Adirondack Peeks Winter 2023

Then and Now Marcia Wentworth, #2231 W hat was it like hiking the 46 high peaks in the 1980s when my husband, Malcolm, #2230, and I, #2231, climbed them? In some ways it was eas ier, in some ways harder. It was easier because the Ausable Club bus hauled us to several trailheads ($1.25 each way and well worth it) and because there were fewer folks on the trails causing less congestion and erosion. An older woman I met on the Algonquin trail remarked that she couldn't be lieve how much the trail had eroded since her last trip up. Of course, I don't know when that was, but I wonder what she'd think of the erosion now. And parking lots at ADK Loj, The Garden, The Ausable Club, and everywhere else always had empty spaces—no reservation system or long shuttles from Marcy Field or Keene Valley needed. It was harder because there were fewer ladders, bridges, and other manmade devices designed to assist the trembling hikers. But we weren’t expecting them any way. Herd paths were exactly what they sound like, indis tinct and hard to locate. Those not identified with cairns, as was the case with most, were sometimes impossible to find, as was the Macomb slide path, which we searched two hours for before giving up. We were not surprised to encounter two other groups who were having the same trouble, and when we finally reached Macomb from South Dix, we were cheered to read many unfavorable com ments in the register about this so-called shortcut. And it was almost guaranteed that you would lose the herd path on Cliff, although we didn't. But we did have trouble with the maze of trails on Tabletop. Of course, there were canisters on the untrailed peaks and reports to be written to Grace H. Her replies were personal, and we were embarrassed to have her scold us for using the bus, “which no respectable Aspir ing 46er would do.” I never mentioned the bus again in my

vorably. We have accepted the slower pace of reaching the highest summits here in California and have made decisions to turn back when these factors were not fa vorable. Our California 14er journey is far from over as the remaining peaks present significant challenges.

Reflection Despite the distance, I have been able to visit New York and spend some time in the Adirondacks almost every year. In the summer of 2022, our family spent a week in Lake Placid. This provided the rewarding opportunity to stand atop many peaks with my son more than 30 years after first summiting with my father. Luke is now well on his way to becoming a third generation 46er. Much has changed since I began hiking as a child in the 1980s. The gear is better and more lightweight, trail condition reports are more accessible and reliable, the trailless peaks have maintained trails, and outdoor rec reation is more popular than ever. Most striking to me is the access to cellular data on many peaks and satellite tracking nearly everywhere. On the same ridge between Street and Nye where we wandered in circles in 1988, it is now possible to make a phone call or instantly pinpoint your location on a digital map. A generation of time changes a person as well.

Watching my son hike faster than me is a reminder that our physical abili ties change with the passage of time as does our life purpose. No longer a helpless child or carefree young adult, I am now sharing my experi ence with the next generation. Time in the mountains helps promote ap preciation for the beauty of the mo ment, thankfulness for past experi ences, and hope for things to come. These feelings transcend beyond an individual outing and help to carry us through the peaks and valleys as well as the changing seasons of life. Once a 46er, always a 46er! Good climbing! * * *

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