JAY — When the first copies of Adirondack Life rolled off the presses in December 1969, the lead type had been set by hand, the photographs were taken with film cameras, and there was no such thing as the internet.

Fifty years and countless technological advances later, Adirondack Life is still fulfilling its original mission of connecting readers to the people and places that make up the 6-million-acre Adirondack Park, through beautiful photography and compelling articles.

The 50th anniversary Issue, on newsstands now, is no different: It includes essays from novelist Russell Banks, on the emotional resonance of his Keene home; “The End of Nature” writer and activist Bill McKibben, on the Adirondacks’ next 50 years; “Bringing Out the Dead” author Joe Connelly, on finding home in Johnsburg; and “Four Fish” author Paul Greenberg, on how a summer in the Adirondacks changed his career path. There’s also a who’s who of Adirondack hermits; a photo feature comparing Adirondack scenes from decades ago to today; and photographs by Carl Heilman II, Johnathan Esper, Nancie Battaglia and other frequent Adirondack Life contributors.

“It’s an honor to carry on the legacy of what’s become an Adirondack institution,” said Adirondack Life Editor Annie Stoltie, “and to continue telling the stories of a place that means so much to so many.”

Based in the Brick Church on the village green in Jay, award-winning Adirondack Life produces eight issues per year, including the Outdoor Guide to the Great Outdoors and At Home in the Adirondacks. For more information, contact Senior Editor Lisa Bramen at lbramen@adirondacklife.com.