Upper and Lower Wolfjaw: Wilderness, Wildlife and Wolfjaws
Upper and Lower Wolfjaw became my 10th and 11th Adirondack High Peaks. The hike begins from the Adirondack Mountain Reserve (AMR), where parking must be reserved in advance. From the parking lot, it's a 1.2 km walk to the historic Ausable Club, followed by a 1 km walk down Lake Road before turning onto the trail.
Although there aren't many trail markers, the trail was straightforward to follow. The hike offers a bit of everything: forested areas, streams, steep climbs, rock scrambles, waterfalls and viewpoints. Both Upper and Lower Wolfjaw peaks have viewpoints. While not the best views in the High Peaks, I appreciate peaks that have a place to stop and take a break before heading back down. The trails were surprisingly quiet, having only crossed paths with about a dozen hikers all day. Instead, I crossed paths both at the beginning and end of my hike with a white-tailed deer.
Hiking your Own Hike
The day before the hike, our dear family friend, Paul Archambault, an avid hiker reminded me to "Hike your own hike." What great words to carry with me as I continue my multi-year journey toward hiking all 46 Adirondack High Peaks. While beautiful summits and scenic views are a great reward to a challenging hike, most of the time is spent on the trail itself: walking through the forest, and taking in the nature.
Hike Details
Trailhead: Adirondack Mountain Reserve (AMR)
Distance: 19.7 km (12.4 miles)
Elevation Gain: 1,169 m (3,835 ft)
Time on Trail: 10h39
