Friday, November 9, 2018

North Country NY Troopers assisting Troops


Tracked wheelchairs for disabled veterans.

(NYNCTAT)  - NY North Country Troopers Assisting Troops 
#1000islands #Thousandislands #ThousandIslandsSun (See published article image at end of blog).

During the week of October 13-19, 2018 Operation Second Chance a Maryland non-profit committed to serving wounded and ill combat veterans held a deer hunt for 6 of our nations Wounded Warriors in Henderson, NY, Jefferson County.  North Country Troopers Assisting Troops had recently purchased a tracked wheel chair to be used in the Jefferson and Lewis County areas for hunting purposes.  There were two other chairs purchased by an individual donor, and one purchased by Billy Caprara.  These tracked wheel chairs provide warriors that are either amputees or paralyzed the opportunity to navigate uneven terrain without assistance.  Modern wheel chairs do not afford them this opportunity.  These chairs give these men freedom and an opportunity to hunt on their own if they wish.  Most preferred to hunt with volunteers though.


In April 2013, the New York North Country Troopers Assisting Troops (NYNCTAT) was formed by a group of New York State Troopers in collaboration with U.S. military members.  The mission of this group is to raise local and regional awareness, as well as to provide local recreational activities and events for Fort Drum service members and other Armed Forces Members that were wounded, injured, or became ill while protecting our freedom and country. 


The hunt was supported by volunteers from all over the North Country.  NYNCTAT is a not for profit 501(C) (3) tax exempt organization who is supported by fundraisers throughout the year to include Fire and Ice at the Clayton Harbor Hotel, SSG Bryce Leek memorial golf tournament, Cape Vincent Liquors (Bob Ewing), Northern Radiology, and many individual donors too numerous to list here.

Recent purchases made by NYNCTAT include but are not limited to:

·         A tracked wheelchair

·         New Disabled American Vets (DAV) van to be used for appointments at the VA hospital in Syracuse, NY

·         Yearly fishing trip, Uncle Sam Boat Tour and shore dinner (Clayton Harbor Hotel), and numerous donations to in need warriors.

Veterans on hunt with new tracked wheelchairs.

https://www.facebook.com/Northcountrytroopersassistingtroops


We want the public to know that we are good stewards of the many donations we receive. Many people and businesses have contributed to our overall success, and our financial success. Our operating costs are very low…….almost all monies we raise go right back to Veterans and Soldiers…our heroes!!

A couple major sponsors we have had over the years is the Clayton Harbor Hotel (Fire and Ice), and Urgent Care of Watertown. The Cape Liquor Store has also been a huge contributor in our cause over the years. We have also had many private donations, many of them very significant.

We have also partnered with the River Hospital Wellness Center, where they run the PTSD program. Troopers Assisting Troops helps with the Laughing for a Cause Comedy Show every year. We initially spit any profits from the show, but in recognition of the important work they do, the last two years we have “forfeited” our portion to them, so they can better serve our soldiers!!

We all share in our successes, knowing we are doing some good stuff for those that deserve so much more.

Michael C. Pastuf

HIDTA Intel Analyst

Jefferson County, New York

Email Address: mpastuf@nynjhidta.org

News release as seen in the Thousand Islands Sun, 11/7/2018.

Saturday, August 11, 2018

Hiking Pulpit Rock State Forest



Hiking Pulpit Rock State Forest
#1000islands #ThousandIslands


We can't legitimately call our Pulpit Rock State Forest Blog a hiking blog because we did not actually end up hiking it. We were planning to, but to be honest, we got pretty lost on the way there partly because one of the roads on the map we were using doesn't exist any longer. We did eventually find our way to the 1,603-acre Pulpit Rock State Forest which is located in Antwerp just outside of Oxbow NY. There is a one mile access trail from County Rt 22 leading into the forest, and also the .7 mile Watson Trail accessed from New Connecticut Rd (see link to trail map below).  Because it took so long to get there we never got to hike either of the two trails (though we did see both trailheads). 

What we did get to visit was the adjacent Payne Lake (which has a public access site), and the actual “Pulpit Rock” that the State Forest was named after. Both were well worth the trip, and an excuse for us to go back and hike the State Forest sometime. [To be continued/updated in the future.]

Pulpit Rock State Forest - https://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/8013.html
Trail map - https://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/39779.html 

Be sure to see...
Hiking the Thousand Islands...Introduction

Hiking the Thousand Islands...Abbé Picquet Trail

Hiking the Thousand Islands...Carnegie Bay Trail

Hiking the Thousand Islands...Cerow Recreation Park Trail

Hiking the Thousand Islands...Chaumont Barrens Preserve

Hiking the Thousand Islands...Chippewa Bay Preserve Trail

Hiking the Thousand Islands...Coyote Flats State Forest

Hiking the Thousand Islands...Downybrook Nature Reserve 

Hiking the Thousand Islands...Foster Blake Woods Preserve

Hiking the Thousand Islands...French Creek WMA 

Hiking the Thousand Islands...Grand Lake Reserve

Hiking the Thousand Islands...Grass Point State Park

Hiking the Thousand Islands...Jacques Cartier State Park

Hiking the Thousand Islands...Kanik Nature Trail

Hiking the Thousand Islands...Keewaydin State Park

Hiking the Thousand Islands...Lonesome Bay State Forest

Hiking the Thousand Islands...Macsherry Trail

Hiking the Thousand Islands...Maple City Trail

Hiking the Thousand Islands...Morgan Island

Hiking the Thousand Islands...Morristown Red Barn Preserve

Hiking the Thousand Islands...Otter Creek

Hiking the Thousand Islands...Pulpit Rock State Forest

Hiking the Thousand Islands...Red Lake Indian River Trail 

Hiking the Thousand Islands...Redwood Hill Preserve

Hiking the Thousand Islands...Rock Ridge Trail 

Hiking the Thousand Islands...Sissy Danforth Rivergate Trail

Hiking the Thousand Islands...Wellesley Island State Park

Hiking the Thousand Islands...Zenda Farms Preserve

Friday, August 10, 2018

Hiking Lonesome Bay State Forest



Hiking Lonesome Bay State Forest
#1000islands #ThousandIslands

Did you know that St. Lawrence County (upstate New York) has 43 State Forests? We have only visited a few so far but figured that the Lonesome Bay State Forest was worth blogging since it is located so close to the river (and Black Lake!).  

In fact, we have heard you can even access it by boat from Black Lake. Like other State Forests it does not have any specific hiking trails. However this beautiful 1,122 acre forest has an approximately 2-mile long access road running right through the middle of it that makes for an easy and lovely hike.  We discovered that you can drive in (at least this time of year) and park at any of several pull offs at the side of the road and just get out and walk this well maintained road. Note that also like other state forests, it is easy to get lost if one wanders off the road (so please don't, or don't blame us if you do). 

But the Alamogin road takes you through a variety of terrains including forest, meadow, and wetland.  From beginning to end, this is a four mile hike with two miles to Black Lake and then back.  Our hike was lovely. And we never saw a single other person or car so it really has the feel of being away from it all (yet is less than five miles from Hammond NY). 
To find Lonesome Bay State Forest from Hammond, head south on Route 37 for .88 mile and turn left onto Route 31. Continue for 2.78 miles and turn left onto Alamogin Road for 1.59 miles. A parking area will be on the right just before a gate (which we would guess is closed seasonally). 
For a map visit the DEC website at http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/80606.html

Be sure to see...
Hiking the Thousand Islands...Introduction

Hiking the Thousand Islands...Abbé Picquet Trail

Hiking the Thousand Islands...Carnegie Bay Trail

Hiking the Thousand Islands...Cerow Recreation Park Trail

Hiking the Thousand Islands...Chaumont Barrens Preserve

Hiking the Thousand Islands...Chippewa Bay Preserve Trail

Hiking the Thousand Islands...Coyote Flats State Forest

Hiking the Thousand Islands...Downybrook Nature Reserve 

Hiking the Thousand Islands...Foster Blake Woods Preserve

Hiking the Thousand Islands...French Creek WMA 

Hiking the Thousand Islands...Grand Lake Reserve

Hiking the Thousand Islands...Grass Point State Park

Hiking the Thousand Islands...Jacques Cartier State Park

Hiking the Thousand Islands...Kanik Nature Trail

Hiking the Thousand Islands...Keewaydin State Park

Hiking the Thousand Islands...Lonesome Bay State Forest

Hiking the Thousand Islands...Macsherry Trail

Hiking the Thousand Islands...Maple City Trail

Hiking the Thousand Islands...Morgan Island

Hiking the Thousand Islands...Morristown Red Barn Preserve

Hiking the Thousand Islands...Otter Creek

Hiking the Thousand Islands...Pulpit Rock State Forest

Hiking the Thousand Islands...Red Lake Indian River Trail 

Hiking the Thousand Islands...Redwood Hill Preserve

Hiking the Thousand Islands...Rock Ridge Trail 

Hiking the Thousand Islands...Sissy Danforth Rivergate Trail

Hiking the Thousand Islands...Wellesley Island State Park

Hiking the Thousand Islands...Zenda Farms Preserve