Saddleback on Memorial Day?

[Double Bow]

I'm trying to finalize some plans for the end of the month and I'm wondering what conditions might be like on Saddleback in a few weeks. Has anyone been up there recently? How's the AT? How much snow is left?

I wouldn't normally care about the amount of blowdowns and snow, but Shamie will be with me and if there is still going to be a lot of snow left, I'll need to make other plans...

 

[lx93]

Double,

Wayyyyyyyyyy back in March, I did Saddleback/The Horn.

Back then, obviously, things were different, but even back then, the AT was so well tracked-out that I highly doubt there'll be enough snow for you to need snowshoes. If you go up via the ski area, not only will you cut out a lot of mileage, you'll eliminate the possibility of any blowdowns, at least of any insurmountable size.

The only difficult part is in finding the road to the ski lodge- there's no sign for the lodge out on the road! There is a road sign, and you can use the lake on the other side of the road as a reference point. I'd give names to these landmarks, but all my maps are literally 1000's of miles away from me.

FYI, just in case you forget some gear, there is an outdoors store about 5 minutes from where you turn off the Maine Hwy to go to the ski lodge, in either Rangeley or Stratton, whichever is closest. It's not REI or EMS, but it had a decent selection.