Flipsbliss
New member
Many thanks and my sincere appreciation to all my fellow hikers who have helped and encouraged me. Saturday (3/5) was a great day to finish the Winter 46 with help from many old and new friends.
Six of us (Dawn Hamilton, Barb Blum, Pete Hogan, Fred Bloom, Tom Rankin and myself) reserved Grace Camp last December for this weekend, with the original plan to bag some winter high peaks on our list. As it turned out, my goal to finish this year was in reach in a big way, namely Haystack, Basin & Saddleback. With the recent snowstorm it was garanteed to be no walk in the "Park" and an early start of 6:45AM meant a lot of trailbreaking for the first hikers on the trail. A special thanks to my friend and fellow 115er, Tom Rankin for joining me on the entire hike and doing a good part of the trailbreakiing. Thanks Tom.
The day started out with blue sky's and calm until we reached Little Haystack where the wind reminded us of where we were. The summits of both Haystacks were artic conditions with a sustained wind of at least 50mph+ and who knows what temperture with the windchill factor. We summited Haystack, #44, at 10:30AM in high winds and then headed for Basin. We met Mark and Kelly from the Utica area and VFTT between the "Stacks" who appreciated our trail work and whom we would team up with later in the day. We continued down to the Shorey Short Cut breaking 2 to 4 ft. drifts. A big Thank You to Don Berens and 2 companions from Alb. Chp. ADK for breaking the trail via Shorey Shortcut to the top of Basin and a nice welcome and early congrats at the summit for #45. The view of Haystack and Marcy were spectacular in the clear blue sky and we could see hikers on Haystack that turned out to be Dawn, Fred, Pete and Barb summiting in the high winds. Also the Alb. Chap. group of 6 led by Skip Young summited Haystack. Congratulations to Laurie S. for finishing her W46 as well.
One to go! Our hopes for a nice broken trail to Saddleback faded as we plunged into about 2 foot of fresh snow at the summit of Basin and met a treacherous descent down icy rocks and snowdrifts. We continued over the bump and the Saddleback "wallface" came into view in the bright afternoon sunlight. The last hurtle stood before us, thoughts of finishing and getting down to a warm Grace Camp for dinner and wine seemed like a great idea. We soon found ourselves searching for trail markers, bushwhacking and trailbreaking our way toward Saddleback. Then a voice from behind us said, "Can we break trail for you guys for a while, you've been breaking for us all day." Mark and Kelly caught up to us at just the right time. The four of us continued together making our way to the cliffs and up the best route we could find. Our final ascent was up a crack (not recommended) that we had to help each other climb up the final cliff before reaching the summit for the final, #46 at 2:27PM. Thank You Tom, Mark and Kelly!!!
Our descent from Saddleback to the Camp was on a well broken trail thanks to two other new friends from Canada, Jean and Nat. Wish we could have seen you to thank you personally but know that your work is appreciated as well, Thanks.
Other's who I would like to thank and who have helped me along the way include, Tom McGuire, Skip Young, John Swanson, Nan Giblin, Don Berens, Steve Siegard, Claudia Warren and Dorine Peregrin.
Special Thanks to my hiking companions for a great weekend and many years of fun, Barb Blum, Dawn Hamilton, Tom Rankin, Fred Bloom and Pete Hogan. May we have many years of great hikes and continued enjoyment ahead of us.
Finally, a hiking companion who has put up with me at home and accompanied me through the Catskill 35 summer and winter, NE115, and Winter46, my wife Bonnie Prushnok. I appreciate all your hardwork, support and encouragement. Love you.
And A Great Big Thanks To All!!!
Happy Trails
Phil Seward
Six of us (Dawn Hamilton, Barb Blum, Pete Hogan, Fred Bloom, Tom Rankin and myself) reserved Grace Camp last December for this weekend, with the original plan to bag some winter high peaks on our list. As it turned out, my goal to finish this year was in reach in a big way, namely Haystack, Basin & Saddleback. With the recent snowstorm it was garanteed to be no walk in the "Park" and an early start of 6:45AM meant a lot of trailbreaking for the first hikers on the trail. A special thanks to my friend and fellow 115er, Tom Rankin for joining me on the entire hike and doing a good part of the trailbreakiing. Thanks Tom.
The day started out with blue sky's and calm until we reached Little Haystack where the wind reminded us of where we were. The summits of both Haystacks were artic conditions with a sustained wind of at least 50mph+ and who knows what temperture with the windchill factor. We summited Haystack, #44, at 10:30AM in high winds and then headed for Basin. We met Mark and Kelly from the Utica area and VFTT between the "Stacks" who appreciated our trail work and whom we would team up with later in the day. We continued down to the Shorey Short Cut breaking 2 to 4 ft. drifts. A big Thank You to Don Berens and 2 companions from Alb. Chp. ADK for breaking the trail via Shorey Shortcut to the top of Basin and a nice welcome and early congrats at the summit for #45. The view of Haystack and Marcy were spectacular in the clear blue sky and we could see hikers on Haystack that turned out to be Dawn, Fred, Pete and Barb summiting in the high winds. Also the Alb. Chap. group of 6 led by Skip Young summited Haystack. Congratulations to Laurie S. for finishing her W46 as well.
One to go! Our hopes for a nice broken trail to Saddleback faded as we plunged into about 2 foot of fresh snow at the summit of Basin and met a treacherous descent down icy rocks and snowdrifts. We continued over the bump and the Saddleback "wallface" came into view in the bright afternoon sunlight. The last hurtle stood before us, thoughts of finishing and getting down to a warm Grace Camp for dinner and wine seemed like a great idea. We soon found ourselves searching for trail markers, bushwhacking and trailbreaking our way toward Saddleback. Then a voice from behind us said, "Can we break trail for you guys for a while, you've been breaking for us all day." Mark and Kelly caught up to us at just the right time. The four of us continued together making our way to the cliffs and up the best route we could find. Our final ascent was up a crack (not recommended) that we had to help each other climb up the final cliff before reaching the summit for the final, #46 at 2:27PM. Thank You Tom, Mark and Kelly!!!
Our descent from Saddleback to the Camp was on a well broken trail thanks to two other new friends from Canada, Jean and Nat. Wish we could have seen you to thank you personally but know that your work is appreciated as well, Thanks.
Other's who I would like to thank and who have helped me along the way include, Tom McGuire, Skip Young, John Swanson, Nan Giblin, Don Berens, Steve Siegard, Claudia Warren and Dorine Peregrin.
Special Thanks to my hiking companions for a great weekend and many years of fun, Barb Blum, Dawn Hamilton, Tom Rankin, Fred Bloom and Pete Hogan. May we have many years of great hikes and continued enjoyment ahead of us.
Finally, a hiking companion who has put up with me at home and accompanied me through the Catskill 35 summer and winter, NE115, and Winter46, my wife Bonnie Prushnok. I appreciate all your hardwork, support and encouragement. Love you.
And A Great Big Thanks To All!!!
Happy Trails
Phil Seward
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