Preface to 'Adirondack High' “Adirondack High is a celebration of America’s first Wilderness, The Adirondack Park, a patchwork of private and public lands, created in 1892, with the nation’s largest trail system more than 2000 miles. Roughly the size of the state of Vermont, the park contains six million acres and has neither an entrance gate nor an admission fee. There are thousands of lakes, 1,800 miles of rivers, forty six mountains of more than 4,000 feet in elevation, countless trees, and rare vegetation that thrives under adverse conditions. Hardie Truesdale, a renowned photographer for more than thirty years has brought together word and image to highlight some of the many places that make the Adirondacks so spectacular.With masterful use of light and texture, Truesdale captures the sublimity of the Adirondacks and some of its most compelling vistas. Unlike many photographers who shoot hundreds of photographs of their subjects, Truesdale works as a painter would, carefully seeking out each scene. He often resembles an animal stalking its prey, with a palpable energy about his movements as he searches for just the right shot. Once he has found it, only then, does Truesdale relax and take the photograph…one, perhaps two shots. It is unusual for a photographer to so candidly share his thoughts and feelings as they are revealed here. Readers are in for a treat: a rare glimpse into what went on “behind the scenes” in obtaining each photograph. Many photographers will be found outdoors when the light is sunny and clear. Truesdale heads out to work in blizzards, rainstorms, fog, and mist; such conditions enhance the mood of the wild environment by creating interesting light and shadows. In fact, he will hike for miles in astorm, and then wait on a mountain summit for hours in frigid cold until the clouds break and the mountains become visible in order to capture just one photograph to his satisfaction. His commitment, patience, and, ultimately, his vision are unique. The images are not just beautiful; they capture the spirit of the Adirondacks.” Joanne Michaels > Please view the book by clicking a thumbnail at right