The Adirondack 102 Club
Visit all 102 towns and villages inside the Blue Line, collect a stamp in each one, and earn the Vagabond patch, the way Martin Podskoch has been doing it since 2001.
Inspiration for the Club
The idea began after Podskoch read about Dr. Arthur Peach’s Vermont Life story proposing an informal group, the 251 Club, “to discover the secret and lovely places that main roads do not reveal.” He felt every part of the Adirondacks deserved the same treatment.
“Since 2001, I traveled to all of the 102 towns and villages in the Adirondacks gathering stories for my five books on the Adirondack fire towers, the Civilian Conservation Corps camps, and Adirondack lore. In my travels people have taken me in for the night and shared their home, food, and stories.”
To visit Russia, Peru, and Ohio, there’s no need to leave New York State, or even the Adirondack Park. Those are a few of the communities off the beaten path that the club encourages travelers to seek out.
What’s Inside the Book
In December 2013, Podskoch spoke at an Adirondack Association of Towns and Villages meeting and proposed starting a 102 Club for the region. The AATV encouraged him to reach out to town supervisors and mayors for help.
He asked each town and village for a short write-up on its location, history, and interesting places to visit. By June 2014, 108 representatives, including historians, supervisors, assessors, chamber members, and residents, had replied. The result: a comprehensive guide with a history and a checklist for every one of the 102 stops.
There are no rules, no fees, and no forms to turn in, just a passport, a stamp from a local at each stop, and a desire to see the whole region. Read more from Podskoch at the New York History Blog.
Four Ways Into the Blue Line
102 municipalities is a lot to take in at once, so the challenge breaks down into four geographic regions.
The Northern Region
Olympic history, deep woods, and arts scenes.
The Southern Region
The gateway for many travelers, blending lake life with family entertainment.
The Eastern Region
Steeped in Revolutionary War history, flanked by Lake Champlain.
The Western Region
The more remote, quiet side of the park, defined by interconnected lakes and deep wilderness.
The Vagabond Award
Once a member has visited all 102 towns and villages, they become a “Vagabond.” The name honors Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Harvey Firestone, and John Burroughs, who called themselves Vagabonds on the automobile camping trips they took through the Adirondacks in 1916 and 1919 to get away from their busy lives.
Edison served as “navigator,” Ford as “mechanic,” Firestone as “organizer,” and Burroughs as the “naturalist.” A caravan of cars and trucks carried the Vagabonds, their workers, a cook, camping gear, and a chuck wagon, and each man had his own tent and electric lights.
92 Towns Across 11 Counties
The remaining ten club stops are incorporated villages and historic hamlets, like Lake Placid (in the town of North Elba) and Old Forge (in the town of Webb), that round the club out to 102.
Clinton
Altona, Ausable, Black Brook, Dannemora, Ellenburg, Peru, Saranac
Essex
Chesterfield, Crown Point, Elizabethtown, Essex, Jay, Keene, Lewis, Minerva, Moriah, Newcomb, North Elba, St. Armand, Schroon, Ticonderoga, Westport, Willsboro, Wilmington
Entirely or partially within the parkFranklin
Altamont, Bangor, Bellmont, Brandon, Brighton, Burke, Chateaugay, Constable, Dickinson, Duane, Franklin, Harrietstown, Malone, Moira, Santa Clara, Waverly
Fulton
Bleecker, Caroga, Ephratah, Johnstown, Mayfield, Northampton, Oppenheim, Stratford
Hamilton
Arietta, Benson, Hope, Indian Lake, Inlet, Lake Pleasant, Long Lake, Morehouse, Wells
100% within the parkHerkimer
Fairfield, Norway, Ohio, Russia, Salisbury, Webb
Oneida
Boonville, Forestport, Remsen
St. Lawrence
Clare, Clifton, Colton, Fine, Hopkinton, Lawrence, Parishville, Piercefield, Potsdam, Russell
Saratoga
Corinth, Day, Edinburg, Greenfield, Hadley, Moreau, Providence
Warren
Bolton, Chester, Hague, Horicon, Johnsburg, Lake George, Lake Luzerne, Queensbury, Stony Creek, Thurman, Warrensburg
Washington
Dresden, Fort Ann, Granville, Hampton, Putnam, Whitehall
The Complete Adirondack Library
Collect the Other Passport Guides
Adirondack 102 Club FAQ
How many towns are in the Adirondack 102 Club?
The club covers 102 stops inside the Adirondack Park’s Blue Line: 92 official towns plus incorporated villages and historic hamlets, such as Lake Placid and Old Forge, that round the list out to 102.
How do I join the Adirondack 102 Club?
Pick up the Adirondack 102 Club passport book, visit each of the 102 towns and villages, and get your book stamped or signed by a local resident or business at each stop. There is no fee and no registration required.
What do you get for visiting all 102 towns?
Members who complete all 102 stops earn the Vagabond Award, a patch named for Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Harvey Firestone, and John Burroughs, who camped through the Adirondacks calling themselves “Vagabonds” in 1916 and 1919.
What are the four regions of the Adirondacks?
The Adirondack 102 Club groups its towns into the Northern Region (Lake Placid, Saranac Lake), Southern Region (Lake George, Queensbury), Eastern Region (Ticonderoga, Keene Valley), and Western Region (Old Forge, Blue Mountain Lake).
Who wrote the Adirondack 102 Club guidebook?
Martin “Marty” Podskoch, a Connecticut author and historian, researched and wrote the guide starting in 2001, with descriptions contributed by 108 town and village representatives across the region.