Expedition Consulting

Evening Arrival & First Stay at JBL

I parked at The Garden in Keene Valley and made the familiar 3-mile walk in along the Johns Brook trail, but this time with a different destination in mind: my first stay at Johns Brook Lodge. The full-service season had ended just days earlier, so the lodge was quiet—only half a dozen people scattered around the building. Without the summer crowds, the pace was slower, the atmosphere calmer, and the price more reasonable. It seemed like the right window to give it a try, and after settling in and sorting out gear for the morning, it felt like a good decision.

Early Start & The Orebed Approach

I was up at 6 a.m. and moving not long after, taking the Orebed Trail toward the slide. The lower stretch was cool and comfortable—the kind of early trail where your legs are still waking up and the forest feels like it’s holding onto the last of the night air. As the incline increased, the trail became the familiar mix of steps, stone, and wooden ladders working their way up toward the base of the slide.

The Orebed slide itself, now partially stabilized after Irene, remains one of the more dramatic approaches in the Great Range. The wooden staircases and open rock offer long views back toward the valley when you stop to catch your breath. Conditions were dry, which made the slab sections grippy and uncomplicated. I am looking forward to returning in February for our Touring Ski camp and skiing the slide bottom to top and down.

Gothics via the Chains

At the top of the slide, I reached the section where the cables begin their steep haul toward Gothics. Even though the route is straightforward, the chains are not really needed but if the conditions were poor they would add some security but I don’t think I touched them at all this trip. As climbs go, it’s efficient and direct. The air up high was clearer than expected with the wildfire smoke of the previous month gone from the air, and the views were open and clear.

The summit of Gothics was quiet and I ran into a few others who had taken other routes up. There was a light breeze, wide open views in every direction. It’s hard not to linger on Gothics, but there was a long route ahead, so I kept moving.

Traverse to Armstrong

The ridge toward Armstrong was exactly the sort of mixed terrain the Great Range is known for—short descents into tight forest, then sudden openings onto bedrock and roots. Armstrong’s summit, while less dramatic than Gothics, still offered good visibility and an easy place to recover, snack and let your socks dry out a bit before continuing. The trail was in excellent condition.

Onward to Upper Wolfjaw

Between Armstrong and Upper Wolfjaw, the terrain stiffens again, with steeper scrambles and deeper troughs in the forest floor. Nothing unexpected, just the typical Great Range frequency of ups and downs that stack up faster than you think. The summit ledge on Upper Wolfjaw was small, just big enough for a snack and a look across the valley. With the weather holding steady, it was an easy place to sit for a few minutes before dropping down toward the junction.

Lower Wolfjaw & The Return

From the col, I took the short detour up to Lower Wolfjaw. It’s not a demanding summit, but the climb does remind you how much elevation you’ve already gained during the day. The summit, like many in the lower Great Range, is partially obstructed but still offers satisfying glimpses between the trees. With the fourth peak done, I descended to the trail junction and took the Wolfjaw trail back turned back down toward JBL.

The return was uneventful—steady downhill, softening ground as the elevation dropped, and the welcome sound of Johns Brook returning as a background noise. Back at the lodge, the quiet atmosphere from the previous night still held, making it a far calmer end to the day than finishing at a trailhead parking lot.

Trip Summary
Distance 22.3km
Elevation Gained 1508m
Elevation Lost 1508m
Peaks Summited: Gothics, Armstrong, Upper Wolfjaw, Lower Wolfjaw