Sorry, no scenic pictures this time.   No Valentine's Day post either since I have no love life right now.  It's just another work day for me.

Well, I'm already making my plans for a mountain hike when I go back up to New York State in July.  The goal is to trek up to the top of Mount Marcy, the highest point in the state at 5,344 feet.  That only depends on the number of other hikers in the Adirondack High Peaks Region and how many visit Mount Marcy.  If it seems to be too crowded, I'll probably take the trail to Mount Skylight instead...just south of Mount Marcy.  The trip from the trailhead to the summit will take roughly five hours one-way to either peak.  I would have to leave real early in the morning as it is a 4 1/2-hour ride from my sister's house near Rochester to the trailhead at Adirondac Village where my hike will start.  The quickest route to Mount Marcy would be to take the Van Hoevenberg Trail from Adirondack Loj seven miles to the north flank.  A couple issues with that.  There is a parking fee at the Adirondack Loj. Although it's only $9.00, one can start a hike from many other places throughout the High Peaks Region and park for free.  Secondly, the route along the Van Hoevenberg Trail is a bit more strenuous than the way I'll be going, having to cross another mountain on its way to Mount Marcy.  The trek from the south is a bit more gradual in elevation gain, mainly following waterways to some of the various mountain lakes including Lake Tear-of-the-Clouds...the upper source of the Hudson River.  Going that way also provides access to more of the Adirondack High Peaks.  The strenuous hike will be going up the mountains themselves.  Mount Marcy's south flank is a bit more steeper than the north side, but not real difficult to climb.  It should be a wonderful and scenic trip.  

Another reason to start from the Upper Works trailhead is to visit historic Adirondac Village...ghost town of the Adirondack Range.  It was once a small mining community established in 1826.  The hamlet was left abandoned thirty years later after impurites were found in the iron ore and the mine was shut down.  This impurity was later found to be titanium, which later brought another mine to the area during World War II for the use of this element in weapons and machinery production.  The National Lead Industries Mine Works at Tahawus, also known as the "Lower Works" located two miles south of Adirondac Village, continued to mine titanium until it closed in 1982.  The quarry there eventually filled up with water which became Sanford Lake.  Most of the buildings in Adirondac Village are in poor condition and unsafe to enter, but that hasn't stopped the curious from looking in.  The old McIntyre Blast Furnace remains at Adirondac Village as well some other mining equipment from the original Adirondack Iron Works operation during the 1800's, also called the "Upper Works."  It's always fun to see old history.  

OK, back home to North Carolina.  President Bush will be making a trip to my town on Thursday.  Yes, it's hard to believe a high profile government figure such as the President will be visitng a place like Franklinton in which the downtown area is a complete eyesore.   Since the Sterling Cotton Mill closed in 1991, the business district went away with it.  Right now, less than half the buildings in downtown Franklinton are occupied.  The condition of most of the structures are in, what I would say, "fair" shape.  That's not to say Franklinton is the pits by any means.  There are many businesses along the main highway bypassing town.  It's just that there's nothing in the center...like a donut.  There's a big "hole" in the middle.  A change may soon be in store, as a revitalization project forum will be occuring soon and we'll see what the future of Franklinton comes forth.  Anyways, the purpose of the visit by President Bush is actually to discuss energy initiatives to cut gas consumption in the United States by twenty percent over the next ten years.  One can say it's just another item to put off the more serious issues such as the war in Iraq, but the high use of gas and fossil fuels is an important problem.  He will be speaking at a biochemical facility called Novozymes, located just east of Franklinton.  This company produces multi-purpose enzymes to help turn matter into fuel, such as ethanol...with the Franklinton facilty being the largest manufacturer in the country.  Novozymes is based in Denmark.  The president will also be getting a tour of the plant and take part in a panel discussion.  It should be an interesting time.  I have to work that day, so I won't be seeing him.     

Oh yeah...  Emo Philips will be coming to Raleigh to do some comedy shows in September.  Yeppers!   I'M THERE, DUDE.

Well, that's all for now.  Bye everyone!