Great Pumpkin
Member
Date: Sunday 2/23
Route:Saddleback Ski Area, starting at about 8:30 a.m., via Green Weaver and Tricolor trails, then up the "chute" above the ski lift to join the AT at a very weathered post, with the sign removed (which we had mistaken for the summit last year). North along the AT to Saddleback's true summit, then onward for 1.7 miles, losing the ill-defined trail several times, to summit the Horn at appx. 1 p.m. Returned the same way, with some variations because of difficult to find/follow cairns, and we were back down to the base lodge by about 3:50 p.m.
Required Equipment: We used snow shoes the whole way; absolutely essential, especially in the scrubeenie patches loaded with spruce traps. All manner of wind and face protection.
Comments:Same crew as yesterday's failed attempt on Crockers, but with a happier result. We were the beneficiaries of a magnificent day, with high wind from time to time, but tolerable. Got some help from a fellow in orange jacket/Campognolo tights (thanks for taking our picture), and saw one downhill skier who had ventured over to ski the "snowfields" - the only humans we encountered all day above lift served territory. Hope to put up longer trip report with pictures in next few days. BTW, Roy Boy and Jeff - you are going to have to go back to get the real Saddleback summit, the one we couldn't see in the snow/fog/high winds last year. Heh, heh.... Winter summits No. 56 and 57 for Spaderman and moi.....Maine has been very tough for us, as we now have 4 peaks in 3 different expeditions. Keep on keepin' on......
Route:Saddleback Ski Area, starting at about 8:30 a.m., via Green Weaver and Tricolor trails, then up the "chute" above the ski lift to join the AT at a very weathered post, with the sign removed (which we had mistaken for the summit last year). North along the AT to Saddleback's true summit, then onward for 1.7 miles, losing the ill-defined trail several times, to summit the Horn at appx. 1 p.m. Returned the same way, with some variations because of difficult to find/follow cairns, and we were back down to the base lodge by about 3:50 p.m.
Required Equipment: We used snow shoes the whole way; absolutely essential, especially in the scrubeenie patches loaded with spruce traps. All manner of wind and face protection.
Comments:Same crew as yesterday's failed attempt on Crockers, but with a happier result. We were the beneficiaries of a magnificent day, with high wind from time to time, but tolerable. Got some help from a fellow in orange jacket/Campognolo tights (thanks for taking our picture), and saw one downhill skier who had ventured over to ski the "snowfields" - the only humans we encountered all day above lift served territory. Hope to put up longer trip report with pictures in next few days. BTW, Roy Boy and Jeff - you are going to have to go back to get the real Saddleback summit, the one we couldn't see in the snow/fog/high winds last year. Heh, heh.... Winter summits No. 56 and 57 for Spaderman and moi.....Maine has been very tough for us, as we now have 4 peaks in 3 different expeditions. Keep on keepin' on......
