Overuse

DEC, Private Club Piloting High Peaks Hiker Reservation System

March 30, 2021 by John Warren Leave a Comment

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Ausable Club have announced a pilot reservation system to access the Club’s private lands, the Adirondack Mountain Reserve (AMR). Since 1978 the State has held a conservation easement on Club/Reserve lands which allows limited access to some of the more popular places in the Adirondack Park’s High Peaks Wilderness Area.

A press release from DEC cited “reliable access” and public safety along Route 73 among the reasons for the change. The pilot program is slated to run for three years according to DEC. [Read more…] about DEC, Private Club Piloting High Peaks Hiker Reservation System

Catskills Visitor Use Survey Underway

March 11, 2021 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

DEC and their partners that make up the Catskill Advisory Group have invited the public to take part in a short survey which looks at visitor use challenges faced by the Catskill region and potential solutions. [Read more…] about Catskills Visitor Use Survey Underway

Dave Gibson: Establish A Wilderness Training Center in NYS

November 1, 2020 by David Gibson Leave a Comment

The stress of our sheer numbers on wild lands, other hikers, summit stewards, forest and assistant rangers and local communities and volunteers bordering Routes 73 and 86 this hiking season – and many before this – easily disconnects and untethers us from the historical and philosophical roots of wilderness preservation and management. [Read more…] about Dave Gibson: Establish A Wilderness Training Center in NYS

Survey: High Peaks Hikers Seek Wildness, Solitude, Support Limits

October 30, 2020 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

Two conservation organizations and a state college today released the preliminary results of a two-month hiker survey in and around the High Peaks Wilderness Area showing that the 673 hikers surveyed came there seeking solitude and wildness, and would favor limits on visitation to prevent damage to the “forever wild” Forest Preserve. [Read more…] about Survey: High Peaks Hikers Seek Wildness, Solitude, Support Limits

Adk Wild: DEC Should Test High Peaks Online Permit System

October 13, 2020 by Editorial Staff 1 Comment

This 2020 Columbus Day Weekend, peak use of parts of the High Peaks and Giant Mountain Wilderness areas in the Adirondack Park have again be exceeded.

Now is the time to consider a permit reservation or limited entry system for key points of entry into these wilderness areas as necessary, helpful, practical, and practicable, says Adirondack Wild: Friends of the Forest Preserve. [Read more…] about Adk Wild: DEC Should Test High Peaks Online Permit System

Siena Poll Shows Support For Limits on Hiking, Camping in High Peaks

October 6, 2020 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

A Siena College Research Institute poll of New York voters in September showed that by 68% to 22% they want New York State officials to protect overused public lands in the Adirondack Forest Preserve from further abuse by enforcing resource capacity limits, rather than building bigger and bigger parking lots to accommodate the surging crowds. [Read more…] about Siena Poll Shows Support For Limits on Hiking, Camping in High Peaks

50 Adirondack Places To Visit Outside The High Peaks This Holiday Weekend

September 3, 2020 by Editorial Staff 1 Comment

For Labor Day Weekend, Protect the Adirondacks has published online hiking trail guides for 50 hikes that lead to great destinations outside of the heavily-used High Peaks Wilderness. [Read more…] about 50 Adirondack Places To Visit Outside The High Peaks This Holiday Weekend

Storymap Explains Adirondack Park Overuse Issues

August 20, 2020 by Editorial Staff 1 Comment

A recent Williams College graduate has designed a multi-media “StoryMap” that explains the overuse issues facing the Adirondack Park in simple terms, using interactive maps, info-graphics, video, audio clips, and viewer-manipulated photographs. [Read more…] about Storymap Explains Adirondack Park Overuse Issues

Ausable Club Shrinking Hiker Parking, Member Services

April 20, 2020 by Editorial Staff 1 Comment

The 134-year-old Ausable Club in the heart of the Adirondack High Peaks in Keene, will not fully reopen this summer according to an announcement being circulated to members by club president John A. Sargent.

The Club has also reduced available public parking spaces at the parking lot at the corner of Ausable Road and Route 73 which hikers use to access trails across the club’s land into the High Peaks. The lot had held about 80 cars, but will be reduced to just 28. That number coincides with agreements previously reached with New York State and the Town of Keene, Sargent said. [Read more…] about Ausable Club Shrinking Hiker Parking, Member Services