So, a little bit about me. I am an Upstate Guy. Upstate meaning that great mass of New York land that is above Westchester County in New York State. Of course, as Upstaters know, there are many version of Upstate.
Are you Southern Tier, Western New York, Central New York, Capital District or the North Country? These distinctions matter some but not so much. The one thing that all these people from across Upstate share is a close proximity to the Adirondack Mountains.
The Adirondacks. ADKs. 'Dacks (which sounds like you have something caught in your throat). North Country. Whatever you call it, very few people call it home but many, many visit its mountains, lakes, parks and towns to get some real fresh air and maybe buy a stuffed moose.
I grew up just South of the ADKs in the Capital District and to be honest, felt like every time I went up there, it was boring isolation. No TV? No McDonald's? Swimming in a lake to find a hot spot? Fun, thy name was not Adirondacks.
However, as I got older, I began to appreciate the Adirondacks a lot more. I appreciated the slower pace than Gotham (which I had settled in by that time). I appreciated the air and the climbs and yes the food. The food is good there. It is a simpler, more rustic way of life. Sure people within the "Blue Line" have their share of problems and gripes but overall it is a heck of a place to live/visit.
So, when the clarion call came for me to ship out to Los Angeles, California (movie stars!, swimming pools!), while excited, it was also bittersweet that I would be giving up my newly beloved ADKs.
So, in order to cheer myself up and to gear up for a wonderful life in LA to begin, I am starting this blog. Hopefully it will find some of you transplanted Upstaters living in La La Land. The goal is to find places in LA that remind me of "home", to go on hikes that remind me of the 46ers and to meet people with the hopes of one day shaking the core of the Adirondack Mountain Club and forming our own satellite chapter in Los Angeles! Of course, witty musings on LA will follow in these spaces as well. I hope to entertain, find new friends and provide an Upstate perspective on the West (Best?) Coast. New post soon!
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Liking this blog! Like yourself I am an east coast transplant and have only over the last few years discovered the trails that I have written about on my own site. There's a lot of great hiking in L.A., you just have to know where to look. After 3 years I'm still learning too.
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