There are three little peaks in what I call the "Bartlett
Haystack Mini-Mountain Range" (See
map below).
Map showing "Bartlett Haystack Mini-Mountain Range (click to enlarge) |
Here is a chronology of my visits to this mini-mountain range:
November 2012:
Visited the main peak which is named
Bartlett Haystack. (Click HERE to read that report).
August 2013:
Visited the unnamed peak at the northern
end of the range. (Click HERE to read that report).
September 2013:
To complete the set, I decided to visit the unnamed middle peak of this range. Yes, it would have been more efficient if I
had visited all three peaks by doing some sort of loop involving a bike or car
spot. However, that's not the way things
unfolded!
For the trek to "middle peak", I parked off to
the side of one of the roadways in the Bartlett Experimental Forest and launched
a bushwhack up the east side of the mountain range. Assurances have been received from a senior
staff member of the Experimental Forest that it is permissible to bushwhack in
this area. The only stipulation is that you
do not disturb any flagging, instruments, or tools that you might come across
along your route.
One unexpected aspect of my
trek to the ledges on "middle peak" was the number of cascades that I
encountered along an unnamed brook. The
water flow was a bit meager, but at times of high water (snow melt, etc), these
might be impressive.
Cascades seen along the way to the ledges on
"middle peak"
|
Cairn at top of "middle peak"
|
Attitash Range with the more distant peaks
in the Moat Range "peeking" over the top
|
Northeasterly vista includes Attitash Range with Kearsarge North in the background |
Southward vista: Mt. Passaconaway
and other peaks at eastern end of Sandwich Range
|
Partially obstructed view looking northward
toward the Presidential Range
|
Very obstructed view of Crawford Notch from
"middle peak"
|
4 comments:
Another good one, John - you are the Bartlett Haystack master!
Steve
Thanks Steve! Being the ‘Bartlett Haystack master’ is a lesser role than being ‘Master of the Universe’, but someone has to do it! :-)
John
John, I have enjoyed the photos and descriptions of your adventures exploring scenic Bartlett Haystack. I first climbed the peak in 1975 and again in 1986 as a winter trip. My wife Diane & I returned to the peak (on a geocache quest) yesterday, 9/21/2013, - 38 years after my first ascent. Not a difficult bushwhack but certainly a very rewarding one. With autumn here and the bugs pretty much gone, I am motivated by your descriptions to explore some of the areas you have talked about. Thank you!
Tom Sawyer
@Tom Sawyer: I’m truly grateful for your comments. It is so uplifting to learn that my blog reports have motivated you to go out and explore some of the areas I’ve written about in my blogs.
Thank you for taking time to share your thoughts and hiking experiences.
John
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