An "easy" way to do Haystack?

I'm looking for a not-too-difficult way to do Haystack. I am thinking of camping on the Phelps trail just beyond Johns Brook Lodge. Following the Phelps trail out and back, this would mean a return hike of about 10.5 miles and an ascent of about 2800 feet.
How hard would this hike be? How would it compare to, say, hiking Algonquin from the Adirondack Lodge?