Adirondack 46ers trailhead stewards Ron Konowitz, center, Joe Ryan and Brian Hoody, talk with some hikers at the Cascade Mountain trailhead outside of Lake Placid in June 2017. The trio of stewards saw nearly 500 hikers pass by their tent during an eight-hour shift. (Enterprise photo — Justin A. Levine)

The Adirondack 46ers have pledged tens of thousands of dollars over the next three years to support Adirondack Mountain Club stewardship programs in the High Peaks.

The ADK announced yesterday that the 46ers — a hiking club for those who have climbed the 46 High Peaks in the Adirondacks — have committed $71,000 over the next three years for trail work and summit stewards. The 46ers have set aside $15,000 per year for the summit steward program, as well as $26,000 for the ADK’s trail crew.

The ADK said in a press release that since 2002, the 46ers have donated $200,000 to support ADK conservation programs.

“Summit Stewards have always played an important role in inspiring hikers, both new and experienced, to be stewards of our summits. The ever-increasing numbers of hikers pose new challenges,” ADK Summit Steward Coordinator Kayla White said in the release. “Thanks to the generosity of the 46ers, we’ll be able to continue to educate, protect our alpine summits, and preserve the quality of the summit experience.”

The 46ers also began a trailhead stewardship program at the Cascade Mountain trailhead outside of Lake Placid last year, and will continue to man the trailhead this summer. The trailhead and summit steward programs work in conjunction with each other. ADK stewardship leaders trained 40 46ers this spring for the trailhead stewardship program.