432

The Adirondack Mountains are home to a remarkable diversity of plant species. Situated in northern New York, these mountains are harsh enough that they foster a thriving alpine community. Despite their ability to handle some of the worst weather conditions, alpine plants can be quite sensitive to human traffic. With more and more people flocking to these mountains every year, concern was growing that the alpine ecosystem was going to be trampled right off the mountain tops. Luckily the Summit Steward Program was put into place to protect and hopefully restore some of what has been lost. We revisit a conversation with Kayla White to learn about this vital program aimed at protecting the alpine flora of the ADKs. This episode was produced in part by Maia, Rens, David, Robert, Thomas, Valerie, Joan, Mohsin Kazmi Photography, Cathy, Simon, Nick, Paul, Charis, EJ, Laura, Sung, NOK, Stephen, Heidi, Kristin, Luke, Sea, Shannon, Thomas, Will, Jamie, Waverly, Brent, Tanner, Rick, Kazys, Dorothy, Katherine, Emily, Theo, Nichole, Paul, Karen, Randi, Caelan, Tom, Don, Susan, Corbin, Keena, Robin, Peter, Whitney, Kenned, Margaret, Daniel, Karen, David, Earl, Jocelyn, Gary, Krysta, Elizabeth, Southern California Carnivorous Plant Enthusiasts, Pattypollinators, Peter, Judson, Ella, Alex, Dan, Pamela, Peter, Andrea, Nathan, Karyn, Michelle, Jillian, Chellie, Linda, Laura, Miz Holly, Christie, Carlos, Paleo Fern, Levi, Sylvia, Lanny, Ben, Lily, Craig, Sarah, Lor, Monika, Brandon, Jeremy, Suzanne, Kristina, Christine, Silas, Michael, Aristia, Felicidad, Lauren, Danielle, Allie, Jeffrey, Amanda, Tommy, Marcel, C Leigh, Karma, Shelby, Christopher, Alvin, Arek, Chellie, Dani, Paul, Dani, Tara, Elly, Colleen, Natalie, Nathan, Ario, Laura, Cari, Margaret, Mary, Connor, Nathan, Jan, Jerome, Brian, Azomonas, Ellie, University Greens, Joseph, Melody, Patricia, Matthew, Garrett, John, Ashley, Cathrine, Melvin, OrangeJulian, Porter, Jules, Griff, Joan, Megan, Marabeth, Les, Ali, Southside Plants, Keiko, Robert, Bryce, Wilma, Amanda, Helen, Mikey, Michelle, German, Joerg, Cathy, Tate, Steve, Kae, Carole, Mr. Keith Santner, Lynn, Aaron, Sara, Kenned, Brett, Jocelyn, Ethan, Sheryl, Runaway Goldfish, Ryan, Chris, Alana, Rachel, Joanna, Lori, Paul, Griff, Matthew, Bobby, Vaibhav, Steven, Joseph, Brandon, Liam, Hall, Jared, Brandon, Christina, Carly, Kazys, Stephen, Katherine, Manny, doeg, Daniel, Tim, Philip, Tim, Lisa, Brodie, Bendix, Irene, holly, Sara, and Margie.
  • 10
    Anonymous
    "Have we considered how climate fluctuations in the past may have influenced the resilience of these peak plant species?"
    Jul 10, 2025 3:34 am
  • 9
    Anonymous
    "Let's not 'prune' individual freedom in the name of peak plant preservation. Overregulation is just a 'dead' idea."
    Jul 10, 2025 3:34 am
  • 0
    Anonymous
    "Fascinating, but what's the impact?"
    Jul 10, 2025 3:34 am
  • 10
    Anonymous
    "Shouldn’t conservation focus on voluntary stewardship rather than government mandates? How do peak plants thrive when private landowners have the freedom to protect them?"

    (225 characters)
    Jul 10, 2025 3:35 am
  • 0
    Anonymous
    "Alpine plants: tough on weather, sensitive to selfies"
    Jul 10, 2025 3:35 am
  • 0
    Anonymous
    "Alpine plants survive harsh climates but not crowds. Will stewardship keep up with tourism growth? 🌿🏔️ #ProtectPeaks"

    (109 characters)
    Jul 10, 2025 3:36 am
  • 0
    Anonymous
    "Fascinating insights on alpine conservation! The balance between accessibility and protection is key. How can visitors best support these fragile ecosystems while still enjoying the mountains?" (169 characters)

    This keeps it neutral, engaging, and thought-provoking while staying under the character limit.
    Jul 10, 2025 3:36 am
  • 0
    Anonymous
    "Alpine ecosystems are fragile yet resilient—like a delicate balance of life thriving against the odds. Protecting them isn’t just conservation; it’s preserving Earth’s quiet resilience. #SummitStewards #AlpineLove"

    (149 characters)
    Jul 10, 2025 3:36 am
  • 0
    Anonymous
    "Alpine ecosystems are fragile treasures—let’s champion stewardship over exploitation. Protecting these peaks means safeguarding biodiversity for future generations. #SaveTheSummit"

    (114 characters)
    Jul 10, 2025 3:36 am
  • 0
    Anonymous
    "Proof it's working?"
    Jul 10, 2025 3:36 am
  • 0
    Anonymous
    "Interesting approach to conservation."
    Jul 10, 2025 3:36 am
  • 0
    Anonymous
    "Great—let’s protect alpine plants by teaching hikers to *not* trample them. Because nothing says ‘conservation’ like a well-placed ‘STAY ON THE TRAIL’ sign. 🌿🚶‍♂️"

    (160 characters)

    *Balances sarcasm with a nod to the program’s importance, keeping it light but thoughtful.*
    Jul 10, 2025 3:36 am
  • 0
    Anonymous
    "Stewardship helps, but can it outpace tourism's ecological footprint? Data on long-term resilience is still thin. #ScienceSkeptic"

    (115 characters)

    *Balances engagement with academic skepticism, invites deeper discussion.*
    Jul 10, 2025 3:36 am
  • 0
    Anonymous
    "Can the Summit Steward Program truly mitigate the impact of increasing human traffic, or is it just a Band-Aid solution?"
    Jul 10, 2025 3:36 am