What is your reason to become a Forty-Sixer?

[Skyclimber]

Out of curiosity why do most of you choose to climb all Forty-Six Peaks? Whether it is a Warm Weather Goal or a Winter Goal.

Is it for the patch? The sense of accomplishment? The challenge?
To say, "I am a Forty-Sixer?" Being in the woods? Personal Reasons?
The list? Etc. Etc.

[hillman1]

I started it after years of mountain biking and skiing. It was a logical next step for getting farther into the mountains. I never really set out for all 46, but after my 3rd time on marcy, I decided what the heck--I bet there is some really cool places out there. Also, my father has ALS, and I figure that someday I might have it, so I should do something now, rather than lose the ability to do it and wish I had. Now I am addicted to hiking and climbing, and I have met some great folks through hiking. These message boards have allowed me to meet some people that are of a different make than most of my "at home" friends. Most of them would never go out in late december for 3-4 days of frigid camping. The 46er list gets you into places that you would probably have never gone to. I still haven't sent in for my patch, but I think I am sending in for that black diamond fleece. PS--skyclimber--I had no idea you were my correspondant until Neil told me. 4 winter rounds is some serious stuff. I just love these dancing bananas.

[Dick]

It was originally my wife's idea. We had done a few of them already, just to get out and hike. I don't recall exactly, but Joanne probably said something like, "why don't we do them all" and I probably said something like, "yeah, right, in our dreams!" Eventually it became an off-again, on-again pastime, as we alternated high peak hiking with other hikes, both in the Adirondacks and elsewhere. Some of them we did several times, going with different people or just because we liked them. As we grew nearer to the end, it became more of an obsession ("what do we 'need' to hike next," can't hike that one, it's not one of the 46," and so forth). Sure, the challenge and personal sense of accomplishment was a part of it. Being in the woods is definitely a part of it, but that can be done without hiking the 46. Sure, a patch is a nice memento to have, but certainly we didn't do it just for a patch! Making up for lost time, perhaps. Other than a few minor childhood experiences, I don't think I set foot on a hiking trail until I was thirty (and that was a CO 14er). And there are other reasons which I can't explain, and some I'm probably not even aware of. We'll do some of them yet again, probably many of them again, but we will continue to hike elsewhere, too. I've loved them all in one way or another, admittedly some more than others! But I've mentioned here before that, even before finishing our descent of Haystack (our 46th), we decided: "no more lists!" We both find that affirmation to be quite liberating.

[Skyclimber]

Yes, I enjoyed your letter Hillman. Still have it in my filing cabinet. I didn't know who you were until Neil told me. Small world I guess. Correction though, three peaks shy, Seward, Skylight and Gray and I would had finished my 5th Winter Round. This Crazy "B----," would of went for that 6th round as well, with half done on that. As well as doing them all in Each Season of the Year, almost twice, lacking eleven peaks.

Climbing wasn't just a goal for me, it was theraputic to me, in so many ways. The friends I have met, other "Special" people, like Neil, etc. The camorade of people I have met, who have enriched my life. As Corresponding with Climbers does for me. Along with Other personal reasons where hiking has gotten me to today. It changes your life.

I started hiking (1990) because I was obsessed with exercise, was an Eating Disorder Patient for many years. Figured I could burn alot of calories, lose weight. I Recovered almost eight years ago, after a twelve year battle. The Mountains helped me through it. I didn't plan on climbing all Forty-Six, didn't even know about them, until I got a book at the Library. When I started reading, saw Forty-Six Peaks, I told my ex-husband, it would take a person a lifetime to do this, little did I know back then. It only took me exactly one year to do round number one. (1991) I knew nothing about the Forty-Sixers until I baught a book by Jim Goodwin, started reading it, found an address to the Forty-Sixers after I climbed almost half of them. Wrote in, then I started to learn. The patch meant nothing to me, just climbing for the beauty, challenge, and Peacefullness of it all. My way of escaping the everyday pressures life gives to us.

Reaching my Forty-Six Peak Dix, was a letdown, in order to satisfy that hungar, I decided to climb them all over again, over again, over again. This time to get a bigger challenge, I decided to do them all in Winter, taking three consecutive winters to complete them all. ('92-'94) To tell the truth though, I still wear that Forty-Sixer Patch, Pins with a Great Deal of Pride, with a Great Deal of Pride to say, "I am a Winter Forty-Sixer," as well and have many Wonderful Memories of each and every peak. Even Couchsachraga!

[Kevin]

Reason? I dared myself. I'm one of those people who start things but rarely finish. When I climbed Cascade for #1 I realized the enormity of the area and set out to discover more.

In time I'm growing to appreciate all areas of the ADKs, not just the summits of the 46 high peaks. I received my 46r welcome package last week but haven't had time to read all the by laws. From what I did read it's apparent that what I was supposed to get from my experience climbing them is exactly what I got -- a deeper appreciation of the wilderness. This is what the organization is trying to encourage, so it's no coincidence I would have naturally been drawn and even indirectly affiliated with such a group of aspiring tree huggers.

[hillman1]

I will be climbing gray in two weeks with Neil. I'll try to add skylight for you. The Sewards will be a few weeks away, when I can get in there on skis. I would like to know how to get the info on the ski 46ers(Ron Jonowitz?) descents. Did he publish his routes in his entries, or did he keep his secrets to himself. I know he is guiding during the skifest from the mountaineer, but I don't want to try and cheese in on his accomplishments. If there hasn't been a #2 yet, I am working towards it. I'm not trying to hijack this thread--so everyone but skyclimber should disregard this post--

[lumberzac]

My climbing of the 46 is more of a continuation of just another outdoor activity to do. My connection with the Adirondacks started at a young age. Growing in the foothills of these mountains, my father started taking me fishing with him when I was the age of 2 years old. By age 5, I went on my first fishing & backpacking trip. Two years later I made my first trip to the hike peaks on a fishing trip. These trips continued for years and to be honest with everyone, I didn't even realize there were trails up any of the mountains until I was probably 14. It wasn't until I was 21 that I climbed my first high peak. The next year I climbed another, and then the next year I was hooked climbing 8. Now a few years later I have only 8 left to finish the 46, but don't see and end to my trips to the mountains. I'm addicted and try to be in the backcountry every weekend, whether it be, hiking one of the 46, fishing some remote pond or stream, paddling across a lake, or hunting for whitetails, it really doesn't matter as long as I can get outside.

[Skyclimber]

I will be climbing gray in two weeks with Neil. I'll try to add skylight for you. The Sewards will be a few weeks away, when I can get in there on skis. I would like to know how to get the info on the ski 46ers(Ron Jonowitz?) descents. Did he publish his routes in his entries, or did he keep his secrets to himself. I know he is guiding during the skifest from the mountaineer, but I don't want to try and cheese in on his accomplishments. If there hasn't been a #2 yet, I am working towards it. I'm not trying to hijack this thread--so everyone but skyclimber should disregard this post--

Well Thank You So Much. I was hoping someone "Would finish my Winter 46 for me." If the canisters were still there, I would have you sign me in on Gray and Seward. They will just have to accept Skylight on the Honor System for me. Hopefully Seward is your last one, as that was the peak I wanted to finish on, in memorandum of Round Number One. Tell me the day, so I can celebrate. I'll sign my name in the replica Seward Can, I have in my living room.

As far as Ron Konowitz goes. I don't believe he ever published anything. It's just something the Forty-Sixers had on record. As Grace always recorded "neat" Forty-Sixer Accomplishments. He lives here in Keene, I could PM you if you want with his phone number if it is still listed and you could always give him a call. He may talk to you about it. When he was doing this you could see the tracks on some of these peaks. I remember seeing the ski tracks coming off the Carry Trail from Blake and wondering, "how the Hell does anybody ski this Death Trap." It was truly amazing !!

[Martin]

You stumble upon them... you ponder... you fall in love... you come back... you add the challenge... you plan for the goal... you come back often... you realize after a while it's not the goal that moves you, goals can be found anywhere... you are looking for that feeling of accomplishment, but in the end... you just can't wait to go back.


But to answer the question. To accomplish a challenge I enjoy.

[Skyclimber]

You stumble upon them... you ponder... you fall in love... you come back... you add the challenge... you plan for the goal... you come back often... you realize after a while it's not the goal that brings moves you, goals can be found anywhere... you are looking for that feeling of accomplishment, but in the end... you just can't wait to go back.


But to answer the question. To accomplish a challenge I enjoy.

Very beautifully written and detailed to the full meaning, "Of Climbing !"

[Mavs00]

Is the question "Why did I climb all 46" or "why did I choose to join the 46ers".

As for climbing, when I started I was 31, 260 lbs, had never hiked in the ADKs and had NO INTEREST in hiking or any other physical activity either. My wife dragged me and my kids (then 5 and 8) up Mt. Baker in Saranac. The experience intriqued me enough to climb Cascade & Porter the next year. From there it just grew.

By the time 2002 had come around, It had become my passion. It was truely a remarkable journey for me personally as well as for my family. Doing it together, as a group, made the trip all the more memorable. It's impact is really too complicated to explain here, but I'm sure some fully understand what I'm talking about. But at 37, 190 lbs, with a deep love and passion for the peaks and places, I can confidently say, I'm a whole different person than I was before (which is a good thing).

As for joining the 46ers. I suppose It's best explained in -THIS PASSAGE- written about half way through my journey. Given that mindset, it's only logical that I'd join a the 46ers, many of whom feel the same (or at least similar) to the way I do.

Doug, I'm getting me one of those "Black Diamond" fleece's too

[Rick]

Note: This is kinda of long, as what started out as a paragraph turned into several as I couldn't sleep.

For me it was also therapeutic ans the solace as I tried to figure out my life again. I had been pretty active as far as running, biking and weightlifting, but after a bad break up with a girlfriend, I wanted to get as far away from everyone as possible (had plenty of vacation time, but no money), so I got out all my old scouting gear, bought a big 4' pepperoni stick with some ramen noodles and headed for this Northville Placid Trail I had read about. I had the DEC pamphlet and one of those huge green ADK maps (a few years later I read the story about David Boomhower and was always perplexed about his death, as it could have been me or anybody else in his predicament). As it were, I ended up falling in love with the Cold River valley and really got into spending time alone backpacking in the ADKs and in PA.

It wasn't until '93 that I decided to climb a high peak (Seymour, of all peaks) and then later that year, the DEC was looking for volunteers to assist in the search for Thomas Carlton and I had an opportunity to fly into (and back out of) Wallface ponds via Helicopter. Flying through the mountains was the coolest thing - right then and there, listening to the rangers point out the peaks, as we flew by, I was hooked. I thought there is so much out here that I need to explore - it was a calling.

Unfortunately,in Nov-93 I tore my ACL in the Niagara Gorge and had reconstructive surgery in Feb 94 that put me out of commission for a while.

I tried hiking Marcy in June-94, but spent the night at Feldspar LT and came back out, as I realized my knee was not ready for it yet. It's Funny, I decided to stop at my sister's house in Rochester on the way home and met a neighbor of hers that ultimately caussed me to move from Buffalo and get a great job (and a new career) in Rochester. I always mused on how one small decision, such as turning around can profoundly impact your life. I never looked at turning around again as a failure, but as a door.

I ended up not climbing any more high peaks until spring 1995, though I was backpacking again, with a robocop knee brace. It left me with a burning desire to get back to the Adirondacks high peaks.

Like Marta, I too, was disheartened and felt lost after I finished my 46 (1998) as it had been a goal for so long. I also had about 15 winter peaks done, but somehow it wasn't just the same. I experienced this total letdown one other time in my life - I had spent just under 2 years on the East German Border, courtesy of Uncle Sam and I recall the same sinking feeling on my first day back home, standing in my parents bathroom, bewildered at how, for so long I had looked upon getting out of the army and now I felt completely lost and without a goal. I admit I floundered when it came to climbing peaks in 1999-2000.

I moved from the Rochester area in 2000 to SE PA and noticed that I was having serious growing shortness of breath problems related to a congenital valve defect in my heart, I had my Aortic Valve replaced in 2002. I started hiking the AT near my house in SE PA then as a course of therapy and a way to recuperate and by 2004 had completed the AT in PA & NJ, among other things.

We just moved back to the Northeast a few months ago (Massachusetts) and I am excited to work on my 115 as well as the AT around here (Now a lifetime goal).

One other thing. I had thought, Once I become a 46er I will have learned everything about the peaks and woul be somewhat of an expert. Like anything else, little did I realize that it wasn't til I became a 46er that my learning had only just started.

[fvrwld]

I can't pinpoint one specific reason. The challenge and sense of accomplisment are definately part of it. I also see it as a way to improve myself, mainly my level of fitness. I love the exertion and that endorphin rush you get when climbing(aka 'runner's high') There is also a sense of pride in reaching the peaks(14 so far).

At the bottom of it all, the high peaks just seem to draw me in. At first I resisted(probably due to the popularity of the area) but finally I had to give in. Now I look at the map and dream of the day that I find myself on top of Basin, Allen, Haystack (etc, etc) and hiking through Indian Pass, Panther Gorge and along Gill Brook(etc, etc). The whole area has a certain romance that I find hard to resist. The 46 are another Adirondack destinations for me...another excuse to be on the trail and in the woods.

[Judgeh]

A few reasons why I decided to seek the 46, in no particular order:

Inspirational vistas gained through heart pounding effort.
The magic of the Adirondacks.
Satisfaction of achievement despite age and knee replacement.

Twenty to go.

[adk-46r]

I have lived in the Adirondacks my whole life and hunting, fishing, and hiking were just a part of being raised here. I never planned on doing all 46. I had a few freinds invite me to join them on occasion; but I really was not interested at that time. One thing I did want to do was to climb Marcy just so I could say I had been to the highest point in NY. After my divorce I had lots of time on my hands because my ex would not let me see my daughter, so I had a lot of built up energy and anger I had to release in a positive way. I decided one september day to do Marcy. When I reached the top and saw the veiw I was hooked. Although I was afraid of hieghts I had to try it. I figured after seeing haystack from Marcy I would only be a 45r but after doing it as my 45th peak it has become my favorite. After I got my 46 I decided to try the winter peaks I called skyclimber2471w for info on what I needed to know for winter peaks knowing that she had completed them . I hiked most of that winter then I was able to spend time with my daughter again so I took a break from the peaks. I knew that skyclimber2471w had done the 46 in all 4 seasons so this was a goal I had back in my mind. I got back into hiking again a couple of years ago. Now I am older and slower; but I am now more determined to finish my 4 seasons just for personal satisfaction. The patch is just a bonus. Being outdooors and enjoying the fantastic veiws and meeting great people makes doing the 46 worthwhile.