Kristel Guimara Hello everyone and welcome! My name is Kristel Guimara and I currently live in the beautiful northern Adirondacks. I have my Bachelor's degree in Biology with a concentration in Environmental Science from Paul Smith's College located in Paul Smith's NY. Currently, I am in my second year of graduate school pursuing my Master's Degree in Conservation Biology from Green Mountain College in Poultney VT. I am currently researching the effects of black carbon concentration in the Adirondack snowpack which will be compared to samples taken in the Arctic Regions. This I hope will continue beyond my thesis requirement.
I begin to pull several books off the shelf that have waited ever so patiently for my attention. I often find myself initially grabbing old time childhood favorites such as; Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys mystery series. Other times I look to books that have continuously inspired me such as Walden and Civil Disobedience by Thoreau and Aldo Leopold by Thomas Tanner. Sometimes I look to local authors, present and past, who have knowledge of the Adirondacks such as; Woodswoman series by Anne LaBastille; Adirondack Short Stories by Jack Woods; Actively Adirondack by Randy Lewis and Over the Mountain and Home Again by Edward Kanze.
To spend the day engulfed in a book is like meeting new or old friends, over and over again. Hiding away in the comfort of my cabin, with the company of a book, aids me to not think about the erratic weather that has crossed the landscape. I can travel the world with a flip of a page and relive an adventure through the eyes of a new found friend.
So as the weather keeps us from playing outdoors, share what you read during this winter season. What is your go-to book for the days when the weather is less than inviting?
If I find myself with a lot of time, nothing beats The Count of Monte Cristo for storyline. If I really need to escape then its the fantasy The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant.
Now to be completely biased I would recommend the Images of America books by Donald Williams for a little Adirondack inspiration and (literal) look at the past.