Adirondack Mountain Club facts for kids
Logo of the Adirondack Mountain Club
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| Founded | 1922 |
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Membership
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30,000 |
The Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK) is a group that helps protect nature. It was started in 1922 and has about 30,000 members. The ADK works to keep the New York State Forest Preserve, parks, and wild areas safe. They also want people to enjoy these places responsibly.
The club teaches about nature and conservation. They have 27 local groups in New York and New Jersey. The ADK has helped the state get more land in the Adirondack Park. They also work to stop too much building in the area.
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History of the ADK
The idea for the ADK came from Meade C. Dobson. He thought a private group could help New York State build trails and shelters. This would make it easier for hikers to explore the wild parts of the Adirondacks. Important people like George D. Pratt and William G. Howard supported his idea.
How the Club Started
The first meeting happened on December 5, 1921. About 40 people met in a log cabin in New York City. They formed a committee with people from different groups. The club's main goals were to:
- Build and take care of hiking trails.
- Create and maintain campsites and permanent camps.
- Make trail maps and guidebooks.
- Teach people about protecting nature and preventing forest fires.
Early Achievements
In its first years, the ADK helped the New York State Conservation Department. They cleared and marked 140 miles of trails. One of the first trails they built was the 133-mile Northville-Placid Trail. This trail goes from north to south across the Adirondacks.
Famous people were also early members of the ADK. Gifford Pinchot, who was the first chief of the U.S. Forest Service, joined. Even Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt were members for life.
In 1942, President Roosevelt wrote about the club's 20th anniversary. He said the club always believed that "the Adirondack Forest preserve belongs to the people of the State of New York." He also said they wanted everyone to use the forest in the best and wisest way.
Making Nature Accessible
The Adirondack Mountain Club works to make natural places easier to visit. In August 2023, they opened two new accessible campsites. These are at the Wilderness Campground at Heart Lake.
The group also worked on the Long Trail up Mount Jo. They started planning in 2020 and finished the new trail in October 2023. On October 14, the ADK held a special event. About 50 members hiked the new trail to celebrate. This trail is near Lake Placid and gets over 18,000 visitors each year. Because so many people used it, the trail needed to be fixed up. The money for this project came from the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism.
Activities You Can Do with ADK
The ADK has two lodges where people can stay. These are the Adirondak Loj in North Elba and the Johns Brook Lodge in Keene Valley. Both lodges offer bunkrooms and private rooms. They also serve meals for guests. You can also find campsites nearby.
Johns Brook Lodge is special because you can only reach it by hiking. The easiest path is a 3.5-mile (5.6 km) hike from Keene Valley. The ADK offers many programs all year long across New York State. You can enjoy activities like hiking, biking, paddling, snowshoeing, and skiing.
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The Loj
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Heart Lake, seen from the Loj
