Wow. I usually don't read these NY threads very often, but I'm glad I did. I am completely flabbergasted right now to find out that I have to write letters to a correspondent in order to be recognized as a 46er. Being from the Whites, this is pretty foreign to me, aside from my written accounts of the final peaks on the non-NY lists.
As some of you may know, I hiked several of the 46er peaks many years ago, and have been waiting for my kid (13 years old, and already a WM4k'r finisher) to get his learner's permit so he could share driving to NY. I wonder how much time can elapse between the first hikes and when a hiker needs to contact the 46er organization?
The website says that they want you to write to them at least once per year. Does that imply that once you climb one 46er, you will have to write to them every year if you hope to complete the list? In my case, decades will pass between my first batch of peaks and my last.
Forgive me if I sound ignorant, I mean no disrespect to the organization, but how would one know, when they go hiking, that they need to submit climb paperwork to a correspondent? It sounds like a nice idea to encourage people to write about their hiking experiences, but my correspondent could be dead before I finish hiking the last peak.
I'm completely blown away by finding out that I have to write these letters at all, and I'm very confused. Do I have to write one letter for each peak? Do the letters become property of the 46er organization? I suppose I could climb the ones I've already climbed over again, it's not like I don't like hiking! Keeping track shouldn't be a real problem, because I keep a journal of all my hikes, but the website says they do not accept "journal entries." Does anyone know what they mean by that? It's very discouraging to find out that some hikers' assigned correspondents seem antagonistic. Perhaps Adk_dib has the best idea with a special commemorative T-shirt.
Hey there, friend. It's a little overwhelming at first, but not as hard as it sounds. Let me see if I can clear some things up for you. Please, anybody, correct me if I'm wrong.
You do not HAVE to write them every year if you want to become a 46er, but they like you to keep in regular contact. At this point I believe there are about 5,000 or so open 46er files, from what I've been told. Some of these people hike a or two a year, and are taking their time. One guy I know spread the whole thing out over 40 years! To become a 46er, like Neil said, who is recognized by the
46ers Club (separate from the ADK Mountain Club), and thus get a patch and have all the privileges of the organization, you must write in at least a little, telling something about each peak. If you don't want to be affiliated with the group, you don't have to be. The choice is yours!
There can be as much time elapsed as you would like. I hiked my first 46er when I was 10, and didn't write in until I was 18 (which included the 8 I had hiked since then as well).
As far as how you would know this, that's an excellent question. I just learned from word of mouth and hanging out with 46ers, and having friends who are working on them, and looking at the website. I doubt your correspondent will be dead by the time your done, but that's an interesting thought I suppose. If that does happen, I guess you would be assigned a new one.
You do NOT have to write one letter for each peak. I know some people who have done that, some people who have done it by range, some people who have done it by month, some people who have done it by year, some people who have done it all in one letter. It's really up to you. I write a little longer letters, so I usually do it by range, though I think I have done one or two by season when I didn't hike much.
As far as journal entries. As far as I know, they simply mean that they don't want you to tear out a page from your journal with all it's scribblings and such and send that in. They follow an organized format to submit the letters, which not only makes it easier for them to read, but also allows for more simplified filing. One or two of my letters, I believe, have essentially been my journal entries typed out and edited for errors, so you have that as an option.
As far as the negative experiences with corespondents goes, I think that is the rarity. I have many friends and acquaintances working on the 46, and have only heard
2 negative stories out of about 50. Most people find it a positive experience.
I hope that had answered some questions for you. There are people here who are more qualified and better informed who might be able to say it better.
The more I did the more I couldnt wait to get home and write up my latest and post for others to read and compliment or give you constructive advice. I am a student of the mountains...on a new ride everytime i set foot on its backyard...Feel free to do as you please...Whatever makes you happy!!! 
