Adirondack Peeks Winter 2024

up with fun things to do. Peter and his fam ily were legends at Poko —his father, Gillett “Toots” Welles, Jr., #179, and his brother Tim, #120. Peter was a three-sport star at Yale: cross country, track, and wrestling. I was a high school wrestler at this time and impressed with Peter’s attitude and deter mination while completing his goal of hiking the forty-six high peaks in eleven days. SR: In Peter Welles’s article, “46 Mountains in 11 Days”, he describes each day of his challenge in detail. On day 6, Peter and his father arrived at Camp Pok-O-Moonshine to solicit help from fellow Poko campers in assisting Peter in the remaining five days of his challenge. His father was replaced by members of the Advanced Section with a plan of using one camper each day to hike alongside Peter while the others provided the necessary support of cooking meals

1961 Advanced Section

tional Guard. He had spent some time on maneuvers, but hiking mountains was all new to them. They were very sup portive. SR: I understand at the age of 15 your mom passed away from cancer. I can only imagine how difficult it must have been navigating life while a loved one battles a terminal illness. How did camp play a role in your life during this period? PC: Camp became my grounding point, my rock, the con sistency I needed in my life because, when mom passed, my dad was working in New York City, commuting back and forth, and he didn't get home till 7:00 o'clock at night. Because he was older, he was able to retire and care for me, and eventually he remarried, sold our family home, and moved to Florida. So, during college breaks my grounding place became summers at camp.

and carrying gear: dry clothing and food.

You also wrote about your remembrance of this hike, “Personal Recollections of Peter Welles’s Epic Jour ney.” You were sixteen years old and hiked alongside Peter on two of the five days: day 8 and day 11. On day 8 you climbed the McIntyre Range: Wright, #26; Algonquin, #27; Iroquois, #28; and Marshall, #29. I took excerpts from each article to highlight your involvement in this hike as well as to capture the lessons learned and challenges faced. I’ve quoted both of you on your personal observations of this experience. * * * Phil’s Recollection: Those reading these accounts need to remember in 1962, there was no Gore-Tex, no backpacking stoves, few had hiking boots, and cotton blue jeans and sweatshirts were common. When your clothing got soaked, you were wet all day! If you couldn’t get a wet wood fire go

ing, you didn’t eat. Rain gear consisted of rubberized jackets, light plastic cov ers that ripped easily, or bulky army surplus ponchos. The year prior I had hiked in Chuck Taylor high tops; the canvas had rotted away from the rub ber sole by the end of the season.

For all of us, our participation remains a life lesson in meeting and responding to a personal challenge and reaching deep when things get tough, utilizing reserves you didn’t know you had.

SR: I’ve read that you started your first round of winter for ty-six when you were sixteen years old. During your high school winter breaks your dad would put you on a train and send you up to the Adirondacks to hike with your former camp counselor and friend, Jim “Beetle” Bailey, #233. Jim was president of the 46ers from 1966–1969. Was Jim a role model for you during the camp years? PC: Yes, “Beetle” and Peter Welles, #119—they were both role models for me. Jim was so creative and always coming

Peter Welles: The worst experience of the last two morn ings was the task of putting one’s wet clothes on after be ing so dry and warm in a down sleeping bag. This morn ing [day 11], it had resumed the state of down-pouring rain, which had been going on most of the night. The camp area was flooded and the trail that Phil and I must follow to the summit of Marcy was a roaring stream. . . . We reached the summit of Marcy, #38. There was a very strong wind from the south, visibility was non-exis tent, and the rain was hitting us at right angles. . . .

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