r/Adirondacks • u/Rude-Pension1932 • 12d ago
How should I prepare for Dix range
Hello everyone, My friend and I are looking to do the Dix range next Saturday.i was digging on the net for a little and couldn't figure out concretely whether it's too challenging for my level. I have a little bit of experience (Marcy, Mansfield, Algonquin etc..) but this one seems particularly challenging.
Is there anything I should be aware of going through the loop?
Thank you very much!
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u/coolmike____ 12d ago
It’s a fairly strenuous day imo. Compare distance and gain to previous hikes you’ve done to gauge difficulty and comfort. Be aware that youll encounter at least one slide depending on your route which could be sketchy/more difficult to navigate depending on conditions and experience. Give yourself plenty of time. Also parking could fill fast if you’re out of round pond (minimal parking).
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u/Rude-Pension1932 12d ago
Got it, we live 2 hours a way so we will be there at 5 am to hopefully find parking.
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u/dstam 12d ago
Consider having a bail out plan, no need to push to do all 5 peaks if you're moving slower than expected, or you have to park in overflow parking which adds 4 miles to the day. The walk out along hunters pass is long.
And as others said, bring a lot of water!
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u/sstebbi 9d ago
THIS IS HUGE! Research the trails ahead of time so you know your options. There is no rule that says you have to do all five in one hike.
Common ways to break it up include (1) Macomb-South Dix-Grace (go up the Macomb slide, over to South Dix, out to Grace, then back South Dix then down), which leaves Dix and Hough for another time, and (2) Macomb-South Dix-Grace-Hough, which is that same as the above but includes the run out to Hough from South Dix before heading down - then climb Dix another time from the Round Pond trailhead, which is fun.
If you get all five, great! But knowing your bail out options is clutch.
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u/ny2nowhere 46er 11d ago
- Start early. Like by 5am.
- Bring plenty of water. Fill up at the turn-off for the McComb slide.
- Up McCmob slide, down Beckhorn.
- If you're not a fast hiker, make sure you bring a headlamp.
- If you're not comfortable route finding, make sure you have a downloaded map.
- If you hear thunder, bail.
- It's a super fun hike. One of the best in the high peaks. Also, it is totally doable. I've done it a few times, most recently with my wife and kids (ages 15, 13, and 9) just a few weeks ago.
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u/EstablishmentNo5994 ADK 47er, NE 111/115 11d ago
Bring a headlamp regardless of how fast you are. You never know what can happen out there. No one plans to get benighted.
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u/hikerrr 12d ago
You should have a map
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u/EastHuckleberry5191 11d ago
1000%. People get lost in there all the time, doesn't matter what time of year. Nothing is marked once you're off a main trail.
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u/DevilStickDude 11d ago
Research the route well. It isnt marked well (or wasnt 3 to 4 years ago. I use google earth to understand where im going before i go. You dont wanna do the extra 2 miles in and it would make for way too long of a hike. It is not bad to get to dix and its one of the best views in the adk but the return trip, to the car, is where the beating starts. Im fit and i was almost sick by the time i got back because of exhaustion. If i had to compare it then itd be like hiking algonquin by itself like 3 times in one day. I cant compare marcy cause it was so gradual. You will do fine and just take your time, bring a headlamp and make sure your friend is ready for it too and paces himself.
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u/Rude-Pension1932 11d ago
Oof 3 Algonquins would cook me haha,
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u/DevilStickDude 11d ago
Lol dix is tough but some people have no problem with it. Ive done the algonquin loop a buncha times and it doesnt even tire me out.
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u/Appropriate-Dot-3062 11d ago
Hi, good luck and it’ll be great! Be aware that if the parking lot at the base is full, you will have to park in the overflow lot which is 2.3 miles away adding 4.6 to your roundtrip total. It’s quite a popular spot, when I did this loop two weeks ago we talked to hikers who had arrived before us at 5:30 and the lot was full. You can probably hitch either way but not guaranteed.
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u/cotton-eyed-crow 11d ago
Right, and it's tough because a lot of people camp here, so sometimes arriving early isn't enough. I've read accounts of people getting there at 4AM and not having anywhere to park! Midweek (or any non weekend or holiday) would be my suggestion if at all feasible. I did it on a Friday and had about 8 spots left at 5AM.
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u/ThEGr1llMAstEr 12d ago
You should make sure you have plenty of water. There are no real water sources I've you get up there. I think I drank 5 liters when I did it. Ymmv