Gifts in appreciation for donating to ADK's Trails Program

With a gift of $25 receive an ADK tote bag

With a gift of $50 receive

a topo map of the High Peaks region

With a gift of $100 or

more we will send you
Thatcher’s Peak Finder

It answers the question:
“What are We Looking At?”

“Thatcher’s Peak Finder for the Northern Adirondacks” identifies the great views from such popular day-hike Adirondack Mountains as Whiteface, Cascade, Ampersand, Azure and St. Regis. Small enough to fit in a day pack, each page’s
detailed line drawings are created
from original photography shot specifically for each peak, so they represent what hikers typically see without binoculars, and without distortion. Hikers of all ages love it. Over 210 peaks and landmarks
are identified from the ten summits, including 40 Adirondack High Peaks.
VERY LIMITED QUANTITY LEFT of
this first edition!

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ADK Trail Crews Get it Done!

Some of the finest hiking in the world is found right here in the Adirondacks and Catskills, and what’s more, these fabulous trails are publicly owned and FREE. Whether you like to bag peaks, backpack for days at a time or just go out for a day hike, there are hundreds of miles of trails to choose from. Maybe you are an aspiring 46er (one who climbs the highest Adirondack peaks, all over 4,000 feet), or a Catskill 3500 (one who climbs the highest Catskill peaks). The point is whatever type of hiking you like to do, the quality of your experience depends a great deal on the condition of the trail. That goes for paddlers too, who use trails and portages to access remote ponds and wild waters.

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Following each trail season, ADK’s Advocacy Team works hard lobbying the legislature for increased stewardship appropriations, made possible through the New York State Environmental Protection Fund (EPF). Together with my colleagues in ADK’s Public Affairs office, I spend a number of months each year lobbying for these appropriations, along with land acquisition dollars. A substantial portion of ADK’s Trails Program is funded contractually through the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), which receives the EPF stewardship appropriations. However, even when our lobbying efforts are rewarded with adequate EPF stewardship appropriations, ADK’s contract with DEC still only covers 73 percent of the real costs of the program.

ADK needs to raise $50,000 annually to support our trail programs and projects not covered by the DEC contract. Support from YOU ensures that

• ADK crews get paid for the long hours and very challenging physical work,

• the volunteer program is subsidized with scholarships making it possible for young people to participate,

• professional training in the art of trail construction is conducted so that there IS a next generation of trail stewards…… and that’s just the LABOR!

Through the combined efforts of ADK’s professional and volunteer trail crews, ADK completes more trail work than any nonprofit organization in New York State. Most importantly — ADK Field Program staff and volunteers maintain the trails we love to hike and make them safe for each of us to just GO OUT and TAKE A HIKE!

How will all of these dedicated trail workers improve the trails this year? In fact, they won’t be able to do an awful lot unless we, the hikers and paddlers who enjoy these trails so much, support them. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again — if not ADK, then who?

With your gift, ADK will continue to rebuild and maintain trails damaged by Tropical Storm Irene. Come to the High Peaks -- experience the beauty, the serenity, the challenge. ADKers are the BEST!

Please support the work of all ADK’s field program staff and volunteers by making a gift to ADK’s Trails program. And please, be as generous as you can. ADK THANKS YOU and the EARTH THANKS YOU!

DONATE NOW!