Adirondacks: Honeymoon Bushwhack Revisited, 9/5/24

On the afternoon of our second of two full days in the Adirondacks, Carol and I headed south down NY Route 73 from Keene Valley NY 73 to the unmarked start of a herd path that leads up along the South Fork of the Boquet River into what was formerly called the Dix Mountain Wilderness and is now part of the High Peaks Wilderness. Our objective was a ledgy knob we had visited on our honeymoon in the Adirondacks in 2000. We thought it would be pretty neat to revisit this spot 24 years later. The area east of the Dix Range was burned in a huge 1903 fire. As a result, the area is filled with ledgy bumps offering great views. The woods between the ledges are generally open hardwoods and birch.

Along the way we stopped at beautiful Marcy Field to grab a geocache.  To the south is a nice view of the lower part of the Great Range.

We parked at a pulloff near the bridge over the South Fork of the Boquet and followed the well-beaten herd path into the open woods. The path offered easy grades and good footing.

A happy hiker.

After a mile or so we left the path and headed up the slope through birch and hardwoods.

Emerging on the ledges.

Heading for the top.

 

The view here is still magnificent, peering into the wild heart of the Dix Range.

Sharp-peaked Noonmark Mountain and broad Round Mountain rise to the NW.

The two summits of Spotted Mountain and the crest of Grace Peak (East Dix) form a lofty ridge to the SW. Wyman Mountain is on the left. Hough Peak peers over on the right.

Lofty Dix Mountain, scarred by the Beckhorn Slide, encloses its wide eastern cirque.

We spent a long time here lounging in the sun, just as we did back in 2000.

A hard place to leave.

On the way back we stopped again at Marcy Field for a picnic supper. Dix Mountain, clawed by its north-facing Finger Slides, dominates the view. The Adirondacks will always be a special place for us.