LAKE GEORGE (AP) – More than 600 people will head for the hills around Lake George in the southeastern Adirondacks for the Hike-a-Thon, held annually on the 5th of July.

The Lake George Land Conservancy held the first Hike-a-Thon in 2013 to celebrate its 25th anniversary. It was so popular, the nonprofit group has made the hike an annual event.

The event is designed to highlight the Lake George Land Conservancy’s many parks and preserves surrounding the 32-mile-long lake. Participants signed up in advance for simultaneous hikes on 14 sites, including forested ridges, rocky hilltops, swamps and ponds.

A photographer takes aerial pictures of each group from a helicopter to commemorate the hikes.