Houghing up Hough

“Well after much though Zac and I have decided to go for Hough mtn in the dix range for the pre FYAO trip. I hope this location is ok for everyone else.
As Bobo's trip last weekend shows this is not an easy climb but I think it is going to be possible with some strong hikers and an early start on Saturday.
There is currently snow on the mtns and snowshoes will probably be needed. Fires are allowed in this area and according to Bobo the privies were in good shape, no telling what they are like after that group was there.”

“sounds good to me!!!”

“I will bring my new Kiva, I am dying to try it out, if anyone wants to share, it should be warmer than the leanto.”

“For an attempt on Hough Peak, just consider that it may be more advantageous to hike into Lillian Brook shelter and begin the climb there, rather than Slide Brook shelter. The Lillian brook trail goes up to the col between South Dix and Macomb and that would mean we would bypass Macomb mountain entirely (and Macomb's slide) for the sake of getting a closer bid for Hough. I'm not saying Macomb could not be included in the total climb, but it would certainly add more time and effort.”

“That would be cool to Bobo are you going to attend? It looks on the map to be pretty steep from the head of Lillian brook to the peak.”

“Hey Bobo, I sent you e-mail...”

“Hey Twig wanna come south again?”

“you guys come north - I have room for two over the holiday weekend...”

“This sounds good to me. I'm hoping that Bobo, Pennsy, and or Gremlin show up as I have only been to Slide Brook once, back in the spring of 2000. I don't know exactly where the Lillian Brook herdpath starts, because when I was there my group got lost in the Floyd blowdowns about a half-mile from Slide Brook (long before the path starts) on the marked Dix Trail. The Lillian Brook path was only cleared (illegally I might add) this year.”

“What about heading up Dix via the Beck Horn Trail and then descending off the horn towards Hough, then over S. Dix and down Lillian Brook? This would have more hiking on marked trails, which might make route finding easier.
I haven’t checked to see if this involves more climbing or distance, so I’ll look into this when I get home.”

“It doesn't appear to be much longer than Lillian brook and it would be on marked trails, it would be nice on Dix in the winter.
That would be another possible route. I guess the best bet would be to decided based on snow conditions either in the parking area or once we get to Slide Brook
last edited: 1/02/07 12:09:06 PM”

“I would like to go with you guys as long as you don't get too ambitious and get us on another deathmarch in the dark.

Making Hough the main objective and going after others if daylight and conditions allow for it is good.

Twigeater.................who?”

“Marko, we, at least I promise not to try to kill you. Depending on how we go up we might get a peak before Hough.”

“We were also considering the Beckhorn trail possibility, I'd like to know what the mileage is vs. Lill Brook.

Two hikers ran into Gremlin at the shelter in the evening before we got back, They came from the Beckhorn trail, over Dix, and also could not get to the top of Hough Peak! What a beeeyotch of a Hough!”

“Thanks LT, those motherpussbuckets tried to kee-ull my decrepit arse at ThanxG weekend.”

“Hey LTHiker, EarthNsky...and geez twigeater – how are ya – been a long time – hope all is well w/ you & the family.

LT: I planned to do the whole Dix Range, heading up Slide Brook, during the beautiful weather of last Columbus weekend, and couldn’t get a friggin’ parking spot, and the shuttle service seemed too long and annoying. We ended up hitting peaks in the western Dacks, ‘cause it was mobbed everywhere east.

But I did all the research – hear the slide up Macomb is pretty interesting and relatively easy because it’s solid footing - no scree (albeit not an issue in winter). But in winter Macomb must offer especially nice views south and east . I wouldn’t wanna miss it.

Macomb to South Dix is supposedly a breeze, and heard the col between South Dix and Hough is a very unique place to visit. But then the climb up Hough is a real #&%!$ – very steep and rough footing. I’m guessing deep winter snow should ease-up the rough footing.

Hope you have enough snow – a friend of mine drove down from Montreal yesterday and said the Dacks were really dry.”

“Hey LTHiker, EarthNsky...and geez twigeater – how are ya – been a long time – hope all is well w/ you & the family.

LT: I planned to do the whole Dix Range, heading up Slide Brook, during the beautiful weather of last Columbus weekend, and couldn’t get a friggin’ parking spot, and the shuttle service seemed too long and annoying. We ended up hitting peaks in the western Dacks, ‘cause it was mobbed everywhere east.

But I did all the research – hear the slide up Macomb is pretty interesting and relatively easy because it’s solid footing - no scree (albeit not an issue in winter). But in winter Macomb must offer especially nice views south and east . I wouldn’t wanna miss it.

Macomb to South Dix is supposedly a breeze, and heard the col between South Dix and Hough is a very unique place to visit. But then the climb up Hough is a real #&%!$ – very steep and rough footing. I’m guessing deep winter snow should ease-up the rough footing.

Hope you have enough snow – a friend of mine drove down from Montreal yesterday and said the Dacks were really dry.”

“Sorry for the double post - something's wacky w/ my connection.”

“Hey Wall Man (sorry, mousespray just isn't YOU) what've you been up to!

markO, didn't I just see you about two months ago, hmmmmmm???”

“I reckon is was just about two months ago, Twiggler.

What chew up to..................up north?”

“trying to find people to play in the snow with me - what is it with Maineiacs not liking the cold anyways???”

“I found some Vermonters that way too.”

“There are Upstaters like that too. I don't understand it.”

“Ok I did some research. The Lillian Brook herd path splits about halfway up. One branch goes to the Macomb/S. Dix col and the other goes to the Hough/Pough col where there is a small illegal campsite. Bellow is a list of mileages:
2-miles – Winter Gate to Summer Trailhead
2.3-miles – Summer Trailhead to Slide Brook Lean-to
1.3-miles – Summer Trailhead to Lillian Brook Lean-to
1.8-miles +/- - Lillian Brook Lean-to to Hough/Pough col 1560’ gain
0.4-mile +/- - Hough/Pough col to Hough summit 500’ gain
1.9-miles +/- - Lillian Brook Lean-to to Macomb/S. Dix col 1450’ gain
0.5-mile +/- - Macomb/S. Dix col to Macomb summit 590’ gain
0.3-mile +/- - Macomb/S. Dix col to S. Dix summit 280’ gain
0.5-mile +/- - S. Dix summit to Hough/Pough col 110’ gain 260’ loss
2.8-miles - Lillian Brook Lean-to to Beck Horn 2660’ gain
1.0mile +/- - Beck Horn to Hough summit 370’ gain 810’ loss

My thought is to hike in to the Lillian Brook Lean-to. From there go up the Lillian Brook herd path to the Hough/Pough col and then up Hough. From there we could go back the way we came, go up Dix, or head over and climb S. Dix and/or Macomb.

What does everyone else think?”

“I need to get MaComb, so it would be great to get that one.”

“I need to get 'em all, so any of that is good for me. It looks like after Hough someone could bail out and head back to camp if they wanted to.”

“Hough is tough”

“I would love to see that stuff in winter.”

“Hope no one falls off the mountain, that would be rough.”

“Mother Nature will have the last say in this puppy. If the weather remains calm, there will probably be very little snow left, making all the mentioned options doable. If winter actually arrives and dumps more snow up there requiring snowshoes, it's gonna be a tough go to get Hough, especially if the trail/herdpaths aren't broken. Perhaps doable via the Lillian Brook herdpath-South Dix-Pough (hey Zac, is that hogsback between S Dix and Hough Pough?)-Hough and back route. It would be a shame to not go up the Macomb slide though. We had a blast doing that and the views from the slide are awesome.

I can say that the trail to the Slide Brook lean-to is very sleddable if there is enough snow. The first 1 1/2 miles or so is on the road and then it's 2.3 miles of very gentle rolling trail. Worse case scenario if there is a plethora of snow - hit Macomb slide and have a ball.

Of course you could just change the trip to the Sewards and get the peaks that I need. ;o)”

“My back has been iffy since ThanxG and I have been pounding the stairs for a little re-hab.
Next week I ought to know for sure.

I am planning to be off Friday through Monday, 12-15.

Carpool:
Any of you boneheads(ENS) staying up there until Monday?”

“I have to work Monday.”

“Bonehead!”

“"hey Zac, is that hogsback between S Dix and Hough Pough?"
Pennsy
8:01:15 PM
1/02/07

I'm pretty sure the Hogsback is the ridge between Hough and the Beck Horn on Dix. Pough is the bump between S. Dix and Hough, but it might be possible that it Pough and Hogsback are one and the same.”

“Ya want some black eye peas with that FatBack?”

“If we time it right we could leave some cars at the commuter lot north of Albany(ENS left his car there once). Anything that you guys want to do is fine with me, although it would be nice for me to get Macomb and the slide sounds like alot of fun.

We will just have to see what the snow gods give us. Maybe go up Lillian brook to Hough then over to south Dix then Macomb and then down the slide.”

“My trailguide was calling the hump between South Dix and Hough, the "Hogsback", but we were wondering if the hogsback and Pough were indeed one and the same!

Many options for this trip, weather permitting like Mr. Peensy suggests. The trip could even be broken into two groups - one camped at Slide Brook and doing the slide, the Hough assault team camped up at Lillian Brook, OR we could all camp at one spot, go up the Lillian trail and if time permitted head back over Macomb and down the slide, OR we could incorporate the BEckhorn and Dix, OR we could just do it again from Slide Brook and go TO THE RIGHT of that rockface... eh Pennsy?!?

Anyone have a helicopter?”

“There's a chance I may be able to go.

If so, is anyone interested in carpooling? I'm in north-east Jersey.”

“GreenMonkee - I'm interested in carpooling, I typically go straight up 202N to 287N to 87N. I also like to drive through the night once I get home from work, get packed up and take a snooze. Lemme know if you want to work something out.”

“yo da pope, you want to pool as well? I can meet you Toizzday night by 7pm at your house if ya want.
last edited: 1/05/07 11:00:17 AM”

“Can someone swing by here and pick me up?”

“Sure LT, we'll see if we can swing something.

(ha ha !!)

Where are we meeting?
(no, I'm too lazy to read the whole thread)”

“Yo yo yo - who wants to wide in mah big bwack twuck!!!”

“Me, me...

Bobo, you've got mail.”

“I believe these to be right I copied them from the ADK journel website.

Leave Interstate 87 at Exit 29, turning W off the ramp onto Blue Ridge Road which is NY Route 28. Drive 4 miles then turn R onto Elk Lake Rd., at the sign in the photo above. Follow Elk Lake Road 5.2 miles to the trailhead. It is paved for the first 2 miles, after which it becomes a well-maintained gravel road passing through attractive woodlands. At about 2.7 miles, signs indicate that you are on private land. There is no need to turn back. The state has easements for you to use this private road as well as the parking area at the trailhead.

Parking
The lot appears to have a capacity for about 20 cars. You can park ONLY in this lot since this is private property except for the state's hiking easement. If you park on the road you will very likely be towed. In many trips there, the lot has been full once only.

Private Property
You are on private property even in the parking lot. Do not leave trash or abuse Elk Lake Resort's property.

Trails
The trail departing the parking lot itself, is the RED Dix Trail (ADK #119, McM #59). Two lean-to's are on this trail; the first at Slide Brook at 2.6 miles; the second at Lillian Brook at 3.4 miles from the trailhead. Note that this trail is maintained and is one of three maintained ascents of the Dixes.

Across the road from the trailhead parking lot you will find another trail, the BLUE Elk Lake - Marcy Trail (ADK #118, McM #52). This outstanding trail accesses Panther Gorge, Haystack, Marcy, and the Colvin Range. From this trail there is also an occasionally used true bushwhack of Allen Mtn via Sand Brook.



This actually sounds like a good spot for FYAO.
last edited: 1/06/07 9:10:00 AM”

“Hey there bay-bee
Get into my Big Bwack Twu-uck
I just wanna show ya
How my politics su-uck

Great bass line in that song.........hmmmmm?

I am off Friday through Monday.
Boboski, are you headin' out Thursday night?
I think I can find your house with a little luck this time and not end up at the Rocky Balboa Museum.”

“The road down to the actual parking lot is closed during the winter. The gate is at a Ranger's Station and there is a crude pulloff for about 8 vehicles. It is then about a 1.5-2 mile hike on the road to the big parking lot, where the trailheads are. All the other info in LThiker's post looks to be on the mark.”

“mArKo, you ARE a Dork!

yeah, cool! You wanna meet at my house on Thursday evening? ENS is also meeting us there and we'll be picking up Green Monkee, somewhere in the Netherworld of North Joisey.

Excellent! If now we only had a sign... perhaps a Gremlin post... the stars may be aligning themselves, just right!”

“Hey baby, all we need is a drummer and you can borrow Henry's homemade bass.

>8^]

Come on, Gremlin!!”

“So you guys are all going up Thursday night? Are you going to sleep at the TH?”