Leave No Trace Education Campaign Slated August 7-14
Central High Peaks Wilderness will be Focal Point for Reducing Impacts
LAKE PLACID, N.Y. -- The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics will join with local partners to offer a week-long education campaign for hikers and campers to learn how they can significantly reduce their impacts on sensitive plants, wildlife and water quality in the Central (formerly Eastern) High Peaks Wilderness Area.
“Given the record crowds and overuse we have seen in the High Peaks Wilderness over the past few years, this is an excellent time to learn how we can each limit our impact as hikers and campers,” said Adirondack Council Executive Director William C. Janeway. “We thank Leave No Trace, Subaru, the State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Mountain Club for making this possible.”
From August 7 to 14, Leave No Trace will work with its Subaru Traveling Trainer team, Adirondack Mountain Club, state officials and other partners such as the Adirondack Council to host a seven-day Leave No Trace Hot Spot in several locations. Adirondack Council members and staff will participate.
Leave No Trace is a nationally recognized outdoor educational program. It focuses on preparedness, and on reducing impacts to natural resources. ADK nominated the Eastern High Peaks Wilderness as a Hot Spot for 2019, and it was chosen as one of 19 finalists, out of a pool of over 100 applicant locations.
Focusing on the heavily-visited central High Peaks Wilderness, including the Van Hoevenberg Trailhead located at the Adirondak Loj and Heart Lake Program Center, the Hot Spot seeks to address the challenges associated with high concentrations of visitors to the region. Damage to alpine plants, trail erosion, human waste, and negative human/wildlife interactions will be discussed. This area was once known as the Eastern High Peaks Wilderness. Last year, New York annexed the adjacent Dix Mountain Wilderness Area to the High Peaks, expanding it eastward by several miles.
“Enhanced education and outreach about leave no trace practices and alternative less crowded destinations is essential to addressing overuse and protecting the wilderness of the Adirondacks,” said Janeway. “The actions needed to address overuse also include comprehensive planning, improved front and backcountry infrastructure, limits on use at some locations at some times, hiring more rangers and other staff and increased funding.”
There are many ways to get involved. All events are FREE and open to the public.
Events Occurring Every Day
Leave No Trace Information Tables: 9am-5pm, High Peaks Information Center (Lake Placid)
Leave No Trace Public Hike to Mt. Jo: 9am, Adirondak Loj Information Kiosk
Join one of our education staff members for a one-way guided hike up Mt. Jo. Along the way you will learn about Leave No Trace principles and how following them can positively impact the places you are visiting. Mt. Jo is a 2.2 mile hike with about 700 feet of elevation gain. Proper footwear and water required. No registration required; just meet our staff member by the Info Kiosk in front of the Adirondak Loj.
Heart Lake Nature Museum: 9am-5pm, Heart Lake Program Center
The Heart Lake Nature Museum makes a great introduction to the natural world of the Adirondack High Peaks, for kids and adults alike. This year’s nature museum theme is “Your Stewardship Forms a Protective Relationship with the High Peaks.” Learn how to protect the wild lands that you love. An ADK naturalist is always on hand to answer questions and foster your curiosity.
Single-Day Events
August 8; Community Service Day: 9am-3pm, Mt. Van Hoevenberg Sports Complex
Volunteers will help with the continuing effort to build two new trails in the High Peaks Wilderness: the Mt. Van Hoevenberg East Trail and the Cascade Mtn. Trail. The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is working to develop sustainably built trails to the summits of both mountains. Projects will include various aspects of trail construction, including: trail grubbing, foundation rock work, quarrying materials, surfacing, rehabilitation, soil stabilization, signage installation and other components of trail work. Volunteers will be working along sections of the trail up to 1.5 miles from the trailhead in various groups.
August 8: Live Q & A with Traveling Trainers: 7pm-9pm, Adirondack Backcountry Hikers Facebook Group
Do you have questions about Leave No Trace outdoor skills and ethics? Do you want to know more about how to protect your public lands? This is an opportunity for you to ask questions of the Subaru/ Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers who travel the country doing public education and outreach.
August 9: Social Media Rendezvous: 3-9pm, ADK Education Yurt Village, Heart Lake
Are you a social media influencer? Would you like to know how to promote protecting public lands online? This social event is designed to bring social media influencers together to help preserve the quality of our shared natural resources. By combining Leave No Trace skills and ethics with supportive online messaging and constructive imagery, you can learn how to imbue every post featuring wildlands and waters with an informative purpose! Two Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers will be at this gathering to talk about Leave No Trace social media guidelines.
Details: Lake Placid Brewery will be offering complimentary drinks. A discounted dinner will be provided at the Hungry Hiker. Evening hike up Mt. Jo. Optional free lodging accommodations in Education Yurt Village.
August 10: What Would Bigfoot Do? 8pm, Adirondak Loj amphitheater
An ADK Educator will offer a one-hour program on how you can minimize your impacts while recreating outside. Bigfoot has been doing it for years. This program will take place at the Adirondak Loj amphitheater (Education Yurt Village if raining).
August 12: Leave No Trace Awareness Workshop: 9am-3pm, ADK Education Yurt Village
Two Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers will co-instruct a six-hour Awareness Workshop to teach participants more about the seven principles of Leave No Trace and techniques for sharing these low-impact skills. Awareness Workshops are designed for anyone who enjoys recreating outside.
August 13: Leave No Trace Backyard Session: 5-9pm, Lake Placid Pub and Brewery
Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers will be at the Lake Placid Pub and Brewery. Come socialize with the team and learn how you can help protect your public lands.
The Adirondack Council is a privately funded not-for-profit organization whose mission is to ensure the ecological integrity and wild character of the Adirondack Park. The Council envisions a Park with clean water and clean air, comprised of core wilderness areas, surrounded by farms and working forests, as well as vibrant communities.
The Adirondack Council carries out its mission through research, education, advocacy and legal action to ensure the legacy of the Adirondack Park is safeguarded for future generations. Adirondack Council members live in all 50 United States.
