Lake house on Private Pleasant Lake, Stratford NY • $495,000
Lovingly restored 3 bedroom, 1 bath lake home! Fully insulated for year-round use! Sandy waterfront with dock. Big lakeside deck with fabulous lake views. Modern conveniences throughout! Fireplace with propane insert and double living rooms for entertaining friends and family! Oversized 2 car garage for all your toys! Lots of State land, hiking and snowmobile trails you can access from this property! Rare to nd homes on this lake with no public access!
Direct Waterfront Year Round Home! West Caroga Lake
Three Echoes! Charming 2-bed, 1-bath, 1,000 SF lakefront home with 100 ft of sandy shoreline on West Caroga Lake. Features open kitchen, dining, and living areas with stunning lake views from a wall of windows and sliders to the deck. Includes loft space, nished basement, two propane stoves, 2-car garage, modern septic, dock, and serene Adirondack setting! $449,000
Stewart Landing Road! New Construction! Bordering State Land! Very Private! 3 Bed, 2 Bath, new construction on 7+ surveyed acres bordering State Land and Sprite Creek. Enjoy environmentally, sustainable low maintenance living with relaxing screened porch overlooking the river! All the features you want in a new home! Surrounded by nature you can access Stewart Landing for kayaking, shing, and boating. Snowmobile trails to hundreds of miles of trails! A peaceful Adirondack retreat, not in MLS- Call ADK Realty! $429,900.00
home, hand crafted on-site using native white pine. Set on 19.5 acres of private Adirondack forest, this custom home o ers the perfect combination of rustic charm and modern comfort, ideal for a year-round residence or vacation retreat. 2BR/2BA plus additional living space! Located in the town of Bleecker $415,000
Terri c Business Opportunity!!
Catskill Mountains! Pepacton Reservoir Sporting goods store, Motel, Kayak rental business, 3 bedroom hone on the river! Plus 5+ acres on the river! This is a rare chance to own a lifestyle-driven business. Endless potential and income streams await! $1,900,000. Call ADK Realty for details.
WOW! Wooded Surveyed Acreage! Subdivision allowed for multiple homes! OR create Power, cable and phone at the road. Caroga lakes, Great Sacandaga lakes minutes away!
Carol Swirsky cswirsky@adirondackdailyenterprise.com 518-891-2600 X 18
Contributors: Chris Gaige
Upper Saranac Lake: Panther Cove is a rare 16.5 acre estate with 482 ft. of shoreline. A generational retreat including a winterized main residence that sits 300’ from the lake, historic farmhouse, Adirondack cabin, whimsical Japanese teahouse, 2 boathouses, 2 garages. $4,200,000
PRICEADJUSTMENT
Lake Placid: Villa Clara is a 5 BR, 4 BA, 3753 sq.ft. historic Colonial Revival on 1 acre nestled between Lake Placid and Mirror Lake, landscaped grounds, lake & mountain views, original hardwood floors, architectural charm that gives it warmth & character.
PRICEADJUSTMENT
$1,495,000
Lake Placid: This 4BR, 2 BA, turn-key log cabin is the quintessential Adirondack retreat. Just one mile from Main Street, it combines peaceful seclusion with easy access to Lake Placid’s shops, cafés, restaurants and local favorites. Perfect as a classic ski cabin or fourseason getaway, it delivers Adirondack character, comfort, and an unbeatable location. $775,000
Lake Placid: Experience the ultimate Adirondack Resort lifestyle in this 4 BR, 4 BA end unit townhome with custom Adirondack finishes, 3 levels, 3807 sq. ft. living space at the prestigious Whiteface Club and Resort. Panoramic mountain and lake views with amenities.
$2,250,000
Saranac Lake: Boulderbrook Lodge, 4 BR, 4 BA with panoramic mountain and lake views, deeded lakefront, dock and privacy. Featuring custom finishes, two main floor ensuites, expansive porches and furnished interiors. Trails, boating, future expansion options. $1,995,000
Lake Placid: Charming 5 BR, 3.5 BA home one block from Main Street with mountain and Mirror Lake views, upgrades include 2 baths, primary en-suite with radiant in-floor heat, new roof & siding on garage. Being sold furnished, turn-key.
$1,185,000
Rainbow Lake: Escape to the Adirondacks with this rare 4 BR, 1.5 BA seasonal waterfront cabin. Set on 11.2 acres with 212’ of waterfront, open boathouse, privacy and stunning natural beauty - perfect for swimming, paddling or expanding your lakefront retreat. Just minutes from Saranac Lake. $899,000
Rainbow Lake: Rare Retreat with 504’ of private shoreline! Year round home at water’s edge, a seasonal cottage, garages, docks, firepit, approved building site with septic. Stunning setting with endless potential for an Adirondack hideaway - plus hamlet designation offering fewer APA regulations. $1,090,000
Wilmington: Nicely appointed 4 BR, 3.5 BA Owaissa townhome features vaulted ceilings, gas fireplace, den, game room and ample space for entertaining. Minutes to Whiteface and Lake Placid, with river access nearby - your perfect year round Adirondack base for adventure, comfort and style. $680,000
(Provided photo — Lou Reuter)
ABOVE:
Xinpeng Li of China soars above the aerials landing hill during the qualification round of the World Cup competition at the Olympic Ski Jumping Complex in Lake Placid on Jan. 12. Li went to take the gold medal.
ABOVE:
(Enterprise photo — Parker O’Brien)
Switzerland’s Pirmin Werner flips while in the air during the aerials World Cup on Jan. 12.
WORLD CUP AERIALS COMPETITION
ABOVE:
Olympic Ski Jumping Complex Lake Placid, New York
ABOVE:
(Enterprise photo — Parker O’Brien)
Kazakhstan’s Dinmukhammed Raimkulov flips while in the air during the aerials World Cup on Jan. 12.
(Provided photo — Lou Reuter)
Kaila Kuhn of the United States sticks the landing during the final round of her gold medal performance in this season’s aerials World Cup finale held on Jan. 12 at the Olympic Jumping Complex’s aerials hill in Lake Placid.
ABOVE:
(Enterprise photo — Parker O’Brien)
China’s Xindi Wang celebrates after landing a jump during the aerials World Cup on Jan. 12.
(Provided photo — Lou Reuter)
ABOVE:
Kaila Kuhn of the United States celebrates her last jump of the Jan. 12 aerials competition in the sport’s World Cup season finale at the Olympic Jumping Complex in Lake Placid.
(Enterprise photo — Parker O’Brien)
ABOVE:
Kaila Kuhn, right, of the United States hugs a U.S. Freestyle ski team staff member after winning her first-ever aerials World Cup gold at the Olympic Jumping Complex in Lake Placid on Jan. 12.
• “English Pub” with a beautifully crafted wooden bar.
• Professional photography dark room with fireproof gun safe. Apartment:
• One bedroom, two floors, partially furnished, separate entrance, beautiful stone fireplace.
Horse Barn:
• 3 separate electrified horse corrals with 24 foot wide cattle gates for access with large trucks.
• Attached 3-sided structure for boat, car, hay, tools, etc.
• Two round bale feeders and one forty foot round horse training pen, a horse lean to shed with an attached sunporch. Garage:
• Includes 9,000 lb. two post vehicle lift, 220 volts for welding & more!
EXTRAS
• Includes a professional model jugs curveball pitching machine with a Jugs 18 ball feeder and a self contained batting netting for safety.
• Indoor 24 foot round trampoline and a N.B.A. Regulation size basketball hoop.
• For music: the baby grand piano
• Outdoors: include a log splitter, snow blower, and a John Deere Lawn Tractor with many attachments.
HISTORY OF OWNERS
• Gerrit Smith, owner in 1849 ran original dairy farm.
• Dr. Melvin Dewey, sole owner of the Lake Placid Club.
• Country Cousins Greeting Cards Company with writers, artists, printing on premises.
• Kay Jones, United Press International photojournalist, and USA Bobsled & Skeleton athlete in the Hall of Fame.
CONTACT
Patrick Dellavalle, owner as no brokers are involved with this sale. To receive the extensive list of extras that go with the sale of this wonderful location, please call or email me personally, at 518-523-8000 (C) or email : dellavalle197029@gmail.com
Listening to Offers and Looking to Sell
-
Winning a Bidding War
So, you’re not the only one who’s made an offer.
What now?
If you live in a competitive real estate market, properties may regularly end up attract-ing multiple offers. When that happens, prospective home-buyers have to decide whether to proceed or move on. Going forward may mean getting involved in a bidding war. At that point, a range of strate-gies can come into play, from raising your offering price to waiving inspections. Here’s how to succeed in this tough bargaining situation:
BE PREPARED
Before making an offer, get a preapproved mortgage. This demonstrates to the seller that you are a serious buyer. There is a difference, however, between being prequalified and preapproved. Being pre-qualified means a buyer might be eligible for a loan, while preapproval indicates that the buyer has been granted approval for a specific loan amount. You’re ready to pro-ceed with closing.
START NEGOTIATING
Real estate experts can help buyers navigate this tricky landscape. Generally, however,
those in bidding wars tend to raise the amount they’ll pay in hopes of earning an accepted offer. The approach carries notable risks, particularly if the home is already listed on the high end of the local market. Banks may not be willing to loan so much over asking. Other strategies include increasing the earnest money deposit or making a larger down payment. Then there’s paying cold, hard cash. Making this kind of offer, if possible, will certainly help you stand out among oth-ers — and it’s highly attractive to sellers. They’ll have a fast closing without the usual financing uncertainties. Potential buyers should still insist on an appraisal and inspection, even if a mortgage lender isn’t involved.
OTHER STRATEGIES
Some opt to make their offer more relatable by including a letter. This can help illustrate to the seller why you’re the ideal buyer for their home. Just remember that sharing certain personal information may raise con-cerns involving the Fair Housing Act if the letter directly affects the decision to accept or decline an offer. Others have chosen to include an escalation clause, which functions similarly to bidding on eBay. This allows buyers to incrementally increase their bids up to a predetermined cap. Experts warn, however, that this approach can backfire if a seller deliberately under-prices a property to incite a bidding war.
Assemblyman Michael Cashman speaks with members of the Stevenson Society of America inside the house where Robert Louis Stevenson lived in Saranac Lake during the winter of 1887-88. The Society are working to make repairs to the home. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)
Assemblyman Cashman visits Robert Louis Stevenson Cottage
By Aaron Marbone
SARANAC LAKE - “You could spend days in here,” Mike Delahant said as he showed state Assemblyman Michael S. Cashman around the Robert Louis Stevenson Cottage Museum on Dec. 18.
Members of the Stevenson Society of America board had heard the newly elected Assemblyman would be in the area and invited him on a tour of the one-time home of the author of “Treasure Island” and “Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.”
As they walked through the house on the bank of the Saranac River, which the famous author called home for six months in the winter of 1887-88, they noted several areas in need of repairs - walls, ceilings, the foundation and the chimney.
The Stevenson Society board is fundraising to make long-needed repairs to the house, and appealed to Cashman to advocate for them to be candidates for state grants.
“New York state’s budget in 2026, is going to be one of the toughest budgets that we’ve seen in a generation,” Cashman said.
He added that the state won’t have a ton of resources, but that he can be a connector for the museum. As he travels around the state and the district, he said he meets different people who can help and can get them
hooked up with the cottage.
Stories
Delahant, the resident curator of the allvolunteer museum, is the third generation of the Delahant family to care for the cottage over the past 70 years. He’s been at it for 45 years. As Delahant easily recited stories of Stevenson’s life and memories of decades of visitors to the cottage, Cashman asked the board members, “Are you recording him?” He said Delahant’s encyclopedic knowledge of the man, the house and the visitors is a treasure in and of itself. Robert Louis Stevenson Cottage secretary Day Jordan said they have 18 hours of Delahant speaking about the history of the museum and its subject. He also wrote a weekly column in the Enterprise titled “The Hunter’s Home” for more than five years. These numerous columns are being assembled into a book. Stories seem to just branch out from Stevenson. His life story is fascinating in its own right, Delahant said, but so are the stories of the people Stevenson hung out with, and those that visitors to the cottage bring when they come to pay tribute to the author.
Stevenson tends to be an inspiration to people who are seeking to overcome
struggles in their lives, Delahant said. Stevenson came to Saranac Lake with his mother shortly after his father’s death. He was poor, sick and deeply depressed. But he maintained a desire for adventure and excitement, an insistence on living the most of his shortened life as possible.
They were on their way to Colorado, but he fell ill and traveled to Saranac Lake after hearing about Edward Livingston Trudeau’s tuberculosis sanitarium.
He skated on Moody Pond, sailed and wrote numerous essays.
Delahant said Stevenson came here “sick as a dog” and without much money. His father had supported him financially, but had just died.
His books were not doing well in his homeland of Scotland or in England. They sold a lot in America, but he had no copyright protection and publishers were ripping him off. When he arrived in New York City, though, the reception he got in the U.S. was huge. Publishers started seeking him out with big offers.
Delahant said Stevenson had a quote: “Wealth is only useful for two things: a yacht and a string quartet.”
(Enterprise photo — Aaron
As he gained more health and wealth than he ever anticipated in Saranac Lake, he decided on his next adventure - to sail the South Seas of the Pacific Ocean. This was a trip he would not return from, though, as his illness overtook him in the islands of Samoa.
A ‘time capsule’
Delahant proudly says the museum has no parking lot, no restrooms and no gift shop. What it does have is authenticity and true history. He said visitors have praised the cottage for not having the “sterile” feeling museums sometimes can have. The layout of the home is much the same as it was when Stevenson lived there. The desk where he wrote “The Master of Ballantrae” still sits in his study, the chair where he smoked and chatted with locals still sits in the living room. All the furniture is original and mostly untouched from 135 years ago.
“Some people say these are the most famous cigarette burns in the world,” Delahant said as he ran his fingers over marks on the fireplace mantle. Stevenson was an avid smoker, despite having a lung disease, which was likely tuberculosis.
Delahant said the cottage is really two museums. It’s all the information, photos and artifacts of Stevenson that are on display, but it’s also a “time capsule” of a different time.
Cashman told the board members that it helps if they assemble a list of countries people have visited the cottage from. Everyone’s looking for money, he said, and to get selected for funding, they need to stand out. The best way to do that is to tell a story, he said.
Delahant said people have come from Japan, India and England specifically to visit the cottage. Stevenson’s writings on facing life and facing death have inspired many people across the world for generations, Delahant said. He describes the fans of the author as “converts,” and their pilgrimages to the cottage as lifelong desires. Stevenson’s
attractive personality made people fall in love with hanging out with him. His personality still has that effect to this day through his writing, Delahant said. People who stop in on their Adirondack visits tell him it’s a highlight of their trips.
Despite its international fame, Delahant joked that many locals still think the cottage is a bed and breakfast. It’s unassuming.
Cashman asked if the cottage participates in museum days - an annual regional day where the state provides museums with grants to offer free admission. They said they’d look into it. Cashman said he and his wife enjoy “backyard adventures” - visiting interesting places right near their home that they’ve heard about but have never been to yet. Everyone has places like that, he said.
This old house
Two years ago, a new board of trustees set out to save the house. Doing so will save the countless artifacts donated by Stevenson’s family and friends. The house is old, built when Stevenson was 15. The Society just celebrated the 175th anniversary of his
birthday on Nov. 13. An assessment report done on the museum said the architecture is in “extremely poor condition.”
The wall next to the fireplace is peeling off, the chimney needs repair, the foundation, masonry and drainage all need upgrades and there’s water damage on the ceiling from a leak in the roof. The Society came up with $30,000 to fix the roof over the summer.
They estimate it will take around $70,000 for the initial repairs and $300,000 to do all the repairs, expand exhibits for the future and expand the educational programming.
Cashman said he was inspired by their commitment to maintaining the legacy. They have long-term plans to add a parking lot.
Jordan also said she wants to expand their educational programs -- both for school tours of the cottage and classroom visits. They’ve partnered with the Robert Louis Stevenson
School, a private, therapeutic school in New York City.
Jordan said they have plans to get a Stevenson mural painted in town, and told Mayor Jimmy Williams they would love to have a statue of Stevenson installed at the park.
She said they plan to march in the Winter Carnival parade again this year. They haven’t had a float in the parade since 2008.
Board President Trenton Olsen is planning a 2028 writers’ conference for people from around the world at the cottage. Olsen teaches Stevenson’s literature in a college in Idaho and is also planning a program for his students to become residents at the cottage. The home opened as a museum in 1915.
(Enterprise
Assemblyman Michael Cashman speaks with Tim Holmes, the secretary and treasurer of the Stevenson Society of America, inside the house where Robert Louis Stevenson lived in Saranac Lake during the winter of 1887-88. The Society are working to make repairs to the home.
Marbone)
Assemblyman Michael Cashman speaks with Robert Louis Stevenson Cottage Museum resident curator Mike Delahant inside the house where the author lived in Saranac Lake during the winter of 1887-88. The Society is working to make repairs to the home.
photo — Aaron Marbone)
(Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)
THE ADIRONDACK pARK
Potsdam • • West Chazy
• Glens Falls
Plattsburgh •
Laughing, smiling and ringing in the North Country New Year.
By Chris Gaige
SARANAC LAKE — It’s hard to ask for much more to ring in the New Year.
Whether it was a chainsaw juggling human contortionist, stand-up comedy, improv, skating, carousel rides, bubble shows, fire dancing, several live bands, dance lessons, a kids’ carnival, ice skating, games, a spectacular fireworks display or, of course, unlimited hot chocolate — there was no shortage of family-fun events around the capital of the Adirondacks.
And the numbers showed. The town bustled all evening long, as North Country New Year-goers made their way between venues, many of which were within walking distance of each other. People line danced in unison at the Dance Sanctuary. They had their jaws dropped in the Harrietstown Town Hall as Alakazam (aka Alan Millar) managed to slip his body through unstrung squash and tennis racquets.
Folks were serenaded, sometimes sang along and even danced the night away to Frankie and the Moonlighters, Grammy-nominated Professor Louie and the Crowmatrix, the Allens and Ms. Rebecca and Friends. People burst out in laughter at standing-room-only comedy shows at the Saranac Lake Free Library and First United Methodist Church Of Saranac Lake.
Kids were grinning ear to ear as Jeff Boyer’s Big Bubble Bonanza took over Petrova Elementary. Boyer wanded 5-foot-tall soapy columns up and around anyone who wanted to step foot in the bubble ring. One room over, Scotto the Balloon Wizard, caricature artist Joe Ferris, face painter Rainbow Sue, Circus with Sammy and the Adirondack Sky Center’s mobile
Starlab kept kids bouncing from station to station, soaking in the fun. Now in its third iteration, North Country New Year took over from First Night, which began in 2006, and gave way to the current event after a multi-year hiatus around the coronavirus pandemic. First Night was formed when a group of locals came to a collective realization — there weren’t a whole lot of New Year’s events in the Tri-Lakes — and they wanted to do something about it.
Peter Crowley recalled one of his first New Year’s Eves when he moved to Saranac Lake. He, a small group of friends and his girlfriend at the time (now wife) got all fancied up for the holiday and went out to one of the local establishments looking for a celebration. Instead, they found a scene that one might expect on any other night.
There was some casual pool, and a group of 10 or so regulars around the bar. Crowley said that miraculously, someone remembered to count down from 10 around midnight, there were a few cheers, then it was back to business as usual. It was also one of the slowest nights around town. Crowley said many restaurants at the time would close down early and send their staff home due to a lack of business.
The volunteers had a bolder vision, and saw an opportunity to turn it into a special, unique night of fun for the whole family. Almost two decades later, Crowley smiled as he made his way through town, seeing hotel parking lots full, and hearing from several restaurants that it had become
Franklie and the Moonlighters dazzle the crown at the Saranac Village at Will Rogers.
The Lake Placid-based Smoke Show Fire Co. smiles in Riverside Park in Saranac Lake on New Year’s Eve after nishing a performance. (Photos by Chris Gaige)
one of their busiest nights of the year. Throughout his numerous years as a volunteer, he’s usually had to stand by at a particular venue helping out with one thing or another most of the night. This year, though, the stations were all set for the most part, and he was able to make the rounds, seeing the magical evening play out in its entirety.
“I’ve really gotten to see the whole festival and people are so happy, they’re having so much fun,” he said. “And I have been really soaking it in, too. So I am really feeling good about this.”
Saranac Lake is an active community, Crowley said, and North Country New Year gets a lot of local families out year over year. It also brings people to Saranac Lake for the evening — both North Country residents from surrounding communities and tourists visiting the region for the holidays from as far away as Texas and Florida.
Ben Letsch grew up in the area and his parents live in Onchiota. He now lives in Houston and comes up each year. He said his favorite part is something that he doesn’t see a lot of at home.
“Snow,” he said. “That’s a big one. And we’ve had a good year for that. It’s nice to get away, reconnect with nature, all the things you can’t do in a big city.”
The Klocke family was visiting from Tampa. They also wanted to spend the holidays in a small-town backdrop in a place not only with a lot of snow this year, but one whose legacy is largely premised on it. They were staying in Lake Placid and spent much of the week touring the Olympic venues, but Kyleen Klocke said she, her husband and two children decided to make their way over to Saranac Lake for New Year’s Eve after seeing all of the different activities here that evening.
It was the first North Country New Year for Lauren Piscitelli and her family, who were visiting from Buffalo.
“It was excellent,” she said. “We saw this online, and it’s been great. You could get your fill of hot chocolate — as much as you could ever want. And lots of neat things.”
It takes a village
Suffice it to say, an event of this caliber can’t be put together overnight, or a couple weeks in advance. Between finalizing the venues, booking the performers, organizing the day-of volunteers and getting the word out — the work starts in July. It has to.
Crowley said that as much fun as everyone has that evening, it can be
difficult to rally support for the advanced planning. He said it’s only down to a few year-round volunteers, and the event is, unfortunately, on thin ice right now.
“It’s an endangered thing,” he said. “It already died once before because there weren’t enough board members, and it’s in danger of that happening again.”
Crowley said they’re in urgent need of year-round volunteers, and anyone interested in helping out next year can find information on the event’s website at tinyurl.com/36h2mywt or by emailing fellow North Country New Year board member and Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce
Executive Director Christine Farah at director@slareachamber.org.
“It’s such a special event,” Farah said. “You don’t really hear about it too much until it’s kind of approaching — and then everyone is like, ‘I need it, need it, need it!’ People remember what First Night was like, and they just continue to come back. We have unbelievable performers that come every year. The venues are amazing to work with.”
She said that when it comes to volunteering, there’s something for everyone, and they need people with all different sorts of strengths and skill sets.
“It’s a really great way to be involved in the community,” she said. “You just see how much people enjoy getting together for something so fun to end the year in Saranac Lake, even on a frigid cold night.”
Farah said that organizers were still working to determine how many tickets were sold, as there were advance sales online, as well as a flurry of day-of ticket purchases. That will take some time, she said, but noted that there were about 1,400 people between four of the event venues, including the Adirondack Carousel, Petrova Elementary, the Saranac Lake Civic Center and the Harrietstown Town Hall. Given that there were seven other venues, Farah said this figure is almost certainly an underestimate of the event’s total draw.
Farah was proud that organizers and event sponsors are able to keep the costs in check. With tickets $20 in advance or $25 day-of tickets for adults, $15 for seniors and kids under 18 getting in for free, she said it’s an evening that all families are able to come together and enjoy.
“It’s a fairly low cost for a large family, especially with kids under 18 being free,” she said. “To get into 20 different events for the night, and then you’re home earlier than midnight — you can’t do much better than that.”
Stand-up comedian Moody McCarthy performs at the Saranac Lake Free Library on New Year's Eve.
The Plattsburgh-based “Completely Stranded” improv comedy troupe performs at the First United Methodist Church Of Saranac Lake to a standing-room-only crowd on New Year’s Eve.
The Allen’s & Bill Chamberlain play at St. Lukes Church
The Klocke Family smiles at the Adirondack Carousel in Saranac Lake during the North Country New Year celebration. From left, Kevin, Kyleen, Miles and Kenley. The Klockes were visiting the Adirondacks from Tampa, Florida for the holiday week, and made the trip over to Saranac Lake from Lake Placid, where they were staying, to take part in the New Year’s festivities.
Celestial February Cosmic Wonders and Cultural Echoes in the Adirondacks
By Seth McGowan
TOP 5 TOP 5
Celestial February 2026
Cosmic Wonders and Cultural Echoes in the Adirondacks
Snow Moon — Feb 1
“Moonlight on deep drifts—quiet endurance beneath a frozen sky.”
The February Full Moon is traditionally known as the Snow Moon, reflecting the heaviest snows of the year in northern climates. For many Indigenous nations and agrarian cultures, this moon marked resilience, hunting skill, and communal reliance during winter’s most demanding stretch. In the Adirondacks, its brilliance over snow-covered forests creates ideal conditions for moonlit snowshoe walks, nocturnal wildlife tracking, and contemplative winter gatherings that honor patience and perseverance.
Planetary Highlights — evenings and dawn
“Steady lights that refuse to flicker—cosmic guides through winter’s depth.”
February offers rewarding planetary viewing for early risers and evening observers alike. Jupiter remains a dominant evening presence, easily visible to the naked eye and rich with detail through binoculars or a small telescope. Venus shines brilliantly in the morning sky, often low but unmistakable before sunrise.
These planets provide excellent anchors for winter stargazing programs, especially when paired with discussions of orbital motion and seasonal sky changes.
Dark-Moon Stargazing Windows — mid to late February
“When the Moon steps aside, the stars speak more clearly.”
With longer nights and crisp, transparent air, February’s darker lunar phases are ideal for deep-sky observing. Open clusters, winter nebulae, and the Milky Way’s subtle structure become more apparent under Adirondack dark skies. Consider hosting a quiet, technology-light observing night that emphasizes slow looking, star-hopping, and personal reflection beneath Orion, Taurus, and Gemini.
Seasonal Sky Stories — Orion and the Winter Constellations
“The hunter stands eternal, guarding the cold horizon.”
Orion dominates February evenings, surrounded by some of the brightest stars in the sky. Across cultures, this figure has represented hunters, protectors, and cosmic teachers. Sharing these varied interpretations—Greek, Indigenous, and global—creates an opportunity to weave astronomy with storytelling, reinforcing humanity’s long relationship with the winter sky.
The Sun’s Slow Return — late winter light
“Still cold, but no longer retreating.”
Though February is firmly winterbound, the lengthening days become noticeable. The Sun’s higher noon altitude signals the coming seasonal shift, offering a subtle but powerful reminder of renewal. Sunrise walks, solstice-to-equinox reflections, or simple light-measuring activities can connect daily experience with astronomical motion.
Sidebar: Telescope Tips for Adirondack Nights
Best nights: Feb 10–20 (darker Moon phases)
Tools: Binoculars for star fields; 4–8” telescope for Orion Nebula and Jupiter’s moons
Apps: Stellarium or SkySafari for winter constellation navigation
Sidebar: Myth Snapshots
Snow Moon: Associated with endurance, scarcity, and communal strength
Orion: The hunter—stories of courage, loss, and transformation across cultures
Venus: Morning Star, symbol of renewal and guidance
WITH HUNTER DOU G L A S W I NDOW F A S H ION S , THE POSSI B ILITIES A R E ENDLES S
