News
April 1, 2013
Brian Baston, 46r

I was interested in hiking to lose weight to overcome my diabetes, and to get into better physical condition. I was already walking 3 miles a day and lost 30 lbs, getting my diabetes under control with diet and exercise.
I started hiking and paddling with ADK Laurentian Chapter. After hearing about the 46 high peaks, I climbed Esther Mountain, my first high peak at age 63, on October 4th, 2009, with John Barron (trip leader) and succeeded with great physical pain and exhaustion. It took me three days to be able to walk without holding onto furniture, countertop, or door frames. One week later, I was able to make it to the summit of Lyon Mountain with no problem.
One month later, on November 2009, I attempted to climb Cliff Mountain with Mike McLean (trip leader), I failed as it was much longer and I ran out of energy. In summer 2010, I made another attempt to climb Seymour Mountain with John Barron and failed again! Much too long.
After that second failure, I pretty much gave up, but I kept looking for a shorter mountain. Then on June 5, 2011, Dana Chudzinski scheduled Giant Mountain at 2.8 miles one way. That was what I had been looking for.
It was ironic that Toni Towle and Peter Blood were on my first and second high peaks, twenty months apart. They introduced me to camping which made it much easier on the long climbs. Also I found that I could climb with other chapters. That increased my high peak climbs.
After 20 months of being a 1er, I was able to climb 45 high peaks in 15 months, including 10 winter climbs. I finished the 46 high peaks on Basin Mountain, September 21, 2012 at the age of 65. Many times when climbing an exhausting high peak, I would ask myself, “why am I doing this again?” Then I would reach the summit with those breathtaking views. It was all worth it.
News Archive
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Jul 24, 2022: Fiftieth Celebration
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Mar 25, 2022: Fiftieth Anniversary Celebrations
Mar 15, 2022: 2022 Photo Contest Announced
Jan 24, 2022: Trailhead Stewardship Program
Jan 1, 2022: Mystery on the Red Sandstone Trail
Jan 1, 2022: Fiftieth Anniversary
Nov 28, 2021: 2021 Photo Contest Winners Announced
Oct 18, 2021: 2021 Chapter Elections
Oct 1, 2021: Trail Registers for the 21st Century
Oct 1, 2021: Laurentian Chapter to Celebrate 50 Years
Sep 9, 2021: 2021 Photo Contest Announced
Dec 10, 2020: 2020 Photo Contest Winners Announced
Oct 26, 2020: Members Choice - 2020 Photo Contest
Oct 15, 2020: 2020 Chapter Elections
Jul 3, 2020: Laurentians Receive Award
Apr 1, 2020: Third Annual Cycle Outing
Apr 1, 2020: Mud Season Hiking
Apr 1, 2020: 2020 Photo Contest Announced
Jan 1, 2020: Ski Trails Groomed and Waiting
Jan 1, 2020: Red Sandstone Trail Maintenance
Nov 16, 2019: 2019 Photo Contest Winners Announced
Oct 1, 2019: Electronic Distribution of the North Wind
Jul 1, 2019: National Trails Day 2019
Apr 1, 2019: Red Sandstone Trail Volunteers Needed
Apr 1, 2019: Recreation Management Plans
Apr 1, 2019: Chapter Member Writes Trails Book
Apr 1, 2019: 2019 Photo Contest Announced
Jan 3, 2019: Invasive Forest Pest Meeting
Jan 1, 2019: Second ADK Cycle Outing
Jan 1, 2019: Outside The High Peaks Region
Dec 6, 2018: Fran Yardley To Speak
Nov 12, 2018: 2018 Photo Contest Winners Announced
Nov 6, 2018: Trail Maintenance Weekend 2018
Oct 1, 2018: First ADK Cycle Outing
Jul 1, 2018: SUNY Potsdam Educational Affiliate Program
Jun 22, 2018: 2018 Photo Contest Announced
Jun 18, 2018: September Acadia Outing
Apr 5, 2018: Military Exercises In Northern Adirondacks
Apr 1, 2018: Who Are Our Members
Apr 1, 2018: Happy Birthday Azure Mountain Fire Tower
Apr 1, 2018: Chapter Representation on Advisory Committees
Jan 5, 2018: E-Letter Editor Wanted
Jan 1, 2018: Paul Jamieson and the Jamieson Fund
Nov 19, 2017: 2017 Photo Contest Winners Announced
Nov 1, 2017: 2017 Trail Maintenance Weekend
Jul 1, 2017: North Country Cycling Guide
May 31, 2017: Marie Fernandez de Alaiza Completes 46
Apr 1, 2017: Great Lakes Water Levels
Mar 15, 2017: Extended New Brunswick Outing Proposed
Jan 1, 2017: 2017 Photo Contest Announced
Dec 2, 2016: Camp Colby Scholarships Available
Nov 29, 2016: Winter 2017 Outdoors-Indoors Schedule Announced
Nov 21, 2016: Wilderness Thru-hiking to Wilderness Advocacy
Nov 16, 2016: 2016 Photo Contest Winners Announced
Oct 1, 2016: Membership Survey Preliminary Results
Oct 1, 2016: John Omohundro Passes The Torch
Sep 8, 2016: 2017 Extended Outings Proposed
Mar 29, 2016: 2016 Photo Contest Announced
Mar 17, 2016: Teen Trail Project Scholarships Available
Jan 6, 2016: Perry Yaw Commemorative Quilt
Dec 2, 2015: Trail Work Day Attracts Huge Turnout
Dec 2, 2015: Outdoors-Indoors Schedule Announced
Dec 1, 2015: 2015 Photo Contest Winners Announced
Sep 17, 2015: Oswegatchie Blueway Open Houses Scheduled
Jul 1, 2015: Ididaride Annual Biking Event
May 5, 2015: SUNY Potsdam Wilderness Education Mountain-A-Thon Training Exercise
Apr 1, 2015: Educational Affiliate Program Expands
Jan 1, 2015: Call for Distinguished Volunteer Nominations
Jan 1, 2015: 2015 Photo Contest Opens
Nov 27, 2014: 2014 Photo Contest Winners Announced
Nov 27, 2014: 2014 Photo Contest Winners Announced - Copy
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Oct 1, 2014: Chapter Offers Outing Leadership Training Course
Jul 1, 2014: Jean Hardy, 1926-2014
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Apr 4, 2014: Stone Valley Management Plan Finalized
Apr 1, 2014: Educational Affiliate Program Gathers Momentum
Mar 24, 2014: North Country National Scenic Trail
Dec 30, 2013: Stone Valley Management Plan Review
Dec 6, 2013: 2014 Photo Contest Opens
Nov 12, 2013: 2013 Photo Contest Winners Announced
Oct 1, 2013: Spring Outing Retrospective
Sep 6, 2013: Finch Pruyn-Essex Chain Action Alert
Aug 22, 2013: Ragnar Relay Race
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Jun 27, 2013: North Country Trails Membership
Jun 19, 2013: Spring Outing A Great Success
Apr 2, 2013: Laurentian Loon Shirts
Apr 1, 2013: Brian Baston, 46r
Dec 21, 2012: New Chapter Officers Elected
Dec 6, 2012: 2013 Photo Contest Opens
Nov 27, 2012: 2012 Photo Contest Winners Announced
Jul 17, 2012: Raquette River Documentary
Apr 1, 2012: Acadia Trip Sept 2012
Jan 21, 2012: Stone Valley Trail Maintenance A Mammoth Undertaking
Jan 1, 2012: 2012 Photo Contest Announced
Nov 19, 2011: Peter Blood and Toni Towle Finish the 46
Nov 19, 2011: Moose Talk At Fall Potluck (1)
Nov 16, 2011: 2011 Photo Contest Winners Announced
Nov 9, 2011: Sherman Craig Nominated To APA
Oct 16, 2011: Mt Arab Vandalised
Oct 1, 2011: GPS Group Forming
Jul 23, 2011: Allegany State Park Action Alert
Jul 2, 2011: Stone Valley Trail Report
Jul 2, 2011: Red Sandstone Trail Report
Jul 2, 2011: Friends of Higley Flow Capital Campaign
Jul 1, 2011: JBL Seeks All-Season Hosts
Apr 29, 2011: JBL Seeks Volunteer Hosts
Apr 1, 2011: Outings Announced
Feb 25, 2011: 2011 Fall Outing
Feb 4, 2011: Tug Hill Winter Outing
Dec 9, 2010: 2010 Photo Contest Winners Announced
Nov 21, 2010: Omohundro Whalen Distinguished Volunteers
Sep 22, 2010: Nominees Announced
Sep 22, 2010: Fall Potluck to Feature Permaculture Talk
Sep 22, 2010: Bylaw Changes Proposed
Sep 15, 2010: Dogs on Chapter Trips
Aug 16, 2010: Raquette River Information Center Opens
Jul 27, 2010: Raquette River Information Center To Open
Jun 2, 2010: Sacred Tools Exhibit
May 26, 2010: Plants of St Lawrence County
Apr 13, 2010: Chapter Basket Donations Needed
Mar 23, 2010: Second Annual Photo Contest Announced
Mar 22, 2010: Laurentians Invited To Colorado
Mar 21, 2010: Spring Potluck To Feature Northern Canoe Route
Jan 1, 2010: Calling Kids For Camp Colby
Nov 8, 2009: 2009 Photo Contest Results
Oct 1, 2009: Brian Mann To Address Annual Meeting
Jul 1, 2009: Raquette River Awareness Week
May 23, 2009: Tom Wheeler Elected 46ers President
Apr 30, 2009: Cutters Receive Award
Mar 29, 2009: Hospitality Coordinator Needed
Mar 21, 2009: Gloria Daly Completes Winter 46
Mar 16, 2009: Lyle Montgomery Completes Winter 46
Dec 23, 2008: Chapter to Sponsor Campers at Camp Colby
Nov 2, 2008: Anna Gerhard-Arnold Recognized
Oct 1, 2008: Roy Horst to Speak at Fall Potluck
Sep 13, 2008: Tom Wheeler Receives Award
Aug 3, 2008: SLC EMC hosts NYS Conference on Environment
Jun 10, 2008: Lows Lake Floatplanes Action Alert
Mar 22, 2008: Winter On The Red Sandstone Trail
Mar 15, 2008: Nancy LaBaff Completes Winter 46
Mar 1, 2008: Environmental Protection Fund Being Raided
Feb 15, 2008: Red Sandstone Trailworker Tshirt
Nov 28, 2007: Hearings on National Scenic Trail
Nov 26, 2007: Laurentian Chapter To Sponsor Campers
Nov 11, 2007: Annual Meeting Highlights
Sep 27, 2007: Clarence and Paul
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Sep 25, 2007: Red Sandstone Trail Report
Jul 1, 2007: Legislature Passes EPF Enhancement Act
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Mar 17, 2007: Mud Season Potluck Features Stuart Mesinger
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Nov 28, 2006: Dick Mooers Named Distinguished Volunteer
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Aug 10, 2005: Executive Director Visits