Set out to take a bite out of the Dix Range on Columbus Day Weekend with my 13 year old daughter. Plan was to hike into Slide Brook and set up hammock camp off trail, hike to Macomb. Then Carson (South Dix), Hough, Think about Grace (East Dix) and finally big momma Dix herself. Descend on Beck Horn Trail and return to camp via Dix trail.
Lucked out and found last spot at Elk Lake Trail head. The sign was up at overflow, but we went by it with intentions of dropping off packs and were extremely happy to find one last spot.
Hike into Slide Brook was uneventful. We backpacked last Columbus Day and I had made some changes to reduce pack weight but there is still more to be shed. The fall colors on trail were amazing. Liz said it looked like a million valentines:
As expected tent area and lean to at Slide Brook were full but off trail camping with hammocks is a bit easier than finding a tent spot:
Started raining as we arrived so we appreciated the large tarp, Hot meal and stash bear keg away from camp. Filled up ample supply of water for the ridge hike. Despite going to sleep early I over slept - dang comfy hammocks!
Macomb Slide was fun. About five other groups on it due to it being holiday weekend.
Off to Carson. Great view of the foliage, and the cloud layer seemed just above our heads.
Opted to skip Grace. Continued on to Hough. After Hough I was looking for the Beckhorn trail. Map seemed to show it plugged right into Beckhorn; compass seemed to indicate I was sitting on top of Beckhorn. There was a cairn but it was next to a cliff - no obvious trail.
. We figured it was in the saddle and pushed on to Dix. Ascending on other side of the saddle at around 3:30pm I decided I would rather back track knowing where I was. So we returned over Hough, caught Lillian Brook Trail and descended on that.
We expected to hike after dark so were not deterred when night fell. Kept on moving until we returned to camp.
My mistake was I thought I was on Beckhorn but it really was just a nub. My CalTopo map may not be as good as ADK's. My NG map showed Beckhorn Trail connect right into Beckhorn on map. Not blaming the maps, sloppy compass work on my part. If we had pushed farther up the Dix spine we would have had it and it would have saved a lot of hiking on another day. But three peaks in a day is a record for us. Hiking at night was new and fun. Third trip with hammocks, 1st time backpacking with them and that was fun - so all in all a really great time.
Lucked out and found last spot at Elk Lake Trail head. The sign was up at overflow, but we went by it with intentions of dropping off packs and were extremely happy to find one last spot.
Hike into Slide Brook was uneventful. We backpacked last Columbus Day and I had made some changes to reduce pack weight but there is still more to be shed. The fall colors on trail were amazing. Liz said it looked like a million valentines:
As expected tent area and lean to at Slide Brook were full but off trail camping with hammocks is a bit easier than finding a tent spot:
Started raining as we arrived so we appreciated the large tarp, Hot meal and stash bear keg away from camp. Filled up ample supply of water for the ridge hike. Despite going to sleep early I over slept - dang comfy hammocks!
Macomb Slide was fun. About five other groups on it due to it being holiday weekend.
Off to Carson. Great view of the foliage, and the cloud layer seemed just above our heads.
Opted to skip Grace. Continued on to Hough. After Hough I was looking for the Beckhorn trail. Map seemed to show it plugged right into Beckhorn; compass seemed to indicate I was sitting on top of Beckhorn. There was a cairn but it was next to a cliff - no obvious trail.
. We figured it was in the saddle and pushed on to Dix. Ascending on other side of the saddle at around 3:30pm I decided I would rather back track knowing where I was. So we returned over Hough, caught Lillian Brook Trail and descended on that.We expected to hike after dark so were not deterred when night fell. Kept on moving until we returned to camp.
My mistake was I thought I was on Beckhorn but it really was just a nub. My CalTopo map may not be as good as ADK's. My NG map showed Beckhorn Trail connect right into Beckhorn on map. Not blaming the maps, sloppy compass work on my part. If we had pushed farther up the Dix spine we would have had it and it would have saved a lot of hiking on another day. But three peaks in a day is a record for us. Hiking at night was new and fun. Third trip with hammocks, 1st time backpacking with them and that was fun - so all in all a really great time.
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