Adirondack Peeks Summer 2024

your son was your first high peak and you finished on Rocky Peak Ridge solo. What do you remember from that day? LR: Well, I didn't have a cell phone back then so there are no selfies. For my last trip I needed to do Mar cy, Iroquois, Rocky Peak Ridge, and Colden to complete the 46. My goal was to finish on Marcy at sunrise. I love the fall of the year when it starts to get colder, so I took a week off in October. Like many Octobers, at the higher elevations, there’s snow, and that was the case this year. I started up Colden first and met some guys as I was going up, they were coming down and told me, “You're not go ing to make it, conditions are bad.” I had my full crampons so I told them I would be OK. I made it, but it was kind of scary by myself, and I changed my mind about doing Marcy alone in the dark in icy conditions. So, the next day I did Marcy instead of saving it for last. I went through deep snow and hard ice and was fine with my crampons. Then I decided that since I had started on Giant, I’d end on Rocky Peak Ridge. It was winter up high that year in October, and there was serious deep snow between Iroquois and Boundary. So, after fin ishing my 46, I was just glad in many ways that I had survived the week! I felt a sense of accomplishment when I touched that cairn on top of Rocky

right now, I wonder if fires like those could ever happen in New York. The fire towers could be used for spotting fires again if needed. I think preserv ing their history is important. SR: I saw Hurricane Mountain tower

Foresters, and Forest Rangers to make this possible. How does it feel to have received this award? LR: I was humbled to receive this conservation award. It’s wonderful

[T]he fire towers certainly were an integral part of preserving the forests that we see today because the towers protected them from major wildfires. I like the fact that I am recognized as a conserva tionist. That's important to me.

light up last year; I was blown away. Gary Lee, retired New York State ranger, nominated you for the NYS Outdoorsmen Hall of Fame Award that you received. I quote him here saying, If you have climbed fire towers in New York State, you have been able to enjoy some of Laurie’s work. [She has done work] building on the trail sys tems and repairing the tow ers themselves, so you could again get a view from the tower cab. For several years she has organized volunteers to work on these trails and towers, so others could enjoy them after the state abandoned them. . . . [She has worked] in coopera tion with the DEC Operations,

to know that Gary thinks highly of my work preserving the fire towers and would nominate me for it. The award recognizes those who have made contributions within the community to preserve the heritage and con servation of outdoor sports. And, of course, the fire towers certainly were an integral part of preserving the for ests that we see today because the towers protected them from major wildfires. I like the fact that I am rec ognized as a conservationist. That's important to me, and I appreciate that he did that. SR: Let’s talk about your time hik ing the 46 high peaks. The records show that you achieved 46er status on October 22, 2004. As you men tioned, the trip up Giant in 1999 with

Winter on Katahdin in ME; Two Left for 115

8 | ADIRONDACK PEEKS