20th Anniversary of Becoming an Adirondack 46er

I think most of my readers know how much I love Lake Placid and the Adirondack Mountains. I also love to travel to other states and countries, but my heart will always be in the Adirondacks. This photo is from my 46er scrapbook that I made 20 years ago. Remember when scrapbooking was extremely popular? It took me a year to complete this scrapbook, each page had to be perfect LOL. 

 I started hiking the high peaks in 1993 and finished in 2000. On a beautiful August day in 1993, I climbed my first mountain over 4,000 feet in elevation {Algonquin Mountain pictured above} and was hooked. Some of you may be familiar with Mt. Marcy which is the highest Adirondack peak in New York, and it took me a leisurely 11 hours to hike it {round trip}. Typically I would leave my house at 3 a.m. and arrive at the trail head around 6:15 a.m. I encountered some beautiful sunrises and hiked in all types of weather. The rare alpine vegetation on many of the summits was fascinating. One of the biggest highlights was staying at the Elk Lake Lodge (National Geographic refers to it as the "jewel of the Adirondacks).

Lots of life lessons can be learned through hiking. Reaching your limit and pushing your limit, the determination, persistence, self exploration and reflection. Each individual mountain having its own unique qualities and the beauty of the world around us. What a year it has been and taking time for ourselves is so important to maintain and build that solid foundation of self. Through discovery, reflection, and self love - one can conquer anything. I am amongst the elite 46ers, and not a month has gone has by in the last 20 years that I have not reflected about climbing these 46 mountains. 

Cheers to many more years of hiking! 
xo
Deb