Summit Steward Fenton McKown Protects Endangered Plants in the Adirondack Mountains

In the high peaks of the Adirondack Mountains, just a few hours north of New York City, thousands of hikers trek to the alpine zone — a small, delicate ecosystem of rare and endangered plants that grow above treeline.

While plants in the alpine zone are capable of withstanding hurricane-force winds and sub-freezing temperatures for eight months of the year, they are highly sensitive to hikers and can be easily killed within only a couple footsteps.

Fenton McKown, a junior majoring in fisheries, wildlife and conservation biology at NC State, recently volunteered with the Summit Stewardship Program to help educate hikers about the fragility of plants in the alpine zone.

The Summit Stewardship Program was established in 1989 by the Adirondack Mountain Club in partnership with the Adirondack Chapter of The Nature Conservancy and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

McKown spent three months in the Adrindoack Mountains this summer, trekking to and from summits on a weekly basis to interact with visitors, encouraging them to carefully navigate trails in the alpine zone to avoid damaging or destroying plants.

“It was very rewarding to make a genuine difference in the conservation of alpine plant species,” McKown said. “They never ceased to amaze me in their sheer beauty and ability to survive the insanely harsh conditions of the alpine zone.”

In addition to educating hikers, McKown conducted trail maintenance, assisted local researchers with bird and mammal surveys, and even aided in search and rescue operations when needed.

McKown’s weekly excursions were fraught with less-than-ideal conditions as he camped alone in the woods without access to mobile service and basic amenities, but he was more than prepared, thanks in part to the College of Natural Resources.

“The most essential skill I needed for this job was comfortability in the outdoors, and the emphasis on fieldwork at the College of Natural Resources definitely helped me with that,” McKown said.

McKown added that his general knowledge of ecology, gained from previous courses that he completed at NC State, helped him in his task of educating the public about the alpine zone, despite it being “wildly different” than North Carolina’s habitats.

Like other NC State students, McKown benefitted from the generosity of alumni in his efforts to gain hands-on experience. Much, if not all, of his experience in the Adirondack Mountains was funded through the Thomas L. Quay Undergraduate Experiential Learning Award. 

The Quay Experiential Learning Award is given to students to support a conservation-based field experience. It is named in honor of the late Thomas Quay, a former professor of zoology in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and a leader in conservation.

“The Quay Experiential Learning Award was absolutely imperative to my participation in this position, and I highly doubt it would have been possible at all without it,” McKown said. 

McKown used the award to fund his travel to the Adirondack Mountains and to rent a car to keep onsite. He also purchased a sleeping bag, backpack, protective clothing and other outdoor gear for his time in the field. 

“I will be able to utilize this long-term gear well into the future as well, making next summer’s endeavors far more feasible,” McKown said. 

While McKown’s responsibilities in the Adirondack Mountains primarily focused on plants, his work on mammal and bird surveys allowed him to learn new research methods that he’s already thinking of implementing in his own fieldwork.

McKown hopes to pursue a career in herpetological research and currently serves as a research assistant to NC State professor Ivana Mali, whose research examines how reptile and amphibian populations respond to climate change and other anthropogenic stressors.