Adirondack Peeks Summer 2024

A Love Letter to the High Peaks: An All-New Guide to the 46 Jonathan Zaharek, #11171W Adirondacks, John Sasso has been intrigued by the ar tifacts he would stumble upon, such as iron bolts from old land surveys, remnants of long-gone logging camps, mysterious woods roads, and stone foundations. The questions those finds provoked: “What was here?” “What was their purpose?” and “Where did the History and Legends of the Northern Adirondacks John Sasso, #7130WV John Sasso (#7130WV) has been a member of the 46er Trail Crew for twelve years, was the writer for the Boulder Report for six years, and is currently on the President's Award Committee. He also works with Lean-to Rescue and the New York State Forest Fire Lookout Associa tion, and is one of the caretakers of the Mount Adams fire tower. As an independent historian, he has written over 170 papers related to the history of the Adirondacks and Catskills. Ever since he began hiking the mountains of the

name come from?” led him to research and write about the often-surprising and always entertaining answers he’s found over the years. The first volume in a planned series, this book

shares the fascinat ing stories behind the mountains of the North ern Adirondacks and, it is hoped, will lead to a deeper appreciation of this unique and re markable area. It is avail able through Amazon (www.amazon.com/ dp/1961680076), and will eventually be avail able in bookstores and elsewhere.

maraderie of the community they foster. I started my jour ney modestly as a “weekend warrior” commuting from Ohio, never imagining where the trails would lead. Yet, here I am, sharing this narrative and introducing my book as a testament to the journey, the lessons learned, and the unbreakable bond formed with the Adirondacks. In the tapestry of my life thus far, the Adirondacks have been a constant, vivid thread, weaving through my earliest memories and shaping the person I am today. My connection to these mountains traces back to my family’s tradition of vacationing in the southern region, in Specula tor, a tradition that began in the 1920s on Lake Pleasant. This was the genesis of my bond with the wilderness that eventually guided me toward my dual passions for hiking and photography. In 2015, during a pivotal year at Word of Life Bible Institute on Schroon Lake, I was afforded the opportunity of spending an entire year immersed in the Adirondacks splendor, a period during which my camera became both my tool and teacher. This experience honed my relationship with the mountains, deepening my appre ciation for both the landscape’s raw beauty and the art of photography. It wasn’t long before my aspirations to become a 46er led me to carry my camera into the high peaks, marrying my love for the wilderness with my bur geoning artistic expression. It was then, summer after summer, I would complete my first round of the 46. Completing the 46 high peaks by August 2018 was a milestone that marked more than just a personal achievement; it was the moment I recognized the impact the mountains had on my life and, conversely, the influ ence my photography and videography began to wield within the community. This realization was a catalyst, propelling me toward a decision that would redefine my trajectory—moving to Lake Placid in the summer of 2019. This move was not just a change of scenery; it was a commitment to a life intertwined with the Adirondacks, a

You may have heard the popular quote by Paul F. Jamieson (#146), who once remarked, It is easier to be come a Forty-Sixer than to be one. The art of being is to keep one’s sense of won der after the excitement of the game is over. There are few experiences in life that do not need to be expressed in words. Becoming a For ty-Sixer is one. How to be one is up to the individual. Though Paul embarked on

his quest in 1934 and finished in 1958, the timeless rel evance of his words endures, reminding us that reaching a goal marks the beginning of a journey rather than its cul mination. The real question becomes what we choose to do next—whether to rest on our laurels or to continue en riching the wellspring of our endeavors for ourselves and, if possible, to inspire and elevate others along their paths. The journey that began with a single step into the High Peaks has unfolded into an unexpected and transforma tive adventure for me. It is this essence, this spirit of per petual wonder and growth, that has inspired the creation of my up-and-coming guidebook Hiking the Adirondack 46 High Peaks and fortified my bond with these majestic mountains. If this article finds you, it’s likely you’ve also been touched by the unique magic of these mountains, experienced their indescribable impact, and felt the ca

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