Adirondack peak named for hiker mentor of 46ers

PHOTOGRAPHER: The Associated Press

An Adirondack mountain has been renamed Grace Peak in honor of Grace Hudowalski, an inspiration to generations of climbers in the Adirondack Forty-Sixers hiking club.

Hudowalski died at 98 in 2004. For the past 12 years, friends and supporters have worked to get the summit known as East Dix renamed Grace Peak. Their petition was approved June 12 by the U.S. Board of Geographic Names.

It was the first time since 1973 that a High Peak had been renamed. The earlier effort was spearheaded by Hudowalski herself, and took 37 years to name Mount Marshall for wilderness activist Bob Marshall.

Hudowalski was the ninth person and first woman to climb the 46 Adirondack peaks 4,000 feet or higher. More than 5,000 hikers have now achieved that goal to become members of the Forty-Sixers club.