Ha

[Neil]

(No Basa)

http://adkhighpeaks.com/neil/outdoor%20pursuits/haystack_jack/index.html

[Paradox]

(No Basa)

http://adkhighpeaks.com/neil/outdoor%20pursuits/haystack_jack/index.htmlGreat pics. What did you have on you're feet and when did you you hike?

[Cory D]

Wow, I pushed my Wednesday hike into a Thursday hike and forgot you were going to be out there. Close by at Redfield and Cliff. Well, as the duck flies.

[ADKJack]

Great pics. What did you have on you're feet and when did you you hike?

Kept the MSR's on all he way to the summit. Today.

Little windy up top, this was the first peak I had to tag on my hands and knees. Wind was to strong to safely stand on the summit.

[WestportHiker]

AMAZING pictures. Looks like a fun day!:tup:

[billandjudy]

Nice pics guys...heading there Sun or Mon:tup:

[ADK88]

Those clouds are SWEET! :)

[yvon]

Jack and you've had a great day despite the wind. :tup:

[vieWseeker]

Looks spectacular, nice guys, clear skies and great views.. congrats

[Neil]

Whenever you look at my pictures press F11 on your keyboard. (I just found that out!)

Btw, we saw 1 other hiker, all day. On his way to Panther Gorge with a big pack wanting to know whether it would be icy going down. (We doubted it).

[BillB]

Very nice - good to see the sun - I always seem to hike in the clouds

[randomscooter]

Pic #10 is awesome!

So the big question, how were the off trail conditions?

[vieWseeker]

Pic #10 is awesome!

So the big question, how were the off trail conditions?

Mark that one for next yrs. Calendar :tup:

[Adirondack Ladies]

Looked cold and windy like usual on Haystack. Nice photos!!

[mtnhiker]

Great pictures and sounds like a fun day. Winter + Windy on Haystack is always an adventure!

[Jim C]

Nice job, guys. Looks like an awesome time

[Neil]

Trail conditions:


Garden to Johs Brook Lodge: rock solid.

JBL to Slant Rock: solid but soft underneath. Bare booting would mean post-holing.

Slant Rock to Marcy-Haystack junction: more of same but slightly softer.

(Shorey Shortcut not broken out).

M-H junction to Little HS: total of 3 tracks that went RT so probably pretty good now. Especially that Jack butt-slid down the steeps creating a very deep and well consolidated furrow. :twisted:

Little Hay to LH H col was a piece of cake. Not icy or dangerous.
LH to Hay: windblown, easy. (Range trail over to Basin not broken)





Off trail higher up the snow was very deep and unconsolidated and the trees were plastered with a solid shielding of wind consolidated snow and rime ice.

It was very easy to push a hiking pole right out of site. Not exactly the best bushwhacking conditions unless you really need to suffer.

[ADKJack]

Those clouds are SWEET! :)

As we approached we noticed that the clouds in the 7 - 10 thousand foot range were moving very quickly, in fact almost like one would see on a time elapsed film. It was even more so as we came over little haystack stood out of the wind in the col and watched. Soon after the cloud cover poured over the top and by the time we got back to "mini haystack" Little haystack was no longer visible. A very strange weather pattern for sure, winds out of the NE turned what is normally the windward side leeward and vice a versa,

[ADKJack]

Especially that Jack butt-slid down the steeps creating a very deep and well consolidated furrow. :twisted:


Are you insinuating that I have a fat a$$:eek: If I recall I was second in line in the butt sliding exhibition.

[Joe H.]

Wow! Fantastic trip from the looks of it. Jack, I am very glad you got to get back there!

[Dan J]

Great pics!! How long did it take?

[Neil]

Great pics!! How long did it take?

10 hours round-trip. We went slow and steady with emphasis on steady(except in the ferocious summit winds :D). In spite of the distance, Haystack is an easy hike. Overall, it's a very long walk. The only steep part is right after the Marcy-Haystack junction. The parts I always find the longest are between Bushnell Falls and Slant Rock and on the way out from the 2nd (ie. furthest in) Lean-to to the TH.

Sometimes the walk from the register to the car can be pretty brutal too.

[Highonlife]

Really love the photos...lot of great photos.

Saw you name in the book today, figured you got them...but there is alot of snow, if there is an ice its sure covered:)

[LaurieS]

Thanks for the trip report. I'm off to Haystack on Saturday. Glad to be able to keep the crampons at home! And glad to hear the trails are broken out too. Thank you. Looks like you had a beautiful day.

Laurie