Before college, when I lived out east, I did some hiking and backpacking in the Adirondacks, but I was not nearly as into it as I have been recently. So I decided to go fairly big.
Going big
After some research online, I decided to hike Gothics, the tenth highest Adirondack peak, with a couple more of the 46ers -- peaks over 4000 feet -- thrown in. After further research I found out we could add two more of the 46ers if we did two more 1/2 mile sidetracks one way. We were looking at a dead minimum of 14.5 miles without the side trips, so it was looking to be a pretty epic day.
I decided to go in at the Keene Valley entrance, known as the Garden, and do an all day trip.
Link to google terrain map: http://goo.gl/maps/Ex5od
Link to the ADK list of peaks:
http://www.adk46r.org/peaks
The itinerary, in trail order
So here is the intended itinerary. I wisely concluded that we would not be able to do the second optional side hike to Lower Wolf Jaw, but that turns out to be fine because there is no individual 46er patch for the wolf jaws individually.
- Saddleback (4515)
- Gothics (4726)
- Armstrong (4419)
- Upper Wolf Jar (4185)
The Garden to John's Brooke Lodge
We got the Garden around 7:30 and started the hike.
Registering at the Garden.
A bridge just before John's Brooke Lodge (JBL)
JBL
This next stretch was one of the dicey bits of the trail, as far as staying on the right track. Most of the trails were quite well marked and easy to follow, but this bit needs a little help from the trail crew.
Crossing a stream just south of JBL.
We eventually found the trail marker for the orebed trail we intended to take up to the high peaks.
A good example of the trails we were on early and late in the day -- as we used to say in Connecticut, "roots, rock, reggae".
Lush dense lowland forest in the background.
In this picture and the next, you can now start to see some of the damage caused by Hurricane Irene from almost exactly a year ago in August 2011.
Robert scrambling up one of the many rock ledges we crossed.
Part of the trail along a water bed, the "Orebed" trail, whose name motivation will become obvious.
Lots of iron from the brook stains the rocks along this section of Orebed.
The next three pictures show more of the terrain we crossed on the Orebed trail.
About to hit one of the most interesting parts of Orebed.
At 3500 feet elevation.
Here are around 350 steps built and maintained by the Adirondack Mountain Club, presumably after Hurricane Irene.
Looking down on Robert and more of the destruction caused by Irene.
Finally at 4000 and close to the saddle between Gothics and Saddleback mountain.
A picture of flowers for the flower picture likers out there.
Decision piont for Saddleback
We arrived at the the trail junction for Gothics, where we had to make a call on adding the 1 mile to bag Saddleback.
At the saddle between Saddleback and Gothics.
Lunch on Saddleback mountain
We decided to add Saddleback with the optional hiking. It turned out to be fairly steep, but nothing like Gothics which was waiting ahead.
Panoramic view from close to Saddleback. The mountain with the scars in the foreground is Basin, with Haystack just peaking over the shoulder. Upper Ausable lake in the distance, which apparently and unfortunately is not available as a camping spot for a backpacking trip.
After lunch rest and foot recuperation. Sneakers are not the best footwear for such an endeavor.
The trail around the horn to get Saddleback.
After saddleback and retracing our steps, this is on the way to Gothics. I dont know where he got the energy, but Robert sprinted up this little face, maybe just because that little face was there.
We were liking the lichen.
A panorama from the approach to Gothics. Far left is Haystack, then the familiar Basin, and finally the clear saddle of Saddleback.
Robert on the Gothics approach.
Robert's favorite part of the day. We were on this cabled route for something like 1/3 a mile, and he was grinning from ear to ear the entire time.
We saw two backpackers going down the steep face pitch to Gothics. We think they did not get the good advice we did to go counter-clockwise from above and go up Orebed.
Close to the geological marker for Gothics, Marcy is just peeking out behind Basin.
My favorite picture form the hike, on Gothics with Marcy (1st highest), Haystack (3rd highest), and Basin (9th highest, scars) showing.
Looking south from Gothics towards Upper Ausable lake and some ponds.
Robert positioned to scare his Grandmother. She might even gasp seeing this on her computer.
Proof of Gothics
The trail from Gothics towards Armstrong is not as open as the previous trail, narrow through dense scrub pines and cedar.
Panoramic from Armstrong (I am pretty sure, although we did not see the survey marker), with Gothics, Saddleback, Basin, Marcy visible, if you care. All those other ones we need to get next time.
On the way down. You can start to see some evidence of the mile of delta z vertical we have covered.
Even more evidence.
Some mushrooms that Larissa assures us are edible. There were lots of these in the woods along the trail at the higher elevations.
The gnarly descent
The way down was hard. Harder than the way up, no question. Tons of ledges with roll your own path.
A ledge.
Another ledge.
Yet another ledge.
A ledge with a ladder (1). Just check out that smile!
A ledge with a ladder (2).
A ledge with a ladder (3).
Kid is still smiling, and this is something like mile 11 or 12.
At mile 14, still smiling! Maybe because we just refilled the water bottles with the MSR filter at Wolfjaw brook. I like mechanical filters because you can drink right away and enjoy clear, cold, clean water without any wacky taste ruination.
We chose an unfortunate route back, the south trail along John's Brook, and had to do quite a bit of bushwhacking and some of the route along the boulders of John's brook.
We even had advice from a well experienced local (Thanks Anne!) who told us not to take the southside trail, but it looked so good on the map ...
Final stretch of the Southside trail, maybe 1.5 miles from the car (1).
Final stretch of the Southside trail (2).
Last picture on the trail. That kid is fairly toast. When I said I left a snickers bar on Gothics, he said we can get another one.
Summary
What a great trip! We spent about 10.5 hours on the trail covering 17.5 miles and 6000 feet of delta Z. We bagged 4 of the Adirondack 46ers and really enjoyed the day. If we could change one thing, we agreed we would have loved to have had our real hiking boots from back in California. Next time ...
I treated Robert and myself to some Adirondack peak patches from the Mountaineer outfitter in Keene.
Route map, courtesy of my Dad's GPS.
Route profile, courtesy of my Dad's GPS. Not sure why the GPS said 17.5 distance but the profile map says 16, but who cares.
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That was really fun!!!
ReplyDeleteNice TR, glad you enjoyed your hike. Done some hiking in California (Sierra Nevada) last May, I hope I'll get the chance to go back one day.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for this. I'm planning to do this same hike (ex Saddleback) in October, with my 35 lb. dog. Your pics and descriptions have been invaluable, and I have looked them over carefully 3 times so far.
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