Adirondack Peeks Summer 2023

. . . the enjoyment of solitude, complete independence, and the beauty of undefiled panoramas is absolutely essential to happiness. —Bob Marshall #3 (Centennial Edition of The High Peaks of the Adirondacks, 2022) EDITORS' RAMBLE Sherry Roulston, #12512 Kim Morse, #11497

H appily, we write this column, Editors' Ramble, because it means we are ready to send our first issue off to the printer! Editing the magazine has been comparable to climbing the high peaks: joyful, educational, and challenging. Thankfully, having a reliable coeditor partnership has made all the difference. Finding ourselves working together has been akin to that chance encounter on the trail when you meet a hiker who becomes your steadfast companion. We’ve met weekly to ramble, inspire, and at times rope up and tackle challenging terrain or a steep slope on our way toward Learning Curve summit. We’ve explored so many insightful Adirondack stories from members—a mesh ranging from articles past to recent tales that represent the vast history of the Adirondack 46er organization. In a world of eight billion people, 14,800 46ers hold a unique perspective—one that comes with responsibility. When President Laurie Rankin reached out to see if we had a theme for the upcoming issue, it was no surprise to tell her that it was the same old theme that’s been weaving its way through the Forty-Sixer organization for over five decades—conservation. Preserving the mountains through responsible stewardship is our goal and our responsibility. Each of us has our personal story of finding the Adirondacks; however, a common thread among 46ers is our willingness to work hard in our personal pursuit of knowledge and happiness. No one knows these mountains like a 46er nor can anyone educate on and preserve them better than us. The best thing each of us can do is keep our membership active and contribute in a way that makes the most impact. The size of our diverse band of hikers combined with our authentic resources makes us a formidable force for the preservation of this pristine park which continues to draw us back to nature and to ourselves. Through the carefully selected contributions that make up this issue’s contents, we share others’ experiences as reinforcement of this strength across our membership. Although summer is finally here and the tomato plants are in the ground, we are excited to share a winter hiking tale with you. In Talking Points, New York State licensed guide, Mary Glynn, #9576, shares insights from her winter trudge over the Northville Placid Trail. Her takeaways provide guidance spanning all Adirondack

hiking seasons. In From the Vault, we flash back fifty years to a milestone in the history of the 46er organization when the group considered disbanding. A view from the perspective of hindsight is always educational, and Tony Goodwin, #211, offers an updated perspective on his 1973 PEEKS article, The Future of the Adirondack Forty-Sixers. Speaking of the past, a special thanks goes out to Terry Dwyer, #1226, for donating his library of past PEEKS issues dating back to 1973! Although these historical documents are available digitally on the 46er website, nothing compares to reading them in the sunlight versus on a computer screen! Are you crazy about maps? How about drawing them? Does your inner compass seek direction or desire to map a story? Illustrated maps creatively identify important and exciting landmarks, wonders of nature, historical features, and general points of interest. This issue shares three illustrated maps from the Adirondack region, one designed and drawn by Alice Morgan Wright—suffragist, animal welfare activist, and sculptor—along with Edward C. Hudowalski, #6. Please consider sharing your illustrations with PEEKS . Our compilation of Mountain Vignettes, which includes poems as well as Adirondack Murray’s 1877 short story, Climbing White Face, exemplifies the meaning of Bob Marshall’s quote above, and we’re sure you’ll agree that “undefiled panoramas [are] absolutely essential to happiness.” The sense of accomplishment that has come with completing this first issue has been as emotional as completing a 46er’s journey and we hope you enjoy it. Douglas Bradford, #13932, from Brooklyn, NY, sums up our feelings perfectly in his finisher’s essay: “Sitting on Giant looking out over the sea of peaks, it felt more like I was starting something rather than finishing it, like a thorough introduction.” Ramble on, Sherry and Kim

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