Cider, Community, and Protecting the Peaks

For the past decade, Nine Pin Cider has partnered with the Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK) to support one of the most important conservation efforts in the High Peaks: the Adirondack High Peaks Summit Stewardship Program.

Through its biannual 26er Challenge, the Albany-based cidery invites its community to participate in a year-long tasting challenge that directly supports the protection of New York’s alpine ecosystems.

Since the partnership began, the 26er Challenge has raised more than $30,000 to support ADK’s stewardship work on the tallest summits in the Adirondacks.

That funding helps support summit stewards who spend the hiking season educating visitors about the fragile alpine ecosystem and monitoring rare plant communities that exist nowhere else in New York. Each season, stewards help protect these environments while directly educating thousands of hikers about responsible recreation and alpine conservation. 

The name “26er” was originally inspired by the famous Adirondack 46er hiking challenge, which encourages hikers to summit the region’s 46 High Peaks. In the spirit of that tradition, Nine Pin created a challenge of its own: 26 experimental ciders released over the course of one year.

Participants visit the cidery every two weeks to taste a brand-new cider and share feedback that helps guide future releases. Each cider also contributes directly to the Summit Stewardship Program.

The result is a program that blends craft, community, and conservation.

“When we started the 26er Challenge, we wanted to create something that brought people together around discovery,” says Alejandro del Peral, cofounder and head cidermaker at Nine Pin. “Partnering with ADK gave the challenge a deeper purpose. Every glass helps support the stewards protecting the alpine environment we all care about.”

The next edition of the challenge begins March 30, 2026, marking the fifth 26er Challenge since the program began.

Participants who complete all 26 tastings earn 26er status for life, along with perks such as special pricing, early access to releases, and invitations to the annual finisher celebration. But perhaps the most meaningful reward is knowing that each tasting contributes to the protection of Adirondack alpine summits.

Registration for the 2026 Nine Pin 26er Challenge is now open.

Those interested in participating—or simply supporting the Summit Stewardship Program—can learn more and register at: ninepincider.com/26er