Adirondack Peeks Summer 2025

The Adirondacks were not in their backyard. The Loeb-Hammons live in Pittsburgh, which is a nine-hour drive. Lee started working on a plan to use one camping trip per year to tackle a certain range. Before long, Hannah weighed in and said that she wanted the family to finish before she graduated high school, so they sprinkled in some long weekends and a few other day trips. In the beginning, the parents carried the load of supplies and were much faster hikers, but they were chasing the kids by the end of their journey. Because they were coming from long distances and were incorporating camping into their hikes, they needed to reserve camp sites long in advance. That led to getting rained on, lots of days when the views weren’t so good, and some extra trips due to cutting short some of the hikes. But the family time was worth it. The trails provided a safe and open environment to talk about any subject— and they did. Through this experience, they learned the importance of preparation and making/following long-term goals. Emily and Lee are so proud of the accomplishment of their kids and the family unit, as they should be! After completing the 46er journey, some people go on to climb the mountains a second time, take on winter climbing, or bring others to their favorite peaks. Absolutely, keep hiking! Please also think about how you can help ensure that the amazing High Peaks region will be there for people that literally follow in our footsteps. The Adirondack 46ers have a number of volunteer opportunities listed on our web page and there are many other terrific organizations that are committed to preserving and protecting this region, while continuing to make it accessible. How will you contribute to that mission? Congratulations to the Class of 2024!

The Loeb-Hammons family: Lee, #15845; Hannah, #15843; Emily, #15844; and Sam, #15842

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