SARANAC LAKE — The Saranac Lake village board has voted to contribute $2,500 toward a design plan for improving the mountain bike trails at Mount Pisgah.
The village-owned mountain and ski area is home to mountain biking trails maintained by the Barkeater Trails Alliance (BETA). On Monday, BETA board member Karen Miemis and her husband, Kris, a member of the local BETA committee, presented a proposal to the village.
The trails at Mount Pisgah, built about a dozen years ago by volunteers, were some of the first machine-built mountain bike trails in the Adirondacks. They introduced a new way to experience the mountain, allowing riders to race down it on two wheels. However, the climb up the mountain remains challenging. The main uphill trail, Iron Lung, features steep terrain with roots and rocks, making it suitable only for intermediate to advanced riders. As a result, many newcomers to the sport walk their bikes up instead of riding.
In addition, the popular downhill trail known as “The Cure” is facing erosion issues. The soil used to build the trail, which contained pebbles, has eroded over time, making the corners dangerously slippery, according to Kris.
Earlier this year, BETA issued a request for proposals to local trail builders and recently selected Jay-native Luke Peduzzi to design a plan. The proposed plan aims to assess the existing trails, determining what should be kept, redesigned, abandoned, or newly constructed. Mount Pisgah currently has four bike trails, with a vertical gain of over 330 feet.
The total cost of the design plan is $5,000, with the Miemis’ proposing a 50/50 cost-sharing partnership with the village. The village board unanimously approved its share of $2,500.
Karen Miemis expressed her excitement after the vote, calling it “the best Christmas present ever.” Trustee Kelly Brunette was absent from the meeting, but Trustee Aurora White indicated that the project could help secure additional grant funding for the improvements.
The estimated cost to build the improved trail is around $150,000, with the work expected to be completed in phases, Karen said.
Kris Miemis also requested that the village include mountain biking in Pisgah’s long-term vision plan, which would help the project attract further grant opportunities.
Trustee Matt Scollin, a former professional snowboarder, raised concerns about the impact of mountain biking on the ski and snowboard trails. Karen Miemis assured the board that the biking and snow sports primarily operate on separate trails at Mount Pisgah. Kris Miemis added that they plan to engage other stakeholders, such as the Friends of Mount Pisgah and the village Parks and Trails Advisory Board, to ensure a balanced approach.
In addition to the trail improvements, the Miemis’ are working on a project to create a safer biking route to Mount Pisgah from the Park Avenue neighborhood. The current routes, from state routes 3 and 86, are busy highways, making them unsafe for cyclists. The owners of Cure Cottage LLC, which owns the former Trudeau Sanatorium, have agreed to allow the construction of a safer route from the neighborhood.
The village has also recently secured a grant to install a T-bar lift for bikes through the Northern Border Regional Commission. The T-bar would transport riders up the mountain, potentially increasing bike traffic and necessitating more trail maintenance. Kris and Karen Miemis noted that summer lift operations would require hiring staff and selling lift tickets, which would generate additional revenue to cover operating costs.
Mountain biking continues to grow in popularity, with Saranac Lake schools recently establishing mountain bike clubs. The Miemis’ children were among the first to join Saranac Lake Innovative Cycling Kids, a group formed to support the sport locally.
In another boost for the sport, the UCI Mountain Bike World Series was held at Mount Van Hoevenburg in Lake Placid this fall. The state Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) has also designated Mount Pisgah as a site for spectators to enjoy mountain biking. ORDA and the UCI have a three-year agreement for these events, and the Miemis’ expect thousands of spectators over the course of the contract. Downhill races are also planned for Whiteface Mountain in October 2025.
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