Seeking Partner for Backpacking Trip

[turnerart]

My friend and I are doing a backpacking trip from Jun 7-11 (I know, black flies!!). We are doing a loop from the Garden to Marcy, Haystack to Basin/ Saddleback, Gothics up to JBL and back to the Garden. We are trying to do this in 4 days. (see map below) Each day is marked with a different color, starting with red. I estimated the total milage at around 27 mi.



We are looking for a third person to go with, preferably someone who has experience on these trails, so we can have a complete buddy system. Despite the bugs, I think it will still be an awesome hike.

If you are interested please email turnerart@gmail.com as soon as possible.

[Little Rickie]

[QUOTE=turnerart;68526]My friend and I are doing a backpacking trip

I hope your packs are lite.

[percious]

Looks like a good trip. You would probably save yourselves some angst by basing at Slant rock for two nights and dayhiking marcy and haystack. Have lunch on skylight. This is one of my favourite loops in the HP. Keep it light by utilizing the leantos and ditching your tent. Make sure you bring your bear container. Going over that range with a full pack is going to be rough.

-percious

[AdRegion]

YES! My favorite "loop". I like to dayhike this from Orebed.

You might as well add Skylight. Heh, heh.

[Little Rickie]

deleated oops wrong thread

[Kevin]

Looks like a good trip. You would probably save yourselves some angst by basing at Slant rock for two nights and dayhiking marcy and haystack. Have lunch on skylight. This is one of my favourite loops in the HP. Keep it light by utilizing the leantos and ditching your tent. Make sure you bring your bear container. Going over that range with a full pack is going to be rough.

-percious

Just to add to this advice. The weekend you're going shouldn't be too busy, but once summer gets into full swing I almost always carry a tent or a tarp setup because the lean-tos can get full fast. Unless you're paying for the ones owned by the ADK club at John's Brook Lodge, they're first come first serve.

This is a great loop and most of my favorite peaks.

I swore several years ago after doing the lower great range with a full pack that I would never summit a mountain again with a full pack. Been good to my word.

[hikerdad]

Don't know your experience level but that is a very rough hike with full packs (they're rough trails without full packs) so expect tough going and be prepared....the climb up Saddleack from Basin is VERY steep for a hundred feet or so (meaning you climb rock slabs/faces and need hand and foot holds)...there is no LT between Haystack and Basin so you'll need to tent camp (I'm not sure that camping area is legal...does anyone know? I see the map says there is a camping spot there..I assume that is what the little triangles mean) and that area has to be pretty rough anyway. The climb up Gothics has the cable to help you but again with full packs will be tough. Just expect a lot of ups and downs. That is very rough country. Bring plenty of bug dope, head nets and your bear canister (We've had bears 2 out of 3 times at Slant Rock). Enjoy.

[turnerart]

Update

Just an update...I found a third person for the hike and as per all of the wonderful advice from the message board I reworked the trip so all of the rough terrain is on day hikes with a base camp at Slant Rock. Thanks to all who posted information to help me!

[Kevin]

(I'm not sure that camping area is legal...does anyone know? I see the map says there is a camping spot there..I assume that is what the little triangles mean)

That's Snow Bird, the only legal camping spot I know of above 3500 feet in elevation.

[Dick]

That's Snow Bird, the only legal camping spot I know of above 3500 feet in elevation.

As an aside, Lake Arnold is also above 3500 and legal.

Dick

[Kevin]

As an aside, Lake Arnold is also above 3500 and legal.

But that must be all though.