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Record-Setting Outdoor Athlete Bethany Adams Gives Earth Day Talk at SUNY Potsdam

SUNY Potsdam Hosts Talk with Bethany Adams, Author of 'Unsupported,' About Record-Breaking Hiking Journey Through Adirondack High Peaks

Potsdam, NY (04/23/2026) — SUNY Potsdam hosted an Earth Day interactive talk led by the record-setting outdoor athlete, Bethany Adams, on April 22.

Adams spoke on campus about her recently published book, "Unsupported: A Story of Moving Fast and Letting Go -- Setting a Speed Record in the Adirondack Mountains," which details her record-breaking hiking journey through the 46 High Peaks of the Adirondack Mountains. She completed that journey alongside her hiking partner and friend, Katie Rhodes, who herself attended SUNY Potsdam.

Adams is a writer, mountain athlete and experiential educator. She is the first woman to achieve 100 Fastest Known Times, and in 2020, she and Rhodes became the first women to climb all 46 Adirondack High Peaks unsupported. In her talk, she will share stories of endurance and healing through nature.

This event was sponsored by the Lougheed Center for Applied Learning, the Department of Environment and Sustainability, the Wilderness Education Program, the Department of Women's and Gender Studies, and the SUNY Potsdam Environmental Club.

About SUNY Potsdam:

Founded in 1816, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America's first 50 colleges -- and the oldest institution within SUNY. Now in its third century, SUNY Potsdam is distinguished by a legacy of pioneering programs and educational excellence. The College currently enrolls approximately 2,500 undergraduate and graduate students. Home to the world-renowned Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam is known for its challenging liberal arts and sciences core, distinction in teacher training and culture of creativity. To learn more, visit www.potsdam.edu.

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Bethany Adams sits on top of a mountain in the Adirondacks, while wearing hiking gear.

Author Bethany Adams spoke at SUNY Potsdam in an interactive Earth Day talk about her outdoor experiences and her recent record-breaking unsupported hiking journey summiting all 46 Adirondack High Peaks.

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