LAKE PLACID, N.Y. — In this historic hamlet situated in the heart of the Adirondack Mountains, there is plenty for families to see and do. Breathtaking scenery. Olympic monuments and memories. Sports and games galore.

But that's not what drew Margaret Tilly and her family to Lake Placid this week. Their pilgrimage was to enjoy the third annual ESPN Great Outdoor Games presented by Dodge. The site of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics is alive this week with outdoor athletes and enthusiasts of all types.

Tilly's family drove from Atlanta to see Matt Bush whack away with an ax in the Springboard event and watch Mel Lentz blaze his way through the Hot Saw competition.

The Martins of Hayward, Wis., traveled to upstate New York to watch fellow Wisconsinite Mandy Erdman attempt to defend her gold medal in the Women's Boom Run.

Jason Little and family put in nearly an entire day of driving to get here from Little Rock, Ark. The Retriever Trials and Big Air dog event are what they anticipate most.

They are among several thousands of outdoor sports fans who are expected to invade Lake Placid from Thursday through Sunday to cheer for their favorites in timber and target sports, bass and fly fishing, and sporting dogs events.

In those four fun-filled days, they will applaud fishing weigh-ins, uncannily talented dogs performing in agility courses and wide-open spaces, and wood-cutting competitions that take place 65 feet off of the ground.

"The Tree Topping is my favorite," 14-year-old Matt Tilly said. "Those guys are amazing, climbing up that big pole so fast and then sawing off the top of it."

"The Great Outdoor Games is an excellent family event," Janet Martin added. "Our family is an outdoor family - fishing, camping, hunting. All are good things for kids to get into, especially these days when there are so many bad things out there.

"We always watched the Great Outdoor Games on TV and enjoyed it so much, so we decided to come here for our summer vacation as a family. We're having a great time, and all of the events are free."

Jason Little has been most impressed by the quality of the Games athletes — both during the competitions and outside of the venues.

"These guys are real athletes," he said. "And real nice people, too. Everyone we approached spent time talking with the kids and signing autographs. It's a (far cry) from athletes in other sports."

It's apparent that Thursday's opening round of the Great Outdoor Games provided plenty of fun and excitement for the families and individuals in attendance. Thursday's agenda included timber competitions (Springboard and Hot Saw) and the preliminary rounds for target sports.

Friday's lineup will include Men's, Women's and Mixed Doubles Boom Runs, Men's and Women's Endurance, Large and Small Dog Agility, Archery, Bass Fishing, Big Air Sporting Dogs, Rifle and Shotgun competitions.

Saturday's competitions: Men's and Women's Log Rolling, Speed Climbing, Men's and Women's Endurance, Retriever Trials, Rifle, Big Air Sporting Dogs, Bass Fishing, and Agility Super Weave.

Sunday's final day of competition will wrap up with Retriever Trials, Tree Topping, Large and Small Dog Agility and Timber Team Relay.