Bagging the Adirondack 46ers: High Peaks in Haiku #1-24
As with all of my long escapes to the woods, I charged into my Adirondack 46er quest headlong, full of boundless energy and a tight itinerary, back on Memorial Day. But the woods always have a way of slowing everything down, physically and mentally, forcing one to meander and humbly take some unexpected turns. After descending my 46th peak just before Labor Day, I came out changed, the nuances of which are still subtle and taking time to discover.
Two months away from the woods, and it’s still a daunting task to think about how to break down my High Peaks adventure in narrative form. The stories still loom large and tangled, much like the ADKs themselves. So I’ve decided to start small when it comes to my words and let the stories find their voice in due time.
It’s been said that a picture is worth a thousand words, and when it comes to beautiful landscapes, I think it might just be worth a little more. In an attempt to be succinct as I turn inward, hoping to discover how this trip has shaped me, I’ve written a haiku to capture each day’s essence and posted a gratuitous amount of epic mountain photos because the Adirondacks certainly deserve the spotlight.
Stay tuned for the second half…
Peak #1: Table Top (5/29/16)
Up at 4 a.m.
First trail-less experience
Sun, thunder, and rain

The point at which I begin to wonder, just what have I gotten myself into this summer?? First sighting of Marcy (the tallest peak) off in the distance.
Peaks #2 & 3: Porter & Cascade (5/30/16)
Woke up in a bed
Clouds cleared, rocks dried, sun came out
What’s with all the poop?
Peaks #4, 5, 6, 7, 8: Sawteeth, Gothics, Armstrong, Upper Wolf Jaw, Lower Wolf Jaw (6/11/16)
Who needs sleep? Let’s go!
Swirling clouds, but no black flies
Solo peak bagging

The one view I had before getting socked in a cloudy drizzle for the duration of this 17+ mile, 5 peak day.
Peaks #9 & 10: Street & Nye (6/16/16)
Ate two black flies for snack
Nothing but wooded summits
Some days, you just hike

Street and Nye – nothing to write home about, but the closest the High Peaks come to a walk in the woods.

Pro tip for day hiking: ice cold beers from a cooler and dipping toes into colllld water sources. Thanks, Heart Lake.
Peaks #11, 12, 13, 14: Dial, Nippletop, Colvin, Blake (6/17/16)
Beat up and badass
Manic laughter halfway there
Sipping from the pond

The harsh reality of bagging some ADK peaks – the dreaded out and back hike. We have to go up and down this…twice?! Ugh. For wooded summits no less.
Peaks #15 & 16: Whiteface & Esther (7/7/16)
A rare bone dry trail
Elevator ride on top
Whipped by branch gauntlet

En route to the castle via a long elevator ride. No joke. Some mountain summits have no fanfare. This one has ALL the fanfare.
Peaks #17 & 18: Giant & Rocky Peak Ridge (7/8/16)
A leisurely start
Socked in clouds, sweating buckets
Caution: slabs are nuts

Notice the incredibly forced smiles – I felt much closer to tears following the descent to the col at the bottom of Giant en route to Rocky Peak Ridge.
Peaks #19, 20, 21: Couchsachraga, Santanoni, Panther (7/11/16)
Times Square is empty
It’s a long slog to the bog
Trail run for Santa
Peaks #22, 23, 24: Algonquin, Iroquois, Wright (7/17/19)
Twinning on this hike
Is this Franconia Ridge?
Nothing but blue skies
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Comments 4
Thanks for the memories! Great photos. I remembered every sore muscle and smile of accomplishment! Look forward to the second installment!
Sue Delorm Buak #2354
Thanks, Sue! And congrats on your 46-Rs as well 🙂 So many sore muscles, smiles, sweat, and a few tears. Worth it every time.
This is the best recap of the 46 that I have ever read! Thanks for sharing your thoughts and pictures. I can tell that our beloved ADK’s have worked their magic on you.
One minor caption correction: The caption “Crossing Orebed Brook” should be “East Branch Ausable River”. (Orebed Brook is on the NW side of the range).
Thanks again for sharing this wonderful blog. Looking forward to part 2.
Hi ADK’er — thanks for the error correction! No matter how many times I study the map, I still manage to get myself turned around. Those mountains have worked their magic and then some. So looking forward to returning to some favorites or taking new trails to the summits in the coming months 🙂