Hiking the Adirondacks: The 46ers Challenge
The Adirondacks
The Adirondacks are a collection of mountain ranges in upstate New York, covering more than 6 million acres (24,280 km²), the largest protected natural area in the continental United States. The park includes over 2,000 miles (3,200 km) of hiking trails, making it home to one of the most extensive trail networks in the U.S.
Unlike the Rockies or the Appalachians, the Adirondacks are not a continuous mountain chain. Instead, they’re made up of several interconnected ranges with more than 100 notable peaks. The area also has over 200 named lakes, thousands of smaller lakes and ponds, and more than 30,000 miles (48,000 km) of streams and rivers.
The 46er Challenge
The 46er Challenge involves hiking the 46 Adirondack High Peaks — the mountains that were originally believed to be over 4,000 feet (1,219 m) in elevation. The list was first compiled in the 1920s, and although later surveys found that four of the peaks (Blake, Cliff, Couchsachraga and Nye) are just under that elevation, and an additional peak, McNaughton now comes in right at 4,000ft, the original list has remained unchanged.
To date, more than 16,000 people have completed the challenge. An additional 1,000 hikers have completed the winter challenge, summiting all 46 peaks between December 21 and March 21.
The hikes vary in difficulty, some involving long approaches, steep climbs, dense forest, and rocky summits. About 20 of the peaks don’t have marked trails, requiring hikers to follow herd paths - informal trails formed over time by other hikers.
Over the course of the challenge, hikers can expect to hike 190–250 miles (300–400 km) and climb more than 70,000 feet (21,300 meters) in elevation across all 46 summits. See the full list of the 46 peaks.