Member Trip report

Haystack Mountain

12/24/2018

Trip Report/Photos from BillyB1976

Featured Photo

Haystack Mtn is not a large mountain, but there are good views from the summit.  The elevation is around 1,340 ft.

I had heard there was a Christmas tree at the summit, and I wanted to check it out.  Well, the tree was there on the ground.  I think it was supposed to be decorated last Fri. or Sat. but maybe the weather and/or conditions prevented that?

You can see Katahdin from Haystack, but that wasn't meant to be today.  Lots of clouds and snow flurries.  The temp. was in the low teens, with only a slight breeze at the top.  When I left the house, there was blue sky and sunshine, but it didn't last.  :(

I did not need snowshoes, but I did put my grippers on.  On my way up, I went up the face of the mountain, and took the trail down.

The hike up isn't very long, maybe about 0.2 to 0.3 miles.  The elevation gain is around 340 ft, but you gain it quickly. 

I can get from the bottom to the top in about 8-10 min. if I don't stop.  Today I did stop to take pictures, so it took almost 15 min. to get to the top.

About 430 or so million years ago, Haystack was a volcano!!  It is estimated it may have been an active volcano for around 50,000 years.  This info is in the pictures. 

 

  There are 33 photos in Album (Note: Move mouse pointer over larger pic and click on NEXT for better viewing)

BillyB1976 Posted Dec 24, 2018 at 4:16 PM

I thought the tree in photo 28 was cool. Better than the one in photo 9. LOL

zak Posted Dec 24, 2018 at 3:47 PM

Beautiful place! I like the real Xmas and it's crystalline decoration tree in photo 28 mainly because it's still alive! Long ago, the tradition was to put food for the birds and squirrels in the trees to help them through harder times. A 'we're in this together thing'! Thanks for this Christmas gift :-)

BillyB1976 Posted Dec 24, 2018 at 2:21 PM

Thank you Carl for the comment. Yes, I am way up there, in the "other" Maine. LOL

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