YM Johns Brook Jamboree

The Johns Brook Lodge (JBL) is nestled in the heart of High Peaks region of the Adirondacks, providing you with a backcountry experience without the backcountry load. JBL provides the food and shelter, freeing you to pack light and get the most out of your time in the mountains. Johns Brook Lodge — the ONLY wilderness lodge in the Adirondacks — can be reached only by foot, but provides day-hike access to over a half-dozen peaks including the ADK’s highest, Mt. Marcy.

The ADK-GVC Young Members have reserved 18 bunks with the hopes of getting a contingent of younger people (20s-mid-40s) up into the heart of the region the Adirondack Mountain Club was formed around. While it isn’t the Hilton, JBL provides you with a welcoming bunk, three meals a day (a breakfast and dinner, as well as a trail-lunch you can take with you on your adventures), and a roof overhead in case of wet weather. Beyond that, you get the chance to enjoy the woods in August, hear the birds sing, wade into frosty streams, and see the summer sun come up over the mountains (…and you get to share it with others who enjoy the same).

Newcomers are encouraged to attend. If your only experience camping has been car-camping, but are interested in experiencing backcountry wilderness, come on out and join us. It’ll be a great introduction to the mountains.*

GETTING THERE: Johns Brook Lodge is a backcountry lodge located in the heart of the Adirondack High Peaks outside of Keene Valley, NY.

To reach JBL you have to hike 3.5 miles into the mountains from the Garden parking area in Keene Valley.

New for 2019: The road to the Garden parking lot will be closed due to bridge construction, so participants will need to park at Marcy Field (off NY-73 between Keene and Keene Valley, about 3/4 mile south of the intersection with NY-9N). Shuttles from Marcy Field to the Garden are scheduled to be running 7 AM - 7 PM Thursday - Saturday so participants need to arrive between those times. There are no other options. The shuttle route will cross private lands while the bridge is under construction so walking is not allowed. The shuttle cost is $10 round trip. On Sunday, ADK will provide a shuttle out to Marcy Field for registered guests (only), leaving the Garden at 11 AM, 12 noon, 4:30 PM, and 5:30 PM.

To get the most out of the weekend you will want to drive up Friday (or Thursday night), arriving at Marcy Field between 7 AM and 6 PM (to be safe in catching the last shuttle) Friday, so that you can get an early start on Saturday morning from JBL. There are places to camp in the area, as well as some affordable hostels, if you come up Thursday.

The plan is to arrange it so that smaller groups form at the trailhead (depending on when people plan on arriving), so that folks have company when hiking in to the lodge. We’ll figure out the groups closer to the event date.

MEALS: 6 meals are included. Breakfasts (2) and dinners (2) are served family-style. Bagged trail lunches (2) include hearty sandwiches, snack and dessert.

BUNKS: The lodge sleeps 28 people in co-ed bunk rooms. For 2019, we have reserved 14 bunks (one 10-person bunk room and a smaller 4-person "family" bunk room). The lodge provides a pillow and wool blanket. In the summer a set of sheets is often sufficient to keep you warm.

WHAT TO BRING: We’ll provide a list closer to the event date.

*SAFETY & LIABILITY

Each participant MUST bring a map of the Adirondack High Peaks, a compass, and know how to use them!

While this event is organized for ADK younger members, it is not a 'led' trip which means that the neither the ADK nor the trip's organizers are responsible for your well-being during whatever activities you choose to participate in during the outing. Please be aware of the risks inherent in your chosen activity(s) and pick something that coincides with your level of skill.

If you are unfamiliar with the area, there will be others on the trip to offer suggestions, as well as numerous guidebooks. Additionally, the staff at Johns Brook Lodge can guide you towards appropriate trails. However their suggestions are no guarantee of safety.

By participating in this outing, participants shall conduct themselves in a mature, respectful and responsible manner.