Great DeRanged Traverse: Marcy to Haystack via Panther Gorge Bushwhack & Great Range

[PA Ridgerunner]

Congratulations to you both on a truly inspiring accomplishment...damn! Kevin, I sure hope there is a book in your future. You're TRs and photos are fantastic!

[Neil]

Originally Posted by mudrat

Ha! I made it a point of eating as much as possible in an effort to avoid a sudden 'bonk'. I didn't eat enough though...

After a certain point on long hikes (I guess this one qualifies) I often quit eating somewhere after the half-way point. Not a good idea I suppose but,

...I usually have a good base under my belt (har-har) with lots of protein and carbs both the day before and in the morning before and during the hike. In summer I add electrolytes to my water (not to prevent cramping but to help forestall generalized fatigue). So far I haven't had any issues with bonking, cramping or headaches etc.

I have often read that the fitter one is the more one is able to preferentially burn fat for energy.

[MACATTACK]

quote from Neil
"...I usually have a good base under my belt (har-har) with lots of protein and carbs both the day before and in the morning before and during the hike. In summer I add electrolytes to my water (not to prevent cramping but to help forestall generalized fatigue). So far I haven't had any issues with bonking, cramping or headaches etc."

Kevin has always had a lot of body fat (yeah sure), I think when he was doing martial arts 5 times a week it was about 2% & has had low blood sugar problems forever after workouts since he was a teenager.

[mudrat]

Originally Posted by Neil

After a certain point on long hikes (I guess this one qualifies) I often quit eating somewhere after the half-way point. Not a good idea I suppose but,

...I usually have a good base under my belt (har-har) with lots of protein and carbs both the day before and in the morning before and during the hike. In summer I add electrolytes to my water (not to prevent cramping but to help forestall generalized fatigue). So far I haven't had any issues with bonking, cramping or headaches etc.

I have often read that the fitter one is the more one is able to preferentially burn fat for energy.

I actually prepped for this incorrectly by not prepping at all: didn't carbo load, didn't hydrate much. I did add some electrolytes to a couple liters of water though, always a good idea. The more I think about it, the more I'm inclined to believe the cramping was food related...my body craved food, but I didn't have the urge to eat so I didn't eat QUITE enough. I'm waiting for MG to chime in since he's much more of a nutritional guru for endurance hikes/runs.

[mudrat]

Originally Posted by MACATTACK

quote from Neil
"...I usually have a good base under my belt (har-har) with lots of protein and carbs both the day before and in the morning before and during the hike. In summer I add electrolytes to my water (not to prevent cramping but to help forestall generalized fatigue). So far I haven't had any issues with bonking, cramping or headaches etc."

Kevin has always had a lot of body fat (yeah sure), I think when he was doing martial arts 5 times a week it was about 2% & has had low blood sugar problems forever after workouts since he was a teenager.

I had problems when I was at 4-5%, yup, but I was training 30-40 hrs/week + teaching.

[mastergrasshopper]

For long hikes in both miles and time I think prep is more important.
Base line fittness / potassium / carb loading.
You can't eat your way out of a deficit. Hard to digest foods late in hike will use energy to digest. I like liquid protein mid hike.
late in hike when feel sick / don't want food I like high glycymic count foods to nibble on. A few prtetzel sticks / rice cracker mix. A few sugar items.
MG

[mudrat]

Originally Posted by PA Ridgerunner

Congratulations to you both on a truly inspiring accomplishment...damn! Kevin, I sure hope there is a book in your future. You're TRs and photos are fantastic!

Thank you and thank you, kind Sir!
Hey, you never know...

[twinpeaks]

I'm really glad I took the time to read the report...very interesting and exciting trip. Congrats on a great accomplishment!

[Trail Boss]

Another amazing trip sponsored by:

Mrs. MacKenzie's Bushwhacker's Banana Bread.

Wholesome food for the great outdoors. Grab a log or two to fuel your next adventure.


Many thanks for your TR. Congratulations to you and Greg for skillfully, and safely, crossing Panther Gorge in a manner that most of us will only duplicate in our mind's eye. Making it part of the GRT is an astounding example of fitness and drive.

[RTSpoons]

One of the more interesting hikes to be posted on the forum. Great route & Nice Job. How thick was it on the backsides of Marcy and Haystack?

[RTSpoons]

Well after reading the report more carefully I can guess the cripplebush was a bit thick. Again very interesting hike.

[mudrat]

Originally Posted by Trail Boss

Another amazing trip sponsored by:

Mrs. MacKenzie's Bushwhacker's Banana Bread.

Wholesome food for the great outdoors. Grab a log or two to fuel your next adventure.


Many thanks for your TR. Congratulations to you and Greg for skillfully, and safely, crossing Panther Gorge in a manner that most of us will only duplicate in our mind's eye. Making it part of the GRT is an astounding example of fitness and drive.

Thanks! I don't know what I'd do without Deb's banana bread, bushwhacker's b bread is what I call it as well and a log isn't far off from reality!

[mudrat]

Originally Posted by RTSpoons

Well after reading the report more carefully I can guess the cripplebush was a bit thick. Again very interesting hike.

Thanks RT!
Actually, Marcy wasn't as thick as I imagined. I really thought it might take 1.5 hrs to descend, so less than an hour was wonderful.The eastern ridge was tighter. I can't say the drainage was loosely knit, but the space between the trunks really didn't hinder movement substantially where we descended. Gravity definitely helped. Haystack was pretty thick, but pliable. I've had worse many times, most recently on Skylight east.

[krummholz]

Originally Posted by RTSpoons

Well after reading the report more carefully I can guess the cripplebush was a bit thick. Again very interesting hike.

It was bad but certainly not the worst I've encountered. For me, that distinction would probably go to the ridge from Street to Lost Pond Pk. As Kevin said, the cripplebrush on Marcy wasn't so bad since we had the help of gravity. We both imagined more open rock and less all out bushwhacking on the Haystack side, but weren't so lucky.....

I've been meaning to post some of these from my camera. The pics aren't nearly as crisp as Kevins, but give an impression of what we went through on the Marcy side of the gorge...

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/nehl7cntmla0zbe/XMaOJ8g0mC

[mastergrasshopper]

marcy ridge up from top of slide was all balsam ( soft ) rather than spruce.
lots of stunted birch / alder. From about 4k up was only shoulder high so you could see where you were going and was more like swimming. I would almost say that the east face of Marcy is "user friendly", much less hostile than east face of Haystack.
MG

[krummholz]

Originally Posted by mastergrasshopper

marcy ridge up from top of slide was all balsam ( soft ) rather than spruce.
lots of stunted birch / alder. From about 4k up was only shoulder high so you could see where you were going and was more like swimming. I would almost say that the east face of Marcy is "user friendly", much less hostile than east face of Haystack.
MG

Thanks for making this distinction. I didn't pay close attention to shape of conifers on Marcy. I've heard east face of Hay is quite unforgiving! West face not very friendly either

[RTSpoons]

Krummholz: pictures #20 and #22, which peak do those slides and rock formation belong with, are they on Basin?

[mudrat]

Originally Posted by RTSpoons

Krummholz: pictures #20 and #22, which peak do those slides and rock formation belong with, are they on Basin?

That's Basin's new NE shoulder slide in foreground and some new tracks to the left of Basin's Eastern face, yup.