February 7, 2023 11th Annual Lake George Hike-A-Thon – Registration Opens March 6
Bolton Landing, NY – The Lake George Land Conservancy (LGLC) will open registration for its 11th annual Lake George Hike-A-Thon on Monday, March 6 at 8:00 a.m. This free event is open to the public, and all who register in the month of March can receive a free event t-shirt.
Information about the event, site details, sponsorship and volunteer opportunities, and registration can be found at lakegeorgehikeathon.org.
The Hike-A-Thon is a free, watershed-wide event that includes nearly 700 hikers, paddlers and volunteers in an organized morning of guided outdoor recreation. The simultaneous hikes and paddles culminate with aerial photography of each group by Carl Heilman, II, who will once again be flying in a helicopter piloted by Bruce Mowery of North Country HeliFlite.
This year’s event includes 22 hiking and paddle options at sites all around Lake George. Site difficulty ranges from the very challenging, 6-mile round-trip hike at Pole Hill Pond Preserve, to the drivable Prospect Mountain. The choice to participate virtually is also still available.
After the morning of excursions are finished, participants and community guests are invited to come to the Hike-A-Thon’s After-Party at the Bolton Community Center from 11:30 am – 2:30 pm. The After-Party will have food and drinks, live music by the High Peaks Bluegrass Band, activities for kids and adults, sponsor booths, and merchandise.
After organizing the first Lake George Hike-A-Thon in 2013 as a celebration of the LGLC’s 25th anniversary, the event has continued each year since to showcase the LGLC’s parks and preserves as free public resources, and to promote an appreciation for the outdoors and for the protection of the land that protects the lake.
Since then, the Hike-A-Thon has expanded to include partner sites – properties that are being cared for with both ecosystem health and recreation in mind. Those partner sites for 2023 include Silver Bay YMCA Conference and Family Retreat Center, Up Yonda Farm Environmental Education Center, YMCA Camp Chingachgook, The Sembrich, and Wiawaka Center for Women.
The Hike-A-Thon is a free public outreach event, made possible with the financial support of business sponsors and individuals who choose to donate with their registrations. To date, major sponsors and partners for the 2023 Hike-A-Thon include media sponsor, The Lake George Mirror; the Town of Bolton; Carl Heilman, II/Wild Visions, Inc.; Bruce Mowery of North Country HeliFlite; Adirondack Pub and Brewery; Hudson Headwaters Health Network; JUST water; Lake George RV Park; Connally Creative; Happy Birthday, Granny; and The Sembrich. A complete list of sponsors as well as information about how to become a sponsor can be found at lakegeorgehikeathon.org/sponsors/.
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