Alumni Moonshiner online

Willsboro, NY                     August 30, 2006                      since 1905

   With a combination of group efforts, solo charges and downright impressive displays of speed, members of the Pok-O-MacCready family succeeded in topping 41 of the Adirondack Forty-Sixers, on a beautiful day for hiking, Friday, August 18.

   While camp failed in its mission of climbing all 46 peaks, the 41 climbed was an impressive number considering that less than two days before the attempt, only 21 were projected to be climbed. “Sharp Swan did a great job of drumming up enthusiasm and recruiting climbers at the last minute,” said Jim Kobak, co-coordinator of the 46-in-a-Day project. “With his help, we nearly did them all, plus we raised $600 dollars for the Adirondack Scholarship Foundation.” Since 1990, Pok-O has made five attempts at the 46 in one day, succeeding only once. (SEE HISTORICAL LIST).

   The day was not without some incredible performances, most notably by Kobak himself, who climbed the entire Seward Range- four mountains and 24 miles-

46-in-a-Day Facts & Figures Total Mountains: 41 Total Miles: 252.5 Total Elevation Gain: 81,110 ft. Youngest to Summit: Joe Zimmerman (6); Megan Mahoney (5) Veteran Climber: Bruce Madden (57) Chicken Consumed at Barbecue: 346 lbs. Time Had By All: GREAT!

in just over seven hours (see below).... In a valiant attempt to knock off ten mountains, Drew Seitz and Michael Taptick climbed Marcy, Gray, Skylight, Haystack, Basin and Saddleback before injury ended their day.... Jon Bush was attempting to finish his personal 46ers on the Santanoni Range, but he too had to stop short of the ultimate prize. The camp group finished the range, but Bush will have to return; he is vowing to finish his 46 at the 2007 family camp.... David Carch, camp veteran yet hiking novice, put in a spirited solo effort in his successful ascent of Allen..... And Dana Beck and Toni Deary had to bypass Redfield, when Beck- amidst thick blowdown- lost a contact lens while descending Cliff.

   These are but a few of the variety of tales, but the common story was fun, as seemingly every hiker returned to the post-trip barbecue with smiles on their faces, battle wounds on their bodies, and pledges to climb all 46 in 2007.