But you don’t have to wait until 2014 to let your happiness begin. Join them this year for one of their happiness retreats, spend a some time in the outdoors and find out where real happiness comes from.  Find out more at
http://www.packpaddleski.com/index.php?page=adventures&cat=North+American+Multi-Day&course=330622

I have been on Pack,Paddle, Ski trips to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro and hike to visit tribes in Africa, paddling in Glacier Bay Alaska, and many others. They get you off the beaten path to experience real cultural adventures. They make a difference in the world. Take a trip with them in 2014 and change your life.

The trail for walkers and bikers that will connect the west side of Saratoga Springs with Spa State Park and their trails is nearing completion. “The trail will connect with the existing Railroad Run Trail on the west side of Saratoga Springs from the YMCA to Route 50,” said Kurt Kress, Capital Facilities Regional Manager with the New York State Parks.

Bike Saratoga NY

The trail has been a collaborative effort between the city, New York State Parks and the New York Department of Transportation.

Tim Wales, City Engineer, said the city recently finished paving the Railroad Run Trail up to Route 50. It will now be up to the Department of Transportation to design a pedestrian crossing with a push button-controlled light for the safe crossing of hikers and bike riders into the Saratoga Spa State Park. Trails from there take users in and around the park, as well as to South Broadway.

The trail is being paid for through a number of funding sources. Kress said the portion of Railroad Run Trail was covered by a New York Works grant, where the Spa City would have to match the grant. That was done through the use of city labor for the paving. “I believe there are a series of different funds,” said Kress. “There are some New York Works moneys, some Recreational Trails funding and some New York State Infrastructure funding.”

Hike Saratoga Springs NY

With work crews finalizing the end of the trail earlier this week, Wales said now it was up to the state to finish the trail system. “We had the pretty easy part,” said Wales. “We’ve completed the work on our end.”

According to the New York State Parks & Recreation website, New York Works has invested $107,633 for the project, with a state investment of $200,000. People have been using the trail, which was open during the paving portion.

The plans for the signalized crossing are presently being reviewed by the NYDOT. They were designed by Clough, Harbour & Associates. Once the design is approved, the NYDOT will send the project out for bids. “It will allow for safe crossing across Route 50,” said Kress, adding that the crossing would include a “button-generated” traffic light, which will be just south of the Center for the Family. The crossing is estimated to cost around $100,000.

25 Kayak & Canoe Trips in the Saratoga Springs, NY Region

While the crossing is not expected to be completed until next fall, Kress said he hoped the trail portion of the project would be completed by the end of June.

The off-road trail connection of Saratoga Springs to the YMCA with Spa State Park has been discussed for several years and included many different organizations including the Saratoga Springs Chamber of Commerce and Saratoga P.L.A.N.

A gateway study of Route 50 was completed over two years ago, which suggested the safe crossing of Route 50 for hikers and bicycle riders to get from downtown to the state park on trails.

These recreation guidebooks for the Saratoga Springs area are available from Footprint Press:
25 Short Hikes and Interesting Walks in the Saratoga Spring, NY Region
25 Interesting Bicycle Trails in the Saratoga Springs NY Region
25 Kayak & Canoe Trips in the Saratoga Springs, NY Region

Not sure what a Paddling Progressive Dinner is?
• You will paddle along the creek and end out on the lake.
• Your first stop will be where the staff will be making mouthwatering appetizers for you.
• Your second paddling stop will be at the Soup & Salad stop with fresh baked breads and rolls.
• After paddling a bit more you will come to your entrée stop where you get to choose your entrée for the evening of, Beef, Chicken or Eggplant Parmesan. (The Eggplant Parmesan has been a hit every year!)
• With a little more paddling, you are off to the last stop for some Sinfully Decadent Desserts and beverages to top off your dinner while watching the sunset over the Toronto skyline 38 miles away.

Participation is limited so don’t delay in signing up and Reservations are a must.
If you have questions regarding this event please contact us at 716-213-0350. To register online click “The Candy Store for Outdoor People” (direct link)

NightRunner LED shoe headlights for runners.

With the development of their innovative Night Runner™ product, Doug Storer and his fiancé Renata, both avid runners, are on a mission to make pre-dawn and post-dusk running (on sidewalks, roads or trails) safer for the overwhelming percentage of runners who run during those times of day.  The couple has launched a Kickstarter campaign to secure funding to help continue their mission to bring the Night Runner™ to market. The Kickstarter campaign can be accessed via the following link: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1690988499/night-runner-led-shoe-lights

The Kickstarter campaign has a modest goal of securing $38k by June 10th 2013 to help fund the development of additional prototypes and the initial tooling process for manufacturing the finished product. The couple is calling on the running community to contribute to the Kickstarter campaign to help make the product a reality. As is standard with all Kickstarter campaigns, contributors receive a “thank you” ranging from Night Runner branded sport phone holders to tech shirts to the product itself (for contributors at the $50+ level).