About Us

Bloated Toe Enterprises (BTE) is the home company behind The North Country Store, one of the very best sources anywhere for Adirondack gifts of all kinds. And we truly are North Country: we have lived, played, and worked in the region our entire lives.

Our commitment to the North Country (the Adirondacks and foothills) is evident in the hundreds of regional products we carry, 97.4% of which were locally created by authors, musicians, cooks, and craftspeople. By shopping in The North Country Store, you are supporting the wonderful talents of these fine local folks.

BTE also publishes and sells books related to northern New York and Adirondack history. We are the exclusive publisher of books by author Lawrence P. Gooley, who has written about various locations in northern New York, including Lyon Mountain, Chazy, Altona, Plattsburgh, and the Adirondacks. Those works are available in The North Country Store. And, our publishing services are also available to other authors and organizations.

In late 2007, BTE produced a glossy, printed version of The North Country Catalog to help promote the "buy local" concept. To receive a FREE copy in the mail, just fill in our Contact Us Form and check the box to request a catalog. It's the best Adirondack gift catalog anywhere!

BTE's webmaster, Jill McKee, has created two additional websites dedicated to Lyon Mountain, NY and Whitehall, NY. The extensive information on those sites, along with photographs and links, make them outstanding historical resources … and it's all FREE!

We invite you to use the links and navigation buttons on this page to explore our entire site. You can:

• find unique genealogical information
• enjoy dozens of great original history articles in our free newsletter
• read some wonderful comments in our guestbook … and add your own!
• check out loads of great photos in the photo galleries … and again, add your own!
• learn what it takes to get your own book published
• read brief biographies of the talented people whose Adirondack gift items fill The North Country Store
• visit The North Country Store to see the great work created by our neighbors

Why Bloated Toe?

Larry and Jill, the founders of Bloated Toe Enterprises and The North Country Store, have hiked, biked, climbed, and canoed throughout the Adirondacks. The credit for the unusual name goes to Jill's funky sense of humor.

One particular mountain-climbing trip took them to Owl's Head Lookout, a rocky knob facing directly up the northeast slopes of Giant Mountain. Upon reaching the summit, they did their rituals: remove hiking boots and socks; snack excessively; and lie back and enjoy the great view. Then they put their socks and boots back on, grabbed their packs, and headed down the trail and back towards the car.

While descending the easier slopes, Larry noticed that his left foot in particular was very uncomfortable. There was quite a lot of pain, and the hiking boot seemed unusually tight. Loosening the laces helped very little, and as they continued their hike, Larry told Jill of the problem.

Asking for details, she was told that every step hurt. He added that, from all of the black fly and mosquito bites his bare feet had endured at the summit (he is one of those unfortunate bug magnets), Larry had a bloated toe.

Jill's immediate response … sympathy? Concern? Assistance?

No. Turning around quickly and pointing at Larry, she just blurted out …"Hey! That's what we can call our company!"

So they did.