LOCALadk Magazine

26 Spring 2018 LOCALadk Magazine LOCALadk Lower Great Range. December 28, 2018. -20 F and windy. There have been few easy hikes during this project and the Lower Range (Lower and Upper Wolf Jaws, Armstrong, Gothics, and Saw- teeth) was no exception. The cold nipped at our toes and cheeks while we ascended the Wedge trail into morning sunshine. LWJ was broken out but beyond the col we were breaking trail in a foot of powder. At the infamous ladder on Armstrong we spent a strenu- ous and frigid 30 minutes getting up an ice- covered wall. My partner performed heroically to assist me up that section and he needed rest so I broke trail to the summit. Ever y time I went around a bend in the trail I looked way up and saw virgin snow. It was a grunt mak- ing it and we were met with high winds but also perfect views of Gothics from the viewing rock. At the Beaver Meadow Trail junction we saw a broken trail leading up Gothics and were overjoyed at the prospect of an easier trek. The trail on the final ridge, where a cornice often forms, was already above the trees and the cornice was starting to form. The sun was blinding and we were protected from the wind. We took many pic- tures, until we reached the summit. There, the wind blasted us as we hurried across, all bundled up and holding one hand windward to protect our faces. The broken trail headed to Orebed Brook and we found ourselves breaking trail in two feet of fresh snow up Pyra- mid and then more easily down to the Sawteeth junction. Ascending Sawteeth through the fresh snow was a grim prospect but – more joy! We found the trail had been beautifully broken out by previous hikers. We relaxed and enjoyed watching the play of colors as the sun set on the Great Range. Pyramid Peak, in particular, was stun- ning to behold from the summit of Sawteeth. Seward, north slopes. Joe Bogardus wrote me to say he was doing the four Sewards and I quickly changed my plans so that I could accompany him, and take advantage of his vast experience in that range. Donaldson and Em- mons were quick and easy but Seward, as usual, was a lot tougher. It was a gorgeous bluebird day and the trees were caked in "wed- ding- cake" snow. The broken trail had fresh snow on it but was still easy traveling. Once past the summit we were breaking trail in bottomless pow- der, sinking to our knees with ever y step. The unmarked path was difficult to follow and I led us too far below a crucial turn. Joe re- alized the error, and we turned around and re- climbed about 50 feet. Then he pointed. "Go there," he said. "There" was into a wall of white. The snow- encased trees were connected by a shield of snow and the wall had to be punched through in order to make progress. But then we saw what could only be the trail and we followed it until it led to a cliff. We turned downhill and for an hour plunge-stepped carefully in three feet of powder snow. The trail, which has become a streambed, was easy to navigate. Going down the steep incline through all the powder was an incredible sensation, like floating through the forest with views across the valley far below. Pure joy! The steep climb of Seymour was ver y demanding after that, but the sunset views of the Sawtooth Range, Whiteface, Algonquin and Santanoni are forever etched upon my mind. Sunrise on Marcy

• Cover