documenting 46 high peaks

[rhihn]

It would have been easier when I sent mine to type em up and e-mail them to my correspondent. He said "no, do it this way, that how we like them". I dusted off the ole' pen, dug up some lined paper and started writing. Since I was the one looking to join them, I never thought question how they wanted me to "join", I just did it.

I sent the first report in as an email and was also told they preferred snail mail. Typing was OK, though. I enjoyed the back and forth discussions.

 

[Peakbagr]

I have the ones she also wrote to my children. Wonderful.
I spoke to the NYS Archivist about the logs and correspondence. Some time when I get around to it, going to head down and spend an afternoon reading the correspondence and looking at the logs.

 

[Skyclimber]

I have the ones she also wrote to my children. Wonderful.

The ones she wrote to my girls were very special and sweet indeed. She'd even make them little valentine cards and mail them to each. I still have them.

Now my girls are all grown up and one has a child of her own, I have asked if they would like them back, they both have said, "No." Actually I was VERY happy with their response because I certainly don't think I could part with them.

 

[teleskier]

I don't know, guess I'm of two minds on this one. I have my correspondence from Grace too, which is a wonderful gift. But, like it or not, time moves on. I can't think of too many of us who don't embrace technology for hiking in one form or another; gore-tex, synthetic fleece, GPS, avalanche beacons. Is it really so radical to have a standardized PDF form, Excel spreadsheet, or some other instrument to record our climbs on? Writing is a wonderful art but it doesn't have to be longhand...

(Disclaimer: Admittedly, my penmanship stinks.)

 

[Tom Rankin]

I don't know, guess I'm of two minds on this one. I have my correspondence from Grace too, which is a wonderful gift. But, like it or not, time moves on. I can't think of too many of us who don't embrace technology for hiking in one form or another; gore-tex, synthetic fleece, GPS, avalanche beacons. Is it really so radical to have a standardized PDF form, Excel spreadsheet, or some other instrument to record our climbs on? Writing is a wonderful art but it doesn't have to be longhand...

(Disclaimer: Admittedly, my penmanship stinks.)

I like tradition too, but a PDF could be sent to an electronic Archive just as easily as a letter can be photocopied and mailed to the old archive.

 

[Skyclimber]

I don't know, guess I'm of two minds on this one. I have my correspondence from Grace too, which is a wonderful gift. But, like it or not, time moves on. I can't think of too many of us who don't embrace technology for hiking in one form or another; gore-tex, synthetic fleece, GPS, avalanche beacons. Is it really so radical to have a standardized PDF form, Excel spreadsheet, or some other instrument to record our climbs on? Writing is a wonderful art but it doesn't have to be longhand...

(Disclaimer: Admittedly, my penmanship stinks.)

While we're at it, let's just get trail markers for all the unmarked trails, so this too, can make it easier for the climbers.

 

[teleskier]

Yes - I'm not suggesting that the nature or amount of the correspondence be reduced, simply that we take advantage of the means available to make the task less tedious. As we do in most areas of our lives.

 

[Skyclimber]

Yes - I'm not suggesting that the nature or amount of the correspondence be reduced, simply that we take advantage of the means available to make the task less tedious. As we do in most areas of our lives.

Not to be rude but we are Volunteers and we shouldn't have to go through Webpages in order to read the Correspondence with our climbers. This would be tedious work for us.

 

[Daniel Eagan]

Rules are rules, so a lot of these questions and complaints are irrelevant. You may as well ask why you can't vote by e-mail.

In my experience the 46ers are a pretty tolerant group. Letter-writing is appreciated but not necessary, you don't need a correspondent to become a member, you don't have to pay anything to get a number. The fact that e-mail is discouraged is due to the volunteer nature of the office staff, made up of retirees who are absolutely not interested in getting up-to-date technologically.

No one forces you to become a 46er, just like no one forces you to join the NE111. Complaining about the lists and rituals the club has established over several decades is like saying you want to join a fraternity but you don't want to wear a stupid beanie or learn a dumb song or go through frat house hazing. Or that you want to become a Highpointer, but you're not going to bother with the idiotic states like Florida and Rhode Island. Or that you want to learn Morse Code, except for letters you don't like. Et cetera.

 

[teleskier]

Skyclimber - no, that's not being rude, maybe I haven't expressed myself well enough. I'm not suggesting that volunteers have to comb through web pages or anything else. Just that it would be a nice option to submit correspondence, and even the final accounting, that was essentially "word processed" - either as a direct attachment or as a printed copy. Just thought it would be easier for the writer, and easier for the people at your end who have to decipher our chicken-scratch. My letters back from Grace were all typewritten, so she certainly didn't have any problem with the word processing technology of her time.

But, as a long-time volunteer myself (ADK) - thanks for your efforts!

 

[Frodo]

I have a question (actually a few). Who controls the whole correspondent thing? Is there a chair of the committee? How do correspondents get picked? Inquiring minds want to know...

 

[una_dogger]

I have a question (actually a few). Who controls the whole correspondent thing? Is there a chair of the committee? How do correspondents get picked? Inquiring minds want to know...

I do not know how they are assigned. Maybe one of the resident correspondents can comment. All I know is that I filed my application, and a few weeks later, I received a very nice letter from my correspondent introducing themselves.

 

[Skyclimber]

To become a Summer Correspondent, the requirement is, you have to be a Forty Sixer.

To become a Winter Correspondent your required to be a Winter Forty Sixer.

 

[Neil]

The logical next step is:

To become a bushwhack correspondent you have to have bushwhacked the 46.

Who'd of thunk that there was such a huge body of correspondence? That's a lot of trees. Maybe a paperless process would be a good ecological (not to mention PR) move.

Then again, maybe too many people make too many suggestions.

Or that you want to learn Morse Code

... --- ...

 

[Jay H]

What if we all were correspondents, would anybody write to us?

Jay

 

[Neil]

In any case, whoever believe the actual system is outdated and an inconveniece should/could present an "improved" solution to their liking to the 46-Rs board of directors.

Didn't Stoopid try that once?

If mountains could really solve anyone's problems they all would have been consumed and leveled long ago and the world would indeed be flat. The mountains, the 46er quest and whatever people do with their spare time distracts people from their problems. The idea being that once thus refreshed and recharged it becomes a lot easier to deal with them.

 

[Puma concolor]

The logical next step is:

To become a bushwhack correspondent you have to have bushwhacked the 46.

Not to start a whole 'nother thing, but I don't think the 46Rs as an organization would be particularly supportive of the idea of bushwhacking the 46 particularly given their recent efforts to consolidate herd paths.

 

[Neil]

Not to start a whole 'nother thing, but I don't think the 46Rs as an organization would be particularly supportive of the idea of bushwhacking the 46 particularly given their recent efforts to consolidate herd paths.

Hehehe. Humans love to tinker but some things are best left alone.

 

[Puma concolor]

Hehehe. Humans love to tinker but some things are best left alone.

The 46Rs will be by shortly to strip you of your patch and number.

 

[Rik]

The 46Rs will be by shortly to strip you of your patch and number.

Beware of the 46er police. It's a volunteer police force but they are very dedicated. Rules must be followed.