Adirondack Peeks Summer 2025

becoming 46ers became a shared goal. They traveled together from the Finger Lakes area and hiked all of the peaks together, including one during the winter, and they finished on Seymour in October 2024. Gloria is grateful for the opportunity to have shared the special journey with Brendan and Matt. Liam Denehan, #15531, (pictured as he finished on Skylight) said, “My three-year journey to become a 46er fundamentally changed my life. It connected me to myself and the world around me more than I could ever imagined, and provided me with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to move to Colorado in July of 2024 and dedicate my life to climbing mountains.”

Doug [left] and Jamie Kennard

Brothers Doug, #15574, and Jamie Kennard, #15575, became 46ers in a way that had been done only once before: they skied to and from all 46 peaks! Prior to March 2024, only Ron Konowitz, #487, had skied to and from all of the Adirondack high peaks. Doug and Jamie also skied the Catskill 3500-foot peaks, completing that feat in 2014. In addition to the remarkable talent needed to ski up and down these mountains, the two overcame a major injury, the untimely passing of a spouse, and a couple harrowing experiences (like falling into a tree well with your head at the bottom and the skis above you!). To learn more about their journey and see a movie trailer, visit the website of the brothers’ documentary, Variable : www.kratedesign.com/ variable. Colby Leggo’s 46er journey began on the first floor of a freshman dorm at Clarkson University. Kids who were designated as “outdoor enthusiasts” began dedicating as many weekends as they could to the nearby Adirondacks, sometimes hiking small peaks, sometimes fire towers, and other times high peaks. While there were some pretty tough days, they became obsessed with getting all 46. It ultimately took three gnarly, late-season winter trips for them to reach their goal. Upon reflection of his 46er journey, Kevin Manieri, #15659, concluded that it was “Absolute Madness”:

Absolute madness, like laughable wake-up times, starting on the trails long before dawn, and being covered in dew and cobwebs by the time the sun comes up. Absolute madness, like checking the weather obsessively, seeing a clear forecast, getting poured on anyway, and learning never to trust the word “waterproof.” Absolute madness, like seeing multiple knee doctors and physical therapists, none with any real treatment for IT band syndrome, knowing that it’s going to hurt, but I’m going anyway. I came home limping from at least 35 of these mountains. Absolute madness, like missing a sharp left turn halfway up Donaldson, and finding out the hard way that bushwacking in the general direction of the trail is not a good move. Absolute madness, like realizing that the energy required to complete this mission does not come from food, water, sleep, or gym exercises, especially on excursions without views. This energy comes from somewhere much deeper inside, an internal motivation that is unique to each hiker. From L to R: Donald Brady, II; Evan Miller; Colby Leggo, #15591; and Alexander Evans, #15592

36 | ADIRONDACK PEEKS