What was the most
difficult peak?
Most people would expect this answer to be one of the long
distance peaks or a trail-less one. My most difficult peak
was Phelps Mt. (4,161 ft). Phelps is actually a close and
relatively easy peak; I’ve done Phelps twice and both times
were in the winter. The first time I had the wrong type of
snowshoes thus making it hard to walk; I ended up bare
booting it, which is tough in deep snow. The second time we
did Phelps in conjunction with Tabletop (4,427 ft), and I
didn’t keep my furnace stoked and ran low on steam (didn’t
eat enough). Have you ever found
yourself in a less than comfortable situation?
No, because I know when to call it quits and head back. I
remember three hikes we turned back on without summiting due
to weather or time. When you’re in the high peaks, area
roads are far and few and your cell phone won’t work, so you
have to have a level head and know when to turn around. On
one trip my hiking partner got dehydrated and a little
delirious which made for an uneasy day but we made it.
What was the most memorable peak for
you?
I would have to say doing the lower range trail which
includes: Lower Wolfjaw (4,175 ft), Upper Wolfjaw (4,185
ft), Armstrong (4,400 ft), and Gothics (4,736 ft), then
coming out over Pyramid (4515 ft) for a total of 13 miles
round trip. The day started wet with showers, but by the
time we got to the ridge, the weather broke, the sun came
out, the wind was mild and the temperature was nice for
hiking. I believe this was our first encounter with log
ladders too. The views from Gothics are amazing - not to
mention you’re standing within the heart of the Adirondacks.
What essentials do you always carry?
My daypack is always ready. I just add food and clothing
for the weather and I’m off. In a gallon Ziploc bag I have:
duck tape, magnesium fire starter, hand warmers, emergency
blanket, dried mincemeat, band-aids, Benadryl, aspirin,
matches, instant coffee, TP (toilet paper). In the pack I
have: headlamp, water filter, tripod, compass, 2- 1 liter
water bottles, knit hat, warm shirt, gloves, 1 pair of
socks, map, candy, jerky, bread product, high energy high
calorie food, and a Swiss army knife in my pocket.
What steps do you take to prepare for
the more difficult climbs?
Every climb/hike is different or unique; in the 'Dacks I
would consider a long peak 17 plus miles round trip as
difficult. If I know there will be open rocks to climb
(slide) I’ll carry a small piece of rope. I do a lot of
walking and stair climbing to keep my legs knees and ankles
in shape, when doing stairs I’ll skip one or two at a time
to simulate the climbing effect over rocks. While hiking the
most important thing to do is keep you furnace fueled. I see
so many people struggling, tired, and worn out towards the
end of a hike that it’s hard to believe. I’m out there to
enjoy the day, the climb, the people, and the view if I get
one, I don’t want to be burned out and sore by the end of
the day, that’s why I eat and drink continuously while I’m
hiking.
When you reach the top, do you have any
traditions or rituals?
No I don’t have any traditions or rituals. When we
summit depending on the plan, weather, and distance, we’ll
sit and eat, take in the views, take some pictures or move
on to the next peak or head down and out.
What's the best photo opportunity
you've come across?
The best photo shots would be in the winter, you have to
remember to correct for the snow but you can get the best
distance and depth of field with winter shots. The biggest
problem any other time is the haze; I’ve had hikes that I’ve
taken less than 10 pictures due to the haze. I would have to
say the best photos I’ve taken were from the Cascade and
Porter hike when it was minus 28. The sky was the deepest
blue I had ever seen. We could see the Green Mountains in
Vermont clearly.
Now that you are a 46er, what's next?
I’ve seen a lot of interesting sights while working on
the 46. There are many smaller peaks, lakes, ponds, and
waterfalls to visit or revisit. There is a book called “The
other 54” which are other peaks in the Adirondacks. I
may try some of them. I would like to help friends finish
their 46. My hiking partner and I have been talking about
Mt. Washington and the presidential Range in New Hampshire.
I’ve also thought about the Vermont Long Trail which is 270
miles in length and traverses many peaks in Vermont. At over
six million acres in the Adirondacks I’m sure I can find
things to do and see. The Catskills has a Club called
“Catskill 3500 Club” which is climbing on foot all 35 peaks
over 3,500 feet. There’s also a Fire Tower challenge which
includes fire towers from the Catskills and Dacks.
Jim Weeks was born in Elmira, NY and
moved to East Smithfield, Pennsylvania after the flood of
1972; After graduating from high school he served in the US
Navy for six years. Jim has been in the maintenance
field since the military and now works as a maintenance
technician for a fast-growing bottling company. Now
situated in Oriskany Falls, NY, he is happily married to his
wife Donna and has two children (Matthew, 21 and Amber, 16).
Jim is semi-active in Boy Scouts, and was a Cub Scout leader
and an officer for the local rod and gun club. He has
traveled to Montana, Iowa, Colorado, Vermont, New Hampshire,
Maine, Virginia and New Mexico either hunting, hiking or
backpacking.
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