Genesee Valley Chapter
Adirondack Mountain Club

Grace Peak Committee Report Spring 2004

Just a few short years ago I became a 46er. Standing on Allen Mountain, I was light headed with the wonderful feeling of accomplishment. I came to that next spring meeting on cloud nine. I met Grace Hudowalski, 46er #9, for the first time and received my certificate. There . . . finally . . . my journey was complete. I had climbed the 46 and received my patch. Now, what was I to do? It seemed there was a big mud hole in front of me. Much of my time had previously been filled with mountain adventures. What would I do to fill that void?

The answer came at the next fall meeting. I joined the Grace Peak Committee and soon my efforts snowballed into an adventure greater than climbing the peaks themselves. We are now on a five year mission, which will ultimately see East Dix renamed Grace Peak and South Dix renamed Carson Peak.

The Committee is making progress, the media has taken notice and articles are being written. Discussions are springing up on hiking websites and in newspapers. This is great news because the more people know about our goal the more likely they are to back us.

Once again I would urge you to write to the "Letters of Grace Campaign". Tell us how becoming a 46er changed your life. We are also collecting copies of the letters Grace wrote to you, if you would be willing to share them. You can find our address at the Grace Peak Committee icon at the 46er website. You can also help by referring to the Peaks by their new names. Ultimately, it is local usage that will guide our proposal to its summit.

The Grace Peak Committee has contacted the Carson family, a short biography on Russ "Little Mac" Carson has been written, and the Carson family has started to send never before seen photos and information about their father, Russ Carson. We anticipate meeting with them this summer to climb Carson Peak together as a "family" reunited.

The Grace Peak Committee is often asked, "Who is Russ Carson and why are we working to re-name South Dix, Carson Peak? So think about this. How many of you know who Grace Hudowalski #9 was? I would venture to say that all 46ers know the answer to that question. How many have heard the name Russ "Little Mac" Carson? Do you know that Russ Carson pushed Bob Marshall, George Marshall and Herbert Clark to finish the 46 peaks and become the first 46ers? Have you heard of a book titled, "Peaks and People of the Adirondacks"? Did you know that Russ Carson wrote it and donated its proceeds to the Adirondack Mountain Club?

Who knows that Russ Carson was a past president and charter member of the Adirondack Mountain Club? Did you also know that he helped establish "High Spots" magazine and wrote many short articles for it and the "Cloud Splitter"? He was also the editor of "A Mount Marcy Anthology", a special edition of High Spots published in 1937. He wrote a column called "The Footpath" for the Glen Falls Post –Star and five other newspapers. Russell was influential in the renaming of North Seward to Donaldson Mountain. Still, he served 20 years as a trustee for Association for the Protection of the Adirondacks. Russ amassed a long list of contributions to the Adirondacks, and yet here I have mentioned only a few.

Russ was a resident of Glens Falls most of his life and made it a point to contribute to his community. He was a steward of our wilderness but also served as a community leader in Glens Falls for the people of the "north woods".

He was a leader in the local Rotary Club. It was there that he devised a inspirational game that involved crediting members with the ascent heights of the forty-six peaks in the Adirondacks. Could this game have been the trigger that inspired our 46ers of Troy to actually climb the 46 peaks and begin the legacy that we enjoy today?

Russ believed in "giving" to educate the community. He served the Glens Falls Union Free School Board for over 35 years during which he was president for some time. More importantly, he served on the New York State School Board Association and was its President from 1941-1942. They honored him by presenting him with the NYS School Boards Distinguished Service Award in 1959. And still, amid all these contributions he found it necessary to serve his country as well. He served in the National Guard as Captain of Company K, 105th Infantry.

How Russ Carson found time to become successful President and Director of his own insurance company in Glens Falls is beyond me. Oh, it doesn"t stop there, he was President and Director of the Savings and Loan Association, Chairman of Finance Committee of National Insurance Agents and President of the New York State Association of Independent Insurance Agents, as well.

At his address on the 100th anniversary of the first ascent of Mount Marcy, Carson said, "The Adirondack Mountain Club stands for recreational use of the preserve for the health and pleasure of the people in a manner not inconsistent with its wild forest character, but nevertheless is most sympathetic towards the 'protection' idea sponsored by the Association for the Protection of the Adirondacks." Does that sound familiar? It should, it is also the basis for our doctrine as 46ers. That is "To educate the people in the proper use of our wilderness."

The point I am trying to make is, that we all remember Grace Hudowalski and what she has done for us and our mountains, but to some extent we have forgotten who Russ Carson was and how his influence continues to mold who we are today and what we stand for. I fear that fifty years from now the memory of our beloved Grace could fall to the same fate. It is therefore, crucial that we as a society of humans immortalize these two humble servants. Future generations should be reminded what these two people stood for; lest we forget our charge. We are only stewards of the mountains. We must continue to strive for the proper use of the wilderness so that we can all acquaint ourselves with our inner souls. Our goal should remain to teach future generations to enjoy our mountains while preserving some locations untouched in appearance. Thus, we give everyone the opportunity to test themselves, now and in the future. Grace Peak and Carson Peak will be beacons to that goal. We need your support for this effort.

Sincerely,
Doug Arnold #4693
Chair; Grace Peak Committee
and
Sue Franklin #3791, NE111er

Grace Peak Committee