As part of its tradition which goes back 30 years ago, St. Lawrence University students, parents, faculty, staff, alumni and friends will attempt to scale all 46 “high peaks” of the Adirondack Mountains.

Peak Weekend, as the event is called, is sponsored by University’s Outing Club, the second-oldest outing organization of any college in the U.S.

Over the years, the club has succeeded climbing all of the high peaks, defined as a mountain above 4,000 feet in vertical elevation. Outing Club members say the event is meant to introduce students to outdoor recreation, as well as, the region’s spectacular during peak fall foliage time.

St. Lawrence, in Canton, New York offers students the Adirondack Semester, which literally immerses them in nature tripping. All courses in the program are concerned with environment and nature, and taught at a remote site about 50 miles away from campus.

This is on the shore of an Adirondack lake where glaciers melted 12,000 years ago. Students live on site as well, in yurts while faculty members use canoes in going to the site for their classes.