Haystack Basin Saddleback 012708

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!

Mavs00 · 01-27-2008, 02:58 PM

Awesome, Congrats on #46.

Rik · 01-27-2008, 04:00 PM

Congrats! Great trio to complete a list on!

billandjudy · 01-27-2008, 04:44 PM

What a day--Congrats!!

Dunbar · 01-27-2008, 08:59 PM

Nicely done Peter! I'm jealous of your W!

Steve

ADKJack · 01-27-2008, 08:59 PM

Nice finish, congratulations

Looks like it was a great day all around

1ADAM12 · 01-27-2008, 10:32 PM

SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET congrats on 46!!!!!

skidoc · 01-27-2008, 10:39 PM

Quite a flurry over the past month - how many did you do in that time? 20? Congrats on the big W. And I can say "I knew him when..."

Mike

Highonlife · 01-28-2008, 09:57 AM

Great job and congratulations. Love those mountains.

mastergrasshopper · 01-28-2008, 09:40 PM

Very nice trio of peaks and what a nice way to finish up

MG

phoenixfighter · 01-29-2008, 04:54 AM

Thanks for the great trip report and congrats on your 46.

Joe H. · 01-30-2008, 01:12 PM

Congrats on the 46. What a great way to finish!

01-27-2008, 12:56 PM	#1
Peter Abreu Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 42	Haystack Basin Saddleback 01/26/08 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! Last edited by Peter Abreu; 01-27-2008 at 02:43 PM. Reason: Incorrect Date

01-27-2008, 02:58 PM	#2
Mavs00 Viceroy Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: the Dark Side of the Moon Posts: 3,475	Awesome, Congrats on #46. __________________ "The forest is the poor man's overcoat. " Old Northeastern Proverb

01-27-2008, 04:00 PM	#3
Rik Village Idiot Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Where the Truth Lies Posts: 2,585	Congrats! Great trio to complete a list on! __________________ This post is for entertainment purposes only.

01-27-2008, 08:59 PM	#5
Dunbar Always Serious. Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Lebanon, NH Posts: 922	Nicely done Peter! I'm jealous of your W! Steve __________________ Hike Always. http://dunbarsm.wordpress.com

01-27-2008, 08:59 PM	#6
ADKJack Sure, Why not! Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Mt Adams Posts: 2,039	Nice finish, congratulations Looks like it was a great day all around __________________ "Climbing is about freedom. There's no prize money; there are no gold medals. The mountains are all about going there to do what you want to do. That's why I'll never tell anyone else how to climb. All I can say is, This is how I prefer to do it." Ed Viesturs

01-27-2008, 04:44 PM	#4
billandjudy Jimmy Dolan Notch Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 4,020	What a day--Congrats!!

01-27-2008, 10:32 PM	#7
1ADAM12 Marc Howes kicking me! Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: On Allen! Posts: 2,893	SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET congrats on 46!!!!! __________________ OUTDOOR SHOTS More hiking Pictures EASY CHEESE and The Cheez Whiz 43/46 ADK Easy Cheese and Cheez Whiz 43/46 winter EASY CHEESE and The Cheez Whiz 19/35 CATS HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

01-27-2008, 10:39 PM	#8
skidoc No mud, no rocks, no bugs Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Capital district, NY Posts: 365	Quite a flurry over the past month - how many did you do in that time? 20? Congrats on the big W. And I can say "I knew him when..." Mike __________________ "Commitment is doing the things you said you'd do, long after the mood you said it in has left you" Bear Grylls' Mom from The Kid Who Climbed Everest

01-28-2008, 09:57 AM	#9
Highonlife NATUREISMYHIGH Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Canton Posts: 2,078	Congrats Great job and congratulations. Love those mountains. __________________ Never look down on anybody unless you're helping him up. ~Jesse Jackson

01-28-2008, 09:40 PM	#10
mastergrasshopper Commander Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: syracuse ny. Posts: 1,610	congrats Very nice trio of peaks and what a nice way to finish up MG

01-29-2008, 04:54 AM	#11
phoenixfighter Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Switzerland Posts: 19	Thanks for the great trip report and congrats on your 46. __________________ Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful. (Joshua J. Marine)

01-30-2008, 01:12 PM	#12
Joe H. DC Correspondent Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: 1980 - somewhere in the High Peaks Posts: 1,168	Congrats on the 46. What a great way to finish! __________________ Be safe --- Respect the Earth --- Have fun --- Joe H.

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