46ers Implement Changes to Winter Climbing Rules
The 46ers, an organization of hikers and backpackers, have implemented changes in their membership requirements that are sure to resound far and wide across the hiking community. These changes, which regulate to ability to join a special group within the larger organization, known as the "Winter 46ers," have been under consideration for some time, and were recently approved at a meeting of the groups board of trustees.
"We're quite excited about the new rules," said 46er Keeper of Records Robby Marshall. "We feel that these changes will really level the playing field for all those trying to gain membership as a Winter 46er."
Under the old rules, hikers were eligible to become a Winter 46er after they had climbed all 46 peaks in the Adirondack Park over 4000 feet in elevation during the winter season, which runs between December 21st and March 21st. The new rules allow any hike that occurs on a day where the temperature remained below freezing to qualify for inclusion within the club, while any hike occurring on a day where the temperature rose above freezing to be ineligible to count towards membership.
"We've received numerous letters and complaints over the years lamenting on the fact that so many early December hikes, during which hikers were faced with winter-like conditions, did not count towards becoming a Winter 46er," Marshall said. "Additionally, we also received complaints about the numerous hikes taking place in late March in relatively mild conditions that did count. These new changes to the membership rules are all about making things fair for everyone."
The decision as to whether a hike counts as a winter ascent or not will be made using the thermometers at the Whiteface Mountain Summit Observatory. As long as the thermometer does not record a temperature above freezing on the day that the summit was reached, that hike will qualify towards inclusion in the Winter 46ers. The new regulations are being enacted retroactively for the 2009-2010 winter season.
The rules governing membership as a regular 46er, those who have climbed all 46 High Peaks at any time during the year, are unchanged.
