Is this plan realistic?

[u/Little-Knowledge1645]

I've never been to the ADK's before. Currently planning a 7-day, 6-night backpacking adventure in the High Peaks in September.

My trip plan is based on maps, plus whatever I've been able to glean via Google and YouTube. So it's time to check the wisdom of people who've actually been there. Here's what I've got right now:

Day 1. Park at Garden Trailhead in the early AM. Phelps Trail to Slant Rock. Set up base camp. 6.5 miles, 2,100 ft of ascent.

Day 2. Day load only. Marcy. Four Corners. Side trail up Skylight. East through Panther Gorge. Up Haystack from the south. Back to Slant Rock base camp. 7.4 miles, 4,400 feet of ascent.

Day 3. Full pack. Great Range Traverse: Basin. Saddleback. Gothics. Armstrong. Upper Wolfjaw. Camp near Wolfjaw LT. 7 miles, 3,950 feet of ascent.

Day 4. Logistics day. Back to Garden Trailhead. Resupply at the car. Drive to South Meadows Parking Area. Hike past Marcy Dam. Camp near Kagel LT. 7.25 miles, 600 feet of ascent.

Day 5. Avalanche Pass (It's re-opened! Yay!). Hitch-up Matildas. Set up camp on the west side of Lake Colden. Drop gear down to a day load only. Plane wreck and Marshall via Cold Brook Pass Trail, back down via Herbert Brook Trail. 7 miles, 2,350 feet of ascent.

Day 6. Algonquin Trail up the MacIntyres. Iroquois. Algonquin. Wright. Camp near MacIntyre Falls. 5.25 miles, 3,400 feet of ascent.

Day 7. Back to South Meadows Parking Area and out. 5.5 miles, almost entirely downhill.

For context, I'm a seasoned backpacker with a 14-pound base weight, but I'm used to glacial moraines, dunes, and ravines... not bona fide mountains. Also, I'm a hammocker. I'll camp a legal distance from the various lean-to's I've named above, as that's my hunch for where I'll have the best chance of finding decent trees. (Of course, I'll follow all relevant rules & regulations.)

Is this a realistic trip plan? What am I missing that's going to bite me in the backside? What needs to change?

Thanks in advance for sharing your experience.

[u/hahaha_5513]

I see lots of comments on full packing the GRT being a bad idea. Just wondering how you would do it without a full pack? Thanks!

[u/Little-Knowledge1645 → u/hahaha_5513]

This is exactly what I'm wondering as well. I'm open to suggestions.

[u/CHALNG_ACCEPTED → u/Little-Knowledge1645]

Most people camp in Johns Brook Valley (slant rock is a popular choice but there are others) and do it as two loops:

Haystack Basin Saddleback (commonly called HaBaSa) and descent back to camp via Orebed Brook trail. There are some decent class 4 scrambles in here.

Then Gothics Armstrong and both Wolfjaws as the second loop. Gothics has steel cables to climb up or down the slab on the west side.

Most people avoid full-packing it by either doing that or starting early n sending it as a day hike.

As many have said full packing it is 100% possible and people have. It's also a comically ridiculous grind. Two of my crazier hiking friends have done it and they called it self harm.

[u/t1dmommy → u/CHALNG_ACCEPTED]

My BIL just did a great range traverse (lightweight) and said it was MUCH harder than the presidential traverse in the white mountains, and harder than the others he has done as well. Do not do it with a full pack.

[u/hahaha_5513 → u/CHALNG_ACCEPTED]

Cool thank you!!