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ADK Today

Vol. 5, No. 1: February 2012

 
Catskill 67

"The Catskill 67: A Hiker's Guide to the Catskill 100 Highest PeaksCatskill 67under 3500' " is now available from ADK. Written by veteran hiker Alan Via and edited by Times Union journalist and hiker Fred LeBrun, the guide focuses on a previously overlooked group of mountains: the 67 Catskill peaks within the "100 Highest" that are under 3,500 feet.

 

The new guide describes routes to the summits  of each of these lesser-known peaks and provides GPS coordinates for trailheads and difficult road intersections. Peaks are rated for view, interest and difficulty. The guide also includes nine regional maps, a separate large-format map of the Catskill 100 Highest and more than 60 photographs.

 

The 192-page softcover book retails for $21.95, but the ADK member price is just $17.56. "The Catskill 67" is available at book and outdoor supply stores, at ADK stores in Lake George and Lake Placid, through mail order by calling (800) 395-8080 (Monday through Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.), or online at www.adk.org.  

 

Environmental Protection Fund

Gov. Andrew Cuomo's 2012-13 Executive Budget would maintain the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) at $134 million, the same level as the past two years. The EPF includes $17.5 million for land acquisition, enough to keep the Finch Paper and Follensby Pond purchases on track. There is also an $8.5 million stewardship appropriation, an increase of about $100,000. EPF stewardship funds help support ADK's Professional Trails Crew and the Summit Steward Program.

 

You can help ensure that this funding survives in the Legislature's budget. Join us in Albany as we meet with legislators on Monday, Feb. 13, to advocate in support of the EPF. No lobbying experience necessary. If you want to participate, please RSVP by Wednesday  (Feb. 1) by emailing allison@adk.org or by calling (518) 449-3870. Read our Action Alert.

Your Trails Need You

You've always depended on good backcountry trails to get you where you want to go. Now, more than ever, those same trails need your help. ADK's volunteer trails program offers an opportunity to give something back to Adirondack trails you use and love. Join us for a single day project, such as National Trails Day on June 2, or spend up to five days in the backcountry with a multi-day project. If you're new to trail work, check out Ruth's Easy Project on June 16. A complete listing of 2012 volunteer projects is available here. And if you can't volunteer, you can still help with a donation to our Trails Appeal. Your donation will help ensure that ADK's Professional Trails Crew and volunteer crews have the tools and resources they'll need to get the job done. 

Family Snowshoe Day

Join ADK at the beautiful Heart Lake Program Center on Saturday, March 3, to spend the day snowshoeing on our wonderful trails. We will provide the snowshoes and instruction for these guided hikes around our property, as well as sharing bits of natural history, including animal tracking and winter ecology. Hikes may include climbing Mt. Jo or snowshoeing to a lean-to to enjoy hot chocolate and the incredible scenery of the High Peaks. Great for the whole family. Complete details here. 

Clean Air

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued the first-ever national standards for emissions of mercury and other toxic air pollutants from coal-fired power plants. Under the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS), power plants will be required to install state-of-the-art pollution control technologies to cut harmful emissions of mercury, arsenic, cyanide and gases that cause acid rain and smog. These tough standards for coal-fired power plants will go a long way in reversing mercury contamination in New York's lakes, particularly in the Adirondacks. Read more. 

 

In a related matter, a recent report to Congress concluded that power-plant emissions that cause acid rain have fallen across the nation, but warned that more needs to be done to restore hundreds of acidified lakes in the Adirondacks. The National Acid Precipitation Assessment Program (NAPAP), an interagency federal program that coordinates acid rain research, concluded that reduction of power plant emissions has resulted in measurable improvements in the water quality of many acid-sensitive lakes and streams nationwide.

 

"Despite these emission reductions, the report also indicates that full recovery from the effects of acid rain is not likely for many sensitive forests and aquatic ecosystems," according to a NAPAP press release. "For example, in the Adirondack Mountains of New York, an especially sensitive region, 30 percent of the lakes were receiving acid rain during 2006-08 in excess of the level needed to prevent harm."

 

More here. 
Essay Contest

The Waterman Fund, which supports ADK's efforts to protect alpine summits, is seeking submissions of essays about life in the mountains of the northeastern United States. Essays for the annual Waterman Fund Alpine Essay Contest must be original works of at least 2,000 words. The winning piece will be published in Appalachia Journal, and the winning essayist will receive $1,500. Essays are due April 15. Details here.  

ADK Today is an occasional compendium of news and views of interest to members of the Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK). It is produced and distributed by the ADK Communications Department, 301 Hamilton Street, Albany, NY 12210. Comments, questions or concerns about the content of this newsletter? Send us an email. Read past issues.