John D. Strong Books

One of my biggest passions is hiking. I am an official 46er! What is that?

 

ADK46 is about hiking the 46 High Peaks in the Adirondack Mountains of New York State. When a person hikes all 46, they are officially 46ers.

 

Many years ago, my wife suggested we hike the 46 High Peaks. Perhaps this doesn’t sound too difficult, but we lived out of the area most of the time, so we couldn’t hike very many peaks in a year. Also I am a very slow hiker and no longer a young man. But I was up for the challenge!

 

Before setting out on any hikes, I went online and read accounts of folks who had hiked these peaks. I learned what to do, what to avoid, what routes to take, and found plenty of great advice.

 

Despite the Adirondacks’ benign appearance, its wilderness is unforgiving. Even in summer, hypothermia can be an issue, especially if you get wet. We brought a change of dry clothing and wore footwear with good traction. We had headlamps with extra batteries for the many times we hiked at night. Yes, we hiked at night! Not the best or safest time, but sometimes it’s necessary.

 

We also needed a few ways of making a fire in case of an emergency. We brought matches, a lighter, and a flint with a metal striker. Campfires are not allowed in certain areas, so we generally used a small camp stove (aka “pocket rocket”).

 

We made sure to carry some basic first aid items, especially Band-Aids! They were useful not only for cuts, but also for blisters on our feet. One of the most important items we needed was toilet paper. Sometimes we were fortunate enough to find an outhouse or a “box” (I’m serious), and there might be toilet paper in it. Maybe. But we made sure we had our own. Many times we had to be like the bears and just “go in the woods.”

 

We had to carry everything we needed, including food and water. When we first began our 46er quest, we carried all our water. Later on, I used a water filter to treat the water we found along our way (before we left, we read up on where water could be found). Even out in the wilderness, the water is not without health risks if you drink it untreated.

 

For food, at first we bagged our meals separately. For supper, we sometimes had PB & J sandwiches that had been squashed from being on the bottom of the pack. But they were most delicious when we were famished from miles of walking. Later on, we brought dried meals that we could add hot water to and have a hot meal.

 

If you ever want to hike the mountains, do your research. Be prepared. Keep your wits about you. However, even with research and being careful, there are always unexpected situations you will encounter. I could tell you story after story of how many times God helped us, protected us, and got us home safely. Not always easily, but safely.

 

Many times it was hard and we wondered if the trail would ever end. We had to just keep placing one foot in front of the other and keep going. One of our jokes was to say that “they keep moving the top” (of the mountain).

 

The beauty of these mountains is astounding. Standing at the top of a peak with the wind blowing across me is a sensation I’ve never felt any other time. I love looking across at what I call “layers” of mountains stretching out into the distance. The scenery is stunning and the sense of accomplishment is gratifying. Hiking the Adirondacks is an experience that will stay with me forever.

 

I recommend checking out these majestic mountains yourself!

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