If I had to sum this hike up in one word I would just say... long. I know that in terms of mileage this really wasn't that much longer than other hikes I had done previously, but the trail just seemed to go on forever. 

I started on the trail at 5:00 AM sharp and was fortunate to have claimed the very last spot in the Garden lot. The first three miles to John's Brook Lodge went by very quickly and I was feeling great. I continued on with the grade of the trail increasing slowly but consistently. By the time I reached Slant Rock I felt like I had been going forever and I was still nowhere near the summit. I continued slowly but surely, celebrating each small landmark that I passed because it meant that I was a bit closer to the top. The trail itself was not particularly difficult for most of the hike. The climb got a bit steep after the Range Trail intersection but nothing extreme by ADK standards.

The first big payoff for the day came when I reached the overlook just before Little Haystack. It offered majestic views of Marcy to the west, Basin to the east, and Haystack directly ahead to the south. There is no other mountain in the park where you get such a great view of the peak you are about to climb up. I stopped to enjoy lunch before tackling the rollercoaster of a trail that leads to the final summit. I was very surprised by how technical the climbing on Little Haystack was. Most HaBaSa reports focus on the Saddleback Cliffs, so that left me a bit in the dark when trying to research Haystack. Moving slow and carefully I eventually made my way to the true summit of Haystack. 

The views from Haystack were breathtaking. 360 degree views right in the heart of the High Peaks. For me, the highlight was looking over at Marcy, which I knew I would be finishing my 46 on in just a few months. With Panther Gorge sitting between Haystack and Marcy, there is not a more complete view of Marcy in the whole park. 

After a quick rest I began the long teck back down the mountain. I pulled out my headlight around Slant Rock and had many hours of hiking in the dark to get back to my car. I rested briefly on the porch of JBL then finally made it back to my car at 3:00 AM. This hike was brutal but also very memorable and marks what I consider to be start of my final push toward completing my 46.