7/11 Haystack #46 from Panther Gorge, a day trip in from Elk Lake out to the Garden!

[AlpineLamb]

Big Congratulations to Alpine1 on finishing his 46 in an EPIC Fashion!!!
We have done a lot of peaks in the "less traveled" and most interesting way and this takes the cake! Whose idea was this anyway? :D
I have been elected to write the TR, however I hope you will add your two cents sweetie! ;)

So we begin at Elk Lake, not as early a start as we should have, but then again that is classic for us! We had been on this trail as far as the Pinnacle Junction so we knew what to expect (I forgot to ask Steve and Fran how they liked that "little" speed bump on the way in?). Next on through the Marcy Swamp...so very remote and very cool. You know the big peaks are enveloping you, but there are just little peeks at them through the trees. (would be an awesome place when the leaves are off.) The bridges were all good. The trail continues on, and I am not sure what we expected but it wasn't this. Just miles (and miles) of nice trails and boardwalks, constantly changing forests, but really not hard climbing. Eventually coming to Marcy Brook and then away and then great views of Marcy and the brook again and then the camping area and the lean to at last!
Someone said this is the best place in the Adirondacks to eat lunch ;), so we had a snack and then checked out the brook and eventually started heading to Haystack. First part to the Junction is not bad, cool views of Marcy and the sides of the gorge and Skylight. Then trail starts up from the junction in a hurry, in fact at the junction you can see the next trail marker and it is about 30 feet higher! At first it didn't seem too hard (steepest trail in the Adks?), sort of Seymorish scrambling, but it does keep going and it does get steep! :eek:. The saving grace is the rock is really rough (hard on the hands in fact) but it gives you really good footing. It is a long way up that .75, it took us quite awhile, however we had to stop A LOT to enjoy the views behind us. Wow! looking back at all the ground we had traveled was awesome!
We had company on the top (read hogging the summit :rolleyes:), so we waited around and looked the views and then finally they asked how many peaks we had done "well as a matter of fact..." , they congratulated Norm and freed the small summit. :kiss: Now it's Official!! (except I left the patch in the vehicle at the Garden). We enjoyed the views some more, the clouds moved in and out and then decided we needed to go as we still had a long journey ahead. It is a long way down! We enjoyed the connector trail to the Phelps Trail because we had never been on it and the descent down to JBL really is not a killer, but it is a long long way. The final stretch to the Garden was an eternity after such a long day, but we made it to the car for the official patch presentation and drink! :drink:

What a trip!
We have covered many miles and I look forward to many more :)

Pictures say it all...
http://alpinelambphotos.shutterfly.com/
(sometimes works better to open one and then scroll through, depending on your computer )

[billandjudy]

Big Congrats!!:tup: That's a great route in to Haystack

[Gerard01]

Way to go!!

[JoeCedar]

Congratulations, Norm, on #46!!! You did it in style. And what a day it was :):):)

[Neil]

Big congrats are in order. Obviously, the 46 is quite a project but each and every individual mountain on the list can be made into quite a project in its own right.

Looking forward to December 21st by any chance?

[adkdremn]

WOOOHOOOOO....congrats and way to make that finish memorable! I stayed in Panther Gorge once and it's a long haul but well worth it. I did Skylight, Gray and Marcy from there with Haystack planned, but after Marcy we had enough. I've got to go back one day!

[PA Ridgerunner]

Fabulous hike, Mary, Norm, and Oliver! And congratulations on finishing your 46 in style, Norm! :drink: Really enjoyed those photos too! Such beautiful trails you had.

BTW, the "speed bump" was hardly noticed on our Colvin Range traverse. It was such a nice cool morning that we just breezed up and over it...same couldn't be said for Colvin, however. :rolleyes:

[Alpine1]

I guess this is where I chime in :D
Who could have picked a better 46 finish than Haystack from Elk Lake. Originally planned for Saturday changed to Sunday due to inclement weather. The choice turned out to be a good one;) The journey was long and rewarding in every way. 18.8 miles if you were wondering. The humidity was high but the temps were not bad. Oliver was happy as there was zero wind on Haystack this day. The day did not yield great digital pictures but the ones in ours minds are vivid.

Mary and I, and Oliver(mostly)have explored a lot of beautiful country in the Adirondacks well beyond the 46(who could forget Utah as well) over the past year and a half. McNaughton escaped us this spring, surely a "less traveled" road that will be revisited again one day. Finish the 46 was nice.
Sharing all that with one special person has given life a different direction :kiss:

[Alpine1]

actually, December 7 for other reasons :)

Thanks Neil. Hope to stumble across you again one day again on the trail.

Norm

Looking forward to December 21st by any chance?

[Beth]

Congrats on 46! Great day to finish! I have always wanted to travel into panther gorge....sounds like a beautiful place.

[mink]

Congrats on your finish of the 46 on Haystack! Nice route option as well!

[RTSpoons]

It must feel good to finish! Great mountain, one of my favorites.

[SummitHat]

Congratulations Norm on a well-chosen path to a tremendous peak for your #46, with the best company to celebrate with! :tup:
Kudos to Mary and Oliver for your parts in this momentous event. :tup: :tup:
:drink:

So... Cascade soon?

[randomscooter]

Sweet! Congrats Alpine1. :tup::tup:

Hey, update the peak count above your avatar!!

[Alpine1]

Congrats on 46! Great day to finish! I have always wanted to travel into panther gorge....sounds like a beautiful place.

Thanks Beth, although we did not actually make it into the Gorge the views from the trail suggest it must be a magical place. Maybe one day we'll venture up Marcy Brook as far as we can get :)

Fabulous hike, Mary, Norm, and Oliver! And congratulations on finishing your 46 in style, Norm! Really enjoyed those photos too! Such beautiful trails you had.

Thanks Steve, The best of the photos were taken by Mary

It must feel good to finish! Great mountain, one of my favorites.

Finish :D heck we've only just begun to explore:eek:

Congratulations Norm on a well-chosen path to a tremendous peak for your #46, with the best company to celebrate with! :tup:
Kudos to Mary and Oliver for your parts in this momentous event.

So... Cascade soon?

As for Cascade that will be on hold for a bit. I have a nagging knee issue from a brace that I wore Saturday that will delay the champagne 46 event :)

Sweet! Congrats Alpine1.

Hey, update the peak count above your avatar!!

Thanks RS...update complete.:tup:

[procook131]

Style and class....well done and congratulations. Your signature with "unofficial" cracked me up..... see you at the banquet!

[ADK46rfan]

Congrats on finishing the 46!! You guys took some great photos. It is a great feeling finishing on such a nice day!

[Alpine1]

Weather permitting;) we will be there.

see you at the banquet!

[Rookie]

What a great way to finish !

Congratulations !

[GrayMarshall]

Congratulations, Alpine1! What a spectacular traverse to finish with. Great photos as always, and Oliver seems to be setting a great pace in them all.

enjoy,
Marshall

[twinpeaks]

very nice route selection as others have said. Congrats!!!

and Great pics!

[ALGonquin Bob]

What a great way to get #46 - Congrats! :tup:

[Jim C]

Congrats on Norm's 46th :drink:

Haystack is an amazing peak to finish on and you certainly had perfect weather and no wind!! I haven't been on the trail between Elk Lake and Haystack yet, but, because of your desciption and photos, I want to go hike it right now.

Mary, nice job with the slide show. I especially liked your 49th picture :tup:. Oliver looked liked he had a great day in the park.

[vieWseeker]

Fantastic route and congrats, well planned route.. BTW , weather permitting??? the banquet is inside. :D, see you there norm. now onto the pics...:tup:

[Highonlife]

Big, Big congratulations Norm...what a trek, that sounds awesome. You guys really do things in style. Welcome to the club Norm:tup::tup:

Very, very happy for you, now on to McNaughton:)


And of course....photo #49 of Oliver made me smile, he is beautiful. When is he finishing and can I be there!:tup:

[El Loco]

Congratulations on your finish and what a great trail choice to get to Haystack. Panther Gorge is fabulous and the trails leading "up" are neat! What's next?

[klip59]

Big Congrats! Very nice TR and nice route for a fabulous finish! :tup::tup:

[Snickers]

WoooooHoooooo!!!! Congratulations; what a great way to finish, very beautiful route!!

Happy Trails - Cindy

[Alpine1]

I hear tell they now allow night time hiking:D No time like the present Jim:tup:

Thanks for the nice words Jim. We look forward to meeting you on the trail again one day.

Norm

Congrats on Norm's 46th I want to go hike it right now.

Thanks Viewseeker.

Norm

Fantastic route and congrats, well planned route.. BTW , weather permitting??? the banquet is inside. :D, see you there norm. now onto the pics...:tup:

Thanks to all of the rest for the nice thoughts as well. Mary Oliver and I have had many great adventures in a short time and look forward to many many more.Thanks to this gracious community for the valuable resource that it is :)
HPF rocks :)

Congratulations on your finish and what a great trail choice to get to Haystack. Panther Gorge is fabulous and the trails leading "up" are neat! What's next?

WoooooHoooooo!!!! Congratulations; what a great way to finish, very beautiful route!!

Happy Trails - Cindy

[Alpine1]

Thanks Nancy your thoughts are very nice.

For Oliver to finish we'll need your help:?: There's this little matter of a parcel of land that is holding him back:cry: With the right empty pack you may be able to help him reach that lofty status :D

As for McNaughton. Come March when the snow surface is hard as a rock we'll be right behind you every step of the way...LOL :cool:

Big, Big congratulations Norm...what a trek, that sounds awesome. You guys really do things in style. Welcome to the club Norm:tup::tup:

Very, very happy for you, now on to McNaughton:)


And of course....photo #49 of Oliver made me smile, he is beautiful. When is he finishing and can I be there!:tup:

[Adirondack Ladies]

Congratulations on your 46 on such a spectacular day! Your photos are great - thanks for sharing.

[Highonlife]

Thanks Nancy your thoughts are very nice.

For Oliver to finish we'll need your help:?: There's this little matter of a parcel of land that is holding him back:cry: With the right empty pack you may be able to help him reach that lofty status :D

As for McNaughton. Come March when the snow surface is hard as a rock we'll be right behind you every step of the way...LOL :cool:

What does Oliver have left, D&N? I think there is a bushwhack that is legal for him to do these mountains. I am sure that someone knows what I am talking about.

As for McNaughton...I am getting a group together and you two will be on my invite list;) (or 3 I mean, Norm you can come too:D)

[mastergrasshopper]

very easy BW up gravestone brook to the bearden /dial coll.
MG

[Alpine1]

Last fall we did the Dial bushwhack that MG speaks of but did not push on to Nippletop that day. Blake,Colvin,Sawteeth and Redfield, which he missed because it was well below zero that day and we did not want to subject him to the intense cold.

What does Oliver have left, D&N? I think there is a bushwhack that is legal for him to do these mountains. I am sure that someone knows what I am talking about.

As for McNaughton...I am getting a group together and you two will be on my invite list;) (or 3 I mean, Norm you can come too:D)