Cabin Fever Replaces Winter Fest at GLSP
by Amy Modesti
2021 marks the 50th Anniversary of Grafton Lakes State Park and as such, GLSP staff have made it their mission to get visitors outside for the day and enjoy its beautiful park lands. GLSP, open year-round, is the perfect place for exploring the wilderness and practicing social distancing at its best.
Saturday, January 23, “Cabin Fever” was intended to do just that, bring people and the great outdoors together. Visitors who wished to take part in this event had to pre-register in advance for 15 events, ranging from Embracing the Cold Trail, Uncharted Wild: Live Animals, a show with Adam Bornt, Bird Walk, hiking along the Dunham Reservoir, ice skating at Long Pond Beach, L.L. Bean guided snowshoe hikes, and hiking up the Dickinson Fire Tower. Ten visitors were assigned to take part in these activities at a pre-registered time. Compared to what would be over 2,000 patrons attending the annual Winter Festival canceled this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, 250 patrons took part in “Cabin Fever.”
Walking along the cold trail behind the park’s welcome center was certainly brisk, to say the least. However, it didn’t stop families from venturing out in the cold to take a hike and interact with the park’s presenters, Lance Palmateer (Winter Hiking), Mary Glynn (Winter Camping), Rensselaer County Search and Rescue, Vic DiSanto and his sled dogs, Pat Naple (How do scientists measure snow?), and Dan Yacobellis (Winter Survival/ Campfire Making).
After spending time outdoors, visitors could enter the welcome center to learn about Australian boa constrictors, pythons, corn snakes, turtle, gecko and iguanas from Tamarac alumni Adam Bornt and his two volunteers of Uncharted Wild. Visitors taking part in the activity could pet the creatures with the assistance of volunteers.
GLSP Environmental Education associate, Tamara Beal, organized and ran “Cabin Fever.” She was pleased at the event’s success. For “Cabin Fever,” Beal used some of the same presenters that took part in previous Winter Fest events and added a few new ones. This event was regulated and controlled; up to ten visitors could take part at one time. Visitors that signed up for an event had to check in with the park guard to gain access. The outdoor hikes were spread out on all trails to provide social distancing.
“We were happy to be able to kick off the 50th Anniversary of the park with this event and give back to the community in a safe way,” added Beal. The park’s next event to commemorate its 50th Anniversary will be held February 20. Visitors can pre-register to take part in a snowmobile ride with the Grafton Trail Blazers. Patrons must bring their own snowmobiles for the ride from GLSP to Cherry Plain State Park and back.
Happy 50th Anniversary Grafton Lakes State Park. For more information about GLSP and its events, head to http://www.nysparks.com/parks or visit on Facebook.