PA Ridgerunner
Active member
Got an early start from Saratoga, where we had spent the weekend at a jazz festival. Along the way we met BillB at the High Peaks Welcome Center -- upon learning we were headed for Basin, he said, "big hunk of rock!" He wasn't kidding! 
We left the Garden at about 7, making good time to JBL, where all the late risers there were making preparations for their hikes. The trail to Slant Rock and up over Shorey Shortcut was muddy, as expected, but nothing like last July when rain chased us off Haystack and prevented our ascent of Basin. The "shortcut" is long, with lots of steeps, but also plenty of fun stuff like this.
In no time we found ourselves at the Range Trail junction and began the fun, and sometimes precarious, climb of Basin, which included lots of scrambling and one big ladder.
We arrived at the summit and were treated to spectacular views in all directions. Here's a view of Gothics from the summit, followed by a unique perspective from the ledge down off the north face.
We were also entertained by a group of middle school boys who were being led by a couple young women, who referred to them as dirty boys. That may or may not have referred to more than them getting mud all over their food.
The hike back out over Shorey Shortcut was long, as you would expect, but we really enjoyed cooling our feet in the very cold water of Johns Brook. Seemed to take forever to get back to the Garden, where we were lucky to see a doe and fawn just before leaving the woods.
More pictures here.
We left the Garden at about 7, making good time to JBL, where all the late risers there were making preparations for their hikes. The trail to Slant Rock and up over Shorey Shortcut was muddy, as expected, but nothing like last July when rain chased us off Haystack and prevented our ascent of Basin. The "shortcut" is long, with lots of steeps, but also plenty of fun stuff like this.
In no time
we found ourselves at the Range Trail junction and began the fun, and sometimes precarious, climb of Basin, which included lots of scrambling and one big ladder.
We arrived at the summit and were treated to spectacular views in all directions. Here's a view of Gothics from the summit, followed by a unique perspective from the ledge down off the north face.
We were also entertained by a group of middle school boys who were being led by a couple young women, who referred to them as dirty boys. That may or may not have referred to more than them getting mud all over their food.
The hike back out over Shorey Shortcut was long, as you would expect, but we really enjoyed cooling our feet in the very cold water of Johns Brook. Seemed to take forever to get back to the Garden, where we were lucky to see a doe and fawn just before leaving the woods.
More pictures here.
