Last May, veteran fly fisherman Fran Betters told a story at the annual Two-Fly Fishing Challenge that showed how important it is to understand the ecosystem of the river one is fishin.

Keene resident Pete Fish has been hiking and skiing on Marcy for close to half a century. During this

time period, he has almost as many trips up the

mountain as Babe Ruth had home runs in a career.

Every spring for the past 34 years, Elizabethtown resident Mike Peterson has spent most of May banding birds on the tip of Crown Point on Lake Champlain.

There are books on Adirondack trails and books on Adirondack bird species, but there was never a comprehensive book on places to go when birding here.

Now, there is on.

KEENE VALLEY — Last August, while hiking Mount Marcy on my way to an interview with the summit stewart atop the peak, I decided I could lighten my load by carrying less water.