 I grew up in
the New York City area, but left to go to college in Northern New York
(Clarkson University, Potsdam). The Call of the Wild held me in the
North Country, and I never went back to the Big Apple. During college I
worked as a counselor, sailing instructor and trip leader at a summer
camp in Maine. After graduating with a degree in Civil Engineering, I
served in the US Army as an officer in the Corps of Engineers. My
tour included 18 months in Alaska and as a company commander in
Vietnam. Our family (wife and two kids) settled in the Syracuse, NY
area (Skaneateles is the eastern-most Finger Lake, about 25 miles
southwest of Syracuse.) I was employed as Construction
Administrator for Onondaga County government for 28 years, “retiring”
in August 2000. Since then I have been running a one-man consulting
engineering business out of my home, which keeps me busy and provides
the extra funds needed to do the traveling I always planned to do.
I have been organizing and leading group trips into the Great Outdoors
for many years. For about 10 years, I was a leader in the Boy Scout
Program, taking groups of youngsters on camping, hiking and canoe
trips. In the mid 1980’s, I joined ADK, and became an active member of
the Onondaga Chapter. Over the years I have served as Chapter
Treasurer, Chapter Chair and Director. I lead about 8 trips a year for
our chapter, including day trips and overnights into the Adirondacks.
In 1990 I completed the Adirondack 46 High Peaks, which I had started
with my son many years before (46er #2778.)
Now, with more time available, I have become actively involved in the
Adirondack Mountain Club’s Adventure Travel Program. I started with a
trip to Austria, in 2001, led by Dick Ernenwein. In 2003 I led a trip
to southwest Utah, and I have been leading and participating in several
trips every year since. I like to plan and lead trips that will
provide a variety of unique experiences for participants of varied
abilities. My style is to be flexible and “lead by consensus”, starting
with a plan that is subject to change based on the circumstances and
the desires of the group.
Oh, and one more thing: I’m a professional storyteller. I tell stories
of adventure, humor and suspense in the Great Outdoors, including many
of Robert W. Service’s colorful and humorous story-poems about the
Yukon Gold Rush.
Ken
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