Questions; Becoming a 46er?

[ADKechoes73]

Over the next few summers I have 2 weeks per summer, at least, for travel in the Dacks. I have wanted to climb the high peaks for a while now having climbed many of the Mt.s in the central region and looking for some more challenging hikes/climbs. Anyways I was wondering if their is any particular order that would be recommended for climbing all 46 of the High Peaks? Perhaps due to their level of difficulty since I know that the tallest does not mean the most difficult.

Also on a side note, does anyone know when they do group climbs up Chimney mountain on the outskirts of Indian Lake?

[Skyclimber]

Anyways I was wondering if their is any particular order that would be recommended for climbing all 46 of the High Peaks? Perhaps due to their level of difficulty since I know that the tallest does not mean the most difficult.

You'll be surprised how quickly you can whip yourself into shape. Depends what kind of shape you are in. If not in good shape start with the easier, shorter ones and work your way up.

[Dick]

You'll be surprised how quickly you can whip yourself into shape. Depends what kind of shape you are in. If not in good shape start with the easier, shorter ones and work your way up.

Some people save some of the easier ones for the end, just so you're not working toward all of the harder ones. Of course, there's no reason you have to do that! Some like to save an easy one for their last peak so that non-hiker friends can join them without too much difficulty. Whiteface is a common last peak, as you can drive to the summit as well as hike.

Probably among most people's list of easier ones would be Cascade, Porter, Phelps, Big Slide, Wright, Giant. Among the more difficult ones would be the Sewards, Couchsacraga, and Allen. Some will disagree. I have never seen a list of peaks in order of difficulty that I agreed with. Too many variables.

Dick

[ADKechoes73]

You'll be surprised how quickly you can whip yourself into shape. Depends what kind of shape you are in. If not in good shape start with the easier, shorter ones and work your way up.

I'm in good shape and hiking/climbing has always been my biggest outdoor hobby so it's nothing new to me.

thanks for the input both of you, I'm glad to see some replies so quickly

[adktyler]

This has the potential for being a very open ended answer. There are lots of peaks that have a unique combination of access challenges, vs. steepness challenges. It all depends on what you're looking for....

[randomscooter]

Over the next few summers I have 2 weeks per summer, at least, for travel in the Dacks. I have wanted to climb the high peaks for a while now ...

Don't do it man. You're getting sucked into the vortex. Life will never be the same again. It's a disease without a cure.

If the pull has become irresistable, there's only one slim chance of backing out...

...imagine yourself becoming like Neil.

Actually, the disease is it's own cure.

To your original question... do it your way. And have fun!

[randomscooter]

I have never seen a list of peaks in order of difficulty that I agreed with.

I don't even agree with my own list.

[Rookie]

Alphabetical order is the only order accepted by the 46'rs !

Really though , you end up grouping them together in hikes , when possible, and working in some over-nights in the woods to be as efficient as possible.

The best made plans are subject to change based on weather, your drive, the people you are hiking with, gear failure and injuries.

2 weeks of hiking each summer sounds really nice.

[Neil]

I would not recommend any particular order. After all, you are already restricting yourself to 46 out of literally hundreds of peaks. No sense in restricting things even further.

Start working your way through the "menu", as one of our members likes to call it, and become more informed through reading and observing. You will get a feel for the area and the peaks and then you can decide to do them based on the prevailing conditions, your whims, curiosity, joining an existing hike, whatever.
If you really like a peak there's nothing to stop you from doing it several times before finishing.

Also, don't get focused on "finishing", as opposed to doing and enjoying.

[WinterWarlock]

2 weeks of hiking each summer sounds really nice.

Oh to be an 18 year old college student again!

Have fun (and welcome to the forum)

WW

[procook131]

The line that comes to mind most is out of Burnside's book and it goes something like "one comes down with a curious malady after climbing one and the only cure is climbing the other forty five". They are all special, all challenging in someway, and most of all, a great place to spend a day, a week, or a lifetime. Have some fun out there!!!

[ADKechoes73]

Thanks for the replies everyone, I think after reading them I am just going to take the alphabetical aproach since the answers varied so greatly. Either way I will climb them all for sure.

Are there any mountains (not just in high peaks) at all that allow fires on the summit, I would think not but it would be neat if you could when camping on a summit.

[Kevin]

Are there any mountains (not just in high peaks) at all that allow fires on the summit, I would think not but it would be neat if you could when camping on a summit.

Doing that went the way of the dinosaurs, and for the same (good) reason... it's called progress.

Many of the tops are cleared entirely or in part because early surveyors would clear them (Colvin did it) before they "knew any better", or people would camp and winds usually found on top of a mountain would spread the camp fire. Some are clear naturally because of their elevation (typically 4,500' +).

http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7872.html

Except in an emergency or between December 15th and April 30th, camping is prohibited above an elevation of 4,000 feet in the Adirondacks.

Except in an emergency or between December 21st and March 21st, camping is prohibited above an elevation of 3,500 feet in the Catskills.

At all times, only emergency fires are permitted above 4,000 feet in the Adirondacks and 3,500 feet in the Catskills.

Here's a kind of representation of my journey doing the 46 (a couple times)... and now I rock climb, don't miss the mountains that much. It was a natural evolution (progression in keeping the disease concept theme ). I always enjoyed the toughest sections of the hiking the most. Add rope, anchors, increase the angle of ascent, and you have rock climbing.

I'll probably be back in the winter a few times to stay in shape and get out of the 4 walls, but there's other outlets for climbing in the winter (ice climbing, rock gym, road rage, etc).

[ADKechoes73]

in regards to the mt. tops again, I have always packed light foods, fruits, gronola and such when camping on summits but, are the small coleman propane stoves ok to use? It's not like wind i going to spread the flame and I always felt it would sure be nice to have a nice hot meal at night on a summit.

[randomscooter]

in regards to the mt. tops again, I have always packed light foods, fruits, gronola and such when camping on summits but, are the small coleman propane stoves ok to use? It's not like wind i going to spread the flame and I always felt it would sure be nice to have a nice hot meal at night on a summit.

The restrictions on fires refer to open fires fueled by native materials, not to use of camp stoves. I enjoyed a wonderful three hour stay on the summit of Haystack on Grace Day '07. Even though it was drizzling and cool I was comfy because I had a stove, hot drink, and hot food.

Just LNT.