Its spring-fed quarry waters feature a tropical turquoise color not found at other nearby lakes. Named in honor of Sojourner Truth’s daughter, Sophia, the lake is located on the western side of the park and features a 12,000-square-foot swim crib with an in-pool ramp and ADA-compliant gangway. Designed with accessibility at its core, the facility provides a safe and welcoming environment for those learning to swim and visitors of all abilities. For more experienced swimmers, an additional 16,000-square-foot guarded deep-water swim area is available, fed by the same spring waters.

Adjacent to the swim area is a new bathhouse pavilion featuring public restrooms, showers, a first aid station, and lifeguard facilities, enhancing the visitor experience with modern amenities and infrastructure. This project was supported by the Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act and creates new “Get Offline, Get Outside’ opportunities: parks.ny.gov.

New Ownership of Cascade Ski Center

LAKE PLACID – Adirondack Mountain Club announced the sale of Cascade Welcome Center to Noonmark Holdings, marking a new chapter for one of the Adirondack region’s beloved outdoor recreation centers. The sale represents a positive step forward for the future of the property, ensuring that Cascade remains a gateway to outdoor recreation and community engagement. 

Noonmark Holdings, an Albany-based real estate investment company owned by Brian Pollock, an Adirondack 46er, plans to preparing the facility for the upcoming winter season, with the goal of reopening the cross country ski center to the public. Looking ahead, he intends to thoughtfully reimagine the property while preserving the character and legacy that made the Cascade Ski Center a destination for more than 40 years. 

The new ownership is committed to maintaining public access to the property’s historic and iconic ski trail network and ensuring that the spirit of the Cascade Ski Center continues for years to come. Plans also include bringing back a restaurant/pub and retail shop that has served visitors and residents: adk.org.

The Great Adirondack Race at the Notch

FORT ANN – Have you ever thought “I can do that!” when watching Survivor or feel your partnership or team could handle the tasks on The Amazing Race? This September a new program is being offered at Camp Little Notch, in Fort Ann, which combines the challenges of Survivor and the tasks of endurance of The Amazing Race, over the course of three days. It is a weekend where your physical and intellectual skills will be put to the test. The Great Adirondack Race at The Notch will be held on Friday-Sunday, Sept. 25- 27, where teams of three to four individuals will be competing against one another (max 10 teams) facing seven challenges throughout Camp Little Notch’s 443 acres, with its own 80 acre private lake in the Adirondacks, with the goal of being crowned the winner of the “The Notch.”

Participation is open to adults ages 18+. Register individually and let the organizers know who your teammates are. Flying solo? Register on your own and organizers will place you on a team at the start of the weekend. Registration includes all the challenges, activities, meals, and two nights of lodging at the camp. There are a limited number of 40 spots competitors, so don’t wait. Registration is now open: camplittlenotch.org/events.