Adirondack Peeks Winter 2024

Outdoor Skills Workshop Julia Garro, #ASP30862 “W hat’s in your backpack? What’s gon na save you?” This phrase was re peated often and to great effect by Ron Konowitz, #487V, in his powerful Saturday af ternoon talk about working with the Keene Valley search and rescue team, and it was a key point that I took away from this spring’s Outdoor Skills Work shop. Or, as I have lovingly dubbed it, 101 Ways to Die in the Mountains. The message that the Adirondacks can be a dangerous place for the ill-prepared and poorly equipped was hammered home over the course of the jam-packed weekend. Right from the get go on Friday night as former Forest Ranger Peter Fish, #1396V, talked us through all the potentially lifesaving items in his trusty pack, straight through to the Sunday morning talk from current Forest Ranger Peter Evans, #7350W, we heard horror stories of hikers who underestimated the mountains and overestimated their competence. I had hiked Giant the October prior, so I had some idea of what I was getting into. But looking back on that hike with all my newfound knowledge I realize how much I’d relied on my more experienced hiking partner, how many scenarios I hadn’t even considered, and how much luck played a part in that adventure going as smoothly as it did. But the truth is that you don’t know what you don’t know, which is why the Outdoor Skills Workshop is such a valuable offering from the Adirondack 46ers. Al though we only skimmed the surface of many subjects, it was enough to shine a light on the areas where par

Daughter Brianna Becoming 46er #9834

2024 Group Shot; Photo by Larysa Murray

ticipants’ knowledge might be lacking and to point us at the resources to better prepare us for the adventures and challenges to come as we befriend the 46 peaks. If you’ve done the workshop or been involved in its execution, you know it’s a whirlwind. We convened with our cook groups shortly after 7 a.m. for breakfast and were up until after 10:30 p.m., with some of us wind ing down and exchanging stories by the fire, like Angie Marra’s, #9398V, harrowing tale of a close encounter with a mountain lion on Cooch. The hours in between were packed full with workshops and activities. Topics ranged from Bill Lundy’s, #3310V, Lies My Map and Compass Told Me to an appetizing talk by Claire Guyer, #13516, and Karen Hickcox, #10409, about how to feed yourself well on the trails to entertaining tales of legendary Adirondack hermit Noah John Rondeau by Sharp Swan, #566WV.

On the Trail Up Mt. Jo; Photo by Wendy K.

Action-Socialization-Experience (ASE) Games; Photo by Francis Farge

Pete Fish Talk; Photo by Julia Garro

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