Adirondack Peeks Winter 2024

Winter Hiking Dave Pawlick, #12803

The mountains are full of snow, ice and bitter cold . . . it's the most wonderful time of the year!

O n a nice summer drive through the Adirondacks, you often look up to see majestic peaks surround ed by deep green forests and maybe there is a white puffy cloud floating by. For many of us hikers, we im mediately start yearning to lace up our boots and make our way to the top. Take that same drive in the winter and the view is foreboding: blinding white snowy summits, rocky sections gleaming with ice, and clouds whipping past the summits. For most people, that scene triggers body chills and dialing up the heat in their car. For others, that scene triggers an adrenaline surge, even if they dislike everything else about winter. There are currently over 16,000 people that have earned their 46er number, but just over 1,200 of them have completed a winter round. It is not hard to understand why less than 10 percent of 46ers have gone on to earn their “W”: all peaks have to be climbed from December 21 to March 21 (inclusive), shorter daylight periods means that longer hikes will start or finish—or both—in the dark, dif ferent gear and clothing is required, and risks associated with hiking mistakes or changing weather can be more significant. For sure, winter hiking is not for everyone, but most people who give winter hiking a try find it to be ex hilarating, and they get the opportunity to experience the trails and the mountains in a very different way. I hope this

article will get the winter hikers excited for the season, and perhaps other hikers will consider giving it a try. I asked the following Winter 46ers to share their wisdom and knowledge with the readers of PEEKS : Joe Bogardus #3342W, Siobhan Carney-Nesbitt #5930W, John Ehntholt #10924W, Jonathan Zaharek #11171W, Adri enne Scivolette #12235W, Tim Thomas #13206W and Pau la Brown-Weinstock #13496W. Dave Pawlick (DP): We commonly hear people say, “never hike alone,” but does this group prefer hiking solo or with a buddy? Adrienne Scivolette (AS): I’m solo about half of the time. Jonathan Zaharek (JZ): I am almost always solo, especially now that I’m often skiing to and from the summits. Paula Brown-Weinstock (PBW): For winter high peaks, I al ways hike with a partner and prefer the energy of a group in winter, especially on the long hikes. In summertime, I tend to prefer hiking solo. Siobhan Carney-Nesbitt * * *

(SC): I don’t hike in winter by myself, but I don’t have any reservations about be ing alone with my daughter Maebh. Tim Thomas (TT) , Joe Bogardus (JB) and John Ehntholt (JE) said that they are solo on most of their winter hikes. DP: What is your favor ite website for monitoring weather and conditions? Almost everyone men tioned Mountainforecast. com and the Adirondack Trail Conditions Facebook

WINTER 2024 | 19