Hello all, as my first post here I am glad to report that I have completed all eleven 3,000' peaks of the unforgettable Sawtooth Range! It took 5 solo outings to cover them over the span of July to October. Each of these trips certainly were remarkable in their own way, and I'll soon get around to writing reflective reports on each.
My Sawtooth Saga
July 11th — #4 (Late start, sunset on summit, a nasty nighttime whack on descent, lessons learned...)
August 16th — #11, #3, #9, #1, #5 (Sharpening the saw with five peaks in one day...summertime fun!)
September 29th — #10, #2 (Got my last Hundered Highest 'tooth on my one year 46er anniversary)
October 16th — #8, #1E (Made for an excellent loop in stick season)
October 17th — #2S (Smoothest Sawtooth sojourn special in my experience)
What a journey its been! These are a sentimental group of mountains, I see them nearly every day as I am luckily based closeby, and can always appreciate picking them out on the horizon when atop some other summit in the neighborhood. "Yonder's some real rugged country!" I tell folks as I point in their direction. I am sure someday I'll return again to this desolate Adirondack kingdom, crowned with the thickest of spruce, fir, and cedar... but for now I'll celebrate with bushwhacking elsewhere, and looking back on my photos.
#2 South - The "Final Tooth"
Having just climbed Sawtooth #8 (aka #1NE) & Sawtooth #1E (aka #7, go figure!) I was left figuring out what trip to take next. Seeing that the following day called for favorable weather, and that I was still feeling in fighting shape for another round in the 'tooths, I decided to pull the trigger and commit to closing out the range. After all, it was only one more!
I began my approach from the Seward Trailhead, made a brisk 6 mile walk to the No. 4 Lean-to's, and jumped into open hardwoods on a NNE bearing towards the false peak of #2S. I followed very agreeable woods the whole way up the SW slope. Perhaps the bushwhack gods were feeling merciful for my last quest, things were smooth sailing until just before the true summit push. I skirted the false peak and was met with a considerable blowdown field intermixed with some thick conifers. The next obstacle, the largest one of the trip, was an expected one. The top of Sawtooth #2 South is guarded by massive precipitous cliffs from the way I approached, and I was looking forward to find an exciting route up this feature. Sure enough as I emerged from the thicket the walls of rock loomed directly ahead. Slightly towards the west I found a safe entry to a crack in between, and quickly pulled myself up this steep ramp. Expansive views were now appearing, and it wasn't long until I graced the end of the cliffs with a rewarding panoramic of the MacIntyres to the Sewards. I spent a good while up there soaking it in and having my lunch, knowing that the true summit would be lacking in this regard. It was then time to dive into the cripplebush and fight my way up to the 3757' middle bump in the line of three atop #2S. A peaceful wooded high point offered a great feeling of relief and appreciation, this extremely challenging bunch of trailless peaks was now complete, although the day wasn't yet finished...
My descent plan well-avoided those cliffs for good reason, sometimes gravity can hurt just as it can help. I aimed for the SW ridge of #2S and began to exit off the summit into immensely thick stuff, par for the course up high in the 'tooths. A bit more downslope I found an opening which afforded a bonus vista to the northwest, Sawtooth #2 aka "Cutter Peak" & #4 were visible along with the rocky summits of Ampersand & Van Dorrien. After this point the thicket rapidly thinned out and I was smiling ear-to-ear dropping into a drainage that carried me right back towards the Lean-to pair where I began. I whistled along with the babbling brook in pure bushwhacker's content as my dear friend the open woods shepherded me down. Rejoining the Ward Brook Truck Trail after roughly 3 off-trail miles, an uneventful 6-mile schlep back to the car rounded things out as the sun was getting low. It felt strange not being sore and so scratch-free after a trip in the infamous Sawtooth Mountains.
Just another day in paradise!