First hike of the year from AMR.  We went for one of the further ones and did Sawteeth up and down the Weld trail.  Early start and up and down the lake road with no big issues.  I was getting a little tired with the fast pace, but I pulled through.  We crossed the river, stopped and looked at Rainbow Falls a bit, and then it was up the mountain.  Once you start climbing, it keeps going.  The trail was already broken out, and we just packed it down better.  The trail was smooth, and no rocks.  It was everything I like about winter hiking.

Saturday, I went up and did Gothics (4736', #10) and Sawteeth (4100', #35).  The day started off rather poorly.  When I got up there, I realized how tired I was, not having a great night's sleep along with getting up at 4.  On top of that, the AMR and Roaring Brook parking lots were full!  According to the ranger I talked to on my way out, they were full at 530...

So, the last 2 weekends I have left undone peaks.  Specifically 2 weeks ago I left Colvin (4057', #39), and Blake (3960', #43) when I did Dial and Nippletop, and this last weekend I left Gothics (4736', #10) and Sawteeth (4100'. #35) when I did the Great Range.  My goal is to get these 4 peaks done before I go in via ADK Loj for a week of hikes.  That means that I will do them this weekend, or maybe, depending on weather, a pair next weekend.

The great range of the High Peaks is one of the most rewarding things to hike in the park.  The range itself is 7, mostly close peaks with a side peak of Sawteeth that also hits the 4000 mark.  This is not one of the easier hikes to do.  I know from experience as I've done 4 of the peaks back in College, and we had an Alaskan with us that was used to backpacking and hiking in Alaska, and she had trouble with our trails.