100 years of ADK hiking: honoring the trailblazers

ELIZABETHTOWN | A trio of hiking milestones hit their 100th anniversary at the same time. And a big celebration at the Adirondack History Museum here brought together some of the Adirondack Park's most knowledgeable hikers and summit trail makers. In a day-long event, Evolution of the Adirondack Wilderness, the Grace Hudowalski Charitable Trust brought together the Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK) and the Adirondack 46ers to commemorate a century since ADK was founded; a century since Grace Hudowalski first climbed Mt. Marcy; and a century since Bob Marshall published his short memoire, High Peaks of the Adirondacks. With a rich, authentic and detailed history woven together over decades, 46er and Essex County Historical Society President Sharp Swan started the day with images showing what Adirondack forests looked like in 1922. Many were charred and barren. Using some rare and previously unseen images from Marshall family albums, Swan told the story of fires in 1903 and 1913 that tore up and over mountainsides. Other images revealed how logging companies had stripped forests up to 3,500 feet among high peak summits, leveling woodlands on many slopes. Remnants of these events are evident today as Swan showed in comparison with his own more recent photos. His 1922 retrospect pit fire maps and logging records against what the first three 46ers, Adirondack guide Herb Clark (#1) George Marshall (#2) and his brother Bob Marshall (#3) and famed hiker Grace Hudowalski (#9: first woman 46er) saw in their early ventures to the mountain summits. Celebrated as a trailblazer, Grace's words and images tell much of the story. The first woman to summit all 46 Adirondack High Peak, Hudowalski was the first president of the Forty-Sixers Club of Troy, which later became the Adirondack 46ers. Grace Peak was named in her honor in 2014. The gala event touched on how the life's work of all four hiking pioneers form core elements of the magic that to date draws thousands to climb in the Adirondacks and hundreds more to help build and repair trails and inform the hiking public. L. John Van Norden, executive director of the Hudowalski trust, presented a reprint edition of Marshall's primer hiking guide to honor the centennial of its publication. The 2022 edition was designed and printed to match the 1922 version, but with notes to update name and place changes made in the century since. History was alive at the centennial with many guest speakers. Tony Goodwin, longtime executive director of the Adirondack Trail Improvement Society, which was established before ADK and the 46ers, presented a richly illustrated look at the evolution of hiking trails, attendant maps and trail-building methods in the Adirondacks. His work included maps of some of the first trails made by famed guides, including his father Jim Goodwin. Aug. 2022, he said, also marks 100 years since his late father -- at age 12-- led his first group into the wilderness. Over 100 people visited with ADK and 46er leaders throughout the day. Fred Schwoebel presented his film "The Mountains Will Wait for You"; Bethany Garretson spoke about Healing and Empowerment in the High Peaks. And ADK Deputy Executive Director Julia Goren talked about ADK at 100 and their future. As evening approached, Peggy Lynn and Dan Duggan performed some of their well-loved Adirondack songs in the pavilion behind the museum.

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100 years of ADK hiking: honoring the trailblazers

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