Haystack and Basin
Completed High Peaks 42 and 43 with a long and difficult hike to Haystack and Basin on 8/15. Got an early start with a 2:25AM wake-up and started hiking at 5:35 under headlamp power. I was out there so long that I was back under headlamp for the last couple of miles. Lots of hikers around today. This hike covered 19.62 miles and 5,135 feet of elevation gain. This is apparently at the upper limit of my abilities. I had to rest a lot on the way out. I dropped my pack at the Haystack junction and at the Shorey Shortcut and went to the peaks with just a summit pack. This helped a lot with the climb over Little Haystack.
Haystack is my new favorite High Peaks view. Tough to get to, but well worth it. The trail was in great shape. One of those rare dry feet days. The only blemish was the aggressive biting flies on the Basin summit. Only Marcy, Skylight and Gray left to become a 46er!
Great pictures and great hike! Cheers to the final three!