Bohdanka Demova #17003 wants to share that “whether you have self-doubt, or have been drained emotionally, financially or physically, there are always mountains to climb. Some of the mountains you may choose, and other mountains may be placed on you by others. But if you hold your head up, believe in yourself and keep focused on a goal, you can accomplish anything!” The Pippin family (Dad James, Mom Isabelle, Claire and Paul) is from Pittsford, N.Y., and they love to be outdoors. Their 46ers story began in July 2013 when they were in the Adirondacks on a camping trip with other families and they decided to climb Cascade. Mom and Dad were impressed that their children (6 and 8 years old at the time) succeeded without injury or bad feelings. In fact, the whole family liked it so much that they decided to keep climbing other peaks in the park. After they reached 15 High Peaks, they set a goal to finish all 46 High Peaks before Claire would leave for college in 2023. Twelve years seemed like enough time at a reasonable pace while enjoying other travels and outdoor experiences. They added winter hiking and backpacking to try to get to finish line before Claire left for college but, ultimately, they adjusted to their goal to finish before Paul left for college two years later. That goal was realized in July 2025 on top of Gothics, during a backpacking trip that included five High Peaks. Completing the 46 High Peaks was more than ticking off a list of peaks for the Pippin family. James said, “We enjoyed so much quality time together, especially in the preparation, hiking, backpacking, and supporting each other when one of us was feeling tired, and we loved the Noonmark Diner for a great breakfast after several days of backpacking. But, as much as we enjoyed our 46er experience, we also literally suffered blood, sweat, and tears as family. We had to turn around a couple of times when conditions, timing, or someone didn’t feel good. We all learned together about goal-setting, perseverance, finishing projects that we start, reinforcing family values, and respecting nature. We thoroughly enjoyed this amazing adventure, and we continue to enjoy hiking in the park and plan other hiking trips to beautiful destinations in the U.S. and overseas.” The Pippin family ( #16453/54/55/60 #17003 26 | ADIRONDACK PEEKS
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