ADIRONDACK 46ERS TRAILHEAD STEWARD TRAINING AGENDA FOR 2026
THE NEW EMAIL ADDRESS IS TRAILHEADSTEWARDS@ADK46ER.ORG
Saturday, April 18th, and Sunday, April 26th, and Saturday, May 16th, and Sunday, June 14th
You only need to attend one session, but all stewards must attend one session in 2026
BOCES
Adirondack Educational Center conference room
711 State Route 3
Saranac Lake
Park in the back parking lot, enter the conference room
8:00 am: Gather, complete paperwork, distribute uniform shirts*, Introductions, About TSP, discussion of feedback from previous season
9:00 am: NYSDEC Forester/Land Manager, Tate Connor Why we are here / Q&A
10:00 am: NYS DEC Forest Ranger if available/Common regulations/errors/Q&A
11:00 am: LNT/hikeSafe – Consistency of messaging is important
12:00 pm: Lunch on your own – note limited time you may wish to bring lunch
12:30 pm: LNT/hikeSafe – Consistency of messaging is important
1:30pm: Authority of the Resource/Interacting with public/Q&A/
2:00 pm: Your responsibilities/review of the handbook and site locations/Demos
3:00 pm: Supporting and recognizing your work, service award hrs, fb page/Q&A
4:00 pm: Dismissal
*If you have a shirt you would like to return for a different size, please bring it with you. Please complete the required on line Sexual Harassment training and read and sign the Code of Conduct prior to this class. Have your 46er number with you!
By providing hikers with information prior to hitting the trail, you are providing them with an experience that will be successful, fun, safe, and protects the lands and mountains they are enjoying. Thank you for participating in the Adirondack 46ers Trailhead Steward Program.
2024 Final Numbers Are In
Final numbers are in and everyone likes to hear numbers. Our trailhead stewards work under an agreement with NYS DEC at 2 locations, Cascade and Meadows Lane. We work Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and holiday Mondays from Victoria Weekend in May through Columbus Day weekend in October. Our stewards are all experienced 46ers and are all volunteers. They work in all kinds of weather. You are all absolutely amazing in your generosity of time and in your assistance to other hikers and the Adirondack Mountains! Thank you all for making such a huge impact out there!
Volunteer hours: 2360
Cascade 11,473 hikers in 72 days for an average of 159 hikers per day.
Meadows Lane 5,791 hikers in 39 days for an average of 148
total hikers 17,264
total dogs: 1,184
total cars: 3,377 (DEC requests we count cars daily at each location in a certain area)
Slowest day: 1 @ ML
Best day: 717 @ ML
Slowest day: 13 @ Cascade
Best Day: 620 @ Cascade
3,906 just in the month of October for both sites, only 7 days at Cascade and 5 days at ML
Thank you, Trainers and Volunteers!
The 46ers trailhead steward program has completed its last training session of the 2024 year. This would not be possible without our support team.
We wish to Thank the staff at the Adirondack Educational Center for providing us with a space to conduct our training.
We thank Tate Connor NYSDEC forester for his expert training for the last seven years.
Our heartfelt thanks to NYS Forest Rangers Pete Evans and Chris DiCintio for giving up their time on a weekend to prepare our trainees.
Training would not be possible without our 46er trainers Carla Denn- Authority of the resource.
Ben Bradford, Winn Rea, and Lisa Crandall, our Master leave no trace trainers.
Our behind-the-scenes team Laurie Rankin, Brian Hoody, Heather Daley, Ben Bradford, and Joe Ryan.
Finally, we want to than the 100 volunteers who will man our trailheads this season.
Adirondack 46ers Code of Conduct and Sexual Harassment Policy
Individual VSA Form for NYSDEC for ADK-46ers
Looking for a way to give back to the mountains? Become an ADK 46er Steward!
The 46er Trailhead Steward Program (TSP) is a collaborative effort involving the Adirondack 46ers, and the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). The program focuses on “education, conservation and information” to/for the general hiking public, in an effort to improve the sustainability of the High Peaks trails and improve the hiking experience for all.
Beginning in June 2017, 46er volunteer Trailhead Stewards were stationed at the Cascade Trailhead on Route 73 (between Keene and Lake Placid) and (Meadows Lane on the Loj road) on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays (through Columbus Day), between the hours of 8AM and 4 PM. Our volunteers (2-3 scheduled each day at both sites) spoke with those heading out (and returning from) their hike regarding DEC rules and regulations, “Leave No Trace” hiking principles, and safety/preparedness concerns.
Over the course of the season, our volunteers encountered more than 17,000 human hikers and more than 600 canine hikers at the trailhead in 2024. They provided information on rules and regulations (such as dogs on leash), alternate hikes, hiking safety and preparedness, preservation of the resource…and yes…even how to properly dispose of poop!
To become a 46er Trailhead Steward, you must be a registered/completed 46er, complete a one-day training program, and be willing/able to volunteer at least two full days during the season. These days can be two consecutive days (a weekend, for example), or they can be single days on different weekends. And, of course, you can volunteer as many days as you like! An added bonus is that TSP volunteers receive 8 hours of Conservation Service Award credit for each day served and one hour for taking the sexual harassment course (see below).
Interested in joining us? Please email Joe Ryan, (#3787V) TSP volunteer coordinator, at the email shown below.
trailheadstewards@gmail.com
Meet you at the trailhead!
Sexual Harassment Training & Policy
Please take note that in 2020, the 46er Executive Board of Directors adopted a new Code of Conduct and Sexual Harassment policy. ALL volunteers will now be required to take the approved sexual harassment online training AND sign the 46er Code of Conduct and Sexual Harassment policy annually*** PRIOR to participating in any volunteer activities.
If you are considering volunteering, please allow yourself enough time to complete the training, which takes approximately 45-50 minutes, so that information can be submitted and entered into our database for reference at each event. Training certificates and signed policies will not be accepted by leaders at events. The Executive Board approved that you will earn 1 hour toward your Volunteer Service Award (VSA) for completing the online training once both your certificate of training completion and signed policy is submitted. Screenshots of training certificates AND signed policies must be sent to Volunteer Coordinators AND emailed directly to our database coordinator at shtraining@adk46er.org.
The link to the approved online training and policy can be found here: https://adk46er.org/sexual-harrassment-policy/. We have adopted this policy to protect not only our wonderful and dedicated volunteers, but also the organization that we love. We appreciate your efforts to give back to the mountains.
Recommended Hikes Outside The High Peaks
Click Recommended Hikes Outside the Adirondack High Peaks for the English language PDF download version.
Click Recommended Hikes Outside the Adirondack High Peaks – French (Randonnées Recommendées Au Lieu Des Adirondack High Peaks) for the French language PDF download version.
Thank You Yvon Daigle #6264 for French Translation of LNT, hikeSafe Materials!
The trailhead steward program gratefully acknowledges the time and effort of Yvon Daigle #6264 for translating the LNT and hikeSafe materials into French for us. The numbers of visitors to the Cascade Trailhead that were French speaking encouraged us to seek someone who could translate this important information. Yvon willingly volunteered to spend his time preparing the documents for distribution at the trailhead. We thank him for his time and effort in making this happen.