Trailless Dixes from the Bouquet

[escapee]

Our party of 8 hiked in Saturday afternoon, base-camped in the valley of the South Fork of the Bouquet River, then Sunday followed a good and well-broken route from where the Hough and East Dix branches join the Bouquet, up to the Clark (East Dix) - Grace (South Dix) col. Summit ridge herdpath was well broken. We went as far as Hough. Tracks continued towards Dix. Maybe 2 feet of snow at most around ridge top, half a foot in the valley with many bare spots. Herdpath from Route 73 to the North Fork crossing has some very icy spots on steep sidehill. Put on crampons or good snowshoes (MSR Denali Ascents) at the trailhead.