Well, we did it again for the 34th time! Family gathered to celebrate life and our resilience in the face of the wilderness that is the Adirondacks (Adirondack – land of the bark eaters, a term of derision for the Algonquin tribes used by the far more advanced Mohawks of the Iroquois Confederacy). Since we have evolved from those traditions, we are resolute in our efforts to overcome the challenges faced in such an unforgiving environment. We accomplished our tasks with a limited number of participants – Rick,
Mike, Gerard, Patrick, Dan and Grant.
Food was the first order of business, with Pat and Grant providing the best of the best for dinner on Friday and Saturday: chili and Chowdah. Dan and I took on breakfast with Blueberry pancakes and Egg McMuffins. Gerard filled every need for lunches, and Mike kept us satisfied with Snacks and Coffee.
As if this wasn’t enough, the Food Tasting this year, “Dips,” was won by Grant with his submission – a Cheese and Broccoli Dip that was truly outstanding. And if that wasn’t enough, he scored the first double play in Pig Snout history with his “Mocktail” submission: 0% Tanqueray Gin and Tonic. It must be noted that a trip to Iceland was required to obtain the aforementioned Gin to accomplish this feat!
And Grant has chosen two categories for 2026. An appetizer as one tasting and dessert as the second choice. No further stipulations, so this will be wide open.
Wilderness activities included an approximately 11-mile hike (difficult to measure due to almost continuous elevation changes) to Rock Lake that was endured by all. A discussion with some hikers from Rochester raised an interesting question. After describing the Pig Snout tradition, they asked, “Are you related to that rock formation?” Of course, she was referring to that rock outcropping on Rt 30 between Speculator and Indian Lake that most of us have seen every year for many years, which appears to be a pig’s snout accentuated with some painted highlights. While we have not had any influence over its appearance in the past, it may be time to change that. While kayaking on Indian Lake (which was about 6′ below its normal depth), Dan and I discovered a huge rock normally submerged bearing the inscription – All Season Camp 65.
I cannot complete this letter without recognizing the passing of our favorite Aunt, Mother, Grandmother, and Sister. Aunt Margie is now reunited with the love of her life, Uncle Jim. Aunt Margie has been an integral part of all of our lives, including Pig Snout. Her Spaghetti had been a staple for Pig Snout since 1992.
And finally the dates for Pig Snout 35 Thursday September 10 through Sunday September 13, 2026. We will be returning to the Cedar River Camp that has been our base of operations since 2017.
Tags:
No responses yet