Adirondack Land Trust

When the Adirondack Land Trust transferred the 595-acre Four Peaks property in Jay to the New York State Forest Preserve in June 2024, the land immediately fell under the protection of the state constitution. Article XIV ensures that Forest Preserve lands in the Adirondack and Catskill parks will remain “forever wild.” As the Adirondack Park Agency and NYS Department of Environmental Conservation take the next steps to classify the land and plan for outdoor recreation, we offer this bird’s eye view from drone footage taken in 2020. The name “Four Peaks” derives from four surrounding peaks. Rattlesnake Knob is the only peak located on the newly acquired state land. Ebenezer, Basset, and Wainwright sit on private land and are posted for no trespassing.

Sunrise this morning at the corner of Adirondack Loj Road and Route 73 outside Lake Placid. Did you hear that the 187 acres held by the Adirondack Land Trust is now called High Meadow Preserve? It's true! This summer, we put out a community survey to brainstorm a name, and you answered. We received more than 120 name suggestions. High Meadow Preserve signals what people can expect when they pass by or stop at the pull-off: a welcoming view of the High Peaks Wilderness from a flat, open area. The focus on “meadow” also invites conversations about management objectives related to maintaining the view and conserving grassland habitat for birds such as northern harrier, bobolink, and Savannah sparrow. The Adirondack Land Trust plans to build 1.25 miles of accessible wildland trails at High Meadow Preserve, with work anticipated to begin in summer 2026. This type of trail offers a wide, durable surface on low-grade inclines to welcome people using wheelchairs, strollers, or walking aids, as well as those who prefer a walk to an alpine scramble. Right now, a visitor to nearby Adirondack Loj can access 277 miles of foot trails in the High Peaks Wilderness. However, there are fewer than 29 miles of free wheelchair accessible trails within an hour’s drive of Lake Placid. Every inch of accessible trail helps to address an unmet need and overcome a significant disparity of opportunity. Thank you to everyone who shared ideas and heartfelt stories expressing a deep connection to this place. Learn more about High Meadow Preserve here: https://lnkd.in/esYmrjQy 📸 Aaron Thomas

Our team recently attended Rally 2024, the national land conservation conference, in Providence, RI. Many thanks to the Land Trust Alliance for hosting a gathering for land conservation professionals to learn from each other and spark new ideas! We even managed one team photo! Back row, from left to right: Next Generation Council member Evan Foster of Vermont Land Trust, board chair Stephen Burrington, Stewardship & GIS Manager Becca Halter, Next Generation Council member Cassandra Prenn-Vasilakis of Hipcamp, Conservation Program Director Christopher Jage, Next Generation Council member Jess Grant of Adirondack Council, Associate Philanthropy Director Kimberly Corwin-Gray, Grants Manager Mary Thill. Front row: Communications Specialist Olivia Dwyer. Not pictured—former Intern for the Future of the #Adirondacks Emily Burns, now the conservation coordinator for the South East Land Trust of New Hampshire. The most important takeaway was a reminder of how many people are working to take care of nature across the United States, and the even greater number of people who make our work possible. Thank you to all of our supporters and partners for joining us in land conservation for the Adirondacks!

The Adirondack Daily Enterprise wrote about visiting our Glenview Preserve with staff and Accessible Adirondack Tourism to talk about access to nature, road safety, and development.

We talked about the future of farms and communities with Shaun Gillilland, owner of Ben Wever Farm in Willsboro, and Josh Stefani, program manager of the Adirondack Food System Network. Read what they have to say about making a living as a farmer, finding markets for Adirondack products, and what climate change means for food systems at the link below.

This week, we said "see you soon" to Joseph Willman, the 2024 Intern for the Future of the Adirondacks. His excellent work and significant contributions to stewardship of preserves and conservation easements will benefit the Adirondacks for years to come. Thank you, Joey, and good luck with your master's program at University of Wisconsin-Madison! We're counting the days until your next visit.

Please join us to talk about how conservation and recreation can work together. Hope to see you at the Keene Valley Library on Monday, August 5, at 7:30 p.m.

🎉 SAVE THE DATE! 🎉 Please join us to celebrate 40 years of land conservation in the Adirondacks on Saturday, August 17, at the Cornell University Willsboro Research Farm. Featuring news and updates from the Adirondack Land Trust, a farm tour, live music, lawn games, snacks, and catching up with friends new and old. Many thanks to the sponsors who make this event possible: Asgaard Farm & Dairy Birds & Beans Coffee Black Rooster Maple Dak Bar Demont Associates Rolling Hills Estate Winery The Mountaineer This event is free and open to the public. RSVPs appreciated at https://lnkd.in/gyUSd-yX.

We are delighted to welcome Joseph Willman as our 2024 Intern for the Future of the Adirondacks. This summer, Joey will focus primarily on land management and fieldwork across nearly 1,000 acres of the Adirondack Land Trust's nature preserves. Joey, who hails from Wisconsin and recently earned a bachelor’s degree in forest and wildlife ecology from the University of Wisconsin, plans to pursue a master's in cartography and geographic information systems (GIS). He has experience working as a field and lab technician removing invasive species, collecting data, analyzing wildlife images from trail cameras, and as a naturalist providing educational interpretation of plants and animals. As a virtual student federal service intern, Willman worked with the United States Department of Agriculture to develop public-facing maps and inventory ArcGIS products. “While internships are designed to help the intern gain skills and experience, it really works both ways. We are already learning from the skills, ideas, and perspectives Joey is bringing to our team,” said Adirondack Land Trust Executive Director Mike Carr. “The focus of this internship aligns with my career interests and goals. I am eager to gain land trust experience and contribute to conservation work in the Adirondacks,” said Willman, who enjoys hiking and playing rugby in his free time. The Adirondack Land Trust's Internship for the Future of the Adirondacks creates a pathway for young people to explore careers in conservation. Previous interns, now working as professionals in the environmental field, are a testament to the program’s success.

Read a guest commentary in Adirondack Daily Enterprise from Executive Director Mike Carr on why we're planning for accessible trail systems at nature preserves near Saranac Lake and Lake Placid. He writes: "Outdoor recreation is the primary draw for visitors to the Adirondacks and the reason why many of us choose to live here. Currently you can find many hundreds of miles of hiking trail within an hour’s drive of Saranac Lake and Lake Placid. But you’d have to drive nearly an hour to find a free universal access trail that takes you deep into the peace of a wild place. This disparity of opportunity limits many people from experiencing the forest that defines our region, shapes our identities, drives the economy, and bolsters community health."