Adirondack Ascent

09/03/2026

One of my favorite things about the Adirondack hiking community is that the connections don’t end when we step off the trail.

The Adirondack 46ers Annual Fall Banquet is coming up Saturday, September 19 in Lake Placid, and tickets are still available, but not many!

This year’s evening includes dinner, the President’s Award Ceremony, plenty of time to connect with fellow hikers, and guest speaker Bethany Adams, author of Unsupported.

I’m also especially excited for this one because I recently joined the Adirondack 46ers as their new Recording Secretary, and I’m looking forward to being more involved with an organization that has become such a meaningful part of my own hiking journey.

You do not have to be a registered 46er to attend. Registered 46ers, aspiring 46ers, and guests are all welcome.

🎟️ Tickets are $27
📅 Ticket sales end September 8 at 10 PM OR when they sell out
📍 Lake Placid Middle/High School
🗓️ Saturday, September 19

If you’ve been working on your 46, already finished, or just love the Adirondacks, come hang out with some pretty great mountain people. ❤️🏔️

See comments for a link to the tickets.

I can't wait to get together with fellow hikers that I may have missed over the summer to swap stories over good food, to see who got the President's award, and to hear a great guest speaker. How about you? Did you purchase your tickets yet?

08/27/2026

This is exciting news!!

08/09/2026

I’m pretty thrilled to officially be a regular contributor to Adirondack Explorer!

When I started hiking in the Adirondacks, I wasn’t someone who grew up doing this. I didn’t have years of backpacking experience, a family that took me into the mountains, or some deep knowledge of the outdoors.

I learned by getting out there.

And believe me, a lot of it has NOT been pretty.

Sometimes awkwardly. Sometimes slowly. Sometimes making things approximately 400% harder than they probably needed to be. There have been a lot of “crying rocks.”

And that’s a huge part of what I love writing about.

I get to share my Adirondack adventures from a more reality-based perspective. What it actually feels like to learn these mountains as an adult. The nerves. The mistakes. The ridiculous moments. Sad burritos. Sitting down in the middle of a trail crying. Questionable decision-making. Hard days. Huge wins. And all the things you somehow figure out along the way.

Because hiking doesn’t always look like a dramatic summit photo with perfect lighting and someone gazing peacefully into the distance.

Sometimes you’re sweaty, covered in mud, eating a smashed tortilla, wondering who invited you here.

And then you keep going.

You don’t have to have grown up outdoorsy to belong out there. I certainly didn’t.

I’m incredibly grateful to Adirondack Explorer for continuing to give me a place to tell these stories, and I’m excited to keep sharing the real, messy, hilarious, hard, beautiful side of learning to love these mountains.

You can find my Adirondack Explorer stories here:
https://www.adirondackexplorer.org/author/jessh/

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08/04/2026

I can’t wait to assist Audrey of Deep Rooted Wellness and Creatives this September for her women’s Foundations Retreat, happening September 25–27!

This weekend is for women who feel called to slow down, get outside, and reconnect with themselves. It is especially welcoming for those who are newer to the outdoors but feel drawn to nature and are not quite sure where to begin.

Sometimes reconnecting with ourselves is hard to do alone. This retreat creates a supportive space to learn, explore, and feel more comfortable outside.

I’ll be there assisting Audrey and helping make the outdoor basics feel easier, more approachable, and less intimidating.

If you have been craving time in nature, connection with other women, and space to breathe, this retreat may be exactly what you need.

See comments below for more information about this awesome weekend!

Deep Rooted Wellness and Creatives is a women-led guide service creating meaningful outdoor experiences for women, and families.

Founded by Audrey Costa, the business combines guided outdoor adventure with wellness, movement, and nature-based practices. Offerings include therapeutic day hikes, Wild Resilience Backpacking Retreats, Connected Together Family Retreats, yoga in nature, workshops, coaching, and other experiences designed to encourage strength, healing, self-discovery, and renewal.

Audrey brings more than 20 years of experience in health, wellness, counseling, and outdoor recreation. She is a Licensed Associate Counselor, National Certified Counselor, Certified Nature Therapist, Certified Health and Nutrition Coach, Personal Trainer, Wellness Coach, and New York State Licensed Hiking and Camping Guide.

Her compassionate and holistic approach helps participants reconnect with themselves, build confidence, and explore the healing power of time spent outdoors.

Whether someone is looking for adventure, clarity, connection, or simply space to breathe, Deep Rooted Wellness and Creatives supports the journey one step at a time, rooted in the wild.

Be sure to check out her upcoming events this September and October in comments below!

07/24/2026

One of the best parts of being a guide is knowing you do not have to do it alone.

I am proud to be part of NYSOGA, a statewide community of guides who share knowledge, support one another, and work together to strengthen professional guiding across New York.

Whether we are leading hikes, paddles, fishing trips, hunting adventures, or outdoor education programs, we all share a commitment to safety, professionalism, and responsible recreation.

Community makes us better guides, and better guides create better experiences outdoors.

Why be a part of NYSOGA?

Outdoor guides often work independently, but that does not mean they have to figure everything out alone.

NYSOGA brings guides together to share knowledge, strengthen professional standards, access educational opportunities, and support one another across New York State.

Our members guide in the mountains, forests, rivers, lakes, and communities throughout the state. They may offer very different adventures, but they share a commitment to professionalism, safety, and responsible outdoor recreation.

Because even the people leading the way need a strong community behind them.

For more information to join, see the comments below.

07/17/2026

It’s windy out there this weekend!

Just a reminder that when you combine wind, rain, and exposed terrain, conditions can become miserable in a hurry. It might be 70° in town, but higher elevations are a completely different environment.

I had a great hike up Wright Peak, but once I reached the exposed section on Algonquin, I realized my gear wasn’t enough to keep me warm. I made the decision to turn around. Next time, my gloves, fleece, and hat will definitely be coming with me.

Before continuing, check in with yourself and your group:
• Can you get warm again?
• Can you safely hike for another 4 to 5 hours in these conditions?

If the answer is no, turning around is the right decision.

The mountains aren’t going anywhere. Sometimes the best summit is the one you save for another day.

Happy trails!

07/15/2026

Backpacking has a way of changing how you see yourself.

When I started, I wondered whether I would feel safe, stay interested, or even be capable of reaching the places I wanted to explore.

What I found instead was confidence.

I had already spent years building outdoor skills, but backpacking gave me a new way to use them. It opened the door to more remote places, bigger possibilities, and a deeper trust in my own strength and decision-making.

There is something incredibly empowering about carrying everything you need on your back and realizing you are capable of going farther than you once imagined.

Backpacking season is coming around again, and I am ready to see where the trail leads next.

Sometimes the next adventure is not about proving anything to anyone else. It is about discovering just how capable you already are.

06/25/2026

Sharing this from NYSOGA because if you are a licensed guide in New York, or working toward becoming one, it’s worth checking out.

I joined NYSOGA to connect with other guides, learn more, and stay plugged into what is happening in the guiding world. I’m also grateful to have been working as their Virtual Assistant for the past several months, and I truly cannot say enough good things about this organization.

Guiding is more than taking people outside. It’s safety, planning, weather, terrain, people, snacks, mud, and sometimes a little chaos.

Having a community that understands that matters.

NYSOGA has been supporting New York’s outdoor guides since 1891, and we would love to help more guides across the state get connected.

The New York State Outdoor Guides Association is New York’s oldest and largest professional guiding organization. We support licensed guides in hiking, paddling, hunting, fishing, whitewater, birding, camping, backcountry travel, outdoor education, and more.

NYSOGA helps promote professional guides, supports strong safety standards, works with the DEC on guide licensing and regulations, and provides training opportunities for both new and experienced guides.

But it’s also more than that.

It’s community.
It’s connection.
It’s people who understand muddy boots, early mornings, wild weather, trail stories, fish tales, camp coffee, and the deep love of helping others experience New York’s outdoors safely and confidently.

If you are a licensed guide in New York, we would love to have you as part of NYSOGA!

And if you know someone who guides, tag them, send this their way, or share it with your outdoor community.

Professional standards matter.
Community matters.
And let’s be honest, we do some pretty fun stuff too.

See comments for our list of regional guides.

06/25/2026

Summer hiking is beautiful, but it can get hot, humid, busy, and stormy fast.

Starting early gives you cooler temperatures, better parking options, and more time to move at a comfortable pace. It also gives you a safer window if your hike takes longer than expected, which happens more often than people think. Which is why you ALWAYS pack a headlamp (which means two headlamps and extra batteries.)

The mountains are not going anywhere. Give yourself enough time to actually enjoy them.