Hundreds hit the trails and waterways for the Land Conservancy’s 14th Hike-a-Thon

The early July heatwave that kept people across the region from venturing outside their air-conditioned spaces lifted in time for the Lake George Land Conservancy’s Annual Hike-A-Thon. On Sunday, July 5, hikers, paddlers and boaters participated in a series of guided treks up mountainsides and across the lake.

LGLC volunteer guide and former board member George Morris says approximately 1,000 people, including volunteers, participated in the event, which showcases Lake George Watershed lands protected by the Conservancy.

This year, the Lake George Examiner Adventure Team joined the Schumann Preserve hike at Pilot Knob. The 1.5-mile climb up the Orange Trail is rated moderate with a trail that steadily ascends to a scenic outlook.

Volunteer guides led hikers that included a baby in a backpack, senior citizens, preschool and elementary children, and a dog on a leash. After a three-quarters-of-a-mile climb, the hikers emerged from the woods to a panoramic view of Lake George’s Southern Basin. The group found shade and seats in the Teresa M. & George E. Lawrence Memorial Gazebo, which was newly constructed last summer to replace the deteriorated gazebo that had been there for several decades.

*The Schumann Preserve Orange Trail brings hikers to a gazebo overlooking Lake George.*

At the same time, Hike-A-Thon hikers gathered at summits around the lake, waiting for a helicopter to swing by with photographer Carl Heilman, who photographed each group from the sky. The Aerial photos will be posted on the Hike-A-Thon Facebook page.

The Hike-A-Thon is free to attend. Registration opens in March each year. Participants may join in hikes with difficulty levels ranging from a walk in the park to very challenging. The event also includes kayaking/canoe paddles, a stand-up paddle exploration of Northwest Bay’s Marsh, and a wooden boat parade sponsored by Love is on Lake George.

This is the 14^th year of the event, which is part of the Conservancy’s outreach programming. The LGLC works with landowners to protect the lands surrounding Lake George to prevent deterioration of the lake’s water quality.

The Conservancy’s newest initiative is to protect Mud Pond West, an undeveloped 431-acre, privately owned parcel located between two protected lands. The LGLC must raise $1.8 million by January 2027 to purchase the property. To learn more about this project and to make a tax-deductible donation, visit the Lake George Land Conservancy website.