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| Elk Lake from Macomb Mountain Summit |
I have never been in any rush to complete all 46 of the ADK high peaks. I've done ones that I like more than once. I spend lots of time on lower-elevation, but equally-rewarding, lower summits. And I consciously choose to avoid a 46er hike if my free day for hiking happens to fall on a day when I know there will be too much pressure. I've also shied away from doing too many hikes that tackle a whole bunch of peaks in one trip and always do them as single day, not overnight jaunts. You don't win the prize for fastest-to-46er that way.
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| First Glimpse of Hough from Lillian Brook Trail |
In 2024, I didn't do a single ADK 46er in the entire calendar year since I spent more hiking time in the White Mountains. For this reason, I decided that I would make up for a big goose egg in 24 by breaking from tradition and doing a single day, multi-peak hike in 25. The Dix Range gives you that option, and on a hot and humid late-July weekday, I planned to do Hough, South Dix, Grace Peak, and Macomb Mountain, in that order, from Elk Lake.
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| The Beckhorn from Hough Peak |
This isn't the traditional way to hit these peaks. Most people tend to go up the west side of Macomb Mountain via the Macomb Slide first, then along the ridge to South Dix and Grace, followed by a backtrack to Hough (and maybe then on to the Beckhorn and Dix). I wanted to avoid the summer crowds so pieced together my own route using the Lillian Brook Trail to access the high elevation and hitting Hough first. This, I reasoned, would also allow me to take my full pack all the way to the Lillian Brook Cut-off, where I could stow it in favor of a lighter summit bag to hit the four peaks, and then, after an out-and-back to Macomb, loop down and back to my pack via the Lillian Brook Cut-off Trail.
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| View to the West from Gracie to South Dix and Macomb Mountain |
The plan was solid and worked a treat, but the conditions made for a much longer and more grueling journey than I had anticipated. First, the trails to these peaks are not official trails, but unmaintained "herd paths." Unmaintained is an understatement. We're talking blow downs galore. It took ages of extra time to clamber over and around the hundreds of tree falls, especially on the disastrous Lillian Brook Cut-off Trail. Secondly, the weather. Near 100% humidity, super warm temps, absolutely no wind even on the high points and the haze of Canada wildfires all contributed equally to an uncomfortable, 10-hour day of soupy slogging over 13+ miles in sweat-soaked clothes.
Nevertheless, the trails were lonely and peaceful, the forests beautiful, and I was pleased to have several of the summits all to myself to admire the amazing views, especially those to the west from the open rocks on Grace Peak and the wide panorama of Elk Lake from Macomb. I'll definitely be back.
Just not in July.
Peaks: Hough Peak, South Dix, Grace Peak and Macomb Mountain
Elevation: 4,400 feet, 4,075 feet, 4,026 feet, 4,383 feet (Gain: 4,032 feet)
Distance: 13.9 miles roundtrip
Route: Lolipop loop with two out-and-backs (Hunter Pass Trail to Lillian Brook Trail to Dix Range Trail to Grace Peak Trail to Dix Range Trail to Lillian Brook Cut-off Trail to Lillian Brook Trail to Hunter Pass Trail)
Conditions: Mostly sunny, humid, hazy, 80 degrees F
Notable Flora/Fauna: White-Throated Sparrow, Black and White Warbler
