The Adirondacks: Truly Uninhabitable?

Originally viewed as an uninhabitable area, the Adirondacks today have quite a few people living in it. There are over 100 villages and towns that make up a population of over a 100,000. This isn't too shabby considering the Adirondacks were first seen as desolate and unforgiving. Furthermore, the six million acre land attracts millions of visitors each year and brings in a nice chunk of money for the New York state. However, what is commonly less known is the many disappearances or deaths of experienced hikers and hunters. Are the Adirondacks truly uninhabitable as originally thought or are these accidents not unique to the Adirondacks? Despite the successes the Adirondacks have seen so far, the many fatalities appear to be a product of the unforgiving and desolate nature of the park. 

Adirondackalmanack.com

Some of these fatalities include Thomas Messick, Douglas Legg, Matthew Potel, and Hua Davis. Back in November, Thomas Messick, age 82, suddenly vanished when he was hunting deer in an area of wild forest near the town of Horicon in Warren County. Messick was with a group of hunters who had been hunting together in the Adirondacks for decades. Similarly, Douglas Legg who was described as an avid hiker and mini woodsman, disappeared almost 45 years ago on a short and direct walk back to his camp. Next is Matthew Potel who was an outdoors educator and experienced climber. On his last hike, he slipped and fell head-first to his death when he attempted to climb the Trap Dike with seven other members of his school's outdoors club. Once again, a similar situation occurred involving Hua Davis. Davis was a Saranac Lake Ultra 6er meaning she was able to climb all six Saranac lake peaks in one day. Clearly an experienced and avid hiker, Davis was found dead after setting out on a hike up MacNaughton Mountain.