The 46 of 46 Podcast

The 46 of 46 Podcast

The premiere podcast that brings the mountains, trails, lakes, and stories of the Adirondack Park to life—one adventure at a time.

Episodes

October 17, 2025 17 mins
A routine deer hunt. An Army veteran in the woods. A strange sound in the distance. When the group returned to their cars, Tom Messick was gone—and what happened next has haunted the Adirondacks ever since.

If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Tom Messick Sr, please contact the New York State Police Troop B in Ray Brook at (518) 897-2000.


Looking for help to improve your your fitness for hiking, nutrition, disci...
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On April 12, 1976, 19-year-old Steven Paul Thomas sat down at a lean-to on the trail to Mt Marcy, brewed himself a cup of tea, and told his hiking partners he was going out for a short walk. He never came back...

What followed was one of the most puzzling disappearances in Adirondack history. Hundreds of searchers, helicopters, dogs, and years of follow-up would turn up no trace of the young hiker. His family, especially his brother...
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In July of 1971, eight-year-old Douglas “Dougie” Legg was spending the weekend with family at Great Camp Santanoni in Newcomb, New York. When his uncle told him to run back to the lodge and change into long pants before a hike, Dougie set off on a short, familiar walk of just a few hundred feet. He never arrived. What followed became one of the largest search operations in Adirondack history—yet no trace of the boy was ever found.

M...
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This week's Summit Session with Isabelle Carpenter is sure to inspire you. Grit is the only word to describe this woman's journey to 46. From 9 trips to the Dix Range before summiting all 5, to 6 trips to the Seward Range, and many more stories like that. This woman refused to give up. It took her 55 trips to the Adirondacks from Buffalo later, but she is now an Adirondack 46'er.

Enjoy this story of perseverance and finding your tru...
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The Adirondack 46 creates transformation for people who see the journey. This is Chet's comeback story of almost abandoning his journey alltogether due to weight gain and poor habits, to putting a stop to it, getting help, putting in the work to fight back for his health, and finishing the Adirondack 46.

An inspirational High Peaks comeback story.

Looking for help to improve your your fitness for hiking, nutrition, discipline, and da...
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This is the story of the Great Range Athlete WRIGHT Team


Join the next GREAT RANGE ATHLETE Team and get in mountain-hiking shape in just 6 weeks from your local gym or your house. 
Learn more HERE



Follow on Instagram & Facebook:
@46of46podcast
@jamesappleton46

Get my books:
1.) The Adirondack 46 in 18 Hikes: The Complete Guide to Hiking the High Peaks 

2.) Adirondack Campfire Stories: Tales and Folklore from Inside the Blue Line



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August 29, 2025 22 mins
This week I'm diving in to discuss one of the most anxiety-provoking stretch of trail in the Adirondack High Peaks—the Saddleback Cliffs.

I'll give you the info you need to know and dissolve the overwhelm so you can be successful climbing this notorious High Peak.


Looking for help to improve your your fitness for hiking, nutrition, discipline, and daily habits?
Apply to work with James 1-on-1 in his Seek To Do More coaching program at...
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August 22, 2025 55 mins
Throwing it back to a fan-favorite episode. A race on trail on foot and on the road via car. This is the race to loj 



Join the next GREAT RANGE ATHLETE Team and get in mountain-hiking shape in just 6 weeks from your local gym or your house. 
Learn more HERE



Follow on Instagram & Facebook:
@46of46podcast
@jamesappleton46

Get my books:
1.) The Adirondack 46 in 18 Hikes: The Complete Guide to Hiking the High Peaks 

2.) Adirondack Campfire...
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August 8, 2025 41 mins
In this episode I return to the mountain that started it all for me—Ampersand Mountain.

A story of life transformation 7 years in the making. 


Join the next GREAT RANGE ATHLETE Team and get in mountain-hiking shape in just 6 weeks from your local gym or your house. 
Learn more HERE



Follow on Instagram & Facebook:
@46of46podcast
@jamesappleton46

Get my books:
1.) The Adirondack 46 in 18 Hikes: The Complete Guide to Hiking the High Peaks...
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Ready for a story of persevering in the mountains? Then you'll enjoy this episode from my recent hike in the Lower Great Range with the recently graduated Great Range Athlete WOLFJAW team


Join the next GREAT RANGE ATHLETE Team and get in mountain-hiking shape in just 6 weeks from your local gym or your house. 
Learn more HERE



Follow on Instagram & Facebook:
@46of46podcast
@jamesappleton46

Get my books:
1.) The Adirondack 46 in 18 Hike...
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This week I'm putting the spotlight on another Adirondack organization that work to make the Adirondack Park an amazing place to be. On this Summit Session I sat down with Svetlana from the ADK Community Foundation to talk all about the organization's work as they help working professionals in the ADK community thrive and help other who want to relocate to the ADK community have the opportunity to thrive.

From the ADK Community Foun...
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In this special episode of the 46 of 46 Podcast, we head to Old Forge, NY, for the inaugural Forge Quad-Athlon — a one-of-a-kind race that pushes body and mind through four disciplines: bike, hike, paddle, and run. But this isn’t just a story about racing — it’s a story about community, courage, and everyday people doing extraordinary things.

Eight members from the Great Range Athlete and Seek To Do More coaching programs signed up ...
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This week hiking savage, Will Robinson, comes back to the podcast to tell the story of his recent Spring single-season NE115. 




Join the next GREAT RANGE ATHLETE 6-week challenge and get in mountain-hiking shape in just 6 weeks from your local gym or your house. 
Learn more about the Great Range Athlete Team Program HERE



Follow on Instagram & Facebook:
@46of46podcast
@jamesappleton46

Get my books:
1.) The Adirondack 46 in 18 Hikes: The...
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This week Jonathan Zaharek is with me to chat all about his new endeavor, Hike ADK. An online platform for all things hiking in the Adirondacks.

Download the HikeADK app in the app store now or visit www.HikeADK.com and take advatange of this phenemonal new resource for hikers.




Join the next GREAT RANGE ATHLETE 6-week challenge and get in mountain-hiking shape in just 6 weeks from your local gym or your house. 
Learn more about the Gr...
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In this special historical episode of the 46 of 46 Podcast, we go deep into the untold story of the very first Adirondack 46ers—Bob and George Marshall, and their legendary guide, Herb Clark.

Step back to the early 1900s and follow the trio's rugged, awe-inspiring journey through the Adirondack wilderness—long before GPS, marked trails, or hiking apps.



Join the next GREAT RANGE ATHLETE 6-week challenge and get in mountain-hiking shap...
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This is the story of the Great Range Athlete CASCADE Team. A group of 21 hikers who came together with the same goals: to impriove their physical fitness for their hiking adventures.

This team stretched from Vermont to Alaska and everywhere inbetween. At the end of their 6-week training program we got together in the Adirondack High Peaks for a group hike up Cascade and Porter Mountains in the Adirondacks.

This is their story.

Join th...
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This week I sat down for Summit Session chat with director, Blake Cortright, who is gearing up for the theatrical re-release of his film "The 46'ers" as it celebrates its 10-year anniversary. We'll discuss the filmmaking process in the High Peaks, and everything about the film and the Adirondacks as the main character.

Learn more about the special 10-year anniversary screenings at:
www.The46ersFilm.com




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This week I'm diving into to discuss every trailhead you'll use to climb the 46 Adirondack High Peaks and give you all the pertinent info you'll want to know so you get a parking spot along with what mountains you'll hike from what trailhead.


Follow Along on Instagram & Facebook:
@46of46podcast
@jamesappleton46

Join the next GREAT RANGE ATHLETE 6-week challenge and get in mountain-hiking shape in just 6 weeks from your local gym or...
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As spring arrives in the Adirondacks, the High Peaks enter mud season—a time when trails above 2,500 feet become saturated and vulnerable. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) advises hikers to avoid these trails to prevent erosion and protect fragile ecosystems. But that doesn't mean your hiking adventures have to pause!

In this episode, we'll explore a variety of lower-elevation hiking challenges perfe...
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This week on the Summit Sessions Team USA Bobsledder Adrian Adams joins me to talk al about the life of a Team USA bobsled athlete and living in Lake Placid full time as he pursues his Olympic dream.

If you've ever wondered what it's like being a winter sports athlete who trains at all of these winter sports facilities in Lake Placid, this is the episode for you!

Coonnect with Adrian on Instagram: @adrianadamsusa
Follow Along on Insta...
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