ALGonquin Bob
Well-known member
The previous weekend, I led an ADK group on hikes up 3 Catskills fire tower peaks. For various reasons, all 3 hikes were walks up old forest roads. The company was good, but the hiking was not too thrilling 
. We saw very little snow, and virtually no water on the mountains; the stream beds were dry! Maybe that’s normal in the well-drained Catskills soils, but it’s not what I’m used to on April 1st (no fooling). I had to get in just one more hike in some snow, so I headed back to the Adirondacks.
As usual, I made last-minute plans and was hiking solo again. I had never hiked Dix via Round Pond. The trail guide said that the trail gains 1600 feet elevation in the first 5.8 miles, and another 1600 feet in just over one mile after reaching the base of Dix , so that cinched it! I decided to head up to Keene Valley. Sunday night was crystal clear, and Monday dawned equally as nice with perfect blue skies. Immediately after stepping off Route 73, I was greeted by ICE ON THE TRAIL! Yes!!! Standing on a patch of snow, I signed the register and continued up the trail as it climbed across the side of the hill paralleling the highway. In short time, the trail descended through a large stand of white birch, and I received my first view of Round Pond. The brilliant sun glistened off a thin layer of ice. The bright white birches completely surrounded the pond, and were reflected in a ring of open water along the shore. Hough Mountain (edit) is visible beyond this beautiful scene, some six or seven miles distant. I lingered to “make” some photographs.
Leaving the pond, I climbed the stone staircase as the trail circled around the north shore and took me through the open forest. White patches of snow dotted the ground as I continued on my walk through the woods. Mild temps, blue sky, sunshine, singing birds, solo hiking in the wilderness… There is a country song that I like (no, really) that includes the lyrics, “It’s a great day to be alive… why can’t every day be just this good?”. It was that kind of day.
At 2.3 miles, I reached a junction just after stepping over a stream (WATER!). Continuing straight or turning right would have led me up, or over the shoulder of Noonmark; I turned left toward Dix. More ice on the trail. Although the trail had intermittent snow and ice patches, no snowshoes, crampons, or other traction aids were needed. The North Branch of the Bouquet River is a beautiful gravel-bottomed stream as it passes through this section. I passed a large beaver dam holding back a small pond, and then an incredibly wonderful view opened up. As the trail passed by a bend in the river, there over the tops of the evergreen trees was Dix in all its glory, white slides shining in the sun. I have to say that was one of the most lovely “down-low” views I’ve ever had - a beautiful river bend as a foreground for the perfect trees that lead you into a spectacular view of one of the Great High Peaks.
Finally, at just over 4 miles, I reached the Bouquet River lean-to on the banks of the river. I took a break and left some of my gear there for my overnight stay, and started on the last leg of my trip. I made my way over the sometimes slippery trail, enjoying the views of Giant, Noonmark, and Dix through the leafless trees. I soon reached the base of Dix and the slides, where I donned my crampons for the first time (my snowshoes would have a ride on my back all day).
I had been following footprints, and since the tracks went straight up the right slide, I went up the slide as well. It’s steep but fun. It reminded me a little of my hike up Marcy last April as Neil, Sylvie and I walked up the steep slope just below the summit. But this time I was on a relatively narrow slide, and I was alone. I was careful not to mis-step and get an express ride back to the bottom. As I climbed higher on the slide (just 4-6 inches of granular snow remained) wonderful views unfolded, and Noonmark, which dominated the sky as I hiked through the forest, quickly became just a rocky knoll far below me. Reaching the top of the slide, the tracks led me though the trees as I bushwhacked up to the blue trail on the ridge. Soon I was on the trail and headed to the top. As I negotiated the trail toward the summit, the antici………pation was building. The clear skies held, as the weather was better than the forecast for a change. A few clouds were on the horizon, but did not obscure the view of Lake Champlain and Vermont’s Green Mountains beyond. Elk Lake and it’s icy cover was clearly visible, as were the other peaks of the Dix Range. Nippletop and it’s curious “ramp” was the foreground for the Great Range. Whiteface sparkled on the northern horizon.
After about 40 minutes of eating, lounging and image-making, I reluctantly began my descent from this glorious mountain. I decided to follow the blue trail back down, and was able to enjoy some fine-quality seated glissades (OK, BUTT SLIDES!). Two hours later I was back at the LT and settling in for the night. The doorless outhouse was an improvement over the outhouse that we saw on the way up to Hunter last week - that one had a door and a roof, but no walls!
The gentle sounds of the nearby Bouquet River lulled me to sleep (at 8 O’Clock!). After a good night and much sleep, I was once again on the trail and headed out. Tuesday morning was nice, but cloudy compared to my incredible solo summit day on Dix. You just can’t beat good timing and good luck for a really good hike. What a “great day to be alive“!
. We saw very little snow, and virtually no water on the mountains; the stream beds were dry! Maybe that’s normal in the well-drained Catskills soils, but it’s not what I’m used to on April 1st (no fooling). I had to get in just one more hike in some snow, so I headed back to the Adirondacks. As usual, I made last-minute plans and was hiking solo again. I had never hiked Dix via Round Pond. The trail guide said that the trail gains 1600 feet elevation in the first 5.8 miles, and another 1600 feet in just over one mile after reaching the base of Dix
, so that cinched it! I decided to head up to Keene Valley. Sunday night was crystal clear, and Monday dawned equally as nice with perfect blue skies. Immediately after stepping off Route 73, I was greeted by ICE ON THE TRAIL! Yes!!! Standing on a patch of snow, I signed the register and continued up the trail as it climbed across the side of the hill paralleling the highway. In short time, the trail descended through a large stand of white birch, and I received my first view of Round Pond. The brilliant sun glistened off a thin layer of ice. The bright white birches completely surrounded the pond, and were reflected in a ring of open water along the shore. Hough Mountain (edit) is visible beyond this beautiful scene, some six or seven miles distant. I lingered to “make” some photographs. Leaving the pond, I climbed the stone staircase as the trail circled around the north shore and took me through the open forest. White patches of snow dotted the ground as I continued on my walk through the woods. Mild temps, blue sky, sunshine, singing birds, solo hiking in the wilderness… There is a country song that I like (no, really) that includes the lyrics, “It’s a great day to be alive… why can’t every day be just this good?”. It was that kind of day.
At 2.3 miles, I reached a junction just after stepping over a stream (WATER!). Continuing straight or turning right would have led me up, or over the shoulder of Noonmark; I turned left toward Dix. More ice on the trail. Although the trail had intermittent snow and ice patches, no snowshoes, crampons, or other traction aids were needed. The North Branch of the Bouquet River is a beautiful gravel-bottomed stream as it passes through this section. I passed a large beaver dam holding back a small pond, and then an incredibly wonderful view opened up. As the trail passed by a bend in the river, there over the tops of the evergreen trees was Dix in all its glory, white slides shining in the sun. I have to say that was one of the most lovely “down-low” views I’ve ever had - a beautiful river bend as a foreground for the perfect trees that lead you into a spectacular view of one of the Great High Peaks.
Finally, at just over 4 miles, I reached the Bouquet River lean-to on the banks of the river. I took a break and left some of my gear there for my overnight stay, and started on the last leg of my trip. I made my way over the sometimes slippery trail, enjoying the views of Giant, Noonmark, and Dix through the leafless trees. I soon reached the base of Dix and the slides, where I donned my crampons for the first time (my snowshoes would have a ride on my back all day).
I had been following footprints, and since the tracks went straight up the right slide, I went up the slide as well. It’s steep but fun. It reminded me a little of my hike up Marcy last April as Neil, Sylvie and I walked up the steep slope just below the summit. But this time I was on a relatively narrow slide, and I was alone. I was careful not to mis-step and get an express ride back to the bottom. As I climbed higher on the slide (just 4-6 inches of granular snow remained) wonderful views unfolded, and Noonmark, which dominated the sky as I hiked through the forest, quickly became just a rocky knoll far below me. Reaching the top of the slide, the tracks led me though the trees as I bushwhacked up to the blue trail on the ridge. Soon I was on the trail and headed to the top. As I negotiated the trail toward the summit, the antici………pation was building. The clear skies held, as the weather was better than the forecast for a change. A few clouds were on the horizon, but did not obscure the view of Lake Champlain and Vermont’s Green Mountains beyond. Elk Lake and it’s icy cover was clearly visible, as were the other peaks of the Dix Range. Nippletop and it’s curious “ramp” was the foreground for the Great Range. Whiteface sparkled on the northern horizon.
After about 40 minutes of eating, lounging and image-making, I reluctantly began my descent from this glorious mountain. I decided to follow the blue trail back down, and was able to enjoy some fine-quality seated glissades (OK, BUTT SLIDES!). Two hours later I was back at the LT and settling in for the night. The doorless outhouse was an improvement over the outhouse that we saw on the way up to Hunter last week - that one had a door and a roof, but no walls!
The gentle sounds of the nearby Bouquet River lulled me to sleep (at 8 O’Clock!). After a good night and much sleep, I was once again on the trail and headed out. Tuesday morning was nice, but cloudy compared to my incredible solo summit day on Dix. You just can’t beat good timing and good luck for a really good hike. What a “great day to be alive“!
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