LOCALadk Magazine

Winter 2020 LOCALadk Magazine 55 LOCALadk with me for the next few years as I moved from apartment to apartment and became a 46'er, wilderness guide, and col- lege instructor. The Adirondack backcountr y quickly became a cornerstone of my life. Before my 2016 attempt, Jan and Cor y generously offered advice. Jan led me on a scout of the Dial to Dix bushwhack and Cor y told me, "This hike will be a culmination of ever y hike you've ever done." In the past decade, the number of registered 46'ers has doubled from approximately 6,000 to 12,000. Not only are numbers at record levels in the High Peaks and resources strapped, in the age of COVID -19, Katie and I discussed our risk management plan and ethics around executing an FKT (Fastest Known Time) in 2020. Was it the year to go for it? We discussed our responsibility to hikers and the influence of social media. What happens when FKTs are broken ev- er y month? Does it make the mountains seem like an easier place? If someone can hike all in a week, does it make the summit of Marcy seem more attainable to an unseasoned hiker? To me, it was a catch-22. I wanted to show others it was challenging yet possible. Especially women. Eight men had completed the route unsupported. No women. Katie and I met the first week in August and began a four- day series of scouting missions—little pieces of the puzzle we needed to practice, like the Big Slide to Porter bush- whack. We figured by the end of the trip we would know if we had what it took to be partners. On our third night together, based at Uphill Lean-to after our sixth High Peak, a 20 -mile day, our skills were tested. A three-hour thunder-and-light- ning storm had just pushed through and we heard a call for help. We shimmed out of dr y sleeping gear, put damp hiking clothes on, filled a pack with essentials and set out to find the distressed hiker. The rain had raised the river, and it was hard to hear ourselves above the sound of it. After 20 min- utes of searching, we located the young man on the banks of the Uphill Brook. He was pale, hypothermic, partly clothed and unable to follow basic instructions. His waterlogged gear was strewn about his feet, which were covered with a pair of slip-on sandals. I gave him food, grabbed his gear and we led him to the lean-to. Luckily, we had two other mem- bers in our party and they stabilized him while Katie and I climbed Redfield for the second time in one day to get cell reception with the DEC . Katie confirmed the distressed hik- er had been located and that we'd stay with him until some- one could hike in at first light. By the time we got back to our sleeping bags, it was 3:30 a.m. Katie and I gave each other a nod before we clicked off our headlamps. No more ques- tions or vetting. We were going for the Thru-Hike together. Katie and I shared a Google doc and finetuned our itiner- ar y and gear list. By the end of August, we eyed the Sep- tember forecast and did our best to remain patient while Labor Day crowds dissipated. September 10th would be our start date. The morning of the thru-hike dawned hazy and humid. We loaded my van with our 29- and 32-pound packs and drove to Corey's Road. The bulk of our weight was seven days' worth of food packed in a bear canister. At the trail register we signed in and snapped a photo. "Ready? " "Ready." Katie hit the timer and we stepped for ward. I felt a surge of adrenaline and ignored it. The Thru-Hike is not a sprint. It is an expedition of endurance. Our strategy: Keep a steady pace and finish each day. Our first range was Seward, Don- aldson, and Emmons. We dropped our full packs and ascend- ed Seward with a day pack that we swapped between us. The humidity hung over us and we struggled to find a groove as we climbed our first three High Peaks. An hour before sun- set, we arrived at the summit of Seymour, and Katie pulled a bandana from our day pack. She pulled the sides taunt and displayed the logo for 46 Climbs, a national event dedicat- ed to suicide awareness and prevention. In that moment, my mind and body settled. Before we hit trail, Katie put a mes- sage on her Facebook page to announce our attempt and fundraiser for 46 Climbs. "This will be an adventure unlike any other and we know it will take grit and perseverance to accomplish. One of my main sources of strength in arduous times is the memor y and braver y of my brother Tim, who took his own life on Januar y 1, 2011, after a long battle with mental health and a severe neurological condition. This is one reason we've decided to participate in 46 Climbs for Suicide Prevention to benefit the American Foundation for Suicide Preven- tion (AFSP) as part of our attempt."

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