At the Mercy of the Mountains: True Stories Of Survival And Tragedy In New York's Adirondacks

by Peter Bronski

In the tradition of Eiger Dreams, In the Zone: Epic Survival Stories from the Mountaineering World, and Not Without Peril, comes a new book that examines the thrills and perils of outdoor adventure in the “East’s greatest wilderness,” the Adirondacks.

Genres: Nonfiction, Adventure, New York, Outdoors, History, Nature, Survival

344 pages, Perfect Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Keira Konson · Rating 5 out of 5]

definitely the perfect book to read during a peaks trip

[Nikolas Toner · Rating 2 out of 5]

What I liked about the book - based in the Adirondacks, near where I live, and it got me interested in venturing more into day hikes and has given me some familiarity with the peaks, terms, and kinds of terrain.

I also enjoyed the stories of survival and resiliency.

What I didn't like - There was little evidence to tell which stories were of survival and which were tragic tales where the person(s) didn't make it out of the woods.
I like knowing ahead of time what I'm getting into. The stories were scattered throughout and I would have preferred one section of survival and one section of tragedy, something like that.

I don't think I would recommend the whole book, maybe just some of the stories.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I recently began hiking the high peaks, I knew this was something I should read. It certainly has given me a far greater respect for the mountains. The importance of being more than prepared and knowing your limitations. I think this is a must read for any hiker, climber, paddler, or outdoorsman. You never know when a misfortune can happen. Each one of us is at risk when heading out, but I’ve definitely gained some knowledge from reading this book that will help me as I proceed out there.

[Will Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

An awesome collection of stories, although some unfortunately tragic. This book serves as a thoughtful reminder that the places that we often enjoy the most must be treated with respect and caution otherwise the consequences could be dire!

A great read even for non-ADK lovers.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's not perfect but it's an enjoyable read about mountains that I love to explore.

[John Mehrman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the first chapter that explored the history of the Adirondacks. Amazing how much I didn't know considering I grew up there. The rest of the stories were interesting, but I found the author jumping around a lot which was confusing. Maybe his magazine style of writing doesn't translate well to a full book. Quick read and worth it.

[Danny]

The chapter about the two guys trying to canoe down the class 5 rapids of the Hudson was one of the funniest things I’ve ever read.

[David Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grew up looking at and playing in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah. Upon moving to New York in 1987 I was anxious to explore the Adirondacks. For the first trip I bought a topo map and scoped out a backpacking trip on the Brothers, Big Slide trail. I looked at a spot on the map that appeared flat enough to pitch a tent for the night. I took my wife and 3 young kids (11, 8, 5). After hours of hiking up some of the steepest trials I had ever seen with night falling, I was getting really worried. I had no concept of the dense forest of the Adirondacks that made random tent pitching impossible.

My middle son came to me and said “Dad, I think Mom is crying.” Not only am I looking at the possibility of a bivouac but a divorce. Just at is getting dark we stumble upon the first spot where we can reasonably pitch our tent. I make some dinner and get everyone situated then crawl into my sleeping bag. The next morning I wake up and crawl out of the tent and see for the first time the Great Range in the heart of the High Peaks. Mist is floating up the John’s Brook Valley as the sun beams through the clouds. I’m captivated and have fallen in love. Turns out the spot we camped was the only possible campsite between the trial head and Big Slide Mountain. From that day on I gained great respect for the Adirondack, where I have hiked, climbed, skied, and been inspired by the grandeur of the Daks. And by the way switchbacks as common in the Rockies do not exist in the Daks. So you western mountain snobs just know the Daks will humble you.

The Adirondack Park park was created established in 1894 by constitutional amendment to the NY constitution which added the amendment that the stated that the Park would be “forever kept as wild forest lands.” The Park is immense. Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Everglades, and Great Smoky National Parks, added together could fit inside the Park.

That brings me to the book, "At the Mercy of the Mountains: True Stories of Survival and Tragedy in New York's Adirondacks", a gripping and harrowing collection of true stories about people who have faced life-or-death situations in the Adirondack Park. Some survived, some never were found, and others met their demise. Written by Peter Bronski, an experienced outdoorsman and journalist, the book chronicles the struggles and triumphs of people who have faced incredible challenges while hiking, climbing, skiing, and even simply enjoying the scenic beauty of this rugged region.

What makes this book so compelling is Bronski's ability to bring the reader right into the heart of each story. He uses vivid descriptions, intimate interviews, and extensive research to create a sense of immediacy and urgency that is truly gripping. Readers will feel like they are right there with the people whose stories are being told, experiencing their fear, pain, and ultimately their survival or demise.

The stories themselves are incredibly diverse. There are tales of hikers lost in the wilderness, climbers stranded on rock faces, skiers caught in avalanches, and more. But despite their differences, each story is a testament to the human spirit and our ability to overcome incredible adversity. The individuals featured in the book are ordinary people thrust into extraordinary situations, and their resilience and determination is nothing short of inspiring.

Bronski also does an excellent job of contextualizing each story, providing information about the Adirondacks themselves, the history of outdoor recreation in the region, and the various safety measures and rescue operations in place. This adds depth and meaning to the stories and makes them even more impactful.

Overall, "At the Mercy of the Mountains" is an outstanding book that will appeal to anyone interested in outdoor adventure, survival stories, or simply the human experience. Bronski's writing is engaging and powerful, and the stories he tells are nothing short of extraordinary. Highly recommended.

[Victoria Wieczorek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book!! I’m a wussy older hiker who admires the Adirondack peaks from a distance, though I have climbed a couple small mountains with a view, which was thrilling! The Lake Placid and Elizabethtown areas are my favorite, and I’ve been going there yearly since I fell in love with the mountains about 10 years ago. (i used to be a hardcore beach bunny.) Back to the book, which is extremely well written. I love how one story follows another immediately. It’s also very easy to envision being right there as the misadventures happen. This book makes me appreciate the “Dacks” more than ever, along with those who climb the high peaks, and those who rescue the climbers. I loved every page written, and found it a thrilling, sad, and sometimes happy blend of adventures written by a man who clearly loved the mountains. This book is very special to me, and I will take it with me when I go back to the mountains.

[Becky S · Rating 5 out of 5]

The theme of this book (possibly unintentional) is 'mother nature doesn't care about anyone'. These stories show that even those who go into the woods with skill and proper equipment may not come out. Weather can deteriorate in minutes unleashing avalanches, floods, straight line winds, rainstorms, hurricanes, lightning, blizzards and more. The less skilled hiker without proper equipment should stick to well-marked trails.
I was impressed at the time, effort and expense that goes into searching for hikers who get lost.

[Marilyn Sue Michel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book to read if you like to go out to the backcountry, far from civilization, in possibly dangerous conditions. It is mostly about winter hiking and camping, but some incidents with lightning in the summer as well. All of the stories take place in the Adirondacks in New York, but the lessons apply in the Wasatch Mountains or the Sierra Mountains as well. The excellent Epilogue gives good advice about being prepared for adverse events. Some of the writing is not good, leading to confusion, and allegedly Steve Ovitz was in the helicopter, not on the ground during the rescue.

[Jared Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great collection of stories from the Adirondacks. Bronski treats his subjects with compassion and empathy and resists turning them into cautionary tales. He offers advice in the final chapter on risk management in the wilderness, but makes clear that risk can only be mitigated and managed, not eliminated. It was fun to find in these pages the names of some of the guides that my dad and brothers have climbed with over the years.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I live in the Adirondacks region and have been to several of the locations in the book, so it hit close to home. It is a great book to read. Each chapter is captivating and you can’t put the book down until you reach the chapter conclusion. A couple endings break your heart and a few of the them still leave us with unresolved questions as to what happened to some of those who perished. Each chapter is a mini adventure and I highly recommend this book.

[Lynn Alspach · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s different than other death in park books, but enjoyable nonetheless. Great detail into the situations people found themselves in along with narratives from the survivors. It may seem morbid to some, but the more you know about the possible dangers, the less likely you are to be in future books of the same nature.

[Joe Geronimo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I spend a lot of time in the Adirondacks so when I saw this book I purchased it. I've always been safety conscious being out in the wilderness, however this book did open my eyes to being even more thoughtful and cautious when on an adventure.

Definitely an interesting read and I enjoyed it thoroughly.

[Donald Crane · Rating 4 out of 5]

The seemingly endless preface, foreword, and introduction finally gave way to many gripping tales of adventure gone wrong in the Adirondacks. Although I haven’t spent much time in ADK, and it has been many years, these events were written in a way that you could be a complete stranger to the park and still be captivated by the narrative.

[Leah Jaffe · Rating 2 out of 5]

Various fears aside, I felt like this book was missing something tying it all together. I think that I would have like it more if the incidents weren’t described so separately and there’d been more of a narrative style description of how people’s approaches to safety evolved. I also think that it would have been good to have some maps to help visualize where the subjects were.

[Cheryl Blask · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-read if you hike in the ADK. The accounts of each misadventure are chilling—even if you’ve never ventured to those areas. I’ve hiked some of those trails, and I don’t think I can think of them in the same way again .

[Brie Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an outdoor enthusiast, it’s important to read about misadventures to learn from others mistakes or unfortunate turn of events. I really enjoyed this book. Quick read and we purchased it at ADK mountain club so the money went towards a good cause!

[Court · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic local lore, especially for lovers of hiking and the Adirondacks!

[Casey Justice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good but a little bit slow

[Raphael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Makes me want to hike the Adirondacks even more, but all the while making sure I’m absolutely prepared and I know exactly what I’m doing.

[Elizabeth Antosy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haunting!! This is a definite need to read for those who love the High Peaks.

[Kevin Gallagher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable read about an area I hiked as a kid. Lots of interesting history — I wouldn’t call it a page-turner though.

[Montana Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cool book if you’re an adventure seeker and mountain lover. A perspective that grants caution and appreciation for the wilderness.

[Gerard M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting book - my friend Robert Marrone is mentioned in a chapter!

[Susan Rice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read, even if you’re not a hiker!!

[Karen Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an avid hiker of both the Adirondack and Catskill mountains, I found this book highly interesting.

[Sarah Darling Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great written accounts of true stories of survival and misfortunes in the Adirondacks in New York State. Everybody who hikes in these mountains can learn something from these stories.

[Timothy Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read. The chapters on actual rescues were the best-as well as the tragedies I may add. Early chapters on old rescues and early Adirondack mishaps weren't that alluring. I did nearly run into the memorial at Calamity Pond where the 19th century hunter/explorer lost his life when his rifle discharged. It was on the way to Mt. Marshall. Most of these deaths and survival stories are very preventable. People going out unprepared or with unrealistic expectations (guilty now and again). Wild weather conditions 12 months of the year can cause even the most prepared to get potentially get lost of stranded because of injury. These days the trails are so populated I find it difficult to get any solitude-especially on the weekends. The story of the avalanche off of Wright was a good one as were the various hurricane stories or derechos coming from the west. I still want to do a winter hike of a high peak though.