Once upon a time, there was a woman named Grace. And she wrote a poem, called My Mountains, the first part of which goes like this:
Soft scented trees sway to and fro
Where laughing brooklets gaily flow.
Majestic, wooded mountains rise
To meet the softly tinted skies,
The Adirondacks!
She was born a long time ago, in 1906, in Ticonderoga NY, a place filled with lakes and mountains and history. She was the youngest of six children, and her mother died when she was only eleven years old, so she was raised by her father and her older siblings.
Growing up on and around Lake George, she may have spent time in the water, or tramped the hills in the area, or visited the old fort on the hill where the British fought with the French, and where the Americans fought with the British. She may have explored some of the wilder mountains to the west, but one thing is for sure: she was determined enough, and strong enough, to get herself up onto the summit of the tallest of them all, Mount Marcy, when she was still a teenager.
To get a good education, she moved down to Troy, and lived with her sister. One day while attending church – coincidentally named Grace United Methodist – she met a young man named Ed Hudowalski, who was studying to be an engineer at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. They hit it off like nobody’s business, and on their first date he asked her to marry him. She said heck yeah, and in 1926 they tied the knot.
Deep rocky chasms oft extend
And with the hills abruptly blend;
While o’ver the hillsides’ dotted green
Alluring trails are dimly seen.
The Adirondacks!
Now, there was at least one thing which Grace and Ed didn’t quite have in common. Ed was a Jersey Boy and a city kid, and he hadn’t had much experience in the wilderness. Grace must have talked his ear off to the point where he agreed to join her in a climb. And – wouldn’t you know? – he took a liking to it; he thought maybe these mountains could be a lot of fun.
Oh boy, was he in for a shock! Because, just a short time later, Grace learned about what Herb Clark and the Marshall boys had once done – climb all the 46 highest peaks in the Adirondacks – and she announced she was going to do it too. Ed was a little skeptical, but also supportive, and before long Grace had reeled him in to what would become a wonderful obsession.
Once they got started, they weren’t messing around. To encourage themselves and others, they developed an amateur climbing club which they called the ‘46ers of Troy.’ Grace started recruiting members from her church, with an agreement that they would each climb at least one mountain a year, and report their experience to the group. And, as each member summited their 46th mountain, Grace – with the approval of Bob Marshall himself – awarded them a number denoting their success.
Her hard work paid off in 1937, when she climbed the last peak on her list, Mt. Esther – the only one of the 46 named after a woman – and became the first woman to earn the distinction. Grace Hudowalski is 46er #9.
Having made it to the top of every peak, Grace’s organizational spirit really took off. In 1948, she and Ed made the 46ers a formal organization, with Grace serving as the President for the first three years, and establishing it for all time. For the rest of her life she would be the driving force and serve as the in-house historian. As more hikers joined the group, Grace responded to every letter personally. She collected and shared stories and information, and encouraged everyone to keep on climbing. And as each member ascended to their 46th summit, Grace would award them their number.
Transparent, shining lakes repose
Embraced by every breeze that blows.
A silvery moon sends rays that gleam
Where peace and beauty reign supreme.
The Adirondacks!
As if her amateur interest in the mountains wasn’t enough, Grace turned her love into a career. She took a job as a travel promotions supervisor for New York’s Department of Commerce, promoting all that the Empire State had to offer. She did such a good job that the New York legislature eventually honored her for her work. Not surprisingly, membership in the 46ers kept on growing, and, by the turn of the millennium, the number of people who had attained that distinction was through the roof.
As Grace got older, it became clear that the incredible amount of work she had done with the 46ers needed to be documented and preserved, to ensure her legacy. So a trust was formed – it is now known as the Grace Hudowalski Charitable Trust – to hire some people to continue the amazing work that Grace had done single-handedly.
Later, one of the leaders of the 46ers, realizing the summits of the High Peaks were taking a beating from all the foot traffic they were getting, directed some of the Trust’s funds to support a new program, developed by the Adirondack Mountain Club, called Summit Stewards. This places guides on the summits of many of the most highly-tracked peaks. They teach hikers about the fragile alpine ecosystems, remind folks to stay on the rocky parts, and generally keep an eye on things. So, in a way, a fund intended to preserve and support Grace’s own work ended up helping to preserve the mountains she loved.
Grace had a favorite phrase, “’Can’t’ never did anything,” and she lived by that over her long and busy life. She also shared and supported other phrases that have since become well-respected commandments in the Adirondacks and beyond. Today, hikers all over the world remind each other to ‘pack it in, pack it out’ and ‘leave no trace.’
For her lifetime of dedication and hard work, Grace was given an award by the Adirondack Mountain Club. And the very day she received it, she passed away, at age 98. But even though she is gone, Grace keeps protecting her mountains. As interest in the 46 High Peaks continues to grow, and foot traffic keeps increasing, Grace has become a symbol, and an icon for how to love, respect and protect the natural world.
Recently, folks realized that her spirit needed to be commemorated. And what better way to do that than by giving her a mountain of her own! Once again, her 46ers stepped up for her. At their suggestion and with their support, sometime not too long ago, one of the High Peaks with the nondescript name ‘East Dix’ was given a brand new awesome identity.
To honor the world’s first female 46er – Grace Dolbeck Leach Hudowalski – the mountain which sits at GPS 44.0653° N, 73.7574° W, and rises to 4,026 feet, was officially renamed.
It will be forever known as, simply, Grace Peak.
I claim these mountains for my own.
I’m happy here – I am at home!
Mike Keeler Mike Keeler