Saddleback/Basin - What is the best approach?

[Doc McPeak]

As of last summer the route appears to be similar to your trips, including the "do not angle away from the direct to col" route. This trip may have me going up with a backpack so I hope to keep all unnecesary explorations down to a minimum. Anyways, have fun on the Upper Range!

 

[masshysteria]

As Tim has stated, the distance from the top of the "wrong way" slide to the Range trail wasn't too far. I think it only took about 10 minutes to reach it. The view of the Saddleback cliffs from the top of WWslide was pretty impressive, certainly an angle that you can't get from anywhere else. Check out the pics on Tim's site.

I was under the impression that the route up Basin Brook brings one to the false summit to the west of Basin, and the area between the two is thick and cliffy. The winter climbers would know more than I about that.

 

[Doc McPeak]

I was under the impression that the route up Basin Brook brings one to the false summit to the west of Basin........

Only if you hang a hard ralphie...

 

[ADK Rick]

Sounds Intriguing!

This route sounds really cool...does anyone have it sketched out on a topo?

ADK Rick

 

[slamdog]

I did the Haystack, Basin and Saddleback loop last Thursday. I spoke for a while with one of the old caretakers at JBL. Conscensus was to go out towards slant rock and return via the Ore Bed trail. I just added the Haystack portion to it. I did meet hikers coming from the opposite direction while I was ascending Basin and they shared horror stories of making it up some of the more difficult areas (and these were young bucks). That loop took 10 hours with lots of stops and water refills! All in all, the trails are in great shape. Hope this helps. slamdog

 

[Tom Rankin]

I did the Haystack, Basin and Saddleback loop last Thursday. I spoke for a while with one of the old caretakers at JBL. Conscensus was to go out towards slant rock and return via the Ore Bed trail. I just added the Haystack portion to it. I did meet hikers coming from the opposite direction while I was ascending Basin and they shared horror stories of making it up some of the more difficult areas (and these were young bucks). That loop took 10 hours with lots of stops and water refills! All in all, the trails are in great shape. Hope this helps. slamdog

10 hours from the Garden? We did it last winter from JBL in about 9.

If you're going to go all the way thru, you get some steep ups and downs, no matter which way you go, but I would personally prefer the way you mentioned.

 

[slamdog]

Sorry, I was 10 hours from JBL. I had gone to JBL Wednesday night, Hiked Thursday, returned to JBL at 6PM and headed to Garden lot (which was another 80 minutes). slam

 

[ADK Rick]

Chicken Coop Brook Details

Been pondering the different ways to do Basin & Saddleback, and this one keeps whispering in my ear. What further details can anyone provide? Directions after leaving the trail, how much schwacking there is at the top (long pants/sleeves required?), how much extra effort than the traditional loop, route sketched on a topo, etc. Thinking about friday of this week if I can swing it away from work...I have a friend in from Iowa (ha! flatlander!) who would love this trip (actually he is an upstate NY native like me, only recently a flatlander )

Any and all info appreciated!

ADK Rick

 

[masshysteria]

Rick, having gone with Tim up the infamous 'wrong way' slide, it really wasn't too much of a bushwack through the thick stuff. Now if you took the slide that culminates at the end of CC Brook, I'm not sure what the conditions are, but I can't imagine it's too much harder, except that it brings you closer to the cliffs on Saddleback. Whereas the 'WW' slide brings you to the lower summit of Basin.

Long pants are a definite. Also, don't take CC Brook right from where it empties into Johns Brook. There are some trails behind the leanto that follow along the bank, which is kind of steep in the lower reaches. Eventually you can walk in the stream bed. Have fun!