Adirondack Peeks Summer 2025

“In the words of Tina Turner, our stewards are ‘simply the best,’” he said. Bill Lundy provided an update on the club’s Outdoor Skills Workshop program, which seeks to introduce people without much previous outdoor experience to hiking and outdoor recreation. “We have people who’ve never seen a mountain bigger than some little bump in the middle of Central Park,” he said. “And we also have full fledged, already-finished 46ers who show up. So, with everybody who shows their information, we have an extremely good time.” Club President David Pawlick spoke on behalf of Lee Nesbitt, who oversees the adopt-a-highway program but wasn’t in attendance Sunday. Pawlick noted that the program covers an 8-mile stretch along both sides of state Route 73. The club organized four cleanups in 2024, had 20 volunteers who logged a combined 500 hours and filled 40 large garbage bags, along with removing a number of larger pieces of trash that couldn’t fit in the bags. “We really want to encourage you to participate,” he said. “That’s really part of the 46er journey . . . once you get all of those peaks, give back and just spend time giving back to the mountains and to the region.” The club held a moment of silence for its members who died over the last year, and their names were read aloud. Things then turned to recognizing some of the club’s most dedicated volunteers. Four individuals were given the 46er’s highest honor: the President’s Award. Recipients are nominated by club members and referred to an awards committee chaired by Lundy for the final decisions. There were four winners announced at Sunday’s dinner: Ryan, Simpson, Nesbitt and Laurie Rankin. The first three were introduced by club officials, with Pawlick noting that Nesbitt will be honored with a special presentation later in person. Ryan was introduced by Brant Schneider, one of the club’s directors. “This recipient is the quintessential example of what it means to be a 46er,” Schneider said. “This person raised his hand on many occasion when the need was there and simply said, ‘I will do it.’” Ryan’s most extensive volunteer work included serving as the trailhead steward program coordinator and club liaison with the website administrator. Schneider noted that the club redesigned its website over the past couple of years and transitioned many of its administrative, logistical and merchandise services to a digital platform. Schneider added that Ryan hit 1,046 hours of volunteer service last summer. “We are out of additional volunteer patches to sow on his sleeve,” he said.

Rankin was introduced by 46er Vice President Brian Sutherland. He said that Rankin, who served as the club’s 32nd president, was instrumental to keeping the club and its institutional knowledge afloat against the “extraordinary” challenges during the coronavirus pandemic. “Laurie is the embodiment of volunteerism on many levels,” he said. “A complete and total advocate for the club and its mission for many years.” An accomplished hiker, Sutherland noted that Rankin is has completed both the 46 High Peaks, the Northeast 115—a list of the 4,000-foot peaks in New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine— and has made over 1,000 ascents in the Catskills. “Like a lot of hikers, not just in the Adirondack community, but all through the Northeast and New York state, we all benefited from getting to know Laurie by various means,” he said. Simpson was introduced by fellow trailmaster Curt Snyder, who said that while there is technically not a “chief trailmaster” title, Simpson embodies that role. He goes above and beyond in the amount of time he dedicates to trail improvement, the logistics behind it, and passing down his vast wealth of knowledge on the topic. “There is an enormous amount of behind-the scenes work that has to be done with planning and scheduling and Mark has taken that on admirably,” Snyder said. “Now, that does mean he gets to spend far more quality time with the state Department of Environmental Conservation than we can,” he said as the room broke into laughter. “But we’re OK with that.” Snyder said that Simpson and his wife, Kathy Murray, were the second-ever couple in the 46ers’ history to both hit 1,046 hours of volunteer service. “Mark brings an enormous amount of enthusiasm, compassion and people skills to this role,” he said. Past President Laurie Rankin #5525WV, Vice President Brian Sutherland #6759, left, and President David Pawlick, #12803. Photo credit: Chris Gaige, #13221

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