Didn't Find The Needle...But Found The Dime!

Basin from Haystack














WARNING: This spot looks confusing because of the logs. We crossed the brook then crossed it again. The real trail is if you go straight instead of across it.

Slant Rock

Marcy and Panther Gorge from Haystack

Dad, Minni and I at the top of Haystack

A wierd plant that looks like a vase with flowers almost at the top of Haystack

Haystack and Little Haystack from "Haystack Bump"

Johns Brook Lodge

Minni pointing us in the right direction

On Friday we hiked Haystack! It was definitely one to do again. We started from the garden with weight on our shoulders. It was my third backpacking adventure. We hiked past the Johns Brook Lodge (JBL) and continued onto Bushnell Falls where the first option to camp out was. We were aiming for Slant Rock but our plans didn't work out when my shoulders were screaming. So we dropped our packs and headed for Haystack. We hiked up the gorge and were tired but had to keep on going...There was only a mile left!!! We reached the top of "Haystack Bump." A mound of rocks that was before Little Haystack and Haystack. Then went on to Little Haystack where we had .3 miles left. Well that was the longest three tenths I've ever taken. Those three tenths took ONE HOUR! But it was worth it! :) At the top of Haystack it was B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L!!!! You have a great view of Panther Gorge which was a gorge on the side of Marcy and good views of Marcy too. The hike down was quick I was telling my dad about the books I am reading. It felt like the hike down took a half hour! When I start rambling I guess I really ramble! The campsite we had was not as great as the one at Colvin and Blake but it was nice. The hike out was a long 5.3 miles but we were done by lunch and before Irene hit. The bridge to the Garden was wiped out so we would have been stranded! But luckily we were on the safe side.
-ADK Gurl

First Peak Under 4,000 Feet

Gill Brook

Hiking down the private road to the trail

The trailhead Minni is getting a piggy back ride as always (you can see him on the right side of the picture in my pack)

The Santanonis

Nippletop

Giant

Top of Covin

Top of Blake

Blake Peak

The Ausable Club House

We climbed Blake and Colvin on Thursday and Friday Blake is our first High Peak under 4,000 ft. We were going to aim for Nippletop too but it rained and destroyed our spirts to do that climb. We went to the Ausable Road trail head and hiked the 3 miles of private road that your not aloud to drive on unless you are a club member. Once we got to the first trail to hike up to Colvin and Blake my Dad asked me if I wanted to stay on the road and get on a different trail farther up or take a trail that got us off the road faster. I voted to stay on the road a while longer. When we got to the second trail it had a steep section and crossed a brook once. When we met up with the other trail there were three campsites. One on the left that we saw first, and two more on the right. The first campsite we saw on the right was popular we saw someone had set up came the Wednesday before and the Thursday we hiked. The last campsite was at least .1 miles farther up and it was a steep climb to do with a heavy pack. We chose for the site on the left. You had to cross two brooks to get to the campsite and when you looked around you discovered you were on an island. I had a bunch of Gatorade at the campsite so I booked up the trail to Colvin from all the energy it gave me. My balance was great and I was quick thinking. When we got to the top of Colvin we stopped for lunch and took a nice long break. Then went over to go hike Blake. It was a hard mile and a half of steep downhill and steep uphill. It was a pain. When we were hiking back to our campsite it was POARING DOWN RAIN!!! So much for the great weather that the weather man had predicted. The next day we hiked out the other trail. The one we didn't take going in. It was a very nice trail and very pretty.
-ADK Gurl

Macintyre Range....DONE!!!!!

Dad and I at the top of Marshall

The Upper Works trail head.

A suspension Bridge that was really fun to run across :)

The Pi bridge right after the Pi Bridge on the left is the carne that marks the start of the herd path.

Iroquois from Marshall

Henderson monument who accidently killed himself in that spot.

We completed the Macintyre Range which is Wright, Algonquin, Iroquois and Marshall which has been recently completed by yours truly. We got up at 5:00 am. We got to the trail head around 6:30 and started on the Upper Works trail. It was a 4 1/2 mile hike of flatness to the herd path for Marshall. When we got to the herd path there was a cairn that marked the start. It was a 2 mile hike up to the summit and it was steep, muddy, and wet I can just remember the contour lines.If you are to ever hike Marshall 3,500 feet in elevation is the worst it felt like we were stuck there it was so steep and muddy. We got to the summit around 1:30 where we had lunch. At the top you wonder if you really are there because there is no views. There is a yellow marker in a tree that has Marshall faded away on it. We got to the back to our car around 8:00.
-ADK Gurl