When a new trail opens or a bridge is completed, it's easy to focus on the finished product. What often goes unseen are the months of planning, coordination, and relationship-building by our staff, volunteers, board members, partners, and many others that make those milestones possible.

​That's the idea behind this new column: in each newsletter I'll share a few glimpses into what happens behind the scenes.

DEC Smart Growth Grants
One recent milestone I’m happy to share was signing contracts for our DEC Smart Growth grants supporting the Mount Pisgah and East Branch Community Trails projects. Working through New York State's contracting process isn't quick or simple—in fact, it took months—but reaching that milestone unlocked $225,000 in funding that will help improve our regional trail network, far more than we've received through any previous grant program. My thanks to the Towns of St. Armand and Keene, DEC, and our state legislators for making those investments possible.

The Team at BETA
I'm fortunate to work with an outstanding team that accomplishes incredible things across our trail network and communities. An important part of my role is helping create the conditions for that success. Sometimes that means securing funding or working through administrative hurdles. Other times it's coordinating with partners to solve problems before they affect work on the ground. For example, the bridge repairs that are just getting underway in the Flume have required coordination between DEC, BETA's trail crew, and the ADK trail crew to ensure the project comes together smoothly. You'll see the results of that work in the future, but it's the behind-the-scenes coordination that rarely gets mentioned.

Ski Season Coming Soon
Finally, ski season is only four months away. Even in the middle of summer, we're already thinking ahead to winter. Setting maintenance priorities and coordinating fall work now is critical so our ski trails are ready when the snow arrives. Like many things at BETA, the work behind a great season begins long before anyone clips into their skis.

Thanks to a huge outpouring of community support, we reached and surpassed our $8,500 goal in only three weeks. Because the Tool Drive Fundraiser goal was tied directly to a specific list of needed tools, we closed the public campaign on May 1st shortly after reaching our target.

Shortly after the campaign closed, an additional donor stepped forward and generously offered to purchase the power toter for BETA directly, bringing total restricted support connected to this effort to approximately $12,700. The additional funds raised will remain exclusively dedicated to future tool and equipment needs, including repairs, replacement tools, and equipment purchases in the seasons ahead.
​
We are honestly blown away by the response to this fundraiser. Thank you to everyone who donated, shared the fundraiser, and helped make this happen. Because of your support, BETA staff and volunteers will head into this trail season well-equipped and ready to get to work.

We've been fundraising for a wide assortment of tools for our trail crew and volunteers since early April and our community has really showed up.  We're rapidly approaching the end of the fundraiser -- whether we hit our $8.5K goal or reach May 8th -- and we wanted to give everyone a heads up that this is your last chance to snag a limited edition t-shirt as part of the fundraiser.  

Folks who donate $100+ to the Tool Drive Fundraiser can claim  the limited edition t-shirt pictured below.  If you want to get your hands on one of these shirts, we highly advise that you donate sooner rather than later. 

Thank you all so much for making this fundraiser such a success and so much fun to run.  It's clear that our community cares about the trails, the trail crew, and the volunteers all a great deal and that's always awesome to witness.

It's time for us to retire some of our most well-worn tools, grow our tool inventory, and add a few new items to the mix. The biggest acquisition is a tracked material hauler (AKA mechanized wheel barrow) for faster, less painful, and less dangerous hauling for years to come. We're also planning to order new hand tools, battery tools, chainsaw and personal protective equipment, and leaf blower.  The curious can find a bit more information later in this blogpost.

From now until May 8th, we're fundraising for these exciting tools.

Did You Know: The work done on Bob's Bridge (pictured below), the longest bridge built as part of the new Jackrabbit Ski Trail section at the Keene trailhead, was built entirely with personal tools? Power drills, saws, personal protective equipment (PPE), and more were lent by our dedicated and skilled trail crew. While their tool donation was incredibly generous, it is not sustainable nor fair.

We owe it to our staff, our volunteers, and our community to invest in tools that we own and can count on, but quality tools cost a pretty penny. We are prepared to invest in tools for the good of our community -- please help us make this much needed tool inventory update by donating to this fundraiser by May 8th.

​When we launched our Year-End Campaign in mid-November, we trusted that supporters would respond. What stunned us was how quickly and generously people stepped up. Thanks to this incredible community, we unlocked the full $20,000 match by mid-December, weeks earlier than anticipated. But you didn’t stop there.

All told, BETA raised more than $29,000 in community donations, for a total of over $49,000 with the match. That is remarkable – our biggest fundraiser ever!

This gives us a strong foundation for 2026 and allows us to keep investing in the trails. Trails that link us from place to place and person to person, that dare us to challenge ourselves, that invite us to connect with nature. Trails that bring our community together.

Because of your support, we look to 2026 with excitement and momentum. Thank you for making this amazing moment happen. 

Where does your mind go when you hear the phrase “trail town”?  

Places like Bentonville, Asheville, Park City and Jackson are often cited as big trail towns across the country.  We think great trail towns are much closer.  They’re the towns we call home, right here in the Adirondacks.

As we enter our 40th year of advocating for, building, and stewarding trails that connect us, we encourage you to consider making a year-end donation to support this work.  

Join the 135+ people who have already given this season.  Help us build trails and create community in 2026.

You may have seen the incredible news: together, our community met our goal of raising $20,000 in community donations to unlock the full $20,000 matching donation from a generous anonymous donor.  That’s a powerful reminder of what this community can do together!

Thank you to everyone who has already contributed.  If you were hoping to make a donation this year, you can still be a part of this moment.  Every donation supports our work to build and care for trails and strengthen the community. 

We all know trails are special to people; did you know that they’re also special to dogs? We’re excited to share a story about the well-behaved dogs who work alongside us on the trail.

Of course we can't claim to be dog mind readers so we’re just making an educated guess, but between their dance of anticipation at the doorway, their alert eyes at the trailhead, and their wagging tails in the woods, we think it’s safe to assume the trails are just as special to dogs as they are to you and me. 

​We’d like to introduce you to some unofficial crew dogs of BETA who’ve “helped” with many of our projects: 

​Each dog has their own outdoorsy style -- taking it slow and steady; zipping after good smells; or finding a comfy spot to take a nap -- but they still have a lot in common, just like us.

We all love the special way trails connect us to nature, to one another, and to ourselves. And we know that dogs, like people, need to be well behaved so that everyone has a great trail experience.

There is one difference that stands out between dogs and people: dogs can’t donate to support the trails, but people can. 

Thanks to the gift of an anonymous donor, all community donations through December 31 will be matched. That means your $50 becomes $100. Your $100 becomes $200. Your gift funds trail projects that will put Spud, Stewie, and Rekker to work.

Thank you for being part of this community.
And thank you for helping write the next chapter.
​
Help us meet our goal of raising $40,000 for BETA's 40th year -- donate today to double your impact.

That’s what Brooks Reynolds (below, second from the right) said about a volunteer work party sponsored by the Reynolds Group of Lake Placid.  As a family of avid mountain bikers and skiers, the Reynolds use BETA trails often and they’re sure to visit the Jackrabbit this season.