Adirondack Peeks Winter 2023

Corinn Julow, #14073 No Title F ive years ago, I was not a hiker. My husband was, and I believed he hiked enough for us both. Then, before our twentieth wedding anniversary, my hus band said to me, “Lets hike the highest mountain in the Adirondacks on our anniversary.” I didn’t say anything. “We can build up to it,” he continued. He outlined a plan to start with a small hike in Vermont and continue with a hike every two weeks until we vanquished Marcy. “Umhum,” I replied. He planned the hikes. On our first hike, our dog ran off and his rescue prevented a summit. I was stung by a bee on our next hike and stubbornly stumbled through rolling rocks and grab bing branches. But I did it. On our third hike we met Marcy Dam and descended Avalanche Pass to see Avalanche Lake unfold for us before teetering along Hitch-Ups and scrambling over rocks and ladders with the most beautiful backdrop of nature I had ever experienced. On this hike, I became a hiker. On our twentieth wedding anniversary we sub mitted Marcy, and my husband surprised me with three drams of scotch. The good stuff. We sat on a rock, in the sun, laughing and drinking and hugging, surrounded by the blue sky and the quiet world holding still for us. For a moment. It was never a question after that if we should continue hiking and the journey to our 46 was much like our marriage. Expectations were thwarted as “easy” sum mits took three attempts. We had to learn to listen to our bodies, and each other. We supported and teased weak nesses while streams were crossed in trepidation and plans were changed reluctantly. We pushed each other

when needed. We took a break when needed. We met new people, we collected new gear, we tried new things, we found new love in moss and vistas and each other. On our twenty-fifth wedding anniversary my hus band patiently waited for me at the top of the Saddleback cliffs. When I arrived, he reached his hand out, I took it, and we summited our forty-sixth Adirondack high peak together. Once again, the world stood still for us. For a moment.

36 | ADIRONDACK PEEKS