Gothics is a

mountain A mountain is an elevated portion of the Earth's crust, generally with steep sides that show significant exposed bedrock. Although definitions vary, a mountain may differ from a plateau in having a limited summit area, and is usually higher t ...

in the

Great Range The Great Range is a mountain range in the Adirondack Mountains, near Keene Valley, New York, United States. It rises in the heart of the High Peaks region between Ausable Lakes to the southeast and the Johns Brook Valley to the northwest. ...

of the

Adirondacks The Adirondack Mountains ( ) are a massif of mountains in Northeastern New York (state), New York which form a circular dome approximately wide and covering about . The region contains more than 100 peaks, including Mount Marcy, which is the hi ...

in the

U.S. state In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its so ...

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...

. It is the tenth-highest peak in New York, with an elevation of , and one of the 46 High Peaks in

Adirondack Park The Adirondack Park is a park in northeastern New York (state), New York protecting the Adirondack Mountains. The park was established in 1892 for "the free use of all the people for their health and pleasure", and for watershed protection. At , ...

. It is located in the town of Keene in Essex County. The mountain is named due to the resemblance of its three arched peaks and large rock slides to

Gothic architecture Gothic architecture is an architectural style that was prevalent in Europe from the late 12th to the 16th century, during the High Middle Ages, High and Late Middle Ages, surviving into the 17th and 18th centuries in some areas. It evolved f ...

. Although the name has been attributed to

Orson Schofield Phelps Orson Schofield (Old Mountain) Phelps (May 6, 1817 - April 14, 1905) was an early Adirondack guide from Keene Valley, New York, Keene Valley. Although he was not regarded as a highly skilled guide, his enthusiasm for nature and poetic descriptions ...

and Frederick W. Perkins, who named several peaks during an 1857 ascent of

Mount Marcy Mount Marcy is the highest point in the Adirondack Mountains and the U.S. state of New York (state), New York, with an elevation of . It is located in the town of Keene, New York, Keene in Essex County, New York, Essex County. The mountain is ...

, other evidence shows the name Gothics in use at least as early as 1850. The earliest recorded ascent was made on October 11, 1875, by

Verplanck Colvin Verplanck Colvin (January 4, 1847 – May 28, 1920) was a lawyer, author, illustrator and topographical engineer whose understanding and appreciation for the environment of the Adirondack Mountains led to the creation of New York's Forest Pres ...

, Roderick L. McKenzie, and Ed Phelps, although an unrecorded ascent was likely made earlier by

James J. Storrow James Jackson Storrow II (January 1864 was an American investment banker, politician, and scouting leader. He gave up a legal career to become a partner of Lee, Higginson & Co. He was also involved with automobile business, first as president o ...

and Orlando Beede. The summit of Gothics is an

alpine tundra Alpine tundra is a type of natural region or biome that does not contain trees because it is at high elevation, with an associated harsh climate. As the latitude of a location approaches the poles, the threshold elevation for alpine tundra gets ...

zone, and on clear days views of 30 nearby peaks are available, as well as the Upper and Lower Ausable Lakes. The ADK Range Trail crosses the summit of Gothics, and can be reached from several other trails which intersect with it. The most direct route is on the Orebed Brook Trail, which begins at John Brook Lodge and reaches a junction with the ADK Range Trail and State Range Trail at the col between Saddleback Mountain and Gothics. The total distance from Johns Brook Lodge to the summit is , for an elevation gain of . The mountain can also be approached from Lower Ausable Lake on two trails. The Beaver Meadow Trail, which begins at the Lake Road Trail, intersects the ADK Range Trail shortly before the summit, for a total distance of and of ascent. The Pyramid-Gothics Trail reaches the summit by crossing over Pyramid Peak, one of the two lower peaks on the mountain. The top of Pyramid Peak offers additional views of the surrounding mountains. This route is and involves of ascent. Both trails begin on a private game reserve, and dogs are not permitted. The mountain can also be climbed as part of a hike of the entire Great Range, following the ADK Range Trail and other trails.

Gallery

Image:Gothics Mt flank seen from direction of Sawteeth.jpg, Gothics flank Image:Gothics_Mountain_(NY).jpg, Gothics as seen from

Haystack Hay is grass, legumes, or other herbaceous plants that have been cut and dried to be stored for use as animal fodder, either for large grazing animals raised as livestock, such as cattle, horses, goats, and sheep, or for smaller domesticated ...

, with

Giant In folklore, giants (from Ancient Greek: ''wiktionary:gigas, gigas'', cognate wiktionary:giga-, giga-) are beings of humanoid appearance, but are at times prodigious in size and strength or bear an otherwise notable appearance. The word ''gia ...

in the background. Image:Benchmarks of Gothics Peak.jpg, Benchmarks of Gothics Peak

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