Clif Bars freeze at 4,000 feet atop the Adirondack High Peaks.
That was a lesson learned when Queensbury Middle School teacher Chad Seelye started his quest to become a “Winter 46er” in 2017 on Big Slide Mountain, which stands at 4,240 feet.
“Everything freezes,” said the special education teacher, who finished his journey on Jan. 23 with a hike up Seward Mountain.
The Adirondack 46ers is a membership organization that recognizes people who have climbed the 46 High Peaks in the Adirondack Mountains in northern New York State. Hikers who have climbed the 46 mountains in winter — from Dec. 21 to March 21 — receive winter recognition and are entitled to wear the “Winter 46-R” patch.
“Only those who are in excellent physical condition, properly equipped and skilled in winter techniques should attempt this, as winter climbing can be demanding and exhausting,” according to the organization’s website.
Seelye, who is already a regular season 46er, ascended 26 of the peaks in the winter by himself.
“I like the solitude, the quietness,” Seelye said sitting inside his classroom at QMS. “There’s usually a lot of time to self-reflect. It’s a good mental health break.”
He packs his bag with high-energy foods like Uncrustables, trail mix, energy gels and usually a thermos of hot soup.
“You just want high-calorie food,” he said, “which is great because you can eat whatever you want, because you’re burning so much.”
His 40-pound pack is stuffed with three pairs of gloves, three hats, multiple base layers, a shell, three bottles of water, electrolytes and food. He also brings cramp-ons, poles and goggles.
“You have to have snowshoes. It’s by law,” he said. “You can get fined if you don’t have snowshoes. If there’s 8 inches in the woods, you have to be carrying them.”
He climbed the other 20 High Peaks with friends, including his middle school colleague Jerry Hicks, who is a single-season Winter 46er. Queensbury High School’s teaching staff also boasts a Winter 46er.
“There’s 16,000 regular 46ers, and out of those 16,000, there’s just over 1,000 Winter 46ers, which is crazy, because out of our district, there are three of us,” Seelye said.
Seelye and Hicks scaled Dix Range together, climbing five High Peaks in one 13-hour day.
Seelye calls it “type-A fun.”
He found Saddleback Mountain most challenging due to its vertical, snow-covered cliffs. His favorite peak is Gothics with its 360-degree views.
He has orphaned peaks, pushed back by brutal temperatures. His coldest climb was Upper Wolfjaw at 20 degrees below zero.
“I learned my lesson,” he said. “I took my glove off to take a picture, and within one minute, my digits started freezing. That was scary.”
Seelye recorded all his climbs and has shared them with his middle school students.
“I just think it’s great for kids to realize that it’s in their backyard,” Seelye said. “We live in just such an amazing area. I think it’s a lifelong skill, and just like anything else, I’m still learning.”