Is Giant Mountain ridge trail comparable to Algonquin?

[mckenziemountain]

Hi,
I recently found this forum doing a bit of searching online.
I climbed Algonquin from the Loj trail in early November of this year-- I got to Wright Peak in the fall so I was already familiar with the trail + elevation gain. My microspikes were definitely needed, otherwise I would have never made it to the top. It felt like a full body workout. I don't use walking sticks or poles to climb personally, I had to coordinate my whole body at certain points on the icy rock slabs. Definitely worth it.
Anyways, I was planning on getting to Giant Mountain at some point this month. Alltrails lists the elevation gain at around 3,000 ft (I believe Algonquin is around 2,900?) but I am moreso wanting to know what the trail is actually like. Is it as rocky as the Algonquin summit? Is it similar rock scrambles found on the trail leading up to the peaks? (Bare rock slabs?) Temps have been dropping below freezing in the north here, and I want to know what I'll be getting into if I attempt this. Is it a slow, gradual elevation gain, or like the last mile to Algonquin?
For reference, I have climbed Whiteface summit, Wright, Cascade, Porter, Algonquin all in different seasons + conditions.

Thanks

 

[maineguy]

Well, it's been a while since I climbed Giant. Climbed it from both trails leaving RT 73 as well as from Rocky Peak Ridge. The trails from RT 73 didn't have any slabs or scrambling as I recall, except maybe just before the summit, and nothing steep. The spur over to Rocky is quite steep, mostly on the Giant side. I would not want to do it when icy.

 

[DayTrip]

I've done both but it has been awhile. Giant in the Winter (FEB 2019) from Rte 73 via The Ridge Trail and Alogonquin in Summer via the Algonquin Trail. My memory is a little foggy but I remember Algonquin being a lot more slabby and aggressive than Giant. I also remember Wright being pretty slabby and steep too. I specifically remember thinking these must be an "interesting" trails in the Winter. So I'd think you'll find Giant to not be as bad, although Giant has some short sections that can be sketchy depending on conditions. YMMV of course....

 

[maineguy]

My memory is a little foggy but I remember Algonquin being a lot more slabby and aggressive than Giant. I also remember Wright being pretty slabby and steep too.

The final stretch of Algonquin is very steep and slabby after the junction with the Wright spur. I did Algonquin once on a Memorial day weekend and it was all icy in the morning on the ascent. Very sketchy since I didn't have micro spikes (don't think they even existed back then). I remember Wright Peak spur as being slabby, but not steep at all. Of course, my memory is a little foggy also...

 

[Daniel Eagan]

Giant from 73 is harder in the beginning than Algonquin. After the Washbowl there are rock scrambles that remain icy because of the lack of sun. (I had to turn around there in winter once.)

After that there are several rocky slabs on Giant, not too steep, not very exposed, but long. Side trail to Rocky Peak is a steep, rocky descent followed by fairly easy summit ascent. Harder over to Rocky Peak than the return.

I've climbed it about a dozen times in 4 seasons and had to turn back only once.

 

[TCD]

All of the above are generally true. Elevation gain is more steady all the way on Giant, as opposed to "flat, then up" on Algonquin. Some scrambles on the Giant Ridge trail. Longer consistent slabs higher up on Algonquin. Giant summit at lower elevation is treed almost all the way to the summit with open views mostly to the south at the summit. Algonquins summit at higher elevation is a bare rock dome all around for quite a ways at the top. If you get caught in a sudden snow storm on Giant it's easier to "find the hole" and get back down than it is on Algonquin.

 

[DayTrip]

Giant from 73 is harder in the beginning than Algonquin. After the Washbowl there are rock scrambles that remain icy because of the lack of sun. (I had to turn around there in winter once.)

That area you mention I believe are the sketchy sections I remember. I was wearing snowshoes on the way up, trying to conform to the rules, which made these tough. On the way down I opted for common sense and safety and wore crampons and they were far easier. If I had been in NH I wouldn't have used snowshoes at all with the conditions. Other than these few areas I really don't recall any uncomfortable grades (from a safety perspective - that climb is a definite grind).

 

[helmethiker]

I thought the Adirondacks rules were that you had to have snowshoes, not that you had to use them.