A wild day up in the High Peaks! Todd nabbed his 38th and 39th winter summits on Gothics and Saddleback. You really can’t overstate how different those two peaks are. Gothics was steep, exposed, and mega windy — almost blew out packs off the mountain! We opted for a roped descent through the steepest and iciest bit. Saddleback was a cakewalk with consistent slope and powdery snow by comparison! But Todd did awesome. Every ascent is unique!

Wooden trail sign indicates hiking directions in a snowy forest with text Follow Markers Trail To Miles Alternate Range Trail use during high water Keene Valley 5.2 NYSDEC Range Trail Gothic Mtn ascent 2278 3.2 Saddleback Mtn ascent 2070 6.1 NYSDEC A person wearing a red jacket and snowshoes walks through deep snow using poles surrounded by snow-covered trees in a winter forest setting. A person wearing a red jacket uses walking poles while snowshoeing uphill in a snowy mountain landscape surrounded by pine trees and distant peaks under a cloudy sky. A person climbing snowy terrain wearing snowshoes and carrying an ice axe in a mountainous landscape with snow-covered trees under a cloudy blue sky. A person stands triumphantly holding ski poles on a snow-covered peak. Small snow-laden trees surround them, with a cloudy sky overhead. A person stands in deep snow adjusting climbing gear amidst snow-covered trees sunlight filtering through branches climbing equipment and backpack nearby. A climber wearing winter gear sits on a snowy mountain slope secured with a rope surrounded by a vast landscape of snow-covered trees and hills in the distance. Two people stand on a snowy mountain peak. One holds a sign reading Saddleback 4515 ft 39/46. Both wear winter gear, smiling in front of a cloudy, snow-covered landscape.