"Before the mountains were born or You brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting, You are God." Psalm 90:2

HIKING and BACKPACKING

LIFT is blessed to be located in the midst of the incredible, 6-million acre Adirondack Park. Just minutes away from numerous trails, LIFT students take advantage of their surroundings by going on a hike every week of the semester. These include over-land hikes, which range from one to six (or so) miles of relatively flat terrain, often crossing beautiful streams or leading to serene lakes. Many other hikes involve a trek to the summit of one of the many mountains in the Park. On particularly adventurous trips, the group takes the two-hour drive to the High Peaks region, conquering one or more of the 46 highest mountains in the state. 

Each LIFT semester also includes at least one extended backpacking trip. In the fall, the group will generally have one trip that is just an 'overnight,' spending one night in the woods, followed by a multiple-day trip that involves spending three or four nights on the trail, later in the semester. For many students, this is out of their element. Even those who enjoy the outdoors tend to be stretched when they spend four or five days in the woods, hiking with packs that weight 30 pounds! Some students dread these times and worry about whether or not they will be able to succeed on the trip, but each semester, God has carried every participant through these trips and taught them important lessons in the process. During the winter semester, students have the privilege of renting a cabin in the High Peaks region for their multiple-day trip. This allows them to still experience life in the wilderness for a few days, while sleeping in a safe and warm environment.

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