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The Phelps Trail from the Garden to the DEC Interior Outpost was a mix of mud, frozen mud and mud “slushies”. Throughout the trail there were deep, uneven, frozen footprints, protruding ice-coated rocks and roots and some very slick ice flows. Snow coverage was marginal. I crossed the "closed" suspension bridge over Johns Brook and survived to tell about it. Johns Brook was really moving and the volume of water was more like spring than February. I met briefly with a hiker who attempted to cross Johns Brook to the Southside Trail but decided to hike all the way to the suspension bridge because the brook crossing was just too dangerous. The Lower Range Trail before the Wolf Jaws Lean-to was also without adequate snow base and had many sections of blow down. From the Wolf Jaws Lean-to to Wolf Jaws Notch, the snow pack increased but not significantly. The Range Trail from the junction at Wolf Jaws Notch was unbroken snow increasing in depth as elevation increased. After the first Wolf Jaw "tooth" (lesser summit), snow depths and drifts varied from 12-24". There was a lot of blow down from Wolf Jaws col to the lesser summit. Unfortunately, on this extremely challenging and steep ascent, there is not a lot of room for creative detours so the many ledges, ice flows and near vertical chutes increased in complexity and danger.
It was cold today so layers and pit-zips helped in insulating and venting. I hiked into the Wolf Jaws Lean-to in three layers and added a Gore-Tex shell from that point on. That helped out immensely shielding me from numerous snow bombs in addition to “commando-crawling” under blow down. The minimal snow conditions did not warrant snowshoes until Wolf Jaws Lean-to. Full boot crampons may have helped on the steeps, but I decided to keep my faithful Sherpa Mountain Lights on and trust the inch and a half Tucker Claws. Changing to 10-point crampons every time a steep ice flow was encountered would have been time consuming, awkward and precarious considering the severity of the slope. Trekking poles were extremely helpful and saved the day at one point when I lassoed a stump with the wrist loops and dragged myself up a huge (otherwise impassable) ice flow around 4040 feet.
I'm sure most people have been in the position of wondering if or when they think they might have gone too far. Today was that kind of a day for me. While I am usually very careful with risk assessment (especially when solo hiking), I might have crossed that "point of no return" today. The ADK High Peaks Region Guide describes the trail to Upper Wolf Jaw from the Wolf Jaws col as " a steep to very steep climb switch-backing up through the many ledges on the steep slope". While this route may be steep in summer, in winter it's a whole different ball game. After struggling on the ascent, I had several close calls trying to descend safely. Physically and emotionally drained, I was very happy and relieved to return to the WJ col unharmed. I saw only two other hikers this day, one at the beginning of the trip and one at the end.
Pete Hogan
It was cold today so layers and pit-zips helped in insulating and venting. I hiked into the Wolf Jaws Lean-to in three layers and added a Gore-Tex shell from that point on. That helped out immensely shielding me from numerous snow bombs in addition to “commando-crawling” under blow down. The minimal snow conditions did not warrant snowshoes until Wolf Jaws Lean-to. Full boot crampons may have helped on the steeps, but I decided to keep my faithful Sherpa Mountain Lights on and trust the inch and a half Tucker Claws. Changing to 10-point crampons every time a steep ice flow was encountered would have been time consuming, awkward and precarious considering the severity of the slope. Trekking poles were extremely helpful and saved the day at one point when I lassoed a stump with the wrist loops and dragged myself up a huge (otherwise impassable) ice flow around 4040 feet.
I'm sure most people have been in the position of wondering if or when they think they might have gone too far. Today was that kind of a day for me. While I am usually very careful with risk assessment (especially when solo hiking), I might have crossed that "point of no return" today. The ADK High Peaks Region Guide describes the trail to Upper Wolf Jaw from the Wolf Jaws col as " a steep to very steep climb switch-backing up through the many ledges on the steep slope". While this route may be steep in summer, in winter it's a whole different ball game. After struggling on the ascent, I had several close calls trying to descend safely. Physically and emotionally drained, I was very happy and relieved to return to the WJ col unharmed. I saw only two other hikers this day, one at the beginning of the trip and one at the end.
Pete Hogan
I've gotten wrapped up in a few (dozen or more) climbs myself 
.
. You reminded me of how slow I was descending when you mentioned having to take it easy to get down. We don't often mention Upper Wolfjaw as a tough hike, but someone inexperienced would definitely think so... especially in the condtions you described.
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