The Lake George Land Conservancy (LGLC) invites the public to help celebrate the 10^th year of their flagship event, the Lake George Hike-A-Thon, to be held Tuesday, July 5, 2022. Early-bird registration for the event opened 8 a.m. Monday, March 7^th and will continue until March 31^st, during which time free event t-shirts are offered with registration. Special edition anniversary tie-dye shirts are also available to purchase.

Eager to claim their spots in the event, 250 people registered just in the first hour after early-bird registration for the event opened; nearly 700 people are expected in total.

The Hike-A-Thon is a free, watershed-wide event that has included nearly 700 hikers, paddlers and volunteers in an organized morning of guided outdoor recreation. The simultaneous hikes and paddles culminate with aerial photography of each group by Carl Heilman, II, who will once again be flying in a helicopter donated and piloted by Bruce Mowery of North Country HeliFlite.

This year’s event includes 21 hiking and paddle options at sites all around Lake George. Site difficulty ranges from the very challenging, 6-mile round-trip hike at Pole Hill Pond Preserve, to the drivable Prospect Mountain. The paddle offering will launch from the Northwest Bay Boat Launch; kayaks and experienced guides are being provided by the Council for Prevention. The choice to participate virtually is also still available.

After the morning of excursions are finished, participants and community guests are invited to come to the Hike-A-Thon’s After-Party at the Bolton Community Center from 11:30 am – 2:30 pm. Food and drinks will be available to purchase from Ty’s Taco-ria food truck and The Smoothie Shoppe, and free beer and soda will be donated by Adirondack Pub and Brewery. The After-Party will also have activities for kids and adults, sponsor booths, merchandise, and prizes and giveaways. There will be special prizes for those who have participated in the Hike-A-Thon for all 10 years, and more!

“This is such an exciting event to be looking forward to after yet another difficult year,” said Sarah Hoffman, LGLC Communications and Outreach Manager. “We’re excited to provide this opportunity to get outside, in a safe, social setting, and share a lake-wide experience with hundreds of others who love and care for this special place.”

Hague paddlers. Lake George Land Conservancy website photo.

After organizing the first Lake George Hike-A-Thon in 2013 as a celebration of the LGLC’s 25th anniversary, the event has continued each year since to showcase the LGLC’s parks and preserves as free public resources, and to promote an appreciation for the outdoors and for the protection of the land that protects the lake.

Since then, the Hike-A-Thon has expanded to include partner sites – properties that are being cared for with both ecosystem health and recreation in mind. Those partner sites for 2022 include Silver Bay YMCA Conference and Family Retreat Center, Up Yonda Farm Environmental Education Center, YMCA Camp Chingachgook, The Sembrich, and Wiawaka Center for Women.

The Hike-A-Thon is a free public outreach event, made possible with the financial support of business sponsors and individuals who choose to donate with their registrations. To date, major sponsors and partners for the 2022 Hike-A-Thon include media sponsor, The Lake George Mirror; the Town of Bolton; Carl Heilman, II/Wild Visions, Inc.; Bruce Mowery of North Country HeliFlite; Dave Arthur and Reliant Health Partners; Adirondack Pub and Brewery; Hudson Headwaters Health Network; JUST water; Lake George RV Park; Connally Creative; Council for Prevention; and The Sembrich.

To register for the Hike-A-Thon and for more information visit https://lakegeorgehikeathon.org/, or contact Sarah Hoffman at 518-644-9673, or email shoffman@lglc.org. For news and updates, follow the Hike-A-Thon on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/LakeGeorgeHikeAThon/.

About the Lake George Land Conservancy

The LGLC is an accredited, non-profit land trust based out of Bolton Landing, NY, dedicated to working with willing landowners and other partners to protect the world-renowned water quality of Lake George and to permanently preserve the natural, scenic, historic and recreational resources of the Lake George region. Since its inception, LGLC’s land protection program has worked directly and with partners to permanently protect 12,071 acres of Lake George wilderness and nearly 7 miles of shoreline, and owns and/or manages 35 parks and preserves that are open to the public year-round or by special request/restricted access with nearly 40 miles of trails for hiking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and, at some preserves, hunting and snowmobiling. More information: www.lglc.org.

Photo at top: 2021 Lake George Land Conservancy Hike-A-Thon participants. LGLC website photo.