Adirondack Peeks Winter 2025

Jessica Zuhlsdorf, #16560 From Survivor to 46er: How the Adirondack High Peaks Helped Me Heal

I began my Adirondack 46er journey in 2021, never expecting it would become the most transformative experience of my life. At first, it was just a challenge to work toward. But everything changed in February 2022, when I survived a brutal assault that left me physically broken and emotionally shattered. I was already grieving the sudden loss of my childhood best friend and soul sister just six months prior, and now I faced the unimaginable: recovering from fractured ribs, head trauma, and the emotional wreckage of betrayal. I didn’t know how I’d ever feel normal again. Then I found the mountains. The Adirondacks became my lifeline. Each summit I climbed helped me reclaim a piece of myself. Nature didn’t ask me to be okay — it simply welcomed me. The trails gave me space to breathe, cry, scream, and, eventually, heal. With every peak, I grew stronger. I met fellow hikers who

became lifelong friends — people who saw me not as a victim, but as a friend, a fellow adventurer, and someone worth walking beside. Finishing all 46 High Peaks wasn’t just about endurance, it was about transformation. I moved closer to the mountains, and in doing so, moved closer to peace. The trails taught me resilience, patience, and the power of showing up for yourself, even when it hurts and you don’t want to get out of bed. I am no longer the woman who was broken. I am a 46er. I am a survivor. And I am living proof that healing can be found one step, one summit, one sunrise at a time. Domestic violence is not okay. Please don’t judge what you do not understand. Instead, reach out. Be present. Be compassionate. You never know the strength it takes for someone just to keep going.

Basin Mountain - Left to Right - Rob Ryan #14847, Jessica Zuhlsdorf, Amber Hughes ASP #30174, Pamela Chiani #16368

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