Mountain Top resident Andrea Shipton interning as Blue Mountain summit steward in Adirondacks

Shipton is a rising senior at Hamilton College

Clinton, NY (08/09/2021) — Nestled in the heart of the Adirondacks lies Blue Mountain, a 3,750' peak just east of a picturesque lake that bears the same name. It is at this scenic location, in the quiet town of Indian Lake, that Mountain Top resident and Hamilton College rising senior Andrea Shipton is spending her summer interning as a summit steward.

Shipton's position entails working on the trails, taking care of a variety of tasks. "I spend my workdays chatting with hikers to answer their questions about the mountain, the Adirondacks, and sustainable recreation," she said. "I also assist with trail maintenance [we installed an outhouse last week], help hikers identify peaks from the tower, and deter littering and vandalism."

An environmental studies major, Shipton described how her academic background has been helpful for this position. Specifically, she mentioned Professor Andrea Townsend's Ecology course and Professor Aaron Strong's Climate Change course - both of which, she said, "have proven relevant to many of my conversations with hikers."

Shipton also highlighted the influence of others at Hamilton, including Director of Outdoor Leadership Andrew Jillings and her first-year orientation trip leaders, all of whom inspired her to get more involved with outdoor education and leadership via the Outing Club and Adirondack Adventure.

Going forward, Shipton hopes to draw on her experiences at Blue Mountain after she leaves Hamilton and enters the next phase of her life. "After graduation," she said, "I plan to attend law school and pursue a career in environmental law."

Shipton is a graduate of Crestwood High School

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