Fifteen take Saturday’s Triad Challenge

by Dan McClelland

Fifteen hikers- some very young, and some not so young and including two teams- challenged themselves Saturday morning to the Triad Challenge- scaling in consecutive fashion Coney Mt., Goodman Mountain and Mt. Arab.

Organizers from the Tupper Lake Rotary Club and ROOST were at the staging area at Coney Mountain at 8a.m. to prepare for the 9a.m. climbers that morning for the sixth annual event and to register them.

Sue Fitzpatrick, local ROOST volunteer who often staffs the organization’s office on Park Street, brought with her the bags given to each climber that contained among other souvenirs of Tupper Lake, engraved glasses fashioned by Andrew McClelland of Stacked Graphics, showing two hiking boots, which is part of the logo for the triad event. In the photo at left Sue shows off the glass.

She said that the man who traditionally has directed the event, Ted Merrihew, designed a revised logo that will be carried on a new windshield sticker that all participants will receive. Ted’ new sticker is shown below, which also lists the Rotary Club, the principle sponsor of the event.

Noelle Casagrain, who completed the tri-mountain climb last year when she was pregnant for Desmond Vaughn Zande, brought the eight week old lad with her this year, riding in her back pack baby carrier.

Noelle reported Desmond Vaughn slept most the time on her three climbs. Grandmother Betsy Zande accompanied them.

Liz Weir, who was the fastest woman at the 2021 Triad and who still hold the winning time, was back early to get set for her third try up the three Tupper Lake mountains. Liz is an active runner. Accompanying her was her husband, Ron Hanson. The couple live in Argyle, N.Y. They are shown at top right.

Liz this year again posted the best time among the female entrants.

The best time climbing the three mountains among the men was completed by Steve Festin, who with his wife Christine, are from the Schenectady area, but who have a seasonal residence on Charland Road.

Steve and Christine have done a number of Triad Challenges in recent weeks, according to Sue Fitzpatrick.

Ted Merrihew, who called himself the chief timer this year, poses with another local volunteer, Lance Durfee, at the staging site.

This was Lance’s third year as a volunteer.

Volunteer Emily Kriwox also brought her young baby to help her watch for approaching climbers at the top of Coney that day. Liam John Ward didn’t seem all that interested in the commotion and conversation at the staging area that morning.

Emily’s mother, Lidia, a hard-working businessman and dedicated Rotarian, was heading to the staging area to begin the registration process about 8:10a.m. that morning.

Soon after along came the first family- twins Dala and Nova Townsend, and their brother Obee. The kids were with their mother Becky and father, Mike. The Townsends own property here but hail from Newburgh, N.Y.

Brian Burns, co-owner of Northwood Cabins, was also came out that morning to volunteer again this year. Brian took the photo below left of the winners- Steve Festin and Liz Weir.

The 2022 event was called off at the last minute, due to a small turnout and heavy rain throughout the day.