Verplanck Colvin

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Verplanck Colvin

Verplanck Colvin (1847–1920) was a lawyer and topographical engineer whose understanding and appreciation for the environment of the Adirondack Mountains lead to the creation of New York's Forest Preserve and the Adirondack Park.

Born in Albany, New York to a wealthy family, he was educated at private schools where he excelled in the sciences. In 1864, he joined his father's law office in Albany and was later admitted to the bar.

In 1865, at the age of 18, he started exploring the Adirondack wilderness and thereafter spent his summers in exploration. During the summer of 1869 he climbed Mount Marcy, and in 1870 made the first recorded ascent of Seward Mountain. In 1872 he applied to the New York state legislature for a stipend to institute a survey of the Adirondacks. During the first year he discovered Lake Tear-of-the-Clouds, the source of the Hudson river. He directed surveying parties throughout the Adirondacks and determined the altitudes of most of the highest peaks.

In 1873 he wrote a report arguing that if the Adirondack watershed was allowed to deteriorate, it would threaten the viability of the Erie Canal, which was then vital to New York's economy, and that the entire Adirondack region should therefore be protected by the creation of a state forest preserve. He was subsequently appointed superintendent of the New York state land survey, which led to the creation of the Adirondack Forest Preserve in 1885. His work ended in 1900 when then Governor Theodore Roosevelt transferred his duties to the state engineer.

One of the surveyor's marks Colvin left on dozens of peaks in the Adirondacks, this one on Big Slide Mountain

He was a member of numerous scientific societies and was president of the department of physical science at the Albany Institute. In about 1881, at Hamilton College, he delivered a series of lectures of geodesy, surveying, and topographical engineering. His maps, reports, illustrations and notes form a large part of the archives of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation in Albany and are often referred to by present day surveyors.

In the course of performing the surveys that would lead to the creation of the Adirondack Park, Colvin completely cleared a number of mountain summits, including Noonmark, Hurricane and Ampersand. This lead to soil erosion so that these mountains are today bare rocky peaks; as a result, they have excellent views and are highly popular for hiking.