The Adirondack Forty-Sixers and the Town of North Hudson are sponsoring a day-long festival on June 20, 2015 at the Town of North Hudson Park, off State Route 9, to celebrate the official renaming of Grace Peak.

The 46ers led a 12-year campaign to rename East Dix in the Dix Mountain Wilderness “Grace Peak” in honor of Grace Hudowalski, the first woman to climb the 46 High Peaks, and long-time promoter of the recreational opportunities in the Adirondacks. The United States Board of Geographic Names approved the 46ers’ petition for the naming of Grace Peak in June, 2014.

The success of the petition was due, in large part, to the support it received from the Town of North Hudson and Essex County. In a statement to the press, North Hudson supervisor Ronald Moore said, “The Town of North Hudson is very pleased to share in the
celebration of the life of Grace Hudowalski and in recognizing the official naming of Grace Peak in her honor. Her dedication and commitment to these mountains serve as an example for all to follow, regardless of what mountain we may have to climb, for as she often spoke about, it doesn’t make any difference whether you reach the top or not, what really matters is how you make the climb.”

Admission to the Grace Peak Celebration is by donation with all proceeds going to support the Town of North Hudson Fire Department and the Adirondack Mountain Club’s Summit Steward Program.

The day’s activities, which will run from 11:30 am until 7 pm, will include games and activities for children; displays and demonstrations of trail maintenance techniques and lean-to building by the Adirondack Mountain Club, Forty-Sixers, and Lean2Rescue; and music by JamCrackers.

Food and beverages will be available for sale including bison burgers from the Adirondack Buffalo Company, salads and baked beans from Elk Lake Lodge, and strawberry shortcake, served by The Schroon Lake /North Hudson Historical Society. Paradox Brewing will have a beer, brewed especially for the occasion, for sale along with a commemorative mug.

For additional information contact Doug Arnold at adkclimber@ix.netcom.com, Fran Shumway at fsshumway@gmail.com, or Laurie Rankin at laurierankin@hvc.rr.com, or visit the Adirondack Forty-Sixers’ website for updates.

For more information about Grace Hudowalski and the naming of Grace Peak can be found here.

Photo of Grace Hudowalski courtesy of Adirondack Forty-Sixers.