2013 Projects Schedule
One-Day ProjectsJune 15: Cascade Mountain, High Peaks Wilderness - Available
Waterbars and step stones will be installed on this popular hiking trail. Be prepared to hike into the woods while carrying tools, daypack, and lunch. Anticipate project completion by late afternoon. FREE – no participation fee, donations appreciated
June 15: Ruth’s Easy Project - Full
This is the perfect project for people who would like to try trail work for the first time. Sidecutting will be the focus for the day, and the project will take place on the trails surrounding the ADK Loj in the High Peaks Region. All ages are welcome. FREE – no participation fee, donations appreciated
Two-Day Projects
June 7-9: JBL Trail Work Weekend, High Peaks Wilderness - Available
This is an annual trail maintenance trip that involves cleaning existing drainage structures and removing blowdown in the Johns Brook Valley. The volunteer crew will pack into and stay at Johns Brook Lodge (3.5 miles) on Friday afternoon and leave on Sunday afternoon. FREE - no participation fee, donations appreciated.
Four and Five Day Projects
Open to all ages, participants will camp nearby the trail project and work on a section of trail as a team. Arrive at base camp on Sunday evening for dinner & orientation. The participation fee is at the end each project description.
June 16-21: Goodnow Mountain - Available
This is a well-used fire tower trail by both students at the nearby SUNY ESF research station and visitors staying in the Newcomb/Long Lake region. Wood steps and drainage structures will be built along the trail. Participants will camp at a private, front country site on Catlin Lake, which is a short drive from the trailhead. There is a $100 participation fee.
June 23-28: Elk Lake - Full
Located in the southern High Peaks, Elk Lake is situated in the middle of a private 12,000 acre preserve with an extensive network of trails. Participants will work on various trail projects including sidecutting, blowdown removal, and constructing bridging. Volunteers will stay in the historic Elk Lake Lodge for the week and will be served breakfast and dinner in the dining room. After work and dinner, participants will be free to explore the property. Boats are available to use on the lake. There is a $300 participation fee.
Aug. 11-15: Long Lake Canoe Trip, High Peaks Wilderness - Available
Relocating existing pit privies and the removal of litter from campsites that are alongside Long Lake will be the main focus of the project. Participants will canoe a substantial distance every day to reach each lean-to. Depending upon how many privies need to be relocated, the crew may work on a trail project on a section of the Northville-Lake Placid Trail that parallels Long Lake. Arrive Sunday evening at base camp for dinner and orientation. Participants will be out of the woods late afternoon on Thursday. There is a $100 participation fee.
Five-Day High School Projects
These trail projects are reserved for high school aged teenagers (ages 14-17) who have a desire to spend a week in the woods camping in the backcountry and experiencing trail work. For all of the five-day projects, participants arrive at base camp on Sunday evening for dinner and orientation. Participants will be back at base camp late afternoon on Friday. There is a $250 participation fee for these projects.
Scholarships are available for teens; please call 518-523-3441 to learn more. A scholarship application can be downloaded here.
July 7-12: Jay Mountain, Keene Valley, High Peaks Wilderness - Full
Camping out in tents, participants will place the finishing touches on this new trail by creating a hardened surface suitable for hikers. Bridges may also be installed, time permitting.
July 14-19: Orebed Trail, High Peaks Wilderness - Full
Starting at the beginning of this popular hiking trail, rock stepping stones and turnpiking will be built to curtail future soil erosion. Participants will camp at an ADK lean-to next to Johns Brook.
July 21-26: Phelps Trail, Johns Brook Valley, High Peaks Wilderness - Full
Rock steps and rock waterbars will be placed at the beginning of this popular hiking trail and participants will camp at a lean-to.
July 28-Aug. 2: Spruce Lake: Northville Placid Trail, West Canada Lake Wilderness - Full
Participants will install small footbridges using native timbers. They will make camp at one of the Spruce lake lean-tos.
Aug. 4-9: Hurricane Mountain, Keene Valley, High Peaks Wilderness - Full
Participants will relocate a short section of trail that has been destroyed by beaver activity. They will make camp at a lean-to.
Workshops and Special Events
May 11 and June 22: Trail Steward/Maintainer Workshop - Available
This workshop is intended to give trail maintainers an understanding of basic trail maintenance concepts and standards and is mandatory for aspiring ADK Trail Stewards. Topics that will be demonstrated and discussed are cleaning drainage, blowdown removal, sidecutting, and trail marking. The May 11 workshop will be conducted on the main hiking trail that ascends Arab Mountain in the Adirondacks. The June 22 workshop will be held on the short trail to Severance Hill which is located just south of exit 28 off of Interstate 87.FREE - no participation fee, donations appreciated
June 1: National Trails Day - Available
This year’s National Trails day event will be based at the ADK’s Heart Lake campground. Projects will encompass several trails around the High Peaks Wilderness. Drainage clearing, water bar construction, blow down removal are just some of the projects that will be available. FREE - no participation fee, donations appreciated.
Detailed projects list and registration information.
Oct. 19: Fall Trails Day, High Peaks Wilderness - Available
This is the last chance to clean drainages of fallen leaves and other debris before the snow arrives. Trails located in the Adirondack High Peak Region will be focused on. FREE - no participation fee, donations appreciated
To register, call 518-523-3441
