19 Jul Northville-Placid Trail 100th Anniversary “Trail Mix and Tunes” Event In Piseco
The Northville-Placid Trail continues its 100th-anniversary celebration with a hike-a-thon taking place on Saturday, August 24 followed by a celebration at the Inn on Piseco Lake (formerly the Irondequoit Inn) from 1:00 to 7:00 p.m. The event features music, food, games, vendors, and appearances by Smokey Bear and Bigfoot.
Proceeds from the hike-a-thon will benefit the Alexander John “ AJ” Smullen Memorial Scholarship Fund. Registration for the hike-a-thon event is $10 per person.
Three group hikes are scheduled, each ending at the inn. Two hikes take place along the Northville-Placid Trail in the Piseco region. The first is an 8.2-mile trek from Whitehouse to the Inn on Piseco Lake, estimated to take three hours; the second is a 9.2-mile hike beginning at Perkins Clearing and is expected to take approximately four hours. Group hike start times begin at 7:30 a.m., 8:00 a.m., and 8:30 a.m. Hikers can take individual outings at any point before the event.
Hikers can also enjoy a 2.4-mile walk along the roadway to the Inn on Piseco Lake, with an estimated walk time of approximately 50 minutes. This outing begins at noon at the NPT trail entrance on Route 8 at the intersection of Old Piseco Road.
The Inn on Piseco Lake will be hosting an event following the hike-a-thon for hike participants, community members, and visitors, featuring live music, food, local vendors, information about local outdoor activities, product demonstrations, Adirondack artisans, family activities, and crafts for kids including balsam bag production and an opportunity to decorate a walking stick. There will also be a young entrepreneurs section featuring young artisans.
The event welcomes Keanen Stark and Orion Kribs with their unique brand of blues and bluegrass music beginning at 1:00 p.m. Later, in the early evening, the Liz, Tom and Doc Trio will offer classic rock, country and blues from 4:30 until 7:00 p.m. A campfire and s’mores will close out the evening.
According to Hamilton County Tourism Director Christy Wilt, Piseco is ready to welcome everyone to the trail’s halfway point. “It is exciting for this community to be part of history,” she said. “Piseco is a small community with an incredible location; located just steps from the mid-point of the trail, it’s one of the most strategically located stops along the NPT. Hikers who have completed the NPT know that Piseco is a haven for them during their journey; a place to rest, re-fuel, and rejuvenate. This celebration of the first 100 years also means that it’s halfway to its bicentennial, so it’s very fitting that the celebration in Piseco marks that halfway point in the trail’s history.”
A portion of the registration fee will be presented to The Alexander John “ AJ” Smullen Memorial Scholarship Fund, supporting educational pursuits focused on the outdoors. Alexander John “AJ” Smullen passed away this past spring at the age of 15. AJ’s love for the outdoors was illustrated by the amount of time he spent outside; he possessed a passion for nature. AJ planned on a career in forestry and had just completed a hunter safety course. The scholarship that has been named in his honor will help to fund outdoor education for its recipients.
Those who register by August 19 will receive a limited edition NPT 100 anniversary patch. Patches will be handed out at the event.
Those wishing to take part in a hike should register at adirondackexperience.com/events/hikeathon-along-the-npt. Local businesses, artists, and organizations wishing to take part should contact the Hamilton County Tourism Department at 518-548-3076 or by email: mminer@hamiltoncountyny.gov.
Earlier this year, the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) created a new website, NPT100.com, to share trail information, upcoming events, trail maintenance projects, hiker stories, and nearby community information about the hiking route with those planning to hike the trail. Additional information about the trail, along with upcoming events, can be found at NPT100.com.
The Northville-Placid Trail was developed in 1922 as one of the Adirondack Mountain Club’s first projects. Completed in 1924, this 138-mile route traverses the Adirondack Park, from the town of Northville to Lake Placid.
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