Anyone know recent conditions between Saddleback and Basin?

[dwadk]

Need Snowshoes? Crampons? Ice Axe? Rope? Valium?

 

[Tom Rankin]

Need Snowshoes? Crampons? Ice Axe? Rope? Valium?

I would bring all of the above!

See also this Trip Report, from 8 days ago, which may be out of date, but might be somewhat helpful.

 

[BlackSpruce]

Late spring there already, wildflowers and birds are aplenty, just bring a pair of sunglasses and a reclining chair and enjoy...

 

[Rik]

Late spring there already, wildflowers and birds are aplenty, just bring a pair of sunglasses and a reclining chair and enjoy...

Any pictures?

 

[BlackSpruce]

No, sorry... my camera fell in the water at Chicken Brook Beach!

 

[Rik]

No, sorry... my camera fell in the water at Chicken Brook Beach!

Awesome, I was planning to bring my metal detector up there soon for a little beach combing.

 

[Neil]

Need Snowshoes? Crampons? Ice Axe? Rope? Valium?

When were you planning on going?

 

[ALGonquin Bob]

What's your intended route? I did not hike between Basin and Saddleback last week, but 3 others did. You'll need snowshoes all the way from the Garden (the usual trail head for this) to Slant Rock-Shorey Shortcut-Basin summit-down into the col, then probably need to switch to crampons to climb the west wall of Saddleback, then switch back to snowshoes for the remainder of the hike. Unless you're going up Chicken Coop Brook, than I have no idea...

Also see this Trail Conditions report on VFTT:
http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?t=27547&referrerid=165

 

[Jay H]

Re: CCB, you would still need snowshoes... probably crampons and an ice axe... The upper portions (at least closer to saddleback) are steep enough that when we were there, it was mostly hard snow/ice that we changed to crampons and took out the ice axe. the slides towards the col aren't as steep... YMMV

Jay

 

[dwadk]

We'll be hiking Thursday- up Ore-bed, over Saddleback to Basin, then reverse to possibly get on Gothics too. How's the climb up Gothics from the Col at this time?

Thanks guys!

 

[ALGonquin Bob]

dangerous

Down-climbing the very steep west wall (cliff) of Saddleback is not recommended in winter. How about reversing the route?

It's funny that you should ask about the climb up the Gothics cable route when it's Saddleback that should concern you. Have you climbed that wall yet?

 

[Tom Rankin]

Down-climbing the very steep west wall (cliff) of Saddleback is not recommended in winter. How about reversing the route?

It's funny that you should ask about the climb up the Gothics cable route when it's Saddleback that should concern you. Have you climbed that wall yet?

I second that thought! If you stand at the summit of Saddleback, and look down, you can not see the side of the mountain, it is that steep!

Ascending from CCB, then doing Basin, Saddleback, Gothics is a more reasonable approach. Or just scale back the plans and do Saddleback and Gothics.

 

[Jay H]

Another option would be go up CCB do Basin and back, go up Saddleback. then you can decide at the head of the Ore bed trail whether you want to go up and do Gothics or bail... Avoids the downclimb of Saddleback....

Jay

 

[Neil]

DWADK,

Did you go? How was it?