Guinness
Active member
I planned on visiting the Great Range starting with Mt. Marcy and working back to Lower Wolf Jaw. Leaving the Garden Trailhead at 4:30 am I found the path to JBL fast, but too warm for this time of the morning. My route took me up the Hopkin Trail to intersect with the Van Hoevenberg at 8.5 miles and finally Mount Marcy at 9.1 miles. The bugs were not bad this morning, but the heat of the day was starting to climb. On Marcy I met Sean from Albany (I hope I remembered the name correct) and I would play catch-up to him all day on all summits.
From Mount Marcy to Mount Haystack, the temperature was now well above 80° where it would stay all day with bright sun light pounding down on you. The winds on the summit offered great relief. On Little Haystack, I ran into “mountain goat” that I met previously on the Fund Raising hike on the Escarpment Trail in the Catskill. He left the Roaster Comb parking lot at 4:00 and by 11:00 made it all the way to Haystack – that’s fast.
Leaving Haystack, I could now feel the sun starting to burn, and to make matters worse, I forgot sun protection. The col offered a break from direct sun exposure, but the bugs and the heat were now extreme. My thermometer registered near 90° in the col. Already I was pumping water to replenish my dwindling supply. Just before the start up Basin, I ran into JimB and friend. This appears to the Great Range weekend! He also was on his way to the full range traverse. When I reached the summit Sean was relaxed and taking in the views. After a 20-minute stop, it was off to Saddleback. I could feel the energy being drained, as I don’t do very well in heat. My plan on finishing to Lower Wolfjaw was being changed to a hike down the Ore Bed.
I enjoyed the hike over to Saddleback and upon hitting the wall, I met another climber from Hartford, CT. Unfortunately his name escapes me, We went up the wall together and met Sean on the summit. Took an extended break and started down. The Ore Bed was dry which made footing very good. Stopped at the Ore Bed lean-to for a small lunch and hydrate then left for JBL. On the hike from JBL back to the Garden, my energy level went up and it took just 66 minutes to cover the 3.5 miles. Back at the parking lot in daylight hours, I changed and started to drive home. This time the 400-mile trip took hours longer as I had to stop and sleep.
In all I calculated almost 21 miles covered in 13.5 hiking hours. I knew it was the correct decision for me to head down the Ore Bed as I was getting leg cramps starting in the Col between Basin and Saddleback. I took in 6 liters of water, 3 bottles of Gatorade and plenty of food, and it just was not enough. I miss winter. It was a good hike and this was the first time I visited Basin and Saddleback in summer months. All the times I have been on them, it was in winter.
From Mount Marcy to Mount Haystack, the temperature was now well above 80° where it would stay all day with bright sun light pounding down on you. The winds on the summit offered great relief. On Little Haystack, I ran into “mountain goat” that I met previously on the Fund Raising hike on the Escarpment Trail in the Catskill. He left the Roaster Comb parking lot at 4:00 and by 11:00 made it all the way to Haystack – that’s fast.
Leaving Haystack, I could now feel the sun starting to burn, and to make matters worse, I forgot sun protection. The col offered a break from direct sun exposure, but the bugs and the heat were now extreme. My thermometer registered near 90° in the col. Already I was pumping water to replenish my dwindling supply. Just before the start up Basin, I ran into JimB and friend. This appears to the Great Range weekend! He also was on his way to the full range traverse. When I reached the summit Sean was relaxed and taking in the views. After a 20-minute stop, it was off to Saddleback. I could feel the energy being drained, as I don’t do very well in heat. My plan on finishing to Lower Wolfjaw was being changed to a hike down the Ore Bed.
I enjoyed the hike over to Saddleback and upon hitting the wall, I met another climber from Hartford, CT. Unfortunately his name escapes me, We went up the wall together and met Sean on the summit. Took an extended break and started down. The Ore Bed was dry which made footing very good. Stopped at the Ore Bed lean-to for a small lunch and hydrate then left for JBL. On the hike from JBL back to the Garden, my energy level went up and it took just 66 minutes to cover the 3.5 miles. Back at the parking lot in daylight hours, I changed and started to drive home. This time the 400-mile trip took hours longer as I had to stop and sleep.
In all I calculated almost 21 miles covered in 13.5 hiking hours. I knew it was the correct decision for me to head down the Ore Bed as I was getting leg cramps starting in the Col between Basin and Saddleback. I took in 6 liters of water, 3 bottles of Gatorade and plenty of food, and it just was not enough. I miss winter. It was a good hike and this was the first time I visited Basin and Saddleback in summer months. All the times I have been on them, it was in winter.
