Club Loses Founding Member Helen Menz, #42

helen menz

The 46er family mourns the loss of Helen Menz #42 who died on Sunday, July 17, 2016 at the age of 99. Helen was a founding member of the Adirondack Forty-Sixers, attending the inaugural meeting of the newly formed organization on May 30, 1948 at Adirondak Loj. She remained active in the club and attended the annual meetings until last year. Helen’s first high peak climb was Marcy on June 23, 1932. She finished on Allen on September 13, 1946.

The 46er family mourns the loss of Helen Menz #42 who died on Sunday, July 17, 2016 at the age of 99. Helen was a founding member of the Adirondack Forty-Sixers, attending the inaugural meeting of the newly formed organization on May 30, 1948 at Adirondak Loj. She remained active in the club and attended the annual meetings until last year. Helen’s first high peak climb was Marcy on June 23, 1932. She finished on Allen on September 13, 1946.

PEEKS editor Chuck Schwerin spent an afternoon with Helen recently to talk about her hiking experiences. His article about their visit appeared in the Spring 2016 issue of the magazine. We offer it here as a tribute to Helen, her service to the club, and her spirit of adventure. Helen, may your hikes in the celestial hills be on smooth trails, with good friends, and fair skies.

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  • Exhibit features Grace Hudowalski

    The Adirondack History Museum and Essex County Historical Society are presenting a special exhibit on 46er #9, Grace Hudowalski. “Grace Hudowalski and the Mountains We Climb” will open at the Museum in Elizabethtown, NY, on Saturday, June 7th. The exhibit tells the story of mid-20th century Adirondack recreation, highlighting Grace Hudowalski, a founding 46er and the first woman to climb the 46 High Peaks of the Adirondack Mountains. Her lifelong passion for the mountains and her devotion to the 46ers are legendary. She was the long-time historian of the organization and wrote thousands of inspiring personal letters to climbers during their quest to become 46ers. Many of the exhibit artifacts, including her manual typewriter, hiking clothing and boots, and photos, are on loan from the Adirondack 46R Conservation Trust and will be on display through mid-October. Plan to visit the Essex County Historical Society the next time you are hiking in the area and experience a part of 46er history. For directions to the museum go to: www.adkhistorycenter.org/pla/planavisit.html

    some of grace's artifacts
    Some of Grace’s artifacts

  • Grace Peak Celebration Highlights

    The Grace Peak Celebration cosponsored by the 46ers and the Town of North Hudson on June 20th, was an unqualified success. It was a wonderful memorial to 46er matriarch Grace Hudowalski, #9, and a festive tribute to the club’s successful effort to officially name a High Peak in her honor.

    The parking lots at the North Hudson Town Park were overflowing as 46ers and town residents –those who knew Grace personally, and those who knew her by reputation only – all gathered to join in celebrating the official renaming of East Dix to “Grace Peak.”

    The initial forecast of rain gave way to a picture perfect day of sun, cloudless skies, moderate temperatures, and enough of a breeze to fend off any black flies and mosquitoes. Attendees enjoyed a day of good music provided by local Adirondack musical groups Jamcrackers, and the Boathouse Gang; great food, including Bison burgers from the Adirondack Buffalo Company; delicious homemade baked beans and coleslaw compliments of Elk Lake Lodge; strawberry shortcake served by the Schroon Lake/North Hudson Historical Society; and a special summer ale, called “Witch Water,” brewed especially for the occasion by the Paradox Brewing Company. The name of the ale paid tribute to an old 46er legend. The early 46ers called rain water that pooled in rock depressions on the mountain summits “Witch Water.” The legend says that whoever drinks it is forever bound to the mountains.

    Throughout the day members of the 46er trail crew and Lean2 Rescue volunteers demonstrated techniques used in lean-to building and rehabilitation, and trail maintenance.

    The formal part of the celebration included comments by North Country Assemblyman Dan Stec, a 46er himself, Ronald Moore, the Town of North Hudson Supervisor, Robert Stegemann, DEC Region 5 Regional Director, who read a congratulatory letter from Governor Andrew Cuomo, and 46er President Brian Hoody.

    The June 20th event was more than just a celebration of Grace Hudowalski and the naming of a peak in her honor. It was a celebration of 46er determination and dedication, and a salute to the club’s indefatigable spirit – from the 12-year effort it took to succeed in officially naming Grace Peak, to the individual accomplishment of each 46er in climbing the 46 High Peaks, to the volunteer service projects that the club and its members support on behalf of the Adirondack region. It was also a day to celebrate community, as hikers, many of whom are visitors to the Adirondacks, joined with local residents to work together in support of a common cause. The day exemplified the attitude expressed in one of Grace’s favorite sayings, “‘Can’t’ never did anything.”

    To all who contributed their time and talents to help organize the Grace Peak Celebration and make it a successful, memorable occasion, THANK YOU! We could not have done it without each and every one of you. And to all who attended the festivities, thank you for your support. We hope you enjoyed the day.

    Click here for a photo gallery of the Grace Peak Celebration, June 20, 2015.

  • Adirondack 46ers Support Crucial High Peaks Stewardship Programs

    Lake Placid, NY – November 16, 2020 – After another busy year in the High Peaks Wilderness, the Adirondack 46ers have doubled down on their dedication to supporting critical stewardship programs in the High Peaks Wilderness. Last week they announced a $41,000 commitment to ADK’s (Adirondack Mountain Club’s) professional trail crew. This comes shortly after another major pledge by the 46ers of $75,000 over the next three years for the Adirondack High Peaks Summit Stewardship Program, which ADK manages in partnership with the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and the Adirondack Chapter of The Nature Conservancy.

    Since 2001, the Adirondack 46ers have made increasing contributions to stewardship programs in the High Peaks Wilderness. What started as a $3550 donation to ADK’s trails program in 2001 has since expanded to annual donations between $30,000-46,000; a sign of just how invested the 46ers are in protecting the high peaks. All in all, the Adirondack 46ers have donated nearly $350,000 over the last 20 years to ADK’s trails program, of which $289,000 has come in just the last eight years when visitor use has been the highest. “As visitor use has increased in the High Peaks Wilderness, so has the 46ers’ investment into stewardship programming,” said Andrew Hamlin, ADK Trails Coordinator. “This support has been crucial to the success of a number of trail projects over the years.”

    The Adirondack 46ers aren’t just invested in trail work; over $100,000 has gone to supporting the Summit Stewardship Program during the same period. Operating for the last 31 years, the program has played an important role in the recovery and protection of alpine vegetation in the High Peaks. “Despite increases in visitor use, we have not recorded a decline in alpine vegetation on summits with a stewarding presence,” said Kayla White, Summit Steward Coordinator. “The 46ers have been tremendously supportive of the program and its mission since its inception, and their backing has helped us achieve this result.”

    “As an all-volunteer organization made up of thousands of members who love and respect our beloved Adirondacks, the 46ers take great pride in contributing to meaningful projects that directly benefit conservation and education efforts and help to preserve our wilderness experience for generations to come,” said Siobhan Carney-Nesbitt, President of the Adirondack 46ers.

    Looking ahead to 2021, ADK’s stewardship programs will again play a key role in addressing high use issues in the High Peaks Wilderness. Thanks to the 46ers, the professional trail crew will be able to continue developing a reroute of the Avalanche Lake-Lake Colden Connector Trail, which they started this past summer, and begin work on a severely damaged section of the Phelps Trail between Bushnell Falls and Mount Haystack. The funding will also support the professional trail crew’s annual spring training. Summit stewards will return to the high peaks starting Victoria Day Weekend, where they will continue their work to protect and study New York’s fragile alpine vegetation.

    “As we continue to reconcile promoting responsible outdoor recreation with the challenges presented by high use, this ongoing partnership between ADK and the 46ers is one reason to be optimistic,” said Michael Barrett, ADK Executive Director.

  • East Dix Officially Renamed “Grace Peak” in honor of Grace Hudowalski

    East Dix officially has been renamed “Grace Peak” in honor of Grace Hudowalski (#9), long-time historian for the 46ers and the first woman to climb the 46 High Peaks. The United States Board of Geographic Names (USBGN) has approved the petition submitted by the Forty-Sixers to rename East Dix “Grace Peak.” The name designation was approved on June 12, 2014, at the monthly meeting of the USBGN.

    The decision by the USBGN brings to a successful conclusion the campaign that the 46ers began in the early 2000s to name a high peak after Grace. In response to the approval Douglas Arnold (#4693W), who has led the naming effort on behalf of the Forty-Sixers for the past twelve years said: “Everyone has a mentor – a coach, parent or grandparent, friend, or teacher – who influences the outcome of their life. These angels are remembered but rarely honored.

    Grace Hudowalski was a mentor to thousands of people as she shared her enthusiasm for the Adirondacks with everyone. The naming of Grace Peak is a tribute, not only to the lives she touched, but to all of those angels who make a positive impact on our lives.” Sally Hoy (#2924W), President of the Adirondack Forty-Sixers added, “How fitting to honor a woman whose love of the Adirondacks has had far-reaching effects, not only in eco-tourism but in promoting protection of this amazing resource.”

    The Forty-Sixers chose East Dix as an appropriate mountain for renaming because it did not have a unique name. Its appellation is a reference to its proximity to Dix Mountain (named for John A. Dix, New York Secretary of State, 1833-1839), the highest peak in the Dix Mountain Wilderness. Robert Marshall (#3) gave East Dix its associative name so it would not be a “nameless mountain.” In his book Peaks and People of the Adirondacks (1927), Russell M. L. Carson noted that the most interesting fact about East Dix (and its neighbor South Dix) is that “their names are not important enough to be retained and that they can be given distinctive titles, when the right occasion comes, without violation of old-established names.” With the naming of Grace Peak, the “right occasion” has come, and the mountain now has its own, permanent designation.

    The naming effort has received widespread support from recreational groups, individuals, local governments, and state agencies. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the following groups and individuals for their support that helped to make the naming of Grace Peak a reality:

    – Adirondack Mountain Club, and a number of its regional chapters;
    – Adirondack Mountain Club Executive Director Neil Woodworth;
    – The Town of North Hudson and Supervisor Ronald Moore;
    – The County of Essex Board of Supervisors and Chair Randall Douglas;
    – Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Joe Martens and Region 5 Director Robert Stegemann;
    – NYS Committee on Geographic Names;
    – Assemblyman Daniel G. Stec (114th district);
    – Fred Schwoebel , producer/director of the documentary The Mountains Will Wait for You;
    – The Glens Falls Rotary Club;
    – Catskill 3500 Club;
    – New York Folklore Society;
    – Dozens of individuals who wrote letters of support and who have referred to East Dix as “Grace Peak” for the past 12 years.

    For additional information on Grace Hudowalski and the Grace Peak renaming project see: gracepeak.info

  • Forty-Sixers Honor Herb Clark, 46er #1

    While cold rain forced the club-sponsored tribute to Herb Clark to be held indoors instead of at the St. Bernard’s Cemetery in Saranac Lake, the wet weather did not dampen the spirits of those who attended. More than 100 people gathered at the Cantwell Room of the Saranac Lake Free Library on May 26th to honor Herb Clark, 46er #1. Many of the men paid homage to Clark by dressing in his standard hiking attire—a long sleeve shirt and tie.

    Forty-Sixer President Sally Hoy (#2924W) welcomed all those attending, including a large number of Herb Clark’s descendants, as well as Roger Marshall, son of George Marshall (46er #2). Peggy McKeller (#2857W) led the group in the singing of “The Forty-Sixer Song,” and Suzanne Lance (#1802W) presented an historical overview on Herb Clark’s life and his hiking adventures with Bob (46er #3) and George Marshall in their quest to be the first to climb all the 46 High Peaks. Tony Solomon (#3626W) recently retired Chair of the Historian’s Office, presented each of Herb Clark’s grandchildren with a replica of the club’s climbing Certificate of Accomplishment. Several family members recounted their personal remembrances of Herb and his wife Mary Jane.

    Following the ceremony a number of hearty souls braved the wind and rain to go to the cemetery to see the memorial stone that the 46ers purchased to honor Herb Clark’s designation as 46er #1.