Recent content by BigAl

I started hiking the high peaks in 2002. Now I'm down to one remaining...Haystack. I plan to hike it Saturday, 9/17, with two of my boys, the other 45 were hiked alone. We'll be leaving the Loj around 6:00 AM, so should be celebrating with a glass of wine late morning. I hope the weather's...

Normally, I'm opposed to more governmental regulations, but I think this may be a good one. I hunt a lot...specifically, bow hunt for deer. I've seen on many occassions that their sense of smell is absolutely amazing, and my understanding is that a bear is even better. That being the case...

rhihn...yes, I'm very aware of the "fleeting" views! My time is very flexible (retired this past spring), but my sons' will not be. I'm currently sitting at 39 peaks...next summer, after bug season, I'll hike the 5 Dixes and Sawteeth, leaving Haystack as my last. About all I'll be able to do is...

Yes, I can also speak highly of EMS. I bought a pair of trek poles from them in the summer of 2002. I've broken them three times since then...not because of defects, but due to my "stressing" them. They've repaired them every time. Due to this, when I need new equipment, I go there first.

I started on Marcy, like many others, in 2002 and will finish on Haystack next summer with two of my boys. I want to finish on Haystack because I want them to see the great views. Besides, it'll be their first and who knows where they'll go from there!

Now that Frances is out of the way it's time to hit the trails. I'll be parking at the Garden early Monday morning and up over the Brothers to Big Slide, then down to JBL area to set up camp. Tuesday will be Basin and Saddleback; Wednesday...Gothics, Armstrong and the Wolf Jaws. I'll be hiking...

Thanks...that's what I suspected. Plus, it's the reason why I'll rehike MacNaughton next summer, since I stopped at the ledge!! That's fine, I kind of wanted to come down from the Loj, anyhow...hadn't been on that trail yet; I came up through IP from UW. I'll do it with my mini Dachshund...

I hiked MacNaughton the end of July. My coordinates for the ledge coincide with yours. However, I was under the assumption that the "true" summit w/sign was at approximately N44.14082 W74.06666 rather than what you posted. When I put your coordinates into my National Geographic Topo I see that I...

Thanks for the followup.

In a couple weeks, I plan to hike 8 peaks of the Great Range in few days period via camping near JBL and doing day-trips from camp. I was told that it would be possible to leave my food bag inside at JBL, thus foregoing the "hanging from the bears" routine. Is this correct? I am ignorant of the...

I took my miniature Dachshund hiking MacNaughton last week. I had to help her, at times, up and down the rough section of Indian Pass (as I knew I would). Other than that, she was always running ahead, then back, waiting for me to catch up. She never even panted once all day!

I hiked MacNaughton on Thursday, August 5, along with my one-year old Dachsund. She did great...forging ahead then standing looking back at me, not even panting, as if to say, "Hurry up, slowpoke!" As expected, I had to carry her a few times, but she's only ten pounds. It was an absolutely great...

I'm planning a trip for mid-September to hike most of the Great Range (conducive weather permitting). I plan to park at the Garden, hike up the Brothers to Big Slide then down to JBL. There, I'd set up camp and do two additional day hikes to catch Haystack, Basin and Saddleback one day...