Outing Club Climbs 41 of 46 Peaks

The Hamilton Outing Club aims high. The goal for this year's High Peaks weekend in October was to have at least one member of the Hamilton community reach the summit of each of the Adirondacks' 46 High Peaks. While the group of students and community members fell just short of that perfect mark, the club conquered 41 peaks, easily surpassing the previous record of 38 peaks in a weekend.

Hikers included 89 people and two dogs. The most peaks climbed by a single group of hikers was 10, and the most miles hiked by a group was 35. Those hearty hikers included seniors Rebecca Yaguda, Molly Kane, Greg Fullman and John DeWitt.

Director of Outdoor Leadership Andrew Jillings estimated that the hikers consumed more than 40 pounds of gorp, or trail mix. "We had the most beautiful weather, which may have had something to do with the Outing Club having its best-ever 46 peaks weekend," he said. And for the record, Outing Club hikers also reached the top of an additional 42nd peak — Whiteface, fifth among the High Peaks — but they did so via road and elevator.

The High Peaks, in Essex and Franklin counties, are the 46 Adirondack mountains that were traditionally believed to be higher than 4,000 feet, though surveying ultimately showed that four did not reach that height.