Overlooking Saranac Lake from the summit of Mount Baker. (Enterprise photo — Diane Chase)

Looking for a gift to give for the person who has everything? How about a Saranac Lake Winter 6er or Tupper Lake Winter Triad patch? Not that I have everything, not even close, but I seem to have a lot of stuff. If you fall into that category, perhaps gifting yourself the goal of completing the Winter Sixer or Triad is something to ponder.

My family already has the summer 6er and Triad patches, but has never expressed any interest in completing either challenge during the winter months. They just like hiking for hiking’s sake. I don’t really need a patch, but I always enjoy a family hike.

So far I’ve only hiked Baker and Ampersand Mt. between the Dec. 21 to March 21 qualifying Winter 6er dates as well as the Triad’s Coney Mountain. (The Winter Triad’s dates are just slightly different, Dec. 20 to March 20.) That’s only because I hike those mountains all the time. That leaves me just four Sixer and two Triad mountains to snowshoe before springtime. That is completely doable.

The rules for either challenge are slightly different. The main objective remains the same: climb the designated peaks, record the date and time, and submit the appropriate form.

The Triad Challenge has a $5 registration fee, getting the applicant’s name on the roster and a patch. Dogs can also earn a patch. (Yes, my dog is on the roster.) The Sixer Challenge has a $10 entry to cover the certificate, member number, patch, and sticker. In addition, all Sixers are welcome to go to the Berkeley Green gazebo in Saranac Lake, sign the 6er register, and ring the bell announcing to everyone that there is a new 6er in town!

These two programs first started to introduce people to the area’s lesser-known peaks. Now they’ve grown to include thousands of people completing in Ultra (hiking all the mountains in one day), Summer, and Winter Challenges. My family has always enjoyed these hikes at various times in our lives, so it’s been fun to go back and climb them again.

I’m not sure what will be under my tree this Christmas, but I always feel lucky that my family knows I prefer an outing more than a physical gift. Though the patches are pretty nifty.

To get more specifics and download the forms, please go to SaranacLake6er.com and TupperLakeTriad.com.

.Diane Chase is the author of the “Adirondack Family Activities” guidebook series, “Adirondack Family Time: Your Four-Season Guide to Over 300 Activities.” For more family-friendly activities go to www.adirondackfamilytime.com.