Slay the Peaks

By Jeremy Davis

Hiking is an activity that almost anyone can enjoy. Here in Upstate New York, we are lucky to have a nearly endless supply of hiking trails for all abilities. Many clubs and groups cater to all kinds hiking aficionados – seniors, beginners, nature lovers, youth groups, and more.

A new hiking group was formed in 2025 that caters to the LGTBQIA+ community – Slay the Peaks. It’s one of the many programs of Lower Adirondack Pride, which serves the communities of Warren, Washington, and northern Saratoga counties and beyond. This inclusive group aims to support hiking opportunities for everyone and is expanding its offerings for 2026. 

I sat down with Cam Cardinale, president of Lower Adirondack Pride, who shared more about Slay the Peaks and plans for this year’s events.

Lower Adirondack Pride was founded in 2023, following a pride festival planned in just 27 days where 1,500 people showed up. There was a need for more than a once-a-year festival, and building on that, today 15,000 people served through events like Slay the Peak, social events, disco parties, book clubs, mixers, a case management program, and other events. LAP is 100% privately funded which allows for the discretion to plan events that they want. LAP is also involved in local, state, and federal advocacy. 

Cam came up with the name, as he lives in the Adirondacks and wanted to do some hiking as a group. Last year they officially kicked off the program, with 131 hikers on five different hikes. Last year they planned four hikes for all abilities, to ensure that the hikes weren’t super difficult. Buck Mountain, Shelving Rock, Pinnacle Mountain, and Stewart’s Ledge, all located along Lake George, were all enjoyed last year. 

Shelving Rock and The Pinnacle were the most popular hikes. Everything worked out for those two hikes, which had a lot of participants, and a great community vibe. The group had 20-25 hikers per event who came from Albany to Plattsburgh, so these hikes were appealing regionally, not just for the Glens Falls area. 

Slay the Peaks caters to different skill levels and meets people where they’re at, and it’s not a race. These are social hikes and not a competition, so all abilities are welcome. All levels of experience are welcome and they stay at the same pace so everyone can keep up. LAP ensures a welcoming environment by making sure everyone feels comfortable on the group hikes. Before each hike, everybody introduces themselves, and they hike using the buddy system so that nobody hikes alone. 

Three hikes are confirmed so far for 2026: Potash Mountain on April 11; Shelving Rock on May 9; and Cat Mountain on June 20. Additional hikes will be planned for the rest of the summer and fall. 

The message to the broader community is about the importance of inclusive outdoor spaces. There is a stigma in the past with outdoor recreational activities, where queer people were occasionally left out of it. Slay the Peaks aims to build positive spaces in the outdoors year-round, to make sure that everyone is included and create a sense of belonging.

To learn more about upcoming hikes and how to register, visit the website, follow the group on social media, and subscribe to the newsletter: loweradkpride.org. 

Jeremy Davis is the author of five books, including “Lost Ski Areas of the Southern Adirondacks” and “Lost Ski Areas of the Northern Adirondacks” – available at nelsap.org. He serves on the New England Ski Museum emeritus board and is a director of operations of Weather Routing Inc. in Glens Falls.