Schenectady Wintersports Club

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Rock and River Lodge SWC Winter Weekend – 30^th Anniversary Event

During the February 2-5 long weekend our 28 members had a great time with the gracious welcome of Adirondack Rock and River Lodge in Keene NY and the endless options of area destinations for winter fun!  Owners (since 1988) Ed and Teresa Palen meticulously tend their 2 beautiful Adirondack buildings to pamper us in comfort and convenience indoors and out.  Climber’s Lodge is a lovingly restored 1800’s post and beam historic barn dedicated to Adirondack rock and ice climbers. The Guide’s House was designed with country architecture including a spacious and sunny great room for dining and relaxing and lovely private rooms. Downstairs houses the game room and also the owner’s renowned climbing school business. This event began with an initial stay for SWC in 1993 organized by Dot Neff Gray, who led it for many years. Then an annual club event, it was interrupted only for 2 years by the COVID pandemic.

Our group included many first timers, wowed by the beautiful lodges in such a gorgeous and secluded area tucked on the east side of the Pitchoff Mt range. Friday arrivals enjoyed area skiing and sightseeing and once settled in rooms, gathered by the soaring fieldstone fireplace for a delicious pot luck supper of homemade soups, breads and other yummy offerings. Being a particular holiday, there was the appearance of a box of Groundhog Cookies (Snowmen for the vegetarians!) along with many other sumptuous desserts. A highlight was an assortment of Isla’s Divine Desserts (from the kitchen of amazing 11-year old Isla of Ballston Spa).

After a generous hot breakfast (special eggs thanks to Steve Perog and help from Will Seyse and others), we dispersed in groups and pairs for a full day to XC Ski the adjacent Jack Rabbit Trail, Cascade Welcome Center trails or other venues, Alpine Ski at Whiteface, microspikes or snowshoes to hike (some to the backwoods Winch/Copperas/Owen Pond trail), visit the traditional Saranac Ice Palace (first construction being 1897!), sample Lake Placid or generally explore some of the other area destinations. Plenty of fun for all!!

5:00 Happy Hour, then tables set, we all assembled our many pot luck dinner offerings to savor the unbelievable array of delicious options after our day of outdoor fun. Then, a couple rounds of Adirondack trivia questions sparked lively discussion for the teams. Did you know that the first Hotel in the world to have electricity to all guest rooms was in the Adks?? After, we headed to the comfort of the fireplace room or sitting area for further camaraderie and relaxing. 

After a satisfying Sunday breakfast we headed off again to enjoy ski slopes and trails (one choice was the ascent toward Balanced Rocks on Pitchoff), and other options in the winter sun. Later we said goodbyes to 9, who headed off, while welcoming 4 new arrivals including members Pete and Kathllen Dent arriving late after a work day in their town of Allentown PA, anxious to try the Whiteface slopes. Whiteface had also been the draw for the family of Anna Polesny from Northampton MA including 4-year old Gabriel who enthusiastically headed out 2 mornings to Whiteface ski school, armed with backpack, his own skis and a huge grin! 

On Sunday, our pot luck dinner again satisfied the adventurers -so many good cooks and discriminating food selections!! Later, we took turns to pick out random get-to-know questions discovering interesting, sometimes poignant or humorous facets of members of our group. The lodge has but one tucked away TV which sat unused, promoting the tradition in SWC of gathering and sharing as stated so well by Walt Kangus in the February Chatter newsletter. 

A special thanks to organizers Margie Litwin and FrançoiseHervé and to all who generously stepped up to efficiently assure that meals were set up, and clean up was thorough. Fire-builder Don Streed kept the fireplace burning well along into each evening.

NEXT YEAR the dates are FEBRUARY 7-10 (Superbowl Weekend). Currently the spaces are all reserved and a wait list begun (a reflection of the fun we all have there!) We do generally have openings develop over the course of the year. For information and wait list contact swcchatter@gmail.com with ROCK AND RIVER in the Subject line.

The Adirondack Rock and River Guide Service and Lodges is a fabulous and secluded year round destination offering rental of either of the 2 lodge buildings to groups and families and providing outdoor guides. It is set with its own rolling fields and woods, its 2 leantos and campsites and is surrounded by 1000’s of acres of state lands for exploration. It makes a perfect and unique basecamp. All of our participants have been unanimously impressed with the well-appointed accommodations. The 2 Lodge capacities are 12 and 14.  Group Campsite rental (pavilion and outhouse) can be arranged through the owner. Check it out at https://rockandriver.com  

"Schenectady Wintersports Club Inc." is a 501(c)4 non-profit organization. P.O. Box 2072, Wilton New York 12831