Peter Abreu
01-27-2008, 12:56 PM
Started out from the Gardnen at 5:30 am with Jim deW. Jim was heading to Haystack and Basin and we hiked together for a bit with Jim setting a good pace. Thanks.
Phelps Trail had a dusting of 2 to 4 inches of fresh light powder. At about Chicken Coop Brook said goodbye to Jim. Trail from Slant Rock to Little Haystack had 1 to 1.5 feet fresh powder. Slow going up steep section from Marcy/Haystack junction to Little Haystack. Had to kick MSR snowshoes in to get a bite on underlying firm snow. Little Haystack and Haystack covered with hard windblown snow, some exposed rock, little ice. Much faster now. MSR's worked fine from Little Haystack to Haystack. Arrive Haystack (no. 44) at 10:15 am. Clouds had rolled in by now so a short 5 minute stop and Headed for Basin.
Range Trail to Basin was 1.5 + feet of fresh powder. Lots of fun and easy on the legs going down the trail breaking powder. Same powder conditions going up Basin so it was very slow going up the trail. Lots of kicking in steps so not to slide back down. Ugh!! By the ladder it was very icy. I was able to skirt the ice to the right. Ice ax may have been helpful. On the Summit of Basin (45) by 12:30.
Lots of snow on the way down toward Saddleback (no surprise there). Same story - fun going down slooow going up and kicking in steps on the steep sections. Arrived the Saddleback cliffs about 2 pm and switched to crampons for the cliffs. I finally needed the crampons. No longer were they decoration on my pack. Cliffs were mostly rock with some thin ice. By 2:15 I was on Saddleback. Stayed a bit longer to enjoy number 46.
Trip down to the Col between Saddleback and Gothics was again easy with the deep snow. At the col I was ver pleased to find that the Orebed Brook trail was very well beaten in. Passed many hikers and skiers on the way out.
At the Garden at 5 pm to find Laura S just getting ready to leave. Laura had decided to do Basin via Shorey Short Cut. She had slept in that morning so I sadly missed her by 1/2 hour on Basin. Alain, Inge A and Laura had done the Santanonis the day before so congrats for getting up and out after hiking with those two!
Phelps Trail had a dusting of 2 to 4 inches of fresh light powder. At about Chicken Coop Brook said goodbye to Jim. Trail from Slant Rock to Little Haystack had 1 to 1.5 feet fresh powder. Slow going up steep section from Marcy/Haystack junction to Little Haystack. Had to kick MSR snowshoes in to get a bite on underlying firm snow. Little Haystack and Haystack covered with hard windblown snow, some exposed rock, little ice. Much faster now. MSR's worked fine from Little Haystack to Haystack. Arrive Haystack (no. 44) at 10:15 am. Clouds had rolled in by now so a short 5 minute stop and Headed for Basin.
Range Trail to Basin was 1.5 + feet of fresh powder. Lots of fun and easy on the legs going down the trail breaking powder. Same powder conditions going up Basin so it was very slow going up the trail. Lots of kicking in steps so not to slide back down. Ugh!! By the ladder it was very icy. I was able to skirt the ice to the right. Ice ax may have been helpful. On the Summit of Basin (45) by 12:30.
Lots of snow on the way down toward Saddleback (no surprise there). Same story - fun going down slooow going up and kicking in steps on the steep sections. Arrived the Saddleback cliffs about 2 pm and switched to crampons for the cliffs. I finally needed the crampons. No longer were they decoration on my pack. Cliffs were mostly rock with some thin ice. By 2:15 I was on Saddleback. Stayed a bit longer to enjoy number 46.
Trip down to the Col between Saddleback and Gothics was again easy with the deep snow. At the col I was ver pleased to find that the Orebed Brook trail was very well beaten in. Passed many hikers and skiers on the way out.
At the Garden at 5 pm to find Laura S just getting ready to leave. Laura had decided to do Basin via Shorey Short Cut. She had slept in that morning so I sadly missed her by 1/2 hour on Basin. Alain, Inge A and Laura had done the Santanonis the day before so congrats for getting up and out after hiking with those two!