AMR, DEC determining next steps for High Peaks-area experiment
By Gwendolyn Craig
A three-year experimental reservation system at the Adirondack Mountain Reserve in Keene is over, and the state is not yet saying whether it will become permanent.
Roger Roumpf, superintendent of the Ausable Club on the AMR property, said trustees think the pilot “has been very successful.” Katharine Petronis, deputy commissioner of natural resources for the state Department of Environmental Conservation, also said it has worked well.
“We’ve seemed to have really improved public safety and the visitor experience. We’ve gotten significantly sort of good feedback throughout the course of the pilot program.”
Katharine Petronis, DEC Deputy commissioner of natural resources
AMR and DEC said they are in discussions over whether to make the pilot permanent, or how it could be updated this upcoming season. If the program continues, Petronis said, the state and AMR are continuing to look for ways to reduce the number of no-shows.
“The program has safely provided public access to public and private lands, education, and trail maintenance,” Roumpf said. “We feel the program has been a good step to protect the wilderness resource and has improved the equity of access for all.”
Data provided by AMR, graphic by Melissa HartThe unprecedented system, which has been lauded by some for its data collection, public safety and natural resource protections and criticized by others for its restrictions on a public easement, began during the 2021 hiking season.
The 7,000-acre slice of privately owned land had trails and some roadways open to hikers through a 1978 easement with the state. During the same time, the state purchased over 9,000 acres from the Ausable Club, including 11 High Peaks, for nearly $750,000. The reserve, off of Route 73 in Keene, has remained a gateway to High Peaks area hikes including Gothics, Dial, Nippletop and the fjord view over Lower Ausable Lake at Indian Head.
The AMR maintains a 70-vehicle parking area and trails.
The High Peaks Strategic Planning Advisory Group had proposed a three-year pilot reservation project in its June 2020 report to the DEC for addressing increased visitation to the region.
In the summer of 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, AMR officials said there were about 13,600 visitors to the property in July and August compared to 9,300 in July and August of 2019. Trustees expressed concern over public safety and natural resource protection as a reason to explore limits on access.
The easement between the state and AMR includes a clause requiring both parties’ consent to close or limit access to a trail. Letters the Explorer obtained in Freedom of Information Law requests show the DEC was not prepared or willing to implement a reservation system as of September 2020.
Petronis had said the DEC was “not aware of any immediate adverse environmental impact or public safety issue,” and that any limits imposed “may be deemed arbitrary,” in 2020 letters. She later told the Explorer that after gathering information from forest rangers, police, local officials and the AMR, the DEC felt a pilot reservation was warranted “from a safety perspective.”
Stretches along state Route 73 near popular trailheads in Essex County, including the AMR, have been congested with parked cars and hikers walking along tight shoulders. In addition to the reservation system, the state put stakes at pull-off areas along Route 73 to prevent parking.
The reservation system currently doesn’t allow same-day reservations. Petronis said “the fear is that it creates the problem that we were trying to solve,” which is another long stretch of cars on Route 73 hoping to get into the AMR. “We are trying to solve for that problem if we continue to move forward with the pilot,” she said.
The reservation system is hosted on hikeamr.org, a website maintained by AMR trustees. The system has applied to hikers from May 1 through Oct. 31. The reservations are for any member of the public accessing the AMR, including drop-offs.
Those with a Greyhound bus ticket from within a 24-hour window may hike the AMR without a reservation. The bus ticket option is the state and AMR’s attempt at providing expanded access to those without cars, but fewer than five people used it last year. The bus also drops hikers off several miles away at the Noonmark Diner.
RELATED READING: What you need to know about the AMR reservation system
Roumpf highlighted a number of changes AMR and DEC have made to the system over the years. They include:
- Adding an automatic gate so returning hikers may leave at any hour;
- Reducing the closing time of reservations to 12 hours in advance;
- Moving the rolling two-week opening of reservations from midnight to noon;
- Sending confirmation and cancellation emails;
- Changing the look of the calendar and time slots.
Roumpf said the 2023 hiking season saw nearly 17,000 reservations with nearly 10,000 of reservation-holders showing. The AMR allows for 70 reservations per day. Each reservation can accommodate up to eight people. About 1,960 people arrived without a reservation and were turned away last year.
The busiest weekends last year were:
- July 8 and 9 with 245 visitors;
- Sept. 2 and 3 with 276 visitors;
- Sept. 31 and Oct. 1 with 335 visitors; and
- Oct. 13 and 14 with 374 visitors.
Top photo: Hikers walk along Ausable Road on the way to the Adirondack Mountain Reserve trailhead. Photo by Mike Lynch
I’d like to know the metric used to show this program is safer. That area of 73 is not known for pileups or accidents. Show us some data. Be a reporter and ask questions like this.
Easy to say it was successful when you only survey the people who have the life situation to be able to reserve a spot two weeks ahead of time.
ADD SAME DAY OR NIGHT BEFORE SLOTS!!!
What is the “safety” concern of allowing a hiker to be dropped off at the trailhead or parking lot by a friend or family member? What is the “safety” concern of allowing the hiker shuttle to make a stop here?
My husband and I walked in with bus ticket on Columbus day. We were not required to show our bus tickets. There were only a handful of cars in the lot when we left in the early evening. They severely limited reservations for that holiday weekend. The whole thing is disgusting.
I found that the reservation system worked really well. I enjoyed being able to arrive for a hike at 8:30 a.m., instead of 5:30 a.m., knowing that I had a parking spot. It is not always necessary to reserve two weeks in advance, depending on when you plan to go. Also, a cancellation may come up closer to your hike. Out of the 4 times I used the system, I was a no-show once and that was because I did not have cell service and was not able to cancel my spot.
The wealthy club members should pay full taxes on their land or it should be confiscated for full public use. Limiting access but still have a tax break is a scam. Why isnt there a shuttle bus? Us working class hikers dont know our schedule 2 weeks in advance.
I’ve used the reservation system several times. There may be some problems to work out , There always are. But knowing you have a spot to park is quite nice. Not to mention someone there to overlook the lot. I say keep the reservations working and improve where needed.
I haven’t seen/heard a response to the very reasonable hiker shuttle question, which has been raised many times. This would effectively remove the public perception that the program is a hiker reservation system, attempting to limit access, disguised as a ‘parking’ system
This as well. If someone is dropped off being by a shuttle or friend, there should be no questions. NYS paid for an easement for all. We all deserve the right to use it if we choose.
WRT the chart at the top, what is the dramatic difference between “Registrations” and “Reservations?
Hello! Registrations are the accounts made to make a reservation. I hope that helps. -Gwen
Yes, it does. That is what I assumed, but I found it odd so many people would register with so few reserving.
I think that debating this issue in the public via this news article and/or social media does not address what is the DEC’s legal responsibility to hold public hearings and or review studies from focus groups who have collected public opinions to be used in the current Visitor Use Management study.
I cannot believe no one has pointed out the statement from Kathrine Petronis:
“We’ve gotten significantly sort of good feedback throughout the course of the pilot program.”
What in the world does “significantly sort of good”? Embarrassing!
I also agree with the shuttle idea. Reservations for cars. And then have a shuttle schedule with no reservations needed.
If the permit is used to secure parking I agree. That is a plus reserve parking. But i disagree turning away folks who walk in, shuttle, bike in etc. The easement is there for all and should be kept as such. Public lands are just that PUBLIC.
I live full time in Keene and here of no local provision. I’m also a 46r who has always cared for and enjoyed these beautiful places. I completely agree with a drop off or shuttle provision. Why would I buy bus ticket to travel over one town. I also live on what they call the 73 corridor just down from cascade. That trail head is mess in the summer with hundreds of cars lining the road and people everywhere with no talk of public safety through there. Is it really because the golfers and ausable club owners are tired of looking at smiling dirty faces walking through. Please work toward an honest solution that is fair access to all. Please stop gate keeping our beautiful park.
There’s trails that lead right past the gate if you’re willing to walk a few extra miles, feel like it’s unrealistic they are literally gatekeeping the 46er peaks. Not a fan of the program due to the 2 weeks in advanced considering 1/2 the people that reserve don’t show.
I have successfully used the system several times; and I have the luxury of working for myself and living within 90 minutes. However, I was frustrated one time by the fact it seemed like you could not register a spot within 24 hours. I was turned away, despite the fact there were plenty of spots available and unable to register for that day I had registered for the following day as a way of documenting my previous day’s attempt (to no avail).; having numerous hikes under my belt I was content to use the Noonmark trail head for getting the two Wolf Jaws that day. Seems with modern technology a “last minute” let alone a “last day” reservation should be anticipated and easy enough to accommodate.
Finally, I did inquire a few years ago (at that times they indicated no plan was yet in place) but I suggest that the “reservation system” be activated early this year for at least the weekend of April 5th thru the 9th to help manage the expected crush of people heading in for the Eclipse. If this Program is indeed about safety that would seem to be a “no-brainer”.
“Petronis had said the DEC was “not aware of any immediate adverse environmental impact or public safety issue,” and that any limits imposed “may be deemed arbitrary,” in 2020 letters. She later told the Explorer that after gathering information from forest rangers, police, local officials and the AMR, the DEC felt a pilot reservation was warranted “from a safety perspective.” ”
It seems the DEC does not exactly have its finger on the “pulse” of the HPW. Maybe with a commissioner change, attitudes will change within DEC.