Dear friend,

One day last summer, I was stationed atop Mount Marcy, the highest peak in New York. It was a clear day, and the view from the summit was breathtaking. Hikers streamed up as I worked to repair a scree wall. At one point, I remember noticing a young hiker wander off the trail straight toward a beautiful patch of alpine flowers. Sticking to bare rock, I approached to explain that it was important to stay on the trail in order to protect fragile vegetation. She looked surprised, but appreciative as I shared how even the surrounding grasses could be damaged by her bootsteps.  

It is moments like this that underscore both the immediate and lasting impacts of the Adirondack High Peaks Summit Stewardship Program. We not only educate hikers about the alpine zone – the state’s rarest ecosystem – we are cultivating the next generation of environmental stewards.  

For more than 30 years, this program has protected and studied the rare and fragile plant species that call the High Peaks Wilderness home. And, in so doing, summit stewards have made a real and measurable difference in the health and sustainability of this natural wonder, which was once on the brink of disappearing. This success through education comes despite continued increases in visitor use over the last decade.  

But the Summit Stewardship Program needs your support to not only continue its work, but expand to make an even greater impact across the high peaks. Your donation will help cover the costs of hiring and training additional stewards, providing them with necessary equipment, and expanding our outreach and educational efforts so that future visitors can enjoy the stunning beauty and natural diversity of this unique area for generations to come. 

Yours in gratitude,

Kayla White

P.S. Your tax-deductible contribution to ADK will protect the alpine regions of the Adirondacks.  Thank you for making a difference!