by Dr. Denise R. Ames

Ausable Chasm was my first stop of my summer road trip from Albany, New York to Maine. Nestled in the Adirondacks region of upstate New York, it has been in private operation since 1870, with over 10 million visitors enjoying its natural beauty. My cousin and I elected to trek down to the banks of the river for a bird’s eye view of the terrain.

After climbing down too many stairs to count, I finally was able to see the ground floor view of the gorge. Although the company promotes the gorge as the Grand Canyon of the Adirondacks, I would say that is a stretch. After viewing the actual Grand Canyon and the smaller Rio Grande Gorge near Taos, NM, I would say it is a big stretch. Nonetheless, it is a stunning and interesting site.  

As our guide explained to us, the Ausable Chasm is a sandstone gorge cut through by the Ausable River, which empties into Lake Champlain about one mile (1.6 km) downstream. The gorge is about two miles (3.2 km) long. The river is fed by the Rainbow Falls at its southern edge. The gorge was carved out of 500 million-year-old Potsdam Sandstone from the Cambrian Period. Since the end of the Pleistocene Epoch ice age 10,000 years ago, the movement and subsequent melting of glaciers created a series of caves and tunnels, which the Ausable River linked up.

Although I chaffed at wearing a hardhat on our river walk (it was so hot), I could see its benefits since the rocks along the river were worn and coated with a slippery sheet of light drizzle. I marveled at the sandstone formations cut through by driving torrents of water pounding them into jagged creations. Down by the river’s edge, the force of nature’s destructive fury was apparent to me and, despite the heat, sent a shiver down my spine.

I saw a number of young people tethered to cliffs participating in Outward Bound types of adventures. They seemed a bit tentative as they inched along a narrow pathway carved out of the sandstone cliffs. They were also hesitantly crossing the gorge on a suspension bridge made from knotted rope. I mused that they should have these challenging situations for seniors as well, but then I realized that most seniors (including myself) did not want that kind of physical challenge anymore.

Our group climbed more steps to a dead-end point along the gorge. Which way out? All I could see was a flimsy- looking suspension bridge dangling above the gorge and raging water. This must be for the young outdoor challenge adventurers I thought to myself. Surely, when we purchased our tickets the clerk would have told us if we had to cross this rickety bridge. I have always been fearful of heights, although not on the extreme end. My heart flutters when I get too close to the edge of a cliff or roof. Unfortunately, I have passed on that fear to my adult children who are also slightly acrophobia.

As I was standing there convincing myself that we would not be crossing the suspension bridge, our guide cheerfully exclaimed that our next challenge was to cross the bridge! I was stunned. I quickly summarized my options. I could humiliate myself and turn around and go back, the six-year old girl next to me was eager to take my place. My other option was to face my fear and cross the bridge. I had never done something like this before and it would expand my sense of adventure and risk to do so. I didn’t want to become a risk-averse senior, fearful and afraid. It took me a few seconds to decide that I would cross the bridge, both physically and metaphorically.

I decided I would regard crossing the bridge as a personal quest. I was determined not to faint, sprawled across the bridge’s wobbly 2x10s like a beached whale. Our guide prattled away as we crossed the bridge, unaware that all the color had drained from my face and my eyes were glued to the steps in front of me. I had no intention of stopping to see the view from my mid-air vantage point. The rope bridge swayed back and forth as the rest of the group eagerly proceeded forward.

The crossing was quick, I hardly had time to contemplate my accomplishment. After the color returned to my face, I chatted with the mother of the 6-year old dare devil. She said she was surprised about the bridge as well, and had some foreboding as she crossed. The 6-year old said she was a gymnast and loved heights. She didn’t regard it such an accomplishment as I did.

The tour ended. I gathered my strength to ascend the cascade of steps out of the canyon. We decided to hike through the dense and misty forest until the steady drizzle of rain increased to uncomfortable status and we turned back.

As I walked through the forest I contemplated my morning. I was struck by the number of people who paid what I thought were high entrance fees to enjoy what nature had to offer. I also marveled at the number of young people who took up the challenge to test their physical and mental pluck. I also reflected on my earlier thoughts that seniors were content to avoid challenging their physical and mental pluck and these adventures were only for the young.

Actually, I found that the physical and mental test of crossing the swaying suspension bridge was just the challenge I needed at the moment. It forced me to confront my long-time fear of heights and push myself into unknown territory. Indeed, the Ausable Chasm gave me renewed confidence in my slowly ebbing physical and mental abilities and found that if not challenged, indeed they will diminish. Perhaps, an Outbound type of adventure for seniors is just the thing we need. It worked for me.

About the Author: Dr. Denise R. Ames

Dr. Denise R. Ames’ varied life experiences—teaching, scholarly research, personal experiences, extensive travels, and thoughtful reflections—have contributed to her balanced views and global perspectives. Earning a doctorate in world history education, she has taught secondary schools, universities, a community college, professional development, and lifelong learners. In 2003, Dr. Ames founded Center for Global Awareness, an educational non-profit that develops globally-focused books and educational resources for educators and students grade 9-university. She has written eight books, plus numerous blogs, lesson plans, articles, newsletters, teaching units.

Along with CGA’s Gather program, Global Awareness Through Engaged Reflection, a study and conversation program for self-organizing groups of lifelong learners and, Global Awareness for Educators, Dr. Ames is developing a new program: Turn, Transformation, Understanding, & Reflection Network. Turn encourages life-long learners to see with new eyes, learn from the past, understand others, and recognize the relationship of all things. She teaches workshops/classes and writes about Turn’s five topics: learning from the past, cross-cultural awareness, five worldviews, elder wisdom, and transformative travel.

Dr. Ames has written 9 books for the Center for Global Awareness, check out their offerings! Global Awareness Books