Considerations before taking this hike:

This is a wonderful hike, but there are several considerations you must take before attempting it. There are many trails that summit this mountain, but I would consider this route the most interesting (by far) up this otherwise ordinary mountain.

1) This hike involves a "true bushwhack", meaning that there is not even an easy herd path to follow. Solid "off trail" skills and a knowledge of the terrain and topography is needed. I used my GPS on several occasions and had no trouble finding the slide base, but there is considerable time spend in the woods off trail.

2) This hike also contains a long and open sustained slide climb. While the slide is considered one of the easier slides in the area (and a great introduction to slide climbing), any party attempting it must be physically and mentally prepared for the challenges that any slide climbing presents.

3) Although, this may not be the best "first time bushwhack", it is a perfect hike for those that have a little "off trail" experience and want to explore slide climbing further. It is, without debate, the most interesting and quiet route to the summit of this peak.

View Rating: The view from the actual summit of Lower Wolf Jaw is very ordinary. The summit is in the trees, however there are a couple spots that are right nearby that look to the west and the rest of the Great Range. There are a few good views to the south over the Ausable valley on the approach to the summit and coming off the summit as well. Overall, we got our views on the open slide climb up of more than 1100 vertical feet. The slide overlooks Johns Brook Valley and Big Slide Mt.

- Lots more photos in The Photo Gallery -

The Hike:
After signing into the register at the Garden trailhead, head out straight ahead towards Johns Brook Lodge on the Phelps trail. It's a hiker highway at this point and easy to follow up and into the woods. About 1/2 mile into the trail, you will come across a trail junction with the "Southside" trail cutoff heading to the right (straight ahead continues to the lodge). Take the right and onto the Southside trail cutoff.

Right past the junction, you will descend, fairly steeply I might add, along a ridge that takes you down to Johns Brook. The trail is marked and easy to follow. At the brook, you can look across and spot the "red" trail markers where you will pick the trail back up. When we went, the brook was flowing at moderate to low levels, so it was a pretty standard rock hop across. During high water, great care will be needed for the crossing.

On the other side, follow the Southside trail (which leads west) all the way along. The trail is in pretty good shape and there are plenty of rocks to prevent erosion. Continue straight ahead for about 2 miles. There is one section (a little over a mile down from the crossing) where you have a choice. The trail splits and you can take the high road (to the left) or the low road (right) along the river. We took both (one out and the other back) and we prefered the low route along the river. It's a little rougher, however more scenic. I should note that there are several very nice and deep pools along this entire section of Johns Brook. If it's a warm day, consider a dip in the cold mountain stream. Whichever route you take (high or low) you will end up at the same place.

Tim, Nick & Ashley trying to determine if we found Bennies Brook (it turned out we did). Taken by K Dubois, 2003

Now the tricky part, locating Bennies Brook where you start the bushwhack. All along John's brook, you will note several small tributaries that feed into the brook. There are also several larger ones. Count the larger ones (they are easy to tell, because that are more significant than the others) as you go by. During the drier season (when we went) only the major tributaries a still have running water and the others are dry. Bennies Brook is the 3rd major tributary and it is located about 10 minutes after the trails (high road and low road) meet back up. There is also a large flume like cascade on Johns Brook several hundred feet before you get there.

**NOTE** If you reach the tributary with the bridge over it, you've gone one tributary to far. Go back to the next one.

Bennies Brook is a small little moss covered brook that comes in from the left. There is a large rock several feet in. I have read that somtimes a small cairn is located there, but it was not there when we arrived. I placed a very small (4 stone) cairn on this rock. It's about 10-15 feet up the brook and is so subtle that unless you're looking for it, you will not see it. This would be (if it's still there) the only visible indication that you're in the right brook.

Head directly up the brook. It't pretty small and easy to negociate at first. There is lots of green moss and staying "feet dry" was not hard. About 100 yds up the brook, you will notice that it opens up a bit to the left side of the brook. If you exit the brook at this point, you will note a very faint indication of a old ski trail. The main indicators are small tree cuttings that open the forest up some. There is no herd path, but by paying close attention to the forest floor, the pathway (and small tree cuttings) can be followed. You can also go directly up the brook, but like many of the small tributaries, this one is choked with blowdown in spots and the going can get slow. The old ski trail is easier, but you must pay close attention.

The webmaster following the cut trees along the forest floor that represent the "old" ski trail along Bennies Brook. Taken by K Dubois, 2003

As you head up the ski trail, following only the faint indications of tree cuttings along the forest floor, you will never be very far from the brook, which is on your right. At times, the trail will drift away from the brook for a few mintues but always heads back toward it. If your paying attention to topography, you will note that you generally stay inside the "notch" cut into the mountain by the stream. If you ever feel unsure if your still headed the right way, head directly west (to the right) and you will reach the brook within 25-40 yds or so (we did this twice). After about 3/4 miles of this, you will notice the trees in the notch begin to open up and there will be a large pile of logs and blowdown that represents the base of the slide. Stay on the ski path, til you pass the slide debris then enter the base of the slide.

Katie at the base of Bennies Brook Slide. Taken by T Dubois, 2003

The slide, at least down low, is nothing but one long strip of bare rock. It's easy to walk on and somewhat scalloped in nature. There are one or two areas where slide debris has blocked the entire slide, but it can be skirted by heading around the left side. This slide is very long. It's starts at about 2700' and goes on for about a mile and up to 3850'. You can see the end of the slide way up on the mountain, but the entire slide is never in view. Continue up the rock slab, avoiding any wet spots along the way. It is not steep in the lower section and lots of fun.

Tim & Nick about 2/3 of the way up the slide. Big Slide Mountain and Johns Brook Valley below. Taken by K Dubois, 2003

The slide itself is in the shape of a "y" and you will be staying to the right the whole way up. As you get higher, you will notice the slide get steeper with occasional steps that you can traverse. Just avoid any wet spots. Higher up, you will notice the split in the "y" and you will stay to the right. Oh yea, don't forget to turn around often and enjoy the view. Above the split, the slide, which is begining to grow back in, gets steeper. Keep going up. The bare rocks begin to be replaced by smaller ones that are easily dislodged, so be sure to space your group out to avoid accidental "people bowling" that can occur with falling rocks. The final shoot at the top is particularly narrow and steep.

The upper slide is starting to grow back in, however it gets much steeper than the rest of the slide. Taken by K Dubois, 2003

Once you reach the top of the slide, there is a very short herd path that takes you to the trail on top of the ridge. It takes 2-3 minutes to reach it. The outlet is on the ridge that seperates the dual summit of Lower Wolf Jaw. Head right on the path and traverse the level col, before climbing steeply the final 200 feet or so up to the rounded summit of this mountain. The summit is in a small clearing with views to be found by looking around. Several views along the way as well.

Tim & Katie at the summit of Lower Wolf Jaw. Taken by T Dubois, 2003

The Descent:
I would not go back down the slide. We headed down to the Wolf Jaw notch by heading out the opposite end of the clearing we entered in. This descended pretty steeply about 600 feet. There are several junctions along the way, just head towards Johns Brook Lodge (which is right at both juntions). Below the notch, the going is easy as you descend to the Wolf Jaw Lean-to. Just past the lean-to another junction will direct you right towards "the Garden". About a mile later, you will reach the "Southside Trail". Head right and pass the scenic Wolf Jaw brook bridge. Five minutes beyond this bride, you will pass by Bennies Brook where you started the bushwhack.

From there, its about 2.5 miles back out to the Garden over the same trail you took earlier. When we did this hike, it was Labor Day (one of the most popular hiking days in "the Daks") and we saw no-one untill we reached the summit of Lower Wolf Jaw..