My first hiking trips into the mountains in Upstate NY called the Adirondacks were on trails maintained by the Adirondack Mountain Club, from parking lots maintained by the Club, and lodges owned and maintained by the club. It was these trips that fuelled by passion for the mountains and led to great mountaineering adventures in Alaska and The Cascades. Since then I've returned to the Adirondack Mountains with a renewed appreciation for everything the ADK has done and look forward to introducing a new generation of yougsters to the magical inspiration that can be found there.
I am a member and Membership Chair for my local chapter. It is a wonderful organization not only because of all the environmental causes that it supports but for the people I have met over the years through this organization-can not say enough.
We are relatively new members of the Adirondack Mountain Club. We have taken an educational course and participated in guided groups climbing the high peaks. The instructors and guides to be extremely knowledgeable, professional, and friendly. The facilities are clean and welcoming. The Adirondack Mountain Club makes available many supplies and resources for both the classes and climbs. We look forward to further trips and programs with the Adirondack Mountain Club. This organization is an asset to the enjoyment and preservation of the Adirondack Mountains.
I've been a member of ADK for almost two years. Since I am a college student, it's difficult for me to find time to participate in a large number of ADK's events, but I read their newsletters faithfully and have found that they consistently offer a wide range of activities. I've only ever had good experiences when I have interacted with ADK, and plan on staying a member for life.
The Adirondac Mountain Club aka "ADK" is a terrific member driven organization which has for the better part of a century has organized and enabled recreational opportunities and conservation projects throughout the Adirondack Mountains of New York and the New York State as a whole. It has been able to continue its excellent work and grow due to its unique organization in which dues are shared with it's local chapters. Approximately 40 cents of every dollar raised from dues is shared in this way - allowing local chapters to publish their own outing schedule and undertake their own local activities such as maintaining trials in a number of local state parks and preserves as well as supporting the main chapter conservation projects and maintaining club's properties in the High Peaks area of the Adirondack Mountains.
ADK works incredibly hard to maintain the beauty, integrity and eco-system of the Adirondacks through: extensive volunteer activities, including trail and shelter maintenance and many group leisure outdoor activities; education, especially for citizens and public officials who are not acquainted with the full story behind proposed legislation that could adversely affect the region; youth and adult programs: and exceptional publications. But beyond these outreach activities, ADK is a personal, warm and friendly organization dedicated to assisting everyone to enjoy the treasure that is the Adirondacks,
The people who maintain the trails, the ADK lodge, and all the ADK voulunteers have contributed greatly to my "peak" experiences hiking in the Adirondacks. Ryan Doyle, whose title I believe is ADK Education Prgram Director, deserves special mention. After my first hike with him in a group up Esther and Whiteface one beautiful aumumn day, I went on to hike many more peaks, including several in the winter. In the midst of this, "life" was happening back at home, and looking forward to hiking with Ryan in a group helped me maintain motivation to deal with my family challenges. Ryan Doyle fits the spirit of the mountains as I found them; he has helped me keep my awe of them alive, as well as my desire to experience them.
I have been a member of ADK for many years and involved in its leadership for several. This is a unique organization in many ways,not the least of which is that it is member directed. It has been able to blend its roles of environmental education and advocacy with an extensive program involving members in recreational and volunteer work projects. Over the years, I have been able to participate in activities as diverse as canoe outings, trail building and outdoor eduacation programs for local school children. ADK has a network of chapters thoughout the state who further its goals through involvement in issues relevant to their particular area. The organization also maintains two lodges in the Adirondacks where it helps the public enjoy their public lands in a safe and environmently friendly way. We try to teach by doing; maintaining trails, supporting our "summit steward"program or promoting green technology at our own property. In short, ADK is a great organization for people who love the outdoors and are concerned with its preservation to work with other people to achieve these goals
