June 10, 2013 Lake George Hike-A-Thon 2013
Bolton Landing, NY – In celebration of its 25th Anniversary, the Lake George Land Conservancy (LGLC) is hosting a Hike-A-Thon, July 5th, the first of its kind for Lake George. The lake-wide event will involve eight parks and preserves in six towns and is expected to engage hundreds of participants of all ages.
The Hike-A-Thon will include nine simultaneous hikes and events at eight locations around Lake George: eight different hikes and one gathering at LGLC’s Peggy’s Point, an accessible park in Hague. Participation is free and open to the public. Everyone who pre-registers will receive an event t-shirt and certificate of participation.
To document the occasion, aerial photographs will be taken by renowned photographer Carl Heilman, II, from a helicopter flown by Bruce Mowery of North Country Heli-flite. Copies of the photos will be made available for purchase by request and at LGLC’s annual meeting, July 15th at the Lake George Club.
“The Hike-A-Thon has been a lot of fun to organize,” said LGLC Communications and Outreach Manager Sarah Hoffman. “We’re excited to get 400, maybe 500 people from all around the region to come together as one community, for the love of Lake George.”
Each hike or gathering is scheduled to match the helicopter’s flight path, from Bolton to Ticonderoga on the west side, then down the east coast to Lake George and back up to Bolton on the west.
“The idea for a Hike-A-Thon was dreamt up by LGLC staff,” explained Hoffman, “as something we could do to really showcase our most visible assets to the public – our preserves – and celebrate those members of the community who made them possible.”
LGLC’s trails vary in length and difficulty to suit most ages and abilities. For those who are unable to hike or would like a less-intensive activity, a garden party is planned for Peggy’s Point, a flat and accessible waterfront park in Hague. Flowers will be available to plant and the group will be photographed by the water’s edge. A description of each property and its trail systems is available at www.lglc.org/NewsAndEvents/HikeAThon.asp so that participants can choose which park or preserve they’d like to hike.
Teams of Hike Captains will be at each location to check in participants as well as to lead the groups. Anyone wishing to be a Hike Captain is encouraged to contact Ms. Hoffman.
LGLC was founded in 1988 to fill a need for land protection around Lake George. Since then the conservancy has worked with partners such as the Adirondack Nature Conservancy and New York State to protect over 13,000 acres of land and 9 miles of shoreline. Of those lands 5,060 acres are currently owned and/or maintained by LGLC as public parks and preserves with over 24 miles of hiking trails open year-round.
The properties provide access to spectacular views of Lake George and the greater Adirondacks, as well as some lake-frontage. Some preserves are also open to restricted hunting and snowmobile use.
Support for the Hike-A-Thon is provided by the Lake George Kayak Company, and media sponsors, the Lake George Mirror and Look TV. Additional sponsors include the Adirondack Pub and Brewery, Carl Heilman, II/Wild Visions, Inc, and others. A full list of sponsors and sponsorship information can be found at www.lglc.org/NewsAndEvents/HikeAThon.asp.
An online registration form is now available at www.lglc.org/NewsAndEvents/HikeAThon.asp. No donation is required to participate in the Hike-A-Thon, but donations are welcome and will be used for stewardship of the trails. Registrations may also be made by phone or email to Sarah Hoffman, shoffman@lglc.org or 518-644-9673.
The public is encouraged to stay informed by joining LGLC’s email list or like us on Facebook (facebook.com/LakeGeorgeHikeAThon).