ADK Gateway 8 Challenge
Do you enjoy a challenge? How about one that invites you to revel in the beauty of the rolling hills, pristine lakes, and expansive views of the Southern Adirondacks, just minutes away from Saratoga Springs. The Gateway 8 is comprised of 10 hikes, four bike rides, and four paddles, that highlight the beauty Upstate New York has to offer. Complete eight activities and earn a patch, sticker of your choosing, and a place in the pantheon of Gateway 8 finishers; complete four activities – Gateway 8 Lite – and earn a sticker of your choosing and see your name inscribed on the list of Gateway 8 Lite finishers. Whether you’re an experienced outdoors adventurer or a complete beginner, this is the perfect challenge for you.
Originally from Queensbury, NY, Jennifer Kietzman had moved around a lot living in various different places. In 2018, she returned to the area and decided to settle in Corinth, NY. Wanting to become an active member in her community, Jennifer began exploring different ways to get involved with the people around her. “Soon after we moved here I wanted to find ways to meet people and get involved in the community so I joined what they call here the image committee,” she explained, “The aim of that group is to really promote healthier living among Corinth residents.” She enjoyed her time on the committee and was able to meet numerous people who all shared a common interest in improving their town’s health and wellness. “I just got really involved in the community and found that it was a really rewarding experience to do that. Having lived in cities and other small towns, but mostly college towns and cities, I hadn’t really found opportunities to volunteer in the ways I could here,” she said. Through this committee, she also discovered the Healthy Corinth Coalition. “The aim of the coalition is to improve the health and well-being of Corinth residents,” Jennifer explained. Her experience with the image committee and the Healthy Corinth Coalition motivated Jennifer to begin brainstorming ideas for a project that would align with bettering the community’s health and well-being.
Jennifer had heard of Dan Smith’s Chester Challenge, a hiking challenge that encourages hikers to explore Chester’s expansive trail network. Having discovered how many great trails there are in and around Corinth, literally in her own backyard, Jennifer thought she could create something similar. “Being a relative newcomer to this specific area, I was really surprised by how many great hikes there were and how beautiful the roadways are,” she shared. Jennifer brought the idea of creating a hiking challenge to the coalition and with the support of the Town of Corinth, Village of Corinth, Healthy Corinth Coalition, and an Economic Development Fund Grant offered by the Saratoga County Department of Planning and Economic Development, she began creating the challenge.
Originally, she thought the challenge would only consist of hiking trails, but she quickly changed her mind. “Through conversations with others and reflection on my own experiences in the outdoors near my home, I realized that to really do the area justice and highlight all that it has to offer, the challenge had to include hiking, biking, and paddling,” Jennifer explained. Some of the people who were instrumental in the creation of the ADK Gateway 8 were Peter Fedorick and Sunny Nealey. Peter, Outings Coordinator for the Crooked Canes, suggested that the challenge include various paddles. Sunny, a member of the Healthy Corinth Coalition and avid biker, assisted in mapping out the biking routes. The contributions of Eric Butler, Corinth Town Supervisor, Dave Borque, creator of Great Brant Lake Challenge (to be launched in 2025), Dan Smith, creator of the Chester Challenge, and Rachel Clothier, Town Historian and Director of the Town of Corinth Museum, were also invaluable.
Registration for the challenge is simple and done completely online through the Gateway 8 website. In addition to providing descriptions of the activities included in the challenge, complete with maps, trail highlights, and historical information, the website showcases all of the participants who were successful in completing both the Gateway 8 and Gateway 8 Lite. In addition, finishers of the Gateway 8 receive an embroidered patch and a car or water bottle sticker, while finishers of Gateway 8 Lite receive a sticker of their choosing, all of which feature the Gateway 8 logo. “I wanted something striking. My favorite patches have an abstract quality to them and are not simply pictorial,” shared Jennifer, adding “The logo has a bold graphic appeal with echoes of the specific landscapes participants will encounter.” Additionally, the website includes photographs Jennifer hopes will inspire adventures and spotlight some of the many interesting features, flora, and fauna you will encounter. “In participating in the challenge,” Jennifer related, “I not only want people to complete the required number of activities, but I hope that their appreciation for their surroundings grows as they stop and take notice and wonder about the places through which they are venturing.” To start the challenge today and immerse yourself in the beauty of the Southern Adirondacks visit the website: https://adkgateway8.com/.