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Addressing the need for hiker information

Because the Adirondack Park doesn’t have gates and traditional entrances like many state and national parks, there isn’t an immediately obvious place for hikers to go to get information about trails when they enter the High Peaks Region. Photo by Mike Lynch
Because the Adirondack Park doesn’t have gates and traditional entrances like many state and national parks, there isn’t an immediately obvious place for hikers to go to get information about trails when they enter the High Peaks Region. Photo by Mike Lynch
stewards
Some visitors get information from local outfitters and businesses. Others go to the Adirondack Mountain Club’s High Peaks Information Center, which is located at the end of Adirondack Loj Road. In recent years, local organizations and the town of Keene have tried to get information to hikers by stationing stewards at key trailheads. The Adirondack 46ers set up at Cascade Mountain (shown here) and the end of South Meadow Road, while ADK has a steward outside their info center. The town of Keene has stewards at Marcy Field and The Garden Parking lot. Photo by Mike Lynch
trailhead stewards
I visited with Ron Konowitz, who is a volunteer trailhead steward for the Adirondack 46ers, and 46ers President Laurie Rankin at the Cascade Mountain trailhead this summer to find out more about their program. Konowitz said he talks to hikers about Leave No Trace basics and also safety information. He encourages hikers to stay together on the trail, have a light source, map, and other basic gear. He also educates hikers on the proper ways of disposing of human waste. One of his goals is to help cut down on the number of search and rescues by educating hikers before they hit the trail. Photo by Mike Lynch
trailhead stewards
Visitors of the Adirondack Mountain Club's Heart Lake property at the end of Adirondack Loj Road can get help at the High Peaks Information Center. But ADK also has trailhead stewards who meet hikers in the parking lot. When asked about the job, volunteer Kate Hacker said, “I’m always thinking safety... I want to make sure they get all their questions answered, they have all the right equipment, they’ve bought maps and other things that will support them. It all depends on the person. I’ll put out a bunch of friendly questions and go from there and do whatever I need to do to fill in the (information) gaps."
trailhead stewards
The town of Keene has stewards stationed at Marcy Field and The Garden trailhead and parking lot. You can hear Wilson talk about his town's program by watching the video below. In this 2019 photo, Keene Supervisor Joe Pete Wilson, left, stands with Paul Smith's College student and frontcountry steward Stephanie Tyski. Photo by Zoë Smith/Paul Smith's College.
trailhead stewards
Sometimes people will visit trailhead stewards even when they aren't hiking that specific trail. "People are stopping by to get information about hiking even if they aren't hiking Cascade," said Adirondack 46ers President Laurie Rankin, shown here talking to hikers who just finished hiking that mountain. Photo by Mike Lynch
The state Department of Environmental Conservation doesn't have trailhead stewards. However, they have set up a booth for hikers in Mid's Park in Lake Placid. The DEC and several organizations are currently seeking more permanent solutions for reaching hikers. Photo by Mike Lynch
The state Department of Environmental Conservation doesn't have trailhead stewards. However, they have set up a booth for hikers in Mid's Park in Lake Placid. The DEC and several organizations are currently seeking more permanent solutions for reaching hikers. Photo by Mike Lynch
van ho trailhead
DEC officials have said the Mountain Pass Lodge, which is located at the Olympics Sports Complex near Lake Placid, will have a hiking info center in the future. The lodge is located at the trailhead for the new MVHE trail that currently goes up Mount Van Hoevenberg. The MVHE trail will also one day serve as the start of the future trail up Cascade Mountain. Hikers can currently get some very basic info there. Photo by Mike Lynch
The Adirondack Mountain Club is exploring the idea of purchasing the Cascade Ski Center, located on Route 73 outside of Lake Placid. “It really checks a lot of boxes for us," said ADK Executive Director Michael Barrett about Cascade. “We’d be really interested in continuing the ski center, making sure the public had access to the property for skiing purposes. But the rest of the year, when the ski center is not operational, we definitely see the benefits of putting in a strategic hiker information center.” Photo by Mike Lynch
The Adirondack Mountain Club is exploring the idea of purchasing the Cascade Ski Center, located on Route 73 outside of Lake Placid. “It really checks a lot of boxes for us," said ADK Executive Director Michael Barrett about Cascade. “We’d be really interested in continuing the ski center, making sure the public had access to the property for skiing purposes. But the rest of the year, when the ski center is not operational, we definitely see the benefits of putting in a strategic hiker information center.” Photo by Mike Lynch
In the southern High Peaks this summer, the Upper Works trailhead in Newcomb underwent major changes, including getting a new parking area. The land where the changes occurred is on Open Space Institute land, and the nonprofit is planning to have the historic MacNaughton Cottage renovated, so that it may be used by a local outfitter. While it wouldn't be a dedicated visitors center, hikers would be able to get basic info and gear from the outfitter who rents out the space. Photo by Mike Lynch
In the southern High Peaks this summer, the Upper Works trailhead in Newcomb underwent major changes, including getting a new parking area. The land where the changes occurred is on Open Space Institute land, and the nonprofit is planning to have the historic MacNaughton Cottage renovated, so that it may be used by a local outfitter. While it wouldn't be a dedicated visitors center, hikers would be able to get basic info and gear from the outfitter who rents out the space. Photo by Mike Lynch
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This summer, Explorer staff visited trailheads in the High Peaks region to see trailhead stewards interacting with hikers and experience first-hand the benefits they provide.

I visited Cascade Mountain, where the Adirondack 46ers can be found, and the trailhead parking area at the Adirondack Mountain Club’s High Peaks Information Center.

Meanwhile, intern Kris Parker went to Marcy Field and The Garden Parking area in Keene and made the video below featuring Keene Supervisor Joe Pete Wilson.

By checking out the photos in the gallery at the top of this post, you can learn more about what trailhead stewards are doing in the High Peaks region, in addition to what organizations are doing to secure more permanent visitors centers.

If you’re interested in meeting a trailhead steward, they’ll be finishing up their season on October 11.

Related story

trailhead stewards education
Franconia Notch State Park and White Mountain National Forest staff educate hikers at the Falling Waters trailhead. Photo by Gwendolyn Craig

Read about how trailhead stewards and other education programs have significantly reduced the number of incidents at national parks across the country.

Reporter Mike De Socio explores how hiker education can help reduce the number of search and rescues in the backcountry. READ MORE

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Mike Lynch

Mike Lynch

Mike Lynch is a multimedia reporter for the Adirondack Explorer. He can be reached at mike@adirondackexplorer.org. Sign up for Mike’s newsletter

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