Although there are sure to be a few Indian Summer days left in the Adirondack calendar, it is evident autumn is on the way. Cool, crisp mornings have already welcomed lakeside campers with heavy morning fog and a brisk chill. Hardwoods along the shorelines have already begun to reveal signs of autumn colors. It is obvious the summer season is winding down.

While the whitetails are still sporting their red summer coats, there are a few of the old grey beards hanging around the farm fields, eating the clover and corn. Based on observation, the mild winter was easy on the deer herd. In fact, I’ve seen several does tending triplets this season. However, even as I daydream of whitetails and wet woolies, I have to admit I’m not quite done with summer yet.

I haven’t spent nearly enough evenings enjoying the sunsets, nor the late nights staring at the stars. While summer has always been the most fleeting of the Adirondack seasons, the slow passage to autumn may be prolonged this year. The usual tradition of seasonal transitions appears to be confused, as long, cold winters have become the odd man out.

One of the most evident disruptions in this year’s natural flow of season has been the apparent lack of berries. I’ve always been an active picker, but I earned no blue thumbs from picking blueberries this year or scratched legs from wandering in the raspberry woods. Fortunately, it appears this year’s apple crop will fare much better than the berries and the corn.

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Running Bear

Although the Adirondack region has learned how to deal the usual problems with the annual invasion of nuisance black bears this season, there’s at least one Bear the local tourism officials are happy to see. The Bear in question happens to be the star of one of the most popular reality shows on network television.

Bear Grylls, the famed adventurer, survivalist and veteran of the British Armed Forces now uses his outdoor skills to introduce celebrity guests to the wild outdoors. Typically, the team of Bear and his guests travel to a truly wild piece of the planet, where they are forced to find food, water and shelter.

In the most recent episode of “Running Wild with Bear Grylls,” actress Courtney Cox braved the wilds of the harsh west coast of Ireland. Upcoming episodes will feature actor Nick Jonas; NFL Super Bowl champion Marshawn Lynch; Hall of Fame basketball player Shaquille O’Neal; and alpine skier and Olympic gold medalist Lindsey Vonn.

According to a recent press release, this week’s episode of Running Wild with Bear Grylls will air on Monday at 10 p.m. on NBC.

The show features “celebrity guests as they face their deepest fears and tackle everything from wild animals to rock rappelling as they journey through some of the world’s most unforgiving wilderness areas. Pushing their minds and bodies to the limit to complete their journey, they will experience the excitement of being dropped into uncharted territory and tackling the wilderness head-on, which is daunting and draining, but also very empowering.

“This season the popular series will take viewers from the remote African Savanna and mountain passes of Sierra Nevada to the wilds of Ireland and rocky shores of Corsica. The intrepid cast members will face their deepest fears and tackle everything from wild animals to rock rappelling as they journey through some of the world’s most unforgiving wildernesses. Pushing their minds and bodies to the limit to complete their journey, they will experience the excitement of being dropped into uncharted territory and tackling the wilderness head-on, which is daunting and draining, but also very empowering.”

Adirondack residents may recognize the backdrop in this week’s episode, which was filmed entirely on location in a wild undisclosed piece of the Park. The celebrity guests will be whisked about on a series of mechanical contraptions, until they eventually settle down in a rough camp to enjoy a wild meal in the wilderness. Several local guides and climbers assisted in the production.