Tom Rankin
Well-known member
We took a group of 11 from Rt. 42 to Halcott. We also had 15 folks from an AMC trip on the mountain, but we only saw them at the top for a few minutes. It was very cold and the new powder was being blown around a fair amount in places. Most of the day we had brilliant sunshine, with a little purple haze (not my words)! 
Anyway, we started up a little after 9, and slowly made our way up the hogback between the 2 large gullies. I did a little side hilling near the top, thinking I was almost at the col, but I wasn't, twice! Oh well, we were always heading in the right direction.
Having made it to the col, the grade eases considerably. Here we found a track coming from the right (a route I've taken before). The track was faint, but offered some better firmness of snow than the unpredictable powder and crust I was breaking out so far. The AMC track soon came in from the left. They had gone up the gully! I'm glad I wasn't on that hike! A few minutes later we were at the top and signing the register. Some of the AMC party were strapping on crampons, why I do not know. They were already breaking thru the nice snowshoe track even before they left the summit area! 2 of our party made out loud comments about this, but we were ignored. I was glad they were taking their own trail back down.
The walk back down was more or less uneventful, with a few now icy patches from our ascent to navigate, but no one got hurt, so I considered it a success!
The apres-hike was Winchell's. They have a good selection of beer and delicious calzones!
Anyway, we started up a little after 9, and slowly made our way up the hogback between the 2 large gullies. I did a little side hilling near the top, thinking I was almost at the col, but I wasn't, twice! Oh well, we were always heading in the right direction.
Having made it to the col, the grade eases considerably. Here we found a track coming from the right (a route I've taken before). The track was faint, but offered some better firmness of snow than the unpredictable powder and crust I was breaking out so far. The AMC track soon came in from the left. They had gone up the gully!
I'm glad I wasn't on that hike! A few minutes later we were at the top and signing the register. Some of the AMC party were strapping on crampons, why I do not know. They were already breaking thru the nice snowshoe track even before they left the summit area! 2 of our party made out loud comments about this, but we were ignored. I was glad they were taking their own trail back down.The walk back down was more or less uneventful, with a few now icy patches from our ascent to navigate, but no one got hurt, so I considered it a success!
The apres-hike was Winchell's. They have a good selection of beer and delicious calzones!
