Exploring the 46 Adirondack High Peaks: With 282 Photos, Maps & Mountain Profiles, Excerpts from the Author's Journal, & Historical Insights

by James R. Burnside

The author documents in detail how he planned and climbed the peaks, starting with his older son, then with his younger son. They experienced the thrill of penetrating the largest tract of wilderness left in the northeastern U.S., along with the risks - 22 trailless peaks, danger from hypothermia and Beaver Fever, blinding storms, voracious black flies, etc. Just as important, the author links in a literary and historical sense the romanticism of the Adirondacks past with clinical reports coming out of the Adirondacks present. The result is a paean of joy and adventure, conjuring up, as he notes in the foreword, the exploits of Lewis and Clark, Francis Parkman, Richard Halliburton, Amelia Earhart, Sir Edmund Hillary, and Tenzig Norgay... whoever fires your imagination.

Genres: Nonfiction, Outdoors, Nature

496 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1996

Reviews

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book came into my possession without me even realizing. Once I started hiking my ADK 46 family friends would find and bring me books on hiking, and I didn't even realize what a treasure this was until I found it in a box from moving a few weeks ago.

The author narrates each of his hikes with his sons (some hikes in the 70s some in the 80s), giving journal entries, historical context, and current trail conditions for the times. We travel with Mr. Burnside and his sons as they traverse their own 46, taking in the sights and sounds of each adventure. Mishaps with lost trails and ever-changing ADK weather abound, and it was certainly amusing to see what a "prepared" hiker in these now "old days" consisted of (cotton clothes, heavy bags, heavy and low-quality food, inadequate footwear, etc.)

Mr. Burnside's perspectives and descriptions of the trails as they were were actually thrilling to see. The amount of change and development that has taken place through conservancy and volunteer work is astounding, and I didn't have a true concept prior to reading these recollections. As an example, it took the author seven attempts to reach the summit of Marshall back in the day (80s) due to being a trail-less path with severe blow-down in the wilderness. My own climb of that mountain 2 years ago, though still basically "trail-less" is an obvious herd-path with cairns carefully laid down to ensure safe creek-crossings; and i readily and easily summited one the first go due to how improved the route is.

Reading these tales of high-peak adventures was nostalgic for me as I remembered each of the 41 peaks I've done so far. But it was also a thrill to hear about the ones I have left to do, and gain a better historical perspective on what they are and what they have been through the years of hiking.

Whether you have yet to climb the ADKs or are a seasoned 46er, this is a welcome tale and worthwhile read. For those obsessed with the high-peaks, this book just makes us thirst for more days in the mountains.

[Jesse · Rating 5 out of 5]

An equally fascinating and amusing tale of the journey of becoming a 46er from nearly half a century ago, this book details not only the trail conditions from the author's adventures but the perspectives and histories of those who first explored the park and the peaks a full century earlier. While no longer usable as a modern trail guide, the mountain profiles heading each chapter offer a unique glimpse of each peak and the author's difficulty and view rating of each. As someone approaching the end of my own 46er journey, it was a joy to read about how difficult and trailless the trailless peaks once were - none of the descriptions in this book reflect my own experience on the fairly easy-to-follow herd paths of today on the same peaks. Despite this, the feelings of triumph, wilderness, exploration, and occasional let-down when forced to turn back, are as timeless as ever. I've only hiked these peaks at a time when fires are banned in most of the high peak wilderness and modern bear cans are the (required) norm - it is fascinating to read descriptions of camp areas picked clean of available firewood and the garbage pits which accompanied many lean-tos and some of the other methods for keeping bears out of camper's food caches - it also offers valuable insight into why these restrictions exist today. I highly recommend this to any aspiring 46er, accomplished 46er, those interested in the history of the exploration of these peaks, or those interested in armchair hiking along with the author.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent combination of regional history and hiking experience with his two sons. Great for anyone with an interest in the Adirondacks.