Adirondack Great Range Traverse

I gave it a go last year but had to skip the middle section due to time constraints, a late start and poor weather. I am hoping to try again this year and definitely recommend it. There are not many places in the northeast where you can find extended hiking above treeline, plus you will have plenty of classic northeast forest hiking. It can either be done as an endurance day-hike or as an overnight. It can also be easily extended by hiking the ridge on the opposite side of John’s Brook Valley rather than taking the valley floor out. A couple of points:

• Bear canisters are required
• There is no water on the traverse. To find any you will need to make a significant descent from the ridge. Best to tank up.
• There are a lot of lean-tos in the area. You should have no problem finding an empty one in September, particularly if you go mid-week. You will need to descend from the ridge to camp.
• By September you should have many peaks to yourself, but there will be some crowds on Mt Marcy (NY high point).
• You can probably hitchhike from “the Garden” trailhead back to where you will likely start just outside of Keene NY. If not it is an easy 2.5 mile dirt road walk.

The Great Range from the other side of John’s Brook Valley

Thanks!  Going to give it a shot in a day, probably starting with a headlamp for a bit.

Are there any water options on the route at all?  That would be a lot of water to carry if there wasn’t.

Glad to hear the crowds will have thinned; also going to try and do it midweek if possible, further thinning the crowds.

I picked September as it looked like promising weather- cooler, less bugs, etc

Mike

There are some boggy areas where you might find some unpleasant water, but that is about it until you get past Marcy (unless I missed something in the part I skipped).

Of course if there is rain within a few days of your trip that could change things.

Once you get down into the valley there is water everywhere.

The folks over at ADK Forums – http://www.adkforum.com/ – could probably provide some insight on the best places to drop down to fill up.

September is a great time to go. It will be cooler, less crowds and few bugs.

Came close twice, skipped Marcy on both occasions, the first time due to impending darkness, and second due to a lightning storm.  It has to be one of the most fun hikes anywhere, especially from Lower Wolfjaw on.  IMO the difficulty and exposure of the ladders and granite slabs is wildly exaggerated in most descriptions, but those sections do get slippery in the rain.

Both times I’ve been there have been July-August, and I recall small springs in most of the little saddles between peaks.

Aside from going on a day when you aren’t going to get stormed off, I think not overestimating how slow the ridge can be is key to a good plan.  Closer to 2 mph is probably realistic for most.  I’d also not get too excited about a really early start.  The trail down John’s Brook is very obvious and no big deal to walk in the dark.

I did it as a day hike, just before I moved away in 2004, and it’s a toughie…but very fun, too.  I can’t remember how much water we started out with (maybe 2L), but there are periodic streams/lakes, so I don’t think water will be a crisis.

September should be a good month, with mosquitoes gone (or nearly gone) — the only negative will be that the days will be getting shorter.  We had a cloudy day (a TINY sprinkle on Armstrong; very brief), we started right around daybreak, and finished in total darkness with “jelly legs” and a huge appetite!

The trickiest parts are Saddleback, Basin, and the steep granite face of Gothics; once you’re on the summit of Gothics things get easier (but you’re more tired by then, too).  My advice:  bring lots of sugar/caffeine for energy; you’ll need it.

+1 for easy trails to navigate in the dark back to the parking lot.

I miss the Adirondacks!

thanks!  this definitely looks like a toughie :)

reading on the adk site, sounds like there is reliable water between Gothics and Saddleback and also at Sno-Bird- additional water sources if you’re willing to hike down a little- I’ll probably carry 2.5 liters to play it safe