One of the most spectacular engineering projects in New York State’s history was the creation of the Great Sacandaga Lake in 1930. The swift, indelible change to the geography of this southern Adirondack region is the spark that ignited the imagination of author Russell Dunn. His second home is on the Sacandaga at Diamond Point, where he is inspired to write of life on the lake and its unique past. History and imagination are just part of the book, though, as he and his wife, Barbara, share their adventures hiking, canoeing, parachuting, skyaking, caving, white-water tubing, and scuba diving. His essays are creative, informative, and funny;they will inspire you to visit the Great Sacandaga Lake and experience it all yourself.
Russell Dunn is a New York State licensed hiking guide who has written five regional guidebooks on waterfalls: The Adirondack Waterfall Guide: New York’s Cool Cascades (Black Dome Press, 2003); Catskill Region Waterfall Guide: Cool Cascades of the Catskills & Shawangunks (Black Dome Press, 2004); Hudson Valley Waterfall Guide: From Saratoga and the Capital Region to the Highlands and Palisades (Black Dome Press, 2005); Mohawk Region Waterfall Guide: From the Capital District to Cooperstown & Syracuse (Black Dome Press, 2007); and Berkshire Waterfall Guide: Cool Cascades of the Berkshire & Taconic Mountains (Black Dome Press, 2008).
Dunn has co-authored two history-oriented hiking books with his wife, Barbara Delaney: Trails with Tales: History Hikes through the Capital Region, Saratoga, Berkshires, Catskills, and Hudson Valley(Black Dome Press, 2006)and Adirondack Trails with Tales: History Hikes through the Adirondack Park and the Lake George, Lake Champlain & Mohawk Valley Regions (Black Dome Press, 2009). He has also written two kayaking guidebooks: A Kayaker’s Guide to New York’s Capital Region: Albany, Schenectady & Troy (Black Dome Press, 2010) and soon-to-be-published A Kayaker’s Guide to Lake George, the Saratoga Region, and the Great Sacandaga Lake (Black Dome Press, 2010–2011). Dunn has contributed numerous articles to Adirondack Life, Adirondack Sports & Fitness, Kaatskill Life, Hudson Valley, Glens Falls Magazine, Catskill Mountain Region Guide, Northeastern Caver, Adirondac, Adirondack Explorer, Shawangunk Mountain Guide, and Conservationist.
PRAISE FOR
Adventures Around The Great Sacandaga Lake
“Russell Dunn ends the introduction to this bright and well-informed book by asking the readers to ‘Consider the following chapters a smorgasbord —- a feast of Great Sacandaga Lake adventures —- and snack accordingly.’ By the time you finish this book, you will want seconds, another serving of Dunn’s writing about an engineering wonder and major tourist destination in the southern Adirondacks.”
John Rowen, The Sunday Gazette
“Russell Dunn’s essays bring history and hilarity to Adventures Around the Great Sacandaga Lake.”
Lisa Stevens, Albany (NY) Times Union
“Here are history, ghosts, windstorms, hikes to nearby summits and waterfalls, and miscellaneous exploits.... Together, they help us learn about a part of the Adirondacks not as well known by many, but just as storied.”
Neal Burdick, Adirondac
“This work is a delightful potpourri of short vignettes on many past and present day subjects relating to the Sacandaga Reservoir and the towns around it. ...The book represents a new trend in local historic literature which I label the ‘go out and see it for yourself’ school.”
Peter Betz, Montgomery County Historical Society Newsletter
“…Author Russell Dunn bridges the gaps, fills in the blanks, and otherwise reveals an abiding knowledge of and respect for the lake, the area and people of the Sacandaga Valley. The book is readable and very informative.”
Ron Kolodziej, Conservationist
