From Sawteeth to Lower Wolf Jaw, ADK

[timmus]

My good friend Motabobo and I went for the best clear-blue-sky hike of the Adirondacks yesterday : Sawteeth, Pyramid Pk, Gothics, Armstrong Upper and Lower Wolf Jaw.

We left the Ausable club at 7:20 and traveled leisurely for the next 12 hours. We enjoyed alpine zones from Pyramid to Gothics, saw Pin-Pin, met very few hikers, and gazed at the endless views on each summits (magnificent apparition of the White Mountains included).

I got an adrenaline rush coming down Armstrong, be fully prepared if you are heading this way soon. The same day, a friend of ours decided to turnaround at the ladder because she knew that her 5' 3'' were not enough to make it. Good decision.

A had a great GREAT time, and the HOT CHOCOLATE was a real treat with those conditions (OMG it was so cold all day).

My pics will be online tonight (I have a real full time job now, I can't spend my entire day on VFTT anymore )

 

[Rejean]

Great hike and report Julie. Yesterday was the most beautiful day
of the winter. I traverse the Lafayette ridge and the wind knock me
many times but I am fine.
I remember my last winter hike of Gothics-Armstrong-Wolf jaws
and like you it was sunny but not cold. I but slide over the lader
(was cover of ice and snow).

 

[bubba]

Julie - I hope you have some pix of the ladder. Sounds like a great day... I hiked Brantling Ski Hill with Cooper watching bunches of Jr racers ...oh, what the heck, I was outside and it looked like winter!!

 

[onestep]

Timmus,

GREAT day in the DAK's Saturday!! mhr100sebago and I did the same loop. We went up Lower Wolf Jaw first and then across. The ladder on Armstrong was full of ice... we 'whacked around it. My first trip to the Adirondacks...wow!

Onestep

 

[Frodo]

Nice TR, and one tough winter hike! Do you ever hike anything easy?

Looking forward to the pictures... Nothing like a clear blue colbalt atmosphere with snowcapped peaks...

I also have to add that hot chocolate (or anything from a hot thermos) on a COLD windy winter hike is better than *** (well almost)

 

[timmus]

I also have to add that hot chocolate (or anything from a hot thermos) on a COLD windy winter hike is better than *** (well almost)

Remember how good was Arm's hot chocolate in Baxter ?? I miss that

Here are my PICS

I'm sorry Bubba, I don't have any pics of the ladder. Maybe Motabobo has some ????

 

[bubba]

Here are my PICS

Nice. It's always a good day when you can see over to NH.

 

[PINPIN JUNIOR]

Icy ladder vs Junior

Hi Julie & Motabobo.

Too short metting on Gothics....Junior was jaloux: He tell me: "Next time can You introduce me? May She agrees to kiss me!!!!

Yes It was a perfect cold day in this nice area. the views was terrible!!!!

First time We meet Motabobo without beer!! But We hope to see him and You at the next beersss metting.

Sory! for Onestep and Mhr100sebago, but Junior had some trouble with the peoples hike in the Adk area without snoswoes in perfect snow over a hard base. Specialy yesterday between Colvin junction to Armstrong summit, the day before 2 peoples hikrd this trail with crampons broken the icy crust and made a unstable surface, it was terrible for my knews. This is the reason why Junior stay very quiet with the trip reports this winter....You can't change Junior, He likes the snowshoes tracks!!!!

Julie please keep in your mind where You go down the ladder, it will be a nice story to speak in front a small BEER!

Unfortunately, The people built this ladder never past by this way in Winter time, this place it is must difficult with this new ladder since they change it, a couple years before!!!!

Have a great time every boddy is same finaly We have a real winter condition!!

Pinpin Junior.

 

[Pig Pen]

Hi Julie & Motabobo.

Sory! for Onestep and Mhr100sebago, but Junior had some trouble with the peoples hike in the Adk area without snoswoes in perfect snow over a hard base.
Pinpin Junior.

I see we've had another cultural exchange between the New Englanders and the Adirondackers. Can't we all get along?

 

[mhrsebago]

Timmus, Motabobo, PinPin JR !!

It was a pleasure meeting you Sunday on this magnificent but very challenging route.

Onestep and I definitely needed crampons to safely ascend the extensive steep icy pitches on both Wolfjaws and Armstrong. The second half of the trail over Gothics and Sawteeth (after we met you) was much less treacherous. We are certainly aware of "snowshoe etiquette", but even with crampons we felt several sections of this route were daunting. The ladder at the base of Armstrong was NO help. The top three rungs were encased in ice with several more feet of steep hard ice directly above the ladder. We opted for an ascent further east where the cliff face wasn't quite as high and there were a few more foot and handholds.

We were fortunate to have another "blue sky" day on Monday for the much easier ascent of Cascade and Porter prior to heading home. The DAKS are beautiful in winter; well worth the 12-14 hr roundtrip drive from Maine!!!

 

[timmus]

....Junior was jaloux: He tell me: "Next time can You introduce me? May She agrees to kiss me!!!!


Pinpin Junior.

Oh, Alain, any cute bunnies deserves a small kiss on the cheek.

Can't we all get along?

Oh yeah, we're all wacko's after all

Timmus, Motabobo, PinPin JR !!

It was a pleasure meeting you Sunday on this magnificent but very challenging route.

Very nice meeting you too. I almost let a <Gator eggs> out, but wasn't sure enough...

 

[timmus]

I said this was the White Mountains.... My friend Meo says it's Ellen and Abraham in VT

Please tell me I'm right and he's not, so I can go to bed without feeling like an idiot. It's also allright if I'm wrong, I can live as an idiot on the net (how bad it is, Rik ?)

 

[una_dogger]

Looks like Abe and Ellen AKA Monroe Skyline. Too close, IMHO to be the Whites.

And BTW, JULIE! OMG! What an incredible day!

Thanks so much for sharing the pics, Wow!

And, what the heck did you go and get a real full time job for? Are you trying to be a grown up or something??? Now what about the rest of us?? How will we ever keep up with you??

Your beautiful avatar is back in action, thanks so much once again!

 

[Meo]

Please tell me I'm right and he's not, so I can go to bed without feeling like an idiot. It's also allright if I'm wrong, I can live as an idiot on the net (how bad it is, Rik ?)

Naaah, it's so easy to be confused on a clear day like this when hundreds of peaks can be seen.

BTW, Julie (the one that turned around, aka Colibri, not the one who wrote this report, aka Timmus) is 5'1, not 5'3. She was definitely too small to reach the handholds on Armstrong's cliff!

Seriously, at this point, consider bringing a rope if you're small and if you plan to go down Armstrong. Or bushwack around. Or hang a tree, hold your breath, and jump .

One needs Strong Arms on Armstrong

 

[PINPIN JUNIOR]

Blue & White???

Hi Julie and Meo, and why not all the others....

Junior tell me; " both had reason.... at the end of the day all moutains are blue, the hour between dog and wolf is the blue hour, may be this is the reason for too many mountain have the name Blue Ridge or Blue Mountain.

In a winter day, may be later this year!!, all the mountains are White Mountain!!!! Why made difficult when it is so easy..."

O.K. Junior may be You will not past your geo test but You have good eyes....

Pinpin Junior

 

[Rik]

I said this was the White Mountains.... My friend Meo says it's Ellen and Abraham in VT

Please tell me I'm right and he's not, so I can go to bed without feeling like an idiot. It's also allright if I'm wrong, I can live as an idiot on the net (how bad it is, Rik ?)

Looks like Vermont to me but that is just one idiots opinion.

 

[bubba]

Julie, You probably did see the Whites on a day like that. The prominent peaks are VT. From the ADK's the Whites are on the far horizon a bit further to the north. Most often the days are not super clear and you have to squint to make them out -- you don't have to stand on your head or anything though...

 

[Pete_Hickey]

That spot on Armstrong... That Julie didn't do, but Julie did.... When I was there with Julie last year, we had an 'interesting' time there. (that may sound confusing, but all concerned understand it perfectly)

I remember the first time doing that. I was a bit worried about it from my memories of numerous summer trips there. I had a rope with me specifically for that section, owever, I didn'T need it.

 

[Motabobo]

My good friend Motabobo and I went for the best clear-blue-sky hike of the Adirondacks yesterday

What can I say ? else that I'm bringing the good weather with me ? I'm going to start charging a little fee…

Ok I must confess that I didn't see a damn thing on Haystack, Skylight, Basin, Colden, Giant, Saddleback and a couple of others but the main fact is, when I'm invited, I bring good luck !

Anyway, I really had a good time meeting you all on the trail. I think we all made a good job at opening each our own section of the trail huh ?

I also must give credit to Timmus for making it such a enjoyable hike by sharing some of her HOT CHOCOLATE, by driving the whole way from Canada and by spending 15 mins on Armstrong summit trying to figure out how to take a group picture.

 

[una_dogger]

What can I say ? else that I'm bringing the good weather with me ? I'm going to start charging a little fee…

Are you charging Canadian or US Dollars??