Question for all peakbaggers

[Kermudgn]

Greetings all! Longtime lurker here, recent member, first-time poster. This is a superb site with an amazing group of regulars, so I hope I'm not violating any of Darren's very wise rules regarding the content of questions/announcements here.

Brief backstory: I'm a writer for a certain little northeastern newspaper. Our travel/getaway section has an upcoming feature on camping/hiking/climbing that's meant to have a sidebar on peakbagging, including some quotes from folks who consider themselves peakbaggers (particularly NY/NH/NE climbers). Four days around the ADK Great Range last week found scarcely another hiker for me to quote, let alone anyone who considered themselves a peakbagger, so I'm hoping a few of you people can help out.

If you're interested in contributing a pithy comment (25-50 words) on what you consider peakbagging to be, or why that's the way you choose to hike and climb, or something closely related, please e-mail me *off-list.* I'd need your actual name, hometown (just the city, not a street address or anything), age, and what you've accomplished on any climbing lists you may have. I can't promise everything I receive will be included in the article, but any and all feedback would be immensely appreciated. I'll reply with a link to the article (if and) when it runs. Many many thanks for your co-operation.

K Reif
Aurora NY
49
32 of the ADK 46
[email protected]

 

[sli74]

http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?t=9399

Here is a thread that gets into the whole peakbagger discussion. You may want to check it out and contact anyone whom you might want to quote to get their approval or other opinions. Good Luck.

sli74

 

[Kermudgn]

Seema, thanks for the suggestion. Been following that thread for a couple of days. May have to buttonhole some people here, but I'm hoping for some voluntary feedback from this great bunch first. Your own response would certainly be welcome.

Best wishes --
K

 

[post'r boy]

i ain't sane nuffin' till i seen my breif!!!!!
what's the cut????

 

[Kermudgn]

Sorry dude, there's no pay for quotes -- it's all voluntary (like trail maintenance, but with less effort).

Best wishes --
K

 

[sierra]

I can sum up peakbagging for me this way, I bag peaks (currently the 14ers in the continental us), for one reason. At 41, I refuse to focus on my carreer, building a family, owning a home, or any responsibilty whatsoever. If you need details you may find me on 4k, just about anytime, Ill talk if you can keep up.

 

[bigmoose]

Just a pithy thought for your research --
If you insert an "R" into "peakbagger", you come up with "peakbragger."
That's what it's really all about.

 

[Tom Rankin]

Just a pithy thought for your research --
If you insert an "R" into "peakbagger", you come up with "peakbragger."
That's what it's really all about.

None of the 3500 Club inductees, not any of the 48'ers, 67'ers, NEHH'ers or 115'ers I met at the FTFC dinner last Spring, nor any of the ADK46'ers I met this past May were bragging about their accomplishments. Some were proud, some were elated, some were non-chalant, some were actually quite humble.

EDIT: Ok, Bigmoose, no problem. Thanks for clarifying.

 

[jmegillon149]

Why I peakbag

Feel free to use any of this in your article:

I started hiking the whites in the typical fashion, I initially had climbed Washington, followed by the rest of the Presi's, Moosilauke and Franconia Ridge. At this point I really enjoyed seeing different parts of the Whites, this was also when I truly became aware of the list, and also felt that it was attainable.

As far as why I do it, its a way of discovering new places without having to do truly extensive research, sort of a curriculum of good mountains. Its like a professor once said in college, "You don't need school to learn, provided you read and write, school is helpful in that it helps point you towards subjects to read and write about." The list serves the same point in hiking.

I once a hiker who was not a peakbagger tell me "I'm not working on any lists, I just like going to cool places, seeing cool things." I said, "Thats actually why I peakbag, working on the list brings me to cool places, where I see cool things." I feel that virtually all of the peaks on the list have different qualities that make them worthwhile.

Had I not worked on completing all the peaks, I definately would have done the "bigger name" peaks, but likely would not have thought to check out the lower profile/smaller/more remote 4K's. This would have been unfortunate as some of the best experiences have been at some of the mountains that fall into the latter category.

I plan to finish next summer, in the week after my family reunion so that my relatives can join me. I will be ending on Wildcat D, at the end of a three day backpack that will also include Moriah, the Carters, and Wildcat A. I chose finishing on this peak because I will come down into Pinkham Notch, where I started the hike of my first 4k, Mt Washington, 15 years earlier.

Jamie
Exeter, NH
42/48 NH
3/5 VT

 

[BorealChickadee]

I don't think the vast majority of hikers peak bag to be braggers. I climb the peaks because each one gives me a sense of wonderment as I look out in awe at all the woods, rocks and water. Our mountains are a priceless gift. Each mountain different, each view opens up a new appreciation of our land, each bird or creature that shares their woods with me leaves me with just a little more understanding of our place in this wonderful world. The harder the climb, the more thankful I am that I'm able to hike.

K, do you have relatives in Homer? I know some Reif's here. Good luck with your column. Sorry you didn't meet any mountain climbing peakb(r)aggers! Most are pretty modest, you know.

 

[bigmoose]

Hey, Tom, no offense.
I'm a long time peakbagger myself, but I've come to realize a certain level of one-upsmanship is a natural consequence of the game. Not a bad thing. I was just having fun with the word. I should have used a smilie, I guess. But, because I didn't, I'll accept all red squares.

 

[thuja]

metric peakbaggers

You might whish to interview some canadian ADK peakbaggers. I gather there are a number. It would be interesting to hear their reasons for fetishising summits that are at least 1221.9 meters high.

But maybe they are not, at heart, really on the metric system.

 

[Pete_Hickey]

You might whish to interview some canadian ADK peakbaggers. I gather there are a number. It would be interesting to hear their reasons for fetishising summits that are at least 1221.9 meters high.

But maybe they are not, at heart, really on the metric system.

It's the concept of a LIST, not he actual hight. Note the differrences between the 48 list (changes with geological surveys), and the NY 46 list, which remains the same, in spite of newer surveys indicating some peaks are lower, some others should be on the list, etc.

They are both LISTS.

 

[SherpaKroto]

I'm with bigmoose on this one. I've found myself heading off to obscure peaks after hearing that a friend or acquaintance just went there. It's sort of like "damn - I need to go there! No way I want to hear about how great the view is, or how sweet the climb was - I want to SEE it for myself!" If someone is bragging about heading somewhere, I figure, why can't I do it? It's often what drives me. Why else would one want to head off up a slope with water pouring down knowing that you would see nothing on this day, and would return battered, bruised, wet, cold, but happy. Then the next time I see the person who climbed "peak X", we have something new to talk about.

Like I've said before: there will always be places I've never been. It will drive me insane. (some say I'm already there )

 

[Jaytrek57]

If you insert an "R" into "peakbagger", you come up with "peakbragger."

If you remove the "p", "a", "k", "a", "g","g" and "r" you get "beer"

Coincidence?? I think not.

PS...notice the use of the smilie face.

Peace.

 

[Tom Rankin]

If you remove the "p", "a", "k", "a", "g","g" and "r" you get "beer" Coincidence?? I think not.

NOW, we are back on track! (another smiley there!)

 

[Neil]

I have to reluctantly admit that the peakbagger lable sticks to me. At least I don't speak with a list (or is that lisp)? Allthough at times I might walk with a list.

Reluctantly, because the term suggests that the peakbagger in question only cares about ticking off another summit on his list and dosn't care about ANYTHING else. (Except maybe the bragging rights )

But when I find myself working on 4 lists all at the same time (three now, and one dosn't involve summits) then I guess you can call me a peakbagger.

Which brings me to the meat of my post: the ADK 100. I decided to embark on this one because I saw in it a way to combine a lot of different things that I like:
1-Being outdoors.
2-The challenges of off trail navigation.
3-Views.
4-Cool stuff on the way like waterfalls, rock formations etc.
5-Planning trips. I love the logistics of it!
6-Physical challenge and fitness. On days I don't feel like going for a run I think of the next hike and get my butt out the door.
7-Brother/sisterhood - like Sherpa mentions. You have a common passion to share.
8-Trees and flowers.
9-No crowds.
10-etc.

So why bother with a list? To put all of the above under one umbrella. Somehow, the list cohesively ties it all together into a unified whole. Each trip is a part of something bigger that grows to completion. Some may hate that. I like it.
Another reason for a list, as already stated so aptly by jmegillon149, is that the list serves as a guide to the region. The ADK 46 showed me all the high points (ha ha!) of the area and now I can drill down and focus on what really caught my eye along the way.

 

[spaddock]

None of the 3500 Club inductees, not any of the 48'ers, 67'ers, NEHH'ers or 115'ers I met at the FTFC dinner last Spring, nor any of the ADK46'ers I met this past May were bragging

To me it would be pretty silly to brag in that kind of company. There's always going to be someone that's done one more peak...


-Shayne

 

[Chip]

If there were an agreement (which there never is) it might include differences I've observed between hikers, backpackers and peakbaggers and the various sub-categories. Climbing is a whole other category. I'm more into backpacking year-round, using different gear, maximizing comfort while reducing weight, seeing how far or fast I can cover a trail section with a full pack in various conditions/seasons. But I might do all of this on the same trails I've been hiking for years. It's my impression that much Peakbagging is day hikes with minimum gear involved, the only goal being the peak on the list, not that there's ANYTHING wrong with that, it's just different from what I generally do. I have peaks on my list but until I move to Lake Placid or North Conway, I'll have to do things "my way" locally.

My only attempt here is to broaden the discussion.

 

[Rivet]

If you remove the "p", "a", "k", "a", "g","g" and "r" you get "beer"

Or, if you remove the b, a, a and p ... you get "kegger"