Haystack, Basin and Saddleback.
 

What a great weekend!!! Arrived 10pm friday. Found a campsite near JBL. Started hiking 9:15am, whether unbelievable. Trail is not as dry as the trails for my Dial-Nippletop-Sawteeth trip last week, but in great hiking shape.
The views from the 3 mountains (Haystack, Basin and Saddleback) are just incredible. It is also a very fun hike, with many steep and technical climbs. The trail between Basin and Saddleback may be the steepest I've seen so far. The last part of Saddleback's summit coming from Basin was especially fun. You could say it was rock climbing, gripping the rock with hands and toes. Finnished the loop coming down the Ore Bed. Including 1h45min of breaks on top, took us (with friend Isabelle) about 8 hrs.

A hike I wouldn't mind doing again. :thumbs: :thumbs:

20 peaks climbed. :headbang:

The weather was perfect Saturday :)

I'm thinking of doing Haystack and Basin next weekend. I've been scared off (because of my fear of heights) from doing Saddleback in the same trip. Instead, I'm probably going to do Saddleback on another trip from the Gothics side.

It sounds like you enjoy the challenge. While I love challenges, my knees wabble and legs tingle when I get into a spot like the one you described. Did you take any photos of this wall on Saddleback? So far I've heard a lot about it but have never SEEN it. Maybe giving me some perspective would change my mind (my fear has this thing 100 feet tall and all vertical :p).

I missed out on haystack and basin on my trip this week because I chose(very unwisely) to bushwack from gray over to marcy(w/ a full pack). It doesn't seem so bad now, but it was at the time. I'm hiking haystack, basin, and saddleback as a dayhike on wednesday if anyone wants to join in. I hope to go fast and light. By the way--couchie on tuesday, and I'm finishing up on thursday with an ADK group hike(led by ALG) on emmons. 42 down and 4 to go.

Hillman, I read your report and I'm glad you at least were spared your boots! :eek:

Kevin,

YOU CAN DO IT! I personally don't think it's as bad as you might think. I found it to be rather enjoyful, and I can assure you, I like my feet to be on terra-firma too. Just follow the yellow marks.

I'm slowly breaking down my fear of heights. I recently broke some ground climbing the Macomb slide, one part where I had to cross to the right and jump onto not-so-even ground where a slip meant tumbling 50 feet. Felt my legs tingle after I landed, even told the other hikers I was so proud :D.

Strange thing, I like views from atop mountains. lol

I appreciate the vote of confidence. I'm still waiting for some photos...

[Kevin wanders over to adirondack journey to see if there's any posted]

A couple of pictures, but my friend is going to send me the video taken with her digital camera of me climbing the wall. I can't wait to see it!

It's really worth it to do that hike... and it ain't anything you can't handle. I'm pretty sure of it.

Hmmm... now you folks are starting to get me thinking!

I might have to reconsider my plans for next weekend... are there enough water source once up on the ridge? I'd porbably do Haystack, Basin, Saddleback from JBL... may even do it as a day hike! :eek:

Make sure sure your fill up your water supplies at Point Balk, 'cause if you do the loop, there ain't any water until you come down to the Ore Bed.

Kevin,

There is a source of water of water in the low point where the trail from the AMR joins the Range trail. It's in the col between Haystack and Basin, just below where the Shorey Shortcut joins. If I'm not mistaken, there was a leanto there many moons ago.

Yeah, seen the former lean-to marked on the old topos. Thanks for the info, I'll let you know how it goes :eek:

Anything I can do, you can do better....
 

Kevin

I did Saddleback from Basin a few years ago with Jon He went up it no problem. I went up it - watching my hand and footholds, scared, but eventually successful. You've seen me - if I can do this, you can, too!

Get your water when you can - there isn't any up there We came from JBL and I think we filled up crossing the creek above Slant Rock lean-to I can't temember if there was a creek at the bottom of the Shorey Short Cut, before we started up Basin, but I know there was none after that until we go off Saddleback. It was very hot and humid that day and I wish I had more water with me.

Go for it, Kevin. You can do it...

Yep, there's water between Haystack and Basin. Someone mentioned a lean-to that was once there. They wouldn't have put it there with no water source. The going from Basin to Saddleback is - unquestionably - about the hairiest you'll find in the ADK.

Like Ron I did the "wall" with my teenage son and he scampered up it with really no problem. I tried but eventually sat on my butt and went up backwards.

I'd be more concerned about doing Haystack, Basin and Saddleback in one day hike. That was our plans too but we bailed on the Shorey Short Cut after doing Haystack and came back another day to do Basin and Saddleback. I can't decide which trail I like less, Shorey Short Cut (misnomer, don't believe it) or coming down the Orebed Trail. I do like the Ausable Club side of the mountains better.

Good Luck
Ed

Oh, it's a long day hike for sure! This one puts me right about at my limit for fun hikes and stops just short of the 'death march' variety.

It's 9 miles to Haystack for starters, then longer coming back to the Garden. Throw in a couple of rugged little peaks like Basin & Saddleback and you have a hike that turned into a trek. Last time I did this I also parked at the Rooster Comb parking area, adding 2 more miles. A long day.

I have the option of camping in john's brook valley. It's an option I've considered. But considering my proximity to the adirondacks (about 2-2.5 hours to most any trailhead) it's sometimes 'easier' to do 3 in a day (no matter the mileage/difficulty) than do one difficult climb, then try to get the gumption to march back up the same elevation (you had climbed the day before) to do 2 more the next day.

Saddleback
 

The first time I climbed Saddleback, I was 17 and didn't know anything about the steep wall. I don't remember being the least bit afraid going down the rocks toward Basin. The last time I went down it, it scared me some, not sure why, old age or something? But it is definitely safer going up the rocks rather than down. I know someone who was ascending and slipped and fell quite a ways and had to be airlifted off the next day, but it was winter and a little icy. She recovered fully.

Camping out there cuts about 2.5 hrs roundtrip. Also give you the option of going back to the parking lot via Big Slide on your last day.

JBL and Bear Activity
 

Kevin

If you do camp there, remember that it is pretty heavily used and consequently has a lot of bear activity. The last time Jon and I were there, we stayed in the Lodge itself, and the staff was trying to help out a group of campers who had lost their food to bears the night before. Similar to Colden and Marcy Dam areas in this respect. My recommendation is a bear cannister, but I am sure you have read all the discussions here and elsewhere on your various options.

By the way, staying in the Lodge was really a treat - the staff was very nice and helpful, and we enjoyed the other folks staying there, too. The will feed you breakfast as part of the fee, and will also pack you a trail lunch, for a little extra. You can make a reservation thru the ADK headquarters, if there are any openings. We learned about this alternative from the Burnside book, which is also a treat.

Thanks for the encouragement, information, and precautions :).

I have a bear canister [ducks as people boo and throw things :D ]. Bought it on my way up last weekend. It's rather light (2lb 7 oz) and has a twist off top. It probably costs $5 to manufacture. Cost me $80+ tax to walk out of EMS with it :rolleyes: . I couldn't see going the whole summer renting the damn things and worrying about returning them in time to avoid getting slapped with another day's fees... and, really, they're the only current 99% fool-proof means of protecting your food (apart from not bringing any :p ).