Gothics, Armstrong & Upper Wolf Jaw - April 14

My daughter and I arrived at the Garden around five and hiked into the DEC outpost and set up our hammocks in a designated camp spot. Arrived just before dark. Beautiful moonlit night, clear skies, decent temps. Trail in was ok with bare boots or spikes - snow and ice in spots.


Left camp around 7, past DEC outpost:


Went up Ore Bed Brook trail and did Gothics, Armstrong and Upper Wolf Jaw. Empty trail up. Ran into 6-8 parties once on ridge. Gothics slide was snow covered:


Snowshoes definitely needed on trail, switched to crampons for some of the higher up stuff. Snow on peaks was 5 ft:


Descending the Gothics ridge was beautiful:


The weather was outstanding - blue jay day. Hiked trail on ridge in shirt sleeves:


Steep side of UWJ was tricky with ice:


Quick nap along the way:


Extremely glad to hit the hammocks at end of day


Lessons:

• Not the best trio for our first snow hike but the weather cooperated.
• Have to trim down the gear we carried into camp a bit, did well with summit bags.
• Full crampons were heavy but extremely useful. Will have to look into the longer microspikes - maybe best of both worlds.
• Rented Tubbs wilderness snow shoes. I think I'd prefer MSR. The tube style is tricky crossing slanted faces but the elevated heels were great.
• There is no gas station (?) in Keene Valley. Stewarts in Keene is great though.
• I need to use some simple physical check lists. Left a few items home and a few stayed in camp that should have been on hike. We get eager/excited.
• Used cell phone GPS for first time - nice.

Three peaks, two nights in the woods, one great daughter!