A Proud Countryside

My recent trip to the Adirondacks brought with it a nice break from home and a small preview of the warmer season that is just around the corner. The trip also reminded me of a few of my favorite things about Upstate New York - big mountains that are literally on an Olympic scale, some of our nation's most scenic inland waterways, and a remarkable history visible around every corner. Pictured above is Whiteface Mountain, site of the alpine events from the 1936 and 1980 Winter Olympics. Pictured below is Fort Ticonderoga, a site of major strategic importance during the French and Indian War (the North American portion of the Seven Years War), the American Revolution, and the War of 1812. Last is the view looking south from the town of Whitehall, New York, claimant to the title of birthplace of the U.S. Navy.