high peaks, winter camping, gothics loop? help please!

[llawhsoj]

Hi, I'm planning a winter trip at the end of this jan. Anyway, a buddy of mine recomended going on a loop in the adks somewhere gothics and the keene trailhead, anyone, got a clue where he could be talking and give me some more info. He didn't really soecify any things else more than that. Does that loop sound familar to anyone? Anyone know thing about this mythical loop? What's it like, what am I getting into if I run this trip? What's the snowdepth like, anything I should have a heads up on? I'd love your help, thanks ya'll.

[shaggy]

Hi, I'm planning a winter trip at the end of this jan. Anyway, a buddy of mine recomended going on a loop in the adks somewhere gothics and the keene trailhead, anyone, got a clue where he could be talking and give me some more info. He didn't really soecify any things else more than that. Does that loop sound familar to anyone? Anyone know thing about this mythical loop? What's it like, what am I getting into if I run this trip? What's the snowdepth like, anything I should have a heads up on? I'd love your help, thanks ya'll.

The mythical loop starts in Keene Valley at the Garden trailhead. You head in to the John's Brooke lodge and hike up to the ridge, then ridgewalk Lower Wolf Jaw (optional), Upperwolf Jaw, Armstrong, Gothics (or in reverse). Gothics has a slide with cables on it, probably may want to consider instep crampons. Armstrong has a ladder, everything else is straight forward. Keep checking www.viewsfromthetop.com for recent trail conditions.

[Kevin]

Keep checking www.viewsfromthetop.com for recent trail conditions.

In addition to views from the top, I would hope our own conditions page will serve some good for our membership this winter.

http://www.adkforum.com/conditions/Conditions.php

It hasn't been used much of late because there hasn't been much to report. As trails get broken after a few snow storms such lists/sites become invaluable to those that aren't interested in breaking trail themselves.

Gothics is a nice loop. We can only provide a general overview of the hike. You WILL need to pick up a trail guide, which can be found here. A map of the region is included with the guide. Some basic information about hiking this particular portion of the Great Range can be found here.

If you're not used to winter hiking, be prepared for cold, snow, ice, and wind on top, even when it's nice at the trailhead.

[oldsmores]

Just a couple of additions to shaggy's post:
1. I'd recommend the reverse (counter-clockwise) loop
2. At LEAST instep crampons, but full crampons will give you a lot more security on the ascent up the cables and the descent off Armstrong. Keep in mind that you are required to wear snowshoes, and if they have an aggressive crampon you might be OK with just the snowshoes.
3. As far as snow depth - tough to predict. I've turned around on this loop after trying to break trail through waist-deep new snow. I've also been on it when the trail is hard-packed the whole way. In either case - stay on the trail or risk the dreaded spruce trap!
This is a fairly strenuous loop, so start early, eat and drink plenty, and take lights in the event it turns into an epic...

[redhawk]

If you're not used to winter hiking, be prepared for cold, snow, ice, and wind on top, even when it's nice at the trailhead.

If you're not used to winter hiking, don't go.....Unless you are with someone who has and you have the right equipment.

Period!! Don't become another statistic and yes it can happen to yopu.

[Kevin]

If you're not used to winter hiking, don't go.....Unless you are with someone who has and you have the right equipment.

Period!! Don't become another statistic and yes it can happen to yopu.

True d'at.

[Neil]

If you are used to winter camping and travel but not winter High Peaks stuff may I suggest an easier first trip? Say, camp at or near the Wolf Jaw LT and do one or both of the W Jaws. This'll give you a taste of the Great Range with an easy out, just retreat back to the LT if you need to. Also, if the weather, conditions and time all line up for you Gothics might still be do-able. I've only summer hiked up to LWJ and it has some steep sections that would be 'amusing' in the winter.

[runswithscissors]

Winter Gothics Loop

In addition to all the other sound advice previously stated, I would simply recommend that you would be wise (and safer) to enlist two other experienced winter hikers for a minimum group size of four. I know that sometimes getting a group of four together may be difficult, but a group of four keeps those critical margins of winter hiking from closing in on you.

There is another side to the loop suggestion. That would be the classic Pyramid, Gothics Loop or a Pyramid, Gothics, Armstrong loop from the AMR side of the Range. Ascend via the Weld Trail to Pyramid Peak and continue on the connecting trail from Pyramid to the Range Trail for the short distance to the summit of Gothics. Then descend the Range Trail to the Gothics/Armstrong col where a decision can be made whether or not to complete the loop by descending on the Beaver Meadow Falls Trail to the Lake Road. That would be a strenuous day by any stretch.

A possible extension of this loop exists by evaluating your assets at the Gothics/Armstrong col (and if confident and within safety parameters, continue on via the Range Trail to Armstrong Mountain. If an attempt of Armstrong is decided, you can always return via the same route and still descend on the BMF trail to the Lake Road.

Note that there is no water readily available in the upper reaches of this loop so you will have to pack enough water to remain hydrated throughout this extremely challenging loop. Also the section from Pyramid through Gothics and down to the col is extremely exposed and should be planned for accordingly.

Those of us who are experienced with the Lower Range Trail know that this traverse doesn't have to end at Armstrong, but that is as far as I will go with my winter recommendation.

[shaggy]

In addition to views from the top, I would hope our own conditions page will serve some good for our membership this winter.

http://www.adkforum.com/conditions/Conditions.php

Nice, I have never checked it out before, I like that one. Still kind of knew to this forum thing

thanks
shaggs

[redhawk]

Nice, I have never checked it out before, I like that one. Still kind of knew to this forum thing

thanks
shaggs

Why don't you try and hook up with a few of us? Kind of late for you to plan on making the wood cutting p[arty, but there is that Dayhike with next Saturday as well as the Forum Xmas gathering at my house.

It's a great bunch of people here and a lot of diversity. You'll never lack for a hiking partner again.

[shaggy]

Why don't you try and hook up with a few of us? Kind of late for you to plan on making the wood cutting p[arty, but there is that Dayhike with next Saturday as well as the Forum Xmas gathering at my house.

It's a great bunch of people here and a lot of diversity. You'll never lack for a hiking partner again.

I already have plans for saturday, I am doing Gray and Skylight (my number 44 and 45), but I am interested in the Xmas gathering. I was just reading about it a day or two ago. It would be really nice to be able to put a face to some of your names

shaggs