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Very strong winds the whole way in from the Garden, my companion wore a face mask right out of the parking lot and we donned goggles below tree line.
Broke trail on Hopkins 3" new snow after Bushnell Falls, 5" above 4000.' Some heavy blowdown beyond Bushnell Falls before the ascent. Broke trail on Van Ho over Marcy and beyond.
Marcy above treeline was extraordinarily windy - maybe 50mph constant and gusts far above, but Haystack was not nearly as windy - still seeking shelter behind summit but one could stand up; and from there we saw a party standing together on Marcy's summit (indicating not nearly as windy there either by that time). Little Haystack & Haystack were largely bare rock with tiny ice patches; crampons not necessary.
Continued breaking trail w/ 5" new snow to SSC where single pair of tracks led up Basin. Ladder exposed. Far side of Basin was better tracked out, strangely. (Did someone reverse course over Saddleback?) Ice on the exposed bit on N side of Basin but one could avoid it with no issues. Saddleback cliffs were bare rock.
Only encountered one party the entire way from the Garden over all summits until Ore Bed Lean-To.
Broke trail on Hopkins 3" new snow after Bushnell Falls, 5" above 4000.' Some heavy blowdown beyond Bushnell Falls before the ascent. Broke trail on Van Ho over Marcy and beyond.
Marcy above treeline was extraordinarily windy - maybe 50mph constant and gusts far above, but Haystack was not nearly as windy - still seeking shelter behind summit but one could stand up; and from there we saw a party standing together on Marcy's summit (indicating not nearly as windy there either by that time). Little Haystack & Haystack were largely bare rock with tiny ice patches; crampons not necessary.
Continued breaking trail w/ 5" new snow to SSC where single pair of tracks led up Basin. Ladder exposed. Far side of Basin was better tracked out, strangely. (Did someone reverse course over Saddleback?) Ice on the exposed bit on N side of Basin but one could avoid it with no issues. Saddleback cliffs were bare rock.
Only encountered one party the entire way from the Garden over all summits until Ore Bed Lean-To.
