Date Hiked: 11/18/07

Conditions: A bit of everything. From the garden, we took the Range Trail out to the Shorey Short Cut, over Basin, over Saddleback, and down the Ore Bed Trail. The trail was bare-bootable from the garden to roughly the end of the shortcut. Snowshoes needed for going up and down Basin. Ice axe needed for the Saddleback cliff (and it came in handy in other places). Ore Bed trail bare bootable. In general water crossings were tricky or impossible without a bridge (always take the highwater route if there is one). Crampons would be very handy as there are many very steep and tricky pitches of ice (there were even more pitches going down than up so if you attempt the reverse route they will definitely get lots of use).

Special Required Equipment: All necessary: poles, snowshoes, ice axe, crampons.

Comments: The skeptic and I knew this trek would not be easy, and it certainly delivered. The going was easy until we began the ascent of Basin, there were several very steep, long, and ice covered sections that required extra attention, as well as the the snow became deep enough for snowshoes. Once on top the views were spectacular as there were blue skies and no wind. Decent to the Basin/Saddleback col was very icey. The ascent of the Saddleback clif was very challenging (although we are not sure if we followed the actual trail up the cliff). As a side note: we ran into juggernaut known as Pin Pin going up Basin, and as far as we could tell, he seem to have levitated up the cliff. Once up the cliff, conditions were good to the summit. Lots of ice going down Saddleback. Attempts at crossing various rivers were met with various levels of success, some wetter than others. Overall a strenious but satisfying day. In 7:10, Basin 12:30, Saddleback 3:00, out 7:03. ~16 mi.

Submitted by: Zarathustra