Amidst the global pandemic, and the resulting shortage of NYS funding, the Adirondack 46ers, (A group of people who have hiked all 46 mountains in the Adirondacks) have stepped up to provide financial support for the Adirondack High Peaks Summit Stewardship Program.

They have given $10,000 in 2020 and made a commitment to providing $75,000 of additional support over the next three years. The 46ers have been long time supporters of the stewardship program and have donated a total of $45,000 over the last three years as part of a joint commitment with the ADK (Adirondack Mountain Club).

The Adirondack High Peaks Summit Stewardship Program works to protect sensitive alpine vegetation found on 21 ADK summits by engaging hikers in low-key, casual conversation with the public, while also conducting trail maintenance and alpine research. The program has been credited with supporting a recovery in alpine vegetation in the High Peaks Wilderness since its founding in 1989. This year, the Summit Stewardship Program is operating at a reduced capacity because of the quarantine. They are unable to cover as wide of a range as they usually do as a result. The support from the 46ers makes sure that the High Peaks Wilderness will have consistent stewardship this summer, and the years to come.

“The Adirondack 46ers continue to be stalwart supporters of the Summit Stewardship Program. Their commitment to protecting the rare ecosystems found in Adirondack High Peaks Wilderness is exemplary,” said Kayla White, Summit Steward Coordinator.

The 46ers are also supporting the ADK’s Professional Trail Crew with a $41,000 contribution for 2020. This makes up over half of the crew’s operating budget and will clear the way for important projects in Avalanche Pass and Mt. Haystack. The 46ers President Siobhan Carney-Nesbitt had the following to say about the contributions: “The Adirondack 46ers are proud to contribute to efforts to protect the wilderness and the experiences of
hikers in the mountains we call home.”