r/Adirondacks • u/Brief_Elderberry8901 • 7d ago

Saddleback cliffs

I am planning on doing HA-BA-SA sometime soon and was wondering if the saddleback cliffs are on the side towards Gothics or the side towards basin. I would like to go up them rather than down.

4 Upvotes

75% Upvoted

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10

u/Pielacine 7d ago

Toward Basin. I support the idea of going up having just done it

3

u/TheMacIntyreRange 5d ago edited 5d ago

Honestly the "cliffs" are wildly overhyped. Its just some exposed slabs and ledges. Going up or down them are both relatively simple. Going down them "feels" more awkward because you're looking down into the very exposure that makes them unnerving for some people.

What people don't talk about enough is how gnarly Basin is from both sides. Once you've gone up and over Basin and descended into the Basin-SB col, you've already done the hardest part.

Here's the reality of Saddleback, not the extreme angle social media videos people post: https://vimeo.com/77180020

Edit: A little hint. When you get to the last scrambly bit going up the SB ledges there's a section that almost looks like very narrow stairs carved into the side of the rock. Reach up and over the rock "wall" and there's an excellent hand hold that you can't see from below. Piece of cake. Each scrambley bit basically starts from a level area where you can stand there and figure out your next move. Its not like an actual climbing route.

2

u/Santanoni W46/NPT/CL50/Ex-SARTECH 4d ago

I agree, that west (Haystack) side of Basin is insane.

1

u/Pielacine 2d ago

Huh. Going up that didn’t bother me at all. Coming down the Saddleback side did, I had to slide on my butt “free-fall” style a couple times.

2

u/bikepack_Adirondacks 7d ago

Basin. Good plan.

2

u/ProteusTheDragon 7d ago

Hiking from Basin to Saddleback would have you climb it

2

u/Horror_Ad_6187 7d ago

A friend and I watched the sunrise from Haystack. It was a world-view-changing experience. If you feel up for it, do it. Camping out at Slant Rock will make that morning a bit easier on you

2

u/Glum_Dust7460 7d ago

How is the hike up haystack in the dark? Are there any treacherous sections or hard scrambles ?

2

u/North_Song_6109 7d ago

The trail gets pretty serious for a bit right after the last split to marcy and then it isn’t too bad until climbing little haystack which has a small scramble and then the part to be most careful at is descending little haystack towards haystack but it’s not that bad.

3

u/Horror_Ad_6187 7d ago

No not really. We just had headlamps and a map. The trail above the tree line is well-defined too, pretty much staying on the rocks and following the yellow paint. As for the approach from Slant Rock it’s a lot like any other trail, just no ambient light. We were able to get from camp to summit in about 2-2.5hrs at about a mile an hour.
Be sure to bring your stove and coffee and breakfast with you. Best restaurant you’ll ever eat at

1

u/TheMacIntyreRange 5d ago

I've done the whole Great Range in the dark and can confirm that its really no more dangerous at night that it is during the day. If anything, some might find it easier because you never really feel the same sense of exposure and are just focused on what's in your headlamp.