Whether you’re an experienced outdoor adventurer or looking to take your first steps towards enjoying all that nature has to offer, the ADK Gateway 8 Challenge has something for everyone. The Gateway 8 includes a total of 10 hikes, four bike rides, and four paddles, which will take you on an adventure through the most picturesque trails, roadways, and waterways of Saratoga County. 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. The challenge 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. Creator of the challenge, Jennifer Kietzman, is excited to share the launch of the new website and logo designed by Five Towers Media employees Kelsey Sherman and Rosetta Annino.

Shortly after moving to Corinth, NY, Jennifer began looking for ways to get involved in her community. She heard about the Healthy Corinth Coalition and decided to join. Jennifer explained, “The aim of the coalition is to improve the health and well-being of Corinth residents.” She began brainstorming ideas for a project and remembered 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 decided to do something similar and brought the idea of creating a hiking challenge to the coalition. 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.

“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.

The launch of the website makes registering and participating in the challenge simple. 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. Whether you complete the Gateway 8 or Gateway 8 Lite challenge, your name will appear on the lists of finishers maintained on the website. In addition, finisher 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: adkgateway8.com.