Trip Suggestions-Most Bang For My Buck

[adkdremn]

I'm considering a two night backpacking trip to the High Peaks for the last weekend in October. I know the weather is pretty iffy by then so I'll be keeping my eye on the forecasts and probably won't decide if I'm going for sure or not til that week.

Here's what I'm looking for. I'll be arriving Friday night most likely right around dark. I'd like to find a lean-to fairly close to a trail head, within a couple of miles if possible. From that lean-to I'd like to be able to do 3-4 peaks on Saturday and return to that same lean-to Saturday evening then head out Sunday.

Fill me up with some of that knowledge I know you all have!

[RonandJon]

The McIntyres from the Loj or Marcy Dam

There are lean-to's and campsites at the Loj - small fee - or you can walk the 2.3 miles into Marcy Dam No assurances of a lean-to, as this is a popular spot, so bring a tent. And don't forget the bear cannister.

Then hike Algonquin - Iroquois - Wright and come back out.

Or park at the Garden, walk into the lean-to's or camp sites on the way to JBL. Then do some of the peaks in the Great Range - Lower, Upper Wolf Jaw, Armstrong, Gothics

or do Gothics Saddleback loop.

Or, from the same place, do Big Slide and Yard as a loop.

Just a couple of ideas that spring to mind.

[five_head]

You could hike into the Blueberry lean to (a little over 4 miles, but flat) and hike the Seward range.

[glansj]

If the Elk Lake PA hasn't closed for the hunting season/winter yet you could hike in to Slide brook. Again a fairly easy trip in. And then do some or all of the Dix range on Saturday.

Jeff

[Kevin]

Which peaks do you need for your 46?

[adkdremn]

Well....pretty much all of them. That leaves my options wide open. I've only done Algonquin, Marcy and Cascade.

[oldsmores]

I'd second RonandJon's suggestion. There are 3 leanto's within 3 miles of the Garden, and LOTS of possible loops. Also, the trail in is easy to follow in the dark.

[Kevin]

I've only done Algonquin, Marcy and Cascade.

Then next stop, IMO, is a good Great Range trip then. My favorite views are from the Great Range. Nice challenging terrain but nothing you can't handle as dayhikes with a basecamp. So I third Ron's suggestion...

[adkdremn]

The Great Range sounds, well, great to me! From what I've figured out it would be best to start out at the Garden. I looked at my map briefly, and it looked like there's a few different trails headed out from the Garden. Which trail and which lean-to would put me in the best position to do one or two of the Wolfjaws, Armstrong and Gothics? Is there a trail that I could make this into a loop and end up back at the same lean-to? What kind of mileage am I looking at?

Thanks for all the suggestions! I hope I can squeeze this trip in, if not there's always next year. I'll write down all the pointers I'm getting! Thanks!!

[AntlerPerak]

Are you ever in luck. Check out the Adirondack Mt Club they have their own lean-to's at Johns Brook and you can reserve one for an almost reasonable price. They are close to the lodge, opposite side of the stream though for reasonable privacy. You may or may not have a hard time snagging a free site this time of year but the small fee will guarantee you a spot allowing you a "stress free" late in the day hike in.

From JBL you hike this in either direction up the Ore Bed trail to Gothics and then back via the Range trail over Armstrong and the Jaws then down the trail from the notch back to your lean-to. Or up the Wolf Jaws Trail then up the Range Trail and down the Ore Bed. The lean-tos are below where these trails begin by a tenth mile or so very convienent so there is no backtracking or reclimbing to the lean-to.

Chances are there may be open sites but if the weather holds there could be crowds. If the weather is crappy all the better reason to have a reserved lean-to. And you don't have to share it if you don't want to.

[Kevin]

The trail system is a tad confusing in there. Definitely have a map and guide book just to be sure.

I second Ore Bed Brook as a base camp (4.5 miles?). You'll go up the cable side of Gothics (great views and lots of fun), then over Armstrong, Upper and Lower Wolfjaw (10 miles?). Then back to camp on Ore Bed Brook. The lean-tos along John's Brook (public ones, not the pay ones) are usually full, but some of the lean-tos heading up the trails should be free. If you don't reserve/pay for one, be sure to bring a tent or shelter just in case.

[adkdremn]

Here's the route I figured out yesterday. From the Garden, the Phelps trail to the Southside trail. Southside trail to the ADK Range Trail to the Wolfjaws lean-to which would be basecamp. Then on Saturday do LWJ, UWJ, Armstrong and Gothics. Then from Gothics pick up the Orebed Brook Trail to Woodsfall Trail back to WJ lean-to.

What do you guys think of that route? Anyone done it this way before and have any tips or suggestions? I picked this route because it's a little bit shorter of a hike to the WJ lean-to than the Orebed lean-to. Plus, I like what Pete Hickey said in a different thread about how the hike keeps getting more spectacular as you approach Gothics.

[Dory]

Long hike in the dark

We were just going to do the hike you are proposing! We ended up changing our route because of time constraints. We didn't fancy doing much night hiking and with not much more than 2 hours of daylight, it was enough to get from the Garden in near JBL. We stayed at Howard Memorial Lean-to which was surprisingly empty. In the morning we wanted to cross the bridge just on the other side of the Interior Outpost and head up the ADK Range Trail to Upper Wolf Jaw, however, the bridge was closed. We were forced to loop around past the JBL and as a result decided to go Gothics, Armstrong, Upper. It was a great hike although we mostly had clouded in conditions.
See my post here: http://www.viewsfromthetop.com/forum...ead.php?t=9353

I have heard that in dry conditions the route you are proposing is awesome but if wet you should get the steeps of Gothics overwith first. I felt that either way had its steepness, it is just that Gothics has some exposure that might not be comfortable if you aren't a rock climber (or at least cool with heights).

Either way, you're in the DAKS so have a blast!

[oldsmores]

It's a GREAT loop. Just be aware that the Southside trail can be pretty muddy if it's wet, and there are a couple of places where you need to pay attention if you're hiking it in the dark.

[Kevin]

Going down Gothics on the cable side (especially if wet as Dory mentioned) is a lot tougher than going up IMO.