This is the story of the Great Range Athlete PHELPS 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 Washington state, and from Tennesee to Ontario. At the end of their 6-week training program we got together in the Adirondack High Peaks for a group hike up Phelps Mountain.

Here's their story.



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



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


Looking for help to improve your both your fitness for hiking and your disicpline and daily habits so you can become the strongest version of yourself on and off the trail? 

Book a free strategy call with James to learn more about his 1-on-1 coaching program,
SEEK TO DO MORE at
www.seektodomore.com 


Visit my other websites:
www.46OUTDOORS.com
www.46OF46.com

In this Summit Session I'll speak with ACL-specialist Dr John Kahl who will give us a masterclass on knee pain for hiking and how to fix them so you don't have to let achey knees stop you from your mountain adventures.

If you need help getting your knees stronger and more resilient for the trail, book a call with Dr Kahl to see if his online knee rehab program is right for you.

You can find him on instagram @acl.rx


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



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


Looking for help to improve your both your fitness for hiking and your disicpline and daily habits so you can become the strongest version of yourself on and off the trail? 

Book a free strategy call with James to learn more about his 1-on-1 coaching program,
SEEK TO DO MORE at
www.seektodomore.com 


Visit my other websites:
www.46OUTDOORS.com
www.46OF46.com

Deep in the Adirondack wilderness, beyond the reach of roads and civilization, lived a man who became a legend—Noah John Rondeau, the Hermit of Cold River. For nearly 40 years, he lived completely off the land, building his own village, decoding his thoughts in mysterious journals, and welcoming the occasional visitor to his remote paradise.But what drove Rondeau to leave society behind? How did he survive in one of the most rugged parts of the Adirondacks? And how did he go from a true recluse to an Adirondack icon?

In this episode, we take you deep into the life of Noah John Rondeau, exploring:

✅ His life in the Cold River wilderness—how he built shelters, hunted, fished, and thrived alone
✅ His unexpected rise to fame, despite choosing to live in solitude
✅ The mystery of his coded journals and what they reveal about his life
✅ How a powerful storm forced him from his home and changed his life forever

Noah John Rondeau wasn’t just a man who lived in the woods—he was a symbol of self-reliance, freedom, and the deep connection between humans and nature. His story is one of adventure, resilience, and mystery.

So grab a seat by the fire, and let’s journey back in time to meet the last true Adirondack hermit.



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



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


Looking for help to improve your both your fitness for hiking and your disicpline and daily habits so you can become the strongest version of yourself on and off the trail? 

Book a free strategy call with James to learn more about his 1-on-1 coaching program,
SEEK TO DO MORE at
www.seektodomore.com 


Visit my other websites:
www.46OUTDOORS.com
www.46OF46.com

Follow on Instagram & Facebook:
@46of46podcast
@jamesappleton46

The week is finally here—my new book, The Adirondack 46 in 18 Hikes: A Complete Guide to Hiking the High Peaks, is officially out!

This isn’t just a hiking guide; it’s a blueprint for adventure, a resource to help you plan, prepare, and experience the Adirondack High Peaks the way they were meant to be explored.

In this episode, I take you inside the book, reading excerpts and sharing my personal journey from my first Adirondack peak to my 46th. Whether you’re just starting your High Peaks journey or you’re well on your way to becoming a 46er, this book (and this episode) will help you navigate the trails, overcome challenges, and embrace the transformation that comes with climbing these mountains.

Tune in as I discuss:
✅ What’s inside the book – how it organizes the 46 High Peaks into 18 hikes to help you plan your adventure
✅ My own journey hiking the Adirondacks and how these mountains changed me
✅ The emotional & physical transformation that happens between peak #1 and peak #46
✅ How this book can help YOU hike smarter, safer, and with more confidenceAnd of course, I’ll be reading some of my favorite passages from the book along the way!

Order your copy today & start your High Peaks adventure!

Get my books:
The Adirondack 46 in 18 Hikes: The Complete Guide to Hiking the High Peaks 
Adirondack Campfire Stories: Tales and Folklore from Inside the Blue Line



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


Looking for help to improve your both your fitness for hiking and your disicpline and daily habits so you can become the strongest version of yourself on and off the trail? 

Book a free strategy call with James to learn more about his 1-on-1 coaching program,
SEEK TO DO MORE at
www.seektodomore.com 


Visit my other websites:
www.46OUTDOORS.com
www.46OF46.com

Follow on Instagram & Facebook:
@46of46podcast
@jamesappleton46

This week I'm back with an Adirondacks Pioneer episode about the one and only, William H.H. Murray, better known as Adirondack Murray.
 
Adirondack Murray played a massive role in shaping the Adirondacks as we know them today. His 1869 book, Adventures in the Wilderness, inspired a wave of tourism, introducing city dwellers to the beauty of the Adirondack Mountains. But his influence wasn’t without controversy—many who followed his words were unprepared for the harsh realities of the wild, earning them the nickname "Murray’s Fools."

In this episode, we dive into:
✅ Murray’s role in popularizing the Adirondacks
✅ The tourism boom and backlash of the 1870s
✅ How his legacy still impacts outdoor culture today


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


Order my new book "The Adirondack 46 in 18 Hikes: The Complete Guide to the High Peaks" HERE


Looking for help improving your fitness and resilience for hiking so you can become the strongest version of yourself on and off the trail?
Book a free strategy call with James to learn more about his 1-on-1 coaching program,
SEEK TO DO MORE at
www.seektodomore.com 


Visit my other websites:
www.46OUTDOORS.com
www.46OF46.com

Follow on Instagram & Facebook:
@46of46podcast
@jamesappleton46


Order my latest book
Adirondack Campfire Stories: Tales and Folklore From Inside the Blue Line

Order Links
Amazon Link
Barnes & Nobles Link
IndieBound Link

This week we'll hear from a few members of the Great Range Athlete COLDEN Team and their experience getting stronger and fitter for climbing mountains along with our recent group hike together up Mt Colvin.


Order my new book "The Adirondack 46 in 18 Hikes: The Complete Guide to the High Peaks" HERE


Looking for help improving your fitness and resilience for hiking so you can become the strongest version of yourself on and off the trail?
Book a free strategy call with James to learn more about his 1-on-1 coaching program,
SEEK TO DO MORE at
www.seektodomore.com 


Visit my other websites:
www.46OUTDOORS.com
www.46OF46.com

Follow on Instagram & Facebook:
@46of46podcast
@jamesappleton46


Order my latest book
Adirondack Campfire Stories: Tales and Folklore From Inside the Blue Line

Order Links
Amazon Link
Barnes & Nobles Link
IndieBound Link

It's been too long since we've talked about the Adirondack's beloved long trail, the Northville-Placid Trail and this week I'm back with a Summit Session with Backpacker Radio's Juliana Chauncey to go over her 2024 NPT thruhike.

We'll start at mile one, day one, and go from there all the way to the end. From Placidd to Northville.

Pick up Juliana's book "Hiking From Home: A Long Distance Hiking Guide for Family and Friends" at her website HERE



Looking for help improving your fitness and resilience for hiking so you can become the strongest version of yourself on and off the trail?
Book a free strategy call with James to learn more about his 1-on-1 coaching program,
SEEK TO DO MORE at
www.seektodomore.com 


Visit my other websites:
www.46OUTDOORS.com
www.46OF46.com

Follow on Instagram & Facebook:
@46of46podcast
@jamesappleton46


Order my latest book
Adirondack Campfire Stories: Tales and Folklore From Inside the Blue Line

Order Links
Amazon Link
Barnes & Nobles Link
IndieBound Link

The legend is back this week for his annual appearance, author and all around outdoors adventurer Erik Schlimmer is back to dicuss his latest books, "Wicked Awesome Adirondack Chronology: 1525 to 2024" and "Cranberry Lake 50 Place Names"

It's always a pleasure and fan-favorite when Erik come on the podcast. Pick up his many Adirondack books HERE


The next GREAT RANGE ATHLETE 6-week training program kicks off JANUARY 12! 

Does your physical fitness ever hold you back from having the mountain adventuers you want to have? Do you want to keep struggling with that if you didn't have to?

Join the Great Range Athlete PHELPS team and kickstart 2025 by building unprecedented physical strength and mental toughness for climbing mountains...and life!

This 6-week online group training program will get you strong, fit, and in mountain shape for hiking. Guaranteed.

CLICK HERE to sign up today!


Visit my website:
www.46OUTDOORS.com
www.46OF46.com

Follow on Instagram & Facebook
@46of46podcast
@jamesappleton46


Looking for help improving your fitness and resilience for hiking so you can become the strongest version of yourself on and off the trail?
Book a free strategy call with James to learn more about his 1-on-1 coaching program,
SEEK TO DO MORE at
www.seektodomore.com 


Order my new book
Adirondack Campfire Stories: Tales and Folklore From Inside the Blue Line

Order Links
Amazon Link
Barnes & Nobles Link
IndieBound Link

Ever wondered what it's like to ski all 46 High Peaks of the Adirondacks? This week I bring on the 2nd and 3rd people to EVER accomplish the feat of skiing all 46....and they made a documentary film all about it!

Jamie and Doug Kennard share their 10-year adventure completing the 46 High Peaks on skis and talk about Jamie's documentary film about it, "Variable"

This is a must listen episode!

Watch the trailer and learn more about the documentary film and screenings HERE



The next GREAT RANGE ATHLETE 6-week training program kicks off JANUARY 12! 

Does your physical fitness ever hold you back from having the mountain adventuers you want to have? Do you want to keep struggling with that if you didn't have to?

Join the Great Range Athlete PHELPS team and kickstart 2025 by building unprecedented physical strength and mental toughness for climbing mountains...and life!

This 6-week online group training program will get you strong, fit, and in mountain shape for hiking. Guaranteed.

CLICK HERE to sign up today!


Visit my website:
www.46OUTDOORS.com
www.46OF46.com

Follow on Instagram & Facebook
@46of46podcast
@jamesappleton46


Looking for help improving your fitness and resilience for hiking so you can become the strongest version of yourself on and off the trail?
Book a free strategy call with James to learn more about his 1-on-1 coaching program,
SEEK TO DO MORE at
www.seektodomore.com 


Order my new book
Adirondack Campfire Stories: Tales and Folklore From Inside the Blue Line

Order Links
Amazon Link
Barnes & Nobles Link
IndieBound Link

As 2024 winds down and 2025 ushers in it's time to recap for my annual New Years Sessions episode. This week I'll recap each episode and give a behind-the-scenes look into each episode, guest, and more stories. 

Thanks for a great 2024 here on The 46 of 46 Podcast!



The next GREAT RANGE ATHLETE 6-week training program kicks off JANUARY 12! 

Does your physical fitness ever hold you back from having the mountain adventuers you want to have? Do you want to keep struggling with that if you didn't have to?

Join the Great Range Athlete PHELPS team and kickstart 2025 by building unprecedented physical strength and mental toughness for climbing mountains...and life!

This 6-week online group training program will get you strong, fit, and in mountain shape for hiking. Guaranteed.

CLICK HERE to sign up today!


Visit my website:
www.46OUTDOORS.com
www.46OF46.com

Follow on Instagram & Facebook
@46of46podcast
@jamesappleton46


Looking for help improving your fitness and resilience for hiking so you can become the strongest version of yourself on and off the trail?
Book a free strategy call with James to learn more about his 1-on-1 coaching program,
SEEK TO DO MORE at
www.seektodomore.com 


Order my new book
Adirondack Campfire Stories: Tales and Folklore From Inside the Blue Line

Order Links
Amazon Link
Barnes & Nobles Link
IndieBound Link