Wolf Jaw-Armstrong-Gothic

[thuff]

Would like to know if anyone can tell me how difficult [bad footing, steep]the trail from Wolf Jaw -Armstrong-Gothic is ,from John Brooks Valley?

[Jeff]

OH MY GOD! It is TERRIBLE! That is the worst terrain and climbing I have ever seen in the Adirondaks! Nah, just kidding . Never been there from that direction, so I honestly couldn't tell you how it is from that direction. I'm more than certain someone on this forum can tell you.

[Mavs00]

ummmmm, What do you consider difficult?

You'll likely to get a bunch of answers, and some who'll chime in and then dissagree. If you're a little more specific on what you mean by difficult, your likely to get better answers. (i.e. long, steep, or rough footing). You know stuff like that.

[thuff]

ummmmm, What do you consider difficult?

You'll likely to get a bunch of answers, and some who'll chime in and then dissagree. If you're a little more specific on what you mean by difficult, your likely to get better answers. (i.e. long, steep, or rough footing). You know stuff like that.

yah that would help. How about rough footing and steep.

[Mavs00]

IMO (and my opinion only);

From JLB, it a very mild approach to the the Wolf Jaw col, much more so than from the other side (I've done both). From there, it's gets steeper up to the false summit of UWJ, then down to a small col, then steep (but easy) to the real summit of UWJ. From there is fairly mild down to the col, but very steep (with some rough footing) to the Armstrong summit. It's pretty short though. From there its easy down to the Arm-Goth col and then up and gradually getting steeper til you finally are on slab rock on the approach to the Gothic summit.

I just did the UWJ-Arm-Goth traverse last week. Its not bad right now and not too wet or sloppy. I went up from the AMR then though. The JLB side to the Wolf Jaw col is much milder (IMO) than an approach.

You'll be heading down (off Gothics) on the JLB side, but the cables are NOW back in place so you'll be fine. The Ore Bed trail is steep (up top) but it gets better as you go. It feels a hellava lot longer than the 1.7 miles advertised on the sign. Let me know if you need more info.

CAUTION: this is only my opinion, and others may disagree, but I stand by it

[Rivet]

I am planning to do this hike as well from JBL.
Is it easier in the opposite direction (Gothics - Armstrong - UWJ)?

Would there be any problems with a dog? (In general it's easier to get a dog up a steep section than down).

[Kevin]

The section between Upper Wolfjaw and Armstrong is rather steep (including a rather tall ladder). Gothics is steep, it seems, on all sides .

FYI -- all the high peaks I've climbed have had varying degree of steep and rough footing, some just have longer stretches of steep (Colden, Basin) or more frequent spots where footing could be an issue (most trailless peaks).

[Jeff]

Yeah, unless you have a way to get the dog up and down the one ladder, I would suggest leaving the dog home. Other than that, I always here about people taking their dogs everywhere in the 'Daks.

[Mavs00]

I am planning to do this hike as well from JBL.
Is it easier in the opposite direction (Gothics - Armstrong - UWJ)?

Would there be any problems with a dog? (In general it's easier to get a dog up a steep section than down).

George, It's certainly steeper from the Gothics side (again my opinion ). The Ore Bed trail and then the slab section, with the newly replaced cables (thanks Pete) is pretty steep with real rough footing. But, I've seen a few dogs making thier way up it no problem.

Other than a few spots along the way that will require a helping hand from you, the only real trouble spot this way will be the ladder mentioned above. Its about 20 rungs worth and I don't think there is much alternitive around it. Howie is pretty small. right? You should be able to carry him down this section (it is a ladder after all).

I would say it may be a little better to go Gothics ---> UWJ with a dog. Otherwise, I'd go the other way, the summits keep getting better and they culminate with a fantastic view on gothics (as opposed to the oppsite being true going Gothic ---> UWJ). But that's me. I loved the Dix range for that very reason, the views are great along the way, but you know if you keep going, the grand prize awaits you

[lumberzac]

I am planning to do this hike as well from JBL.
Is it easier in the opposite direction (Gothics - Armstrong - UWJ)?

Would there be any problems with a dog? (In general it's easier to get a dog up a steep section than down).

Personally I would go from Upper Wolfjaw => Gothics with a dog. In July a friend and myself hiked the Great Range with his dog and the only part that was really difficult for the dog was going down the ladder on Basin. She practically ran up the ladder on Armstrong.

[Mavs00]

Personally I would go from Upper Wolfjaw => Gothics with a dog. In July a friend and myself hiked the Great Range with his dog and the only part that was really difficult for the dog was going down the ladder on Basin. She practically ran up the ladder on Armstrong.

This kinda gets away from the main question, but.....

Zach, you may be right about the range trail, but was also trying to take into account the Ore Bed Trai too, which has 2 ladder sections (in a state of disrepair I might add) that are even longer than the Armstrong one. Plus, I think the trail along that section is, in general, really rough. If, as Rivet states, "it's easier to get a dog up a steep section than down", than perhaps you might consider this way. It's at good 3/4 to possibly 1 mile of this steeper section of the Ore Bed trail (which, for those that don't know heads from JLB to the col between Gothics-Saddleback).

Other then that section, I agree with you zach, 6 of one, half dozen of the other as far as heading ===> or <=== along the range trail.

When all is said and done though, dogs go up and down all over the range and I'm not real sure ANY part of it is too difficult (at least no tougher than it is for humans) .

[lumberzac]

This kinda gets away from the main question, but.....

Zach, you may be right about the range trail, but was also trying to take into account the Ore Bed Trai too, which has 2 ladder sections (in a state of disrepair I might add) that are even longer than the Armstrong one. Plus, I think the trail along that section is, in general, really rough. If, as Rivet states, "it's easier to get a dog up a steep section than down", than perhaps you might consider this way. It's at good 3/4 to possibly 1 mile of this steeper section of the Ore Bed trail (which, for those that don't know heads from JLB to the col between Gothics-Saddleback).

Other then that section, I agree with you zach, 6 of one, half dozen of the other as far as heading ===> or <=== along the range trail.

When all is said and done though, dogs go up and down all over the range and I'm not real sure ANY part of it is too difficult (at least no tougher than it is for humans) .

Good info Mavs. I didn't know about the ladders on the Ore Bed trail, as I have never hiked it.

[Willie]

Three-legged dogs can do it

Over Labor Day weekend, I saw a three-legged dog on the Range trail. The last time I saw it, it was going up Armstrong from the UWJ-Armstrong col. The owners said they were climbing LWJ, UWJ, Armstrong and Gothics from JBL (in that order). If that dog can do it ....

[Rivet]

By steep I mean ledges and ladders. I can lift my dog up up a ledge, but not for any length of time. Not that he is particularly heavy (about 32 lbs), but he just doesn't appreciate being lifted. He is able to make it up ladders if they are up against something (i.e. no open spaces).

Looks like it may not matter which direction I go.

One more question, is there a bridge across Johns Brook? Do you cross early and take Southside trail or go all the way to JBL and cross there?

Sorry, didn't mean to hijack this thread.

[aviarome]

I did this the UWJ, Armstrong, Gothic two weeks ago. I saw two dogs climbing up on Armstrong, and they were both medium sized dogs at best. The trails are actually not too bad. I brought 2 rookies who have never done peaks (one turned out to be scared of heights, but I didn't know), and also my girlfriend, who, last year I took up Phelps and she hated it. But this year, no one had trouble going up the route at all. The otherside of Gothics is much steeper but I think a dog can handle it.

As far as the approach, I crossed over at JBL and headed up between LWJ and UWJ. On the way back to the Garden, I took the Southside trail. Unfortunately, the bridge over the brook at the DEC outpost is closed. If you take the Southside trail, you save i think 0.7 miles of hiking, but the trail can be muddier, but it wasn't that bad two weeks ago. But with all the hurricanes coming through, it can get sloppy. In general though, the Southside Trail if pretty flat and easy going.

Hope this helps.

Bruce