Top Adirondack stories of the year

As of mid-December, we’ve published 425 online stories in 2020, in addition to 40 photo galleries and 25 videos to our YouTube channel. That’s pretty impressive, especially when you also consider the 1,354 stories, commentaries, news releases and other posts made to our companion site Adirondack Almanack (.com).

Explorer top 10

Here are the 10 most-read stories of the year on the Explorer’s website:

1. OLD FORGE GRAPPLES WITH ABSENCE OF KEY BUSINESSES: The pandemic led to the temporary closure of Enchanted Forest water park, a major seasonal employer. Old Forge and other Adirondack communities tried to make the most of an upside-down summer. https://www.adirondackexplorer.org/stories/closures-hit-some-adirondack-businesses-hard-but-there-are-silver-linings
   
2. JEEP AT MARCY DAM: The story that launched 1,000 memes. https://www.adirondackexplorer.org/stories/jeep-drives-to-marcy-dam-via-forest-preserve
   
3. MAKING HIKING HISTORY: These two women broke the glass ceiling of Adirondack hiking challenges, completing an unsupported thru-hike of all 46 High Peaks. https://www.adirondackexplorer.org/stories/breaking-records-making-history
   
4. MIXED WELCOME: As COVID-19 unfolded in March, communities offer conflicting messages to seasonal residents. https://www.adirondackexplorer.org/stories/seasonal-residents-get-mixed-welcome-in-return-to-adirondack-communities
   
5. OPEN THE FLOODGATES: Summit stewards report what its like to deal with High Peaks hikers during a pandemic. https://www.adirondackexplorer.org/stories/a-different-kind-of-summer-atop-high-peaks-where-troubling-trends-persist
   
6. RGB IN THE ADK: A look at Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s summers spent in the Adirondacks. www.adirondackexplorer.org/stories/how-the-adirondacks-helped-shape-a-justice
   
7. THE $180M QUESTION: Whitney Estate owner John Hendrickson confirmed he will not sell to New York State, and promised the 36,000 acre estate will also not be developed or sectioned off. https://www.adirondackexplorer.org/stories/36000-acre-long-lake-estate
   
8. DEBAR POND LODGE: The DEC proposes to remove a historic structure in the northern Adirondacks. https://www.adirondackexplorer.org/stories/proposal-would-remove-historic-adirondack-camp
   
9. BUSTED ON THE UPHILL AT WHITEFACE: Former Explorer editor Phil Brown’s attempt at one more run during Whiteface shut-down. https://www.adirondackexplorer.org/stories/busted-on-the-uphill-at-whiteface
   
10. HIGH PEAKS RESCUE: A first-person account of a hiking companion’s injury and the help she received from forest rangers. https://www.adirondackexplorer.org/stories/in-their-own-words-a-high-peaks-rescue

Almanack top 10

Here are the Adirondack Almanack’s 10 most-read stories from 2020:

1. WOOLLY BEARS: The humble and beloved seasonal caterpillar had its moment in the sun, when contributor Jackie Woodcock’s look at the folk stories around the woolly bear went viral. https://www.adirondackalmanack.com/2020/11/the-woolly-bears-winter-weather-prediction.html
   
2. CANCEL YOUR HIKING TRIP: As COVID-19 started to make its presence known, Peter Bauer’s commentary about staying put struck a nerve. https://www.adirondackalmanack.com/2020/03/cancel-your-hiking-trip-to-the-adirondacks.html
   
3. COVID OPENINGS AND CLOSINGS: Our ongoing list of cancelations and re-openings throughout the pandemic has attracted a lot of views to date. https://www.adirondackalmanack.com/2020/04/covid-19-related-closings-and-delays-in-the-adirondacks.html
   
4. SPLIT UP ON THE TRAIL: A reader shared his personal story of getting separated from his hiking partner. https://www.adirondackalmanack.com/2020/09/left-behind-a-lesson-in-the-dangers-of-splitting-up-on-the-trail.html
   
5. FISHERS’ BAD RAP: Wildlife expert Steve Hall gave an up-close look at this often-maligned weasel https://www.adirondackalmanack.com/2020/02/fishers-dont-give-a-damn-about-their-bad-reputation.html
   
6. BELOW THE SURFACE: History writer Gary Peacock dove into the making of Great Sacandaga Lake. https://www.adirondackalmanack.com/2020/10/great-sacandaga-lake.html
   
7. POSSUM POWER: Another gem from Steve Hall of the Adirondack Wildlife Refuge, on the humble possum. https://www.adirondackalmanack.com/2020/02/dont-make-fun-of-possums.html
   
8. SECRET SPOTS: Explorer multimedia reporter and outdoor rec enthusiast Mike Lynch got us thinking about our favorite “hidden gems” and what happens when the secret gets out. https://www.adirondackalmanack.com/2020/08/the-secrets-out.html
   
9. MOOSE SIGHTINGS: Contributor Jackie Woodcock shared her experience seeing a moose on the road.https://www.adirondackalmanack.com/2020/09/adirondack-moose-sightings-rare-and-majestic.html
   
10. AVOIDING TICKS: Longtime Almanack reader Worth Gretter wrote this piece on using permethrin in the battle against ticks. https://www.adirondackalmanack.com/2020/05/more-tips-for-avoiding-ticks-and-tick-borne-disease.html