Bartlett Ridge, Haystack, Gothics water question

[NJTom]

Hello
I’m planning a long day hike for mid-August. Specifically, I will park off 73 by Roaring Brook and the Ausable Club, take the club road all the way to the end, go up and over Colvin, up Blake (since I’ll be there), then down to the Ausable Lakes and up the Bartlett Ridge to the south side of Haystack. Go up and over Haystack, Basin, Saddleback, and Gothics to return to the Club Road via the Beaver Meadow Trail.
My biggest concern on these long day hikes is always water. Based on the map, I’m not too worried about water until past Crystal Brook on the way up Bartlett Ridge. A couple questions:

A) Is Haystack Brook between Lil’ Haystack and Basin a reliable place to fill up, without having to detour from the State Range Trail?

B) If so, is Haystack Brook the only reliable place to fill up between Big Haystack and Gothics? Anything between Haystack Brook and the one along Beaver Meadow Trail? (I’ve come down off Gothics via the Ore Bed Trail before, but I don’t remember whether you actually cross the Brook between Gothics and Saddleback, or whether I would have to descend to it, which I don’t really want to have to do...); and

C) as always, any thoughts or general comments about this route would be welcome.

Thanks!
Tom

[Woodly]

Have you been up Haystack's south side previously?
There should be water just past where you turn to climb Haystack. And remember, because people forget this, you can often find water trickling off moss covered boulders. I've often filled canteens that way.
I look forward to the trip report.

[NJTom]

Have you been up Haystack's south side previously?.

I have not. I’ve done Colvin, and I’ve done the Gothics cables going the other direction (down, having come up via Wolfjaws and Armstrong), but otherwise all this will be my first time on these trails and peaks.

Thanks for the tip on the moss.

[ILikeRocks]

Sounds like an awesome day! What does the mileage and ele gain look like? I don’t think I’d be up to that challenge.

[NJTom]

Sounds like an awesome day! What does the mileage and ele gain look like? I don’t think I’d be up to that challenge.

I believe it is 23.2 miles and approximately +9,000’ of climbing.

[TCD]

Haystack Brook is reliable. And yes, it is the only reliable place on the trail between Haystack and Gothics. At the Orebed col, you can hike down the Orebed trail about 15 minutes and usually find water, but it's a side trip off your route.

[Woodly]

Have you been up Haystack's south side previously?
There should be water just past where you turn to climb Haystack. And remember, because people forget this, you can often find water trickling off moss covered boulders. I've often filled canteens that way.
I look forward to the trip report.

I better make the water source clear. Its the brook beyond the turn, not headed up Haystack. [Marcy Brook comes out of Panther Gorge]
Be forewarned Haystack south side rises something like 1600 ft in 3/4 of a mile. [that's from memory not a quote].

[NJTom]

Awesome, thanks!