How do you fill the hiking boots of a legend? A young “Amazing Grace” Hudowalski #9 (1906-2004), first woman 46er, created the role of 46er Historian simply by deciding to do so and then figuring out what to do and how to do it. She served for more than 60 years, 45 of them in an acknowledged official capacity, maintaining correspondence files, answering thousands of letters (some 1,600 in 1991, on her portable electric typewriter, which she staunchly refused to replace with a computer, or even to upgrade), assigning climbing numbers, and on and on — for the most part, single-handedly. Finally, with both the 20th century and herself in their 90s, she needed help. According to one key successor, it took “about 27 people to continue the work that Grace had done by herself.” Case in point: 82 boxes, or almost 40 cubic feet, of members’ correspondence and questionnaires were packed up and A Brief History of 46er Historians With special recognition for Tony Solomon and the late Jane Nye, By Neal Burdick WHERE: Historian’s Office WHEN: 1996 TALKING POINTS HISTORY OF THE CLUB AND THE ADIRONDACKS Grace 2.0’s Tony Solomon #3626WV and Jane Nye #4142V at their home. 10 | ADIRONDACK PEEKS
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