Can any other season really compare with winter at a top ski resort? In New York’s gorgeous Adirondacks—home to famed Lake Placid and its premier hill, Whiteface Mountain—the answer is an eye-opening, money-saving, crowd-escaping, wildly-adventurous yes. Just don’t tell all those folks waiting in lift lines and shelling out peak-season hotel rates in a few months.
Shoulder seasons like late summer or fall are the perfect other time to discover the alter-ego of any big-name ski destination, whether it’s situated in the Rockies, the Sierras or in New York’s vast wilderness playground—the Adirondacks. Weighing in at about six million acres of mountains, lakes, rivers, and trails (that’s about the size of Vermont, folks) with numerous outfitters offering a wide array of adventures, the Adirondacks fits the bill for off-season exploration in every direction.
Here’s how to appreciate this area before the ski crowds arrive and the whole place is buried in powder.
Re-Introducing Lake Placid
The site of two Winter Olympics, you’ve heard of Lake Placid even if you’re somehow not a fan of epic hockey victories. About a five-hour drive from New York City, the village is situated right on Mirror Lake and just south of the namesake lake. Lake Placid’s main street—lined with bars, restaurants and shops—is also stocked with outfitters to gear visitors up for everything from trail running to SUPing. There’s no better home base for your summer or fall adventure in the Adirondacks.
High Peaks ResortCourtesy Image
Where to Stay
High Peaks Resort
Come winter, this popular Lake Placid resort right on Mirror Lake will be hosting skiers bound for nearby Whiteface Mountain—New York’s fifth-highest peak boasting one of the top verticals in the Northeast. Right now, the property’s three buildings—all with lake views—are another sort of oasis. Guests have access to swimming, kayaking, and SUPing on Mirror Lake with hotel-supplied gear. It’s the perfect spot for families or rookie SUPers, as motorboats are verboten on a lake which is usually as smooth as glass.
Inside the main resort, you’ll find clean rooms, a mountain lodge motif, lovely views of the lake and mountains, two pools, plus solid restaurants and bars. Tip: snagging a room on the fourth floor gives you direct access to your parked car without having to haul gear through the lobby.
High Peaks Resort guests have easy access to the Dancing Bear, situated on the same property. This window-lined, casual spot with views of the lake and mountain is a solid choice for hearty breakfasts (they call it “brunch” here at any hour) and later meals. A solid beer list leans heavily on hard, excellent ciders—best enjoyed on the upstairs deck with those great views.
If breakfast is going to be quick, and if you can get there before the line starts, this bakery covers all the basics from scones to cinnamon buns the size of a fist and coffee. Come with cash or Venmo—they don’t take plastic. If you’re with a big crew, send in one rep because the shop is tiny.
This favorite spot overlooking Mirror Lake specializes in local ingredients and a kid-friendly menu that will appeal to youth of all ages. Think giant handmade pretzels with house-made mustard, or a German smash burger featuring two bratwurst patties under onions and cheese. The beer list features an array of fine local ales complete with tasting notes.
For town-hopping daytrippers, this rustic, lakeside tavern in the nearby village of Saranac Lake (less than 10 miles from Lake Placid) is the perfect casual pitstop for hearty salads, flatbreads and grain bowls. Thankfully, they don’t shy away from a killer poutine as well.
Courtesy of Roost
Best Off-Season Adventures in Lake Placid
Hiking
Families can warm-up with an easy, paved two-miler around Mirror Lake—or, a short drive away, some off-roading in Henry’s Woods. Hikers who aren’t yet up for the Adirondack’s big-league treks featuring its 46 High Peaks (most of them over 4,000 feet) can opt for Lake Placid’s more moderate “9’ers”—a group of mountains hanging below that mark. In-town, that includes a 4.4-mile round trip up Mt. Van Hoevenberg. A short drive away in neighboring Keene is the friendlier-than-it-sounds Hurricane Mountain, where a 3.5-mile climb leads to a 2,000-foot summit with spectacular panoramas.
Rock Climbing
Rock climbers of all levels can hook up with a qualified instructor at Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS) in Lake Placid. The climbing store and school leads classes and trips of all levels—including a popular “101” option which shows first-timers the ropes at some friendly beginner spots. Don’t need the hand-holding? Stop in here anyway for some solid intel on the best climbing routes in the area.
Mountain Biking
Just a short ride from downtown, experienced riders can access over 30 great biking trails tucked behind the Lake Placid Club. Choose from moderate rides, like Twisted Sister, to more difficult routes, like Lumberyard with its featured boardwalk. Nearby, Craig Wood Trails offers an additional three miles of machine-built singletrack. Novice riders can opt for Heaven Hill Trails, a family-friendly multi-use trail system offering short, mostly flat loops with sweet mountain vistas.
Day-Tripping to The Wild Center
Rolling through Lake Placid’s nearby satellite communities—including Saranac Lake, Tupper Lake, and Wilmington—is all part of the fun of exploring the Adirondacks. A top attraction in Tupper Lake (about 40 minutes from Lake Placid), The Wild Center offers a mix of indoor and outdoor interactive exhibits situated on 115 acres showcasing the wildlife of the Adirondacks. Step outside to see wildlife demos or hike groomed trails, including one that weaves around outdoor sculptures to a classical music soundtrack. Don’t miss the Wild Walk, an elevated pathway zig-zagging across the forest floor on suspension bridges, staircases, and a giant trampoline disguised as a spider web.
High Falls Gorge
The signature tromp along cliff-clinging staircases at this stunning 22-acre nature park takes about half an hour, darting across the AuSable River at three different points for epic scenes of water slamming into rock. Seasonal trails are spread across the park, complete with numerous waterfalls and glass-floored viewing platforms above a granite crevice that’s been a work-in-progress carving over the last billion years.
Whiteface Veterans’ Memorial Highway
About 12 miles northwest of High Falls is the toll booth for this drive up famous Whiteface Mountain along the Veterans’ Memorial Highway. The white-knuckler snakes up 2,300 feet in about five miles, with no less than nine pull-offs for spectacular vistas of Lake Placid and the surrounding mountains. Park at the summit where part-two of your ascent begins—a short but breathless 257-foot clamber up some rock stairs to the 4,867-foot summit with the expected payoff panorama at the end.
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There’s no doubt when the weather turns colder as we settle into winter, stouts take center stage. And while we enjoy all its iterations: standard stout, imperial stout, and robust barrel-aged stouts, we think this malty, chocolate-filled beer’s close cousin deserves a little respect as well. Of course, we’re talking about the oft-overlooked porter. And the best porters, oh buddy, they’ll have you rethinking your seasonal bevvie of choice.
For those uninitiated, the porter style had its genesis in England like many other iconic beer styles. It first appeared in the 1700s and is (you guessed it) named after porters—individuals tasked with transporting luggage.
A confusing origin story
“Stout is the direct descendant of porter. In the 1700s, it was common to use the word ‘stout’ to refer to a bolder, higher-alcohol version of any beer style, much in the same way we use the word ‘imperial’ today,” says Zach Fowle, advanced cicerone and head of marketing for Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. in Phoenix, AZ. “Porter was the most popular beer of the day, and over time, “stout porter” became a popular variant. But by the late 1800s, demand for regular porters evaporated, and stout porter shortened simply to stout.”
But more has changed between the 1800s and today than just our penchant for wearing top hats. “Today, most brewers seem to market beers as either stout or porter based on vibes, rather than on any notable stylistic differences,” he says.
Specifically, porters are known for their dark, almost pitch-black color and rich, sweet flavor profile. If you were to drink a porter and a stout side by side, you might even have difficulty discerning the differences between the two.
Stout versus porter is an enduring topic of discussion in the brewing industry. “While there’s no debating the porter came first—and stout used to be called stout porter, so it was a stronger version of a porter—the lines have become very blurred over the years,” says Rob Lightner, co-founder of East Brother Brewing in Richmond, CA.
“I would venture that even among professionals, a blind taste test would often yield inconclusive results,” says Lightner.
The difference between porters and stouts
Porters tend to be on the milder, more chocolatey end of the spectrum, Lightner says, whereas stouts are typically a little stronger and more roasty. Of course, this isn’t a hard and fast rule
Fowle agrees, “Porters tend to be fruitier, sweeter, and less bitter than stouts, with cocoa and caramel flavors in balance with dark malt bitterness. And stouts are usually hoppier, drier, maltier, and more coffee-forward—and may even have a touch of acidity.”
Whether or not they fit neatly into boxes, one thing’s for sure: both make for incredible cold-weather brews.
“As the nights grow longer, drinking a light, summery beer just doesn’t seem right,” says Fowle. “Porter is the perfect style for the transition to winter: warming and toasty yet not too heavy, with flavors of coffee, chocolate, and pie crust that correspond with autumn weather and holidays.”
It’s the perfect time to broaden your repretoire. Sweet, robust, warming, and well-suited to the season, here are the best porters to drink now.
Courtesy image
1. Deschutes Black Butte Porter
There are few porters more well-respected than Deschutes’ iconic Black Butte Porter. It’s brewed with Cascade and Tettnang hops as well as 2-row, Chocolate, Crystal, and Carapils malts as well as wheat. This 5.5% ABV year-round offering is great for cold-weather drinking because of its mix of roasted malts, coffee, and chocolate. It’s a robust, subtly sweet beer perfect for imbibing on a crisp fall night.
The key to 360-degree muscle: 90-degree eccentric isometrics. It might seem like we’re throwing a lot of geometry at you, but the concept behind time under tension (TUT) is simple, says Joel Seedman, PhD, owner of Advanced Human Performance: “Perform the lowering phase of a movement in a slow, controlled fashion, usually 3 to 5 seconds; pause in the stretched position, typically around 90 degrees; then perform the lifting phase in a powerful yet controlled fashion.” Believe us, a time-under-tension workout can humble even seasoned lifters…Eccentric isometrics are like the pressure cooker of training.
“Rather than mindlessly performing slow-tempo reps, you’re using the increased time under tension as a means to fine-tune your body mechanics and alignment, which requires more mental engagement and focus,” Seedman adds.
If you want to forge functional muscle mass and strength while simultaneously bulletproofing the joints and connective tissue, give this 10-move, full-body eccentric isometrics workout a go.
Directions
Perform the following moves as 90-degree eccentric isometrics following the above protocol. Use heavy weight, but not at the detriment of proper form. Rest 60 to 90 seconds between sets and 2 minutes between circuits. Perform once every 2 to 4 days for optimal results.
Best Time-Under-Tension Workout for Total-Body Strength
Circuit 1
Marius Bugge
A. Barbell Back Squat
Set a squat rack up with heavy weight, then grasp bar and step under it. Squeeze shoulder blades together, then stand to unrack bar and step back with feet shoulder-width apart. Inhale, hinge at hips and slowly bend knees to 90 degrees. Pause, keeping natural arch in low back, then extend through hips to powerfully stand. 3 x 4-6 reps
Marius Bugge
B. Renegade Row
Start in the top position of a pushup with hands shoulder-width apart on moderate-to-heavy dumbbells (shown). Explosively drive right elbow back to row dumbbell toward ribs while balancing on opposite hand and feet. Pause, then slowly lower weight, stopping a few inches above floor. Switch sides after all reps are done. 3 x 5 reps each side
Circuit 2
Marius Bugge
A. Dumbbell Bentover Row
Stand with feet hip-width apart, holding two moderate-to-heavy dumbbells in front of thighs, palms facing you. Push hips back and hinge torso forward so it’s nearly parallel to floor, soft bend in knees. Dumbbells should be near shins. Drive elbows back to row weights toward ribs. Pause, then slowly lower down for 3 to 5 seconds. 3 x 4-5 reps
Marius Bugge
B. Incline Dumbbell Chest Press with Legs Raised
Set an adjustable bench to a 30- to 45-degree angle and lie back with dumbbells in either hand. Engage core and lift legs off floor, flexing feet. Press weights overhead, palms in. Slowly lower to 90 degrees, staying tight and compact. Pause, then drive weights up directly over chest. 3 x 4-5 reps
Circuit 3
Marius Bugge
A. Dumbbell Bulgarian Squat
Stand lunge-length in front of a flat bench, holding heavy dumbbells in each hand by your sides, palms facing in. Rest the ball on top (shoe’s laces) of your right foot behind you on the bench. Slowly lower your body until your front thigh is parallel to the floor. Pause, then drive through your heel to stand. Switch sides after all reps are complete. 2 x 3-4 reps each side
Marius Bugge
B. Single-leg Romanian Deadlift
Stand with feet hip-width apart holding dumbbells or kettlebells. Drive right leg up, foot flexed, knee aligned with hip, making a 90-degree angle. Hinge at hips as you slowly lever your torso toward floor, lowering weights and driving right leg back for counterbalance. Hold, then squeeze glutes to reverse. 2 x 3-4 reps each side
Circuit 4
Marius Bugge
A. Pullup
Hang from a pullup bar using an overhand grip with legs extended and feet flexed. Engage lats and draw shoulders down your back, then pull yourself up until chin is higher than hands. Pause at the top, then slowly lower. Pause at bottom, then reset before your next rep. 2-3 x 4-5 reps
Marius Bugge
B. Kneeling Overhead Barbell Press
Hold a bar with moderate-to-heavy load at shoulder level with forearms perpendicular to floor. Kneel at end of bench with feet flexed to grip edge for support. Inhale, engage your core and glutes, then press the bar overhead, pushing your head forward so it passes your face, exhaling at the top. Slowly lower until elbows are at 90 degrees, then hold to maintain tension. Begin your next rep from here. 2-3 x 4-5 reps
Circuit 5
A. Dumbbell Pushup
Place hands on dumbbells (this provides greater range of motion) at shoulder width and feet wider than shoulder width with just toes touching the ground. Keep head neutral and hips high to increase tension on core, chest and tris and reduce stress on spine. Slowly lower to the floor. Stop once elbows hit 90 degrees, pause, then push up to start. 1-2 x 6-8 reps
B. Biceps Curl
Stand with feet hip-width apart with moderate-to-heavy dumbbells in each hand hanging by sides. Engage biceps to curl the weights up, keeping upper arms still. Pause at the top, then lower slowly. Don’t let arms drop all the way down to keep greater time under tension on biceps. 1-2 x 6-8 reps
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If you haven’t picked up a jump rope since elementary school, you’re missing out on a fantastic cardio workout. Not only will you burn a ton of calories in a short amount of time—200 to 300 calories in 15 minutes—but jump ropes can also improve your coordination and agility. Better yet, jumping rope doesn’t require much space, so it’s easy to do at home, and it’s often more mentally stimulating than jogging or swimming.
Choosing a Jump Rope
When deciding which jump rope is best for you, it’s important to determine what your goals are. While lightweight speed ropes are popular for cardio-focused training, weighted or drag ropes will be best for those focused on strength training.
No matter what your training goals are, we’ve got you covered with this roundup of 10 jump ropes from top brands including Crossrope, TRX, Rogue, and more.
The Best Jump Ropes of 2022
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