A hiker ascending Swirral Edge towards Helvellyn in the Lake District. ( /Duncon Andison) People have written books and made movies about the magic of hiking in New York’s Adirondack mountains, the largest publicly protected swatch of land in the United States at about 6 million acres. But the rugged, high peaks have seen some negative coverage, too—like when a hiker died of hypothermia on a solo hike up Mount Marcy, and the slew of near-daily nonfatal rescues where hikers run out of food and water, or lack sufficient gear, maps, or flashlights. Many are drawn to the Adirondacks with the goal of becoming a 46er, someone who has summited all 46 High Peaks—traditionally defined as mountains taller than 4,000 feet—and taken on the toughest terrain.
As an aspiring 46er myself—I just hit my tenth peak (Big Slide) last fall—I know how unpredictable weather in the region can be and how the trails differ from others in the state and in the Northeast. I’ve also witnessed the influx in traffic to trails post-COVID and have encountered eager, unprepared hikers on my descents. One late afternoon, while descending Mount Marcy in a downpour after a roughly 16-mile hike, I ran into a group of hikers just heading up.
That encounter and others prompted me to talk with search and rescue (SAR), who explained that the publicity of the region can draw in people who are unprepared, leading to higher rescues and recoveries. I asked what advice they’d give to hikers just starting out. Here’s what they shared on how to safely enjoy the mountains in any season.
The 46 mountains in the Adirondack High Peak region draw people in from all over the state (and beyond) eager. Adirondack Forty-Sixers, Inc., is a membership organization that recognizes those who have climbed all 46 High Peaks since 1925. While passionate, these peak baggers can sometimes push themselves beyond their limits or comfort zone, said Logan Quinn, forest ranger with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Quinn has been a ranger in the state since 2013 and situated in the Adirondacks since 2016. Like many, I’ve long felt drawn to the region, though I didn’t jump straight into tackling high peaks. I spent my first visits exploring local towns, hiking lower peaks, and kayaking, because I wasn’t yet comfortable in the backcountry.
My hiking experience has grown alongside my knowledge of safety and preparedness. Photos from the region regularly trend on social media, said John Bulmer, publisher of Adirondack Mountain News and co-founder of the nonprofit Adirondack Mountain Rescue. Viral photos attract less experienced hikers looking for the perfect shot—especially during leaf peeping season in the fall.
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