The ADK Fire Tower Challenge has been run by the AMC since 2001. It includes the 5 main Fire Towers in the Catskills (Red Hill, Balsam Lake, Tremper, Hunter and Overlook) and 27 Fire Towers in the Adirondacks (Adams, Arab, Azure, Bald, Belfry, Black, Blue, Buck, Cathedral Rock, Goodnow, Gore, Hadley, Hurricane, Kane, Loon Lake, Lyon, Owls Head, Pillsbury, Poke-O-Moonshine, Snowy, Spruce, Stillwater, St. Regis, Swede, Vandewhacker, Wakely, and Woodhull). For the ADK challenge it is required to do 23 peaks, while for the FKT all peaks are included.
Each peak needs to be visited from a trail head and one has to return to the TH. Thus, all 32 towers/peaks are visited and descended. Else it is an open course and can be completed in any route as long as each mountain has a Fire Tower on it at the time you ascend. You do not need to climb the Fire Tower to complete this challenge. Athletes must reach the footing of each Fire Tower and return to complete the challenge. It is suggested to start the FKT at the most southern Catskill Fire Tower which is Red Hill and work your way north through the Adirondacks ending at Lyon. Or north starting at Lyon to south ending in the Catskills at Red Hill, but since this is an open course, it can be completed in any manner as long as each of the 32 mountains are ascended when there is a Fire Tower on them. Reminder some Fire Towers are closed during winter and hunting season. This will not be counted during this time.
ADK Fire Tower Challenge
