Local outfitter The Mountaineer recently partnered with Patagonia to support educational and research efforts this summer atop the highest peaks through a grant to the Adirondack High Peaks Summit Stewardship Program.

According to an announcement sent to the press, the grant will enable the program to educate hikers about the fragile nature of the alpine vegetation and conduct research on the populations of rare, threatened and endangered plant species.

The Summit Steward program is a partnership of ADK (Adirondack Mountain Club), the Adirondack Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The program is in its 29th season of protecting New York’s alpine zone through education, trail work, and research. Since 1989, stewards have educated over 478,000 hikers atop New York’s highest peaks.

For more information or to donate directly to the program, click here.