Discussion of various Hiking, Camping & Backpacking tips / topics. I guess it’s kind of like a low budget Backpacking Podcast using viewer mail and comments to pick the talking points. Or something like that.
Haunted by the need to Camp in an Abandoned Place, Mike and I decide do a Backpacking Trip to the Abandoned Lyndonville Radar Station in the Remote Woods of northern Vermont.
Lyndonville AFS, also known as the North Concord Air Force Station, was a cold war era radar base that functioned as a ground control intercept and warning station from 1956 to 1963. Built as a defensive measure against the ever growing threat of a Soviet nuclear attack, it’s mission was to provide the Strategic air Command with 24/7 data on aircraft approaching the eastern US. Roughly 25 miles from the Canadian border, near the town of East Haven, Vermont, it’s location was chosen due to it’s far northeast orientation, under the assumption that this would be a likely attack vector for soviet nuclear bombers attacking major metropolitan areas on the east cost, including the US capitol itself.
Today the base sits abandoned on the remote ridge of East Mountain, with all of it’s radar towers still standing as a reminder of the post WWII escalation that almost brought the world to it’s end. On the upside, the views are fantastic.
Join Sara and I for 3 days of Hiking & Hammock Camping on a Backpacking Trip in the Adirondack’s Dix Mountain Wilderness.
For this backpacking adventure, I’ll be breaking the hiking trip into two parts. Hiking the Dix Range Part 2 is comprised of mostly hiking and summits, as we ascend from camp up onto the Dix Range to hit the Beck-Horn (a subsidiary peak of Dix Mountain) and the summit of Dix Mountain itself.
The previous Dix Range Part 1 covered our hike in to camp, setting up our base camp with our two person hammock camping system, and some campfire chat while we made a campfire, camp chores, and cook some backpacking food.
Set out from camp and continue north along the nearby Elk Lake to Dix Mountain Trail.
Get some views of Dix Pond along the way.
At the junction, head right (east) to ascend the Dix via Beckhorn Trail.
Tag Beckhorn (a subsidiary peak of Dix Mountain) for some amazing 360 views of New Yorks Adirondack Mountains.
Continue a short bit and tag the official summit of Dix Mountain for another round of views.
Begin a steep and rocky descent via the Hunters Pass Trail.
Rejoin the Elk Lake to Dix Mountain Trail at the junction from earlier
Return to base camp along the Elk Lake to Dix Mountain Trail.
Dix Range Adirondacks Day 2 Elevation Profile – Sintax77
Day 2 Total Mileage: 7 miles Day 2 Gross Elevation Gain: 2,913 feet Day 2 Gross Elevation Loss: 2,913 feet
Trails Used Day 3 (hike out)
Break camp along the Elk Lake Trail, after the Lillian Brook LT and just before the large bridge crossing Lillian Brook. As of 9/14/17, this site had a yellow “Camp Here” disc, designating it a fully legal spot, despite it’s proximity to a small stream nearby. The stream is probably a convenient water source when flowing good, but we opted to get our water a 100 meters or so down the trail by the Lilian Brook bridge.
Head south on the Elk Lake to Dix Mountain Trail
Pass the Slide Brook Lean-to . The Slide Brook LT and camping area makes for a popular base camp for hikers hitting the Dix Range. We chose to push on a bit (under 2 miles) to the lesser used Lillian Brook lean-to area, which as some nice, legal campsites that are a bit more secluded.
Return to the Elk Lake Trailhead Parking Lot. This is a decent sized lot along a gravel road on the way to the Elk Lake Lodge. If the lot is full, you may park for free at the Elk Lake Lodge, a bit further up the road.
Day 3 Total Mileage: 3.6 miles Day 3 Gross Elevation Gain: 354 feet Day 3 Gross Elevation Loss: 559 feet
Full Trip 3 Day Grand Total Mileage: 14.6 miles Full Trip 3 Day Grand Total Elevation Gain: 3,900 feet
Notable Camping / Backpacking Gear Seen on this Video
Join Sara and I for 3 days of Hiking & Hammock Camping on a Backpacking Trip in the Adirondack’s Dix Mountain Wilderness.
For this backpacking adventure, I’ll be breaking the hiking trip into two parts. Part 1 covers our hike in to camp, setting up our base camp with our two person hammock camping system, and some campfire chat while we make a campfire, do camp chores, and cook some backpacking food.
Hiking the Dix Range Part 2 will be comprised of mostly hiking and summits, as we ascend from camp up onto the Dix Range to hit the Beckhorn (a subsidiary peak of Dix Mountain) and the summit of Dix Mountain itself.
Elk Lake Trailhead Parking Lot, 675 Elk Lake Rd, North Hudson, NY 12855
44°01’15.0″N 73°49’40.9″W
Topics discussed and things that happen in this episode
Base camping with a ton of camping gear vs ultralight backpacking.
Finding & legal camping spots in the Adirondacks.
Pros and cons of using a bear canister. These are not legally required in the Dix Mountain Wilderness, but we had one anyway, for reasons discussed in the video.
Hammock camping with our dog, Denali.
Outfitting our Dutchware Chameleon Hammocks with the Double Dutch Bugnet system.
Hammock under quilt attachment using of Chameleon hammock’s underquilt hooks.
A look at the MalloMe Camping Cookware Set for backpacking food preparation.
Building a campfire and cooking some of of favorite backpacking appetizers and dinners.
Sara reviews a flashlight…
Trails Used Day 1
Parked at Elk Lake Trailhead Parking Lot. This is a decent sized lot along a gravel road on the way to the Elk Lake Lodge. If the lot is full, you may park for free at the Elk Lake Lodge, a bit further up the road.
Elk Lake to Dix Mountain Trail
Pass the Slide Brook Lean-to . The Slide Brook LT and camping area makes for a popular base camp for hikers hitting the Dix Range. We chose to push on a bit (under 2 miles) to the lesser used Lillian Brook lean-to area, which as some nice, legal campsites that are a bit more secluded.
Pass the sign for Lillian Brook LT and continue a bit further.
Setup camp along the Elk Lake Trail, after the Lillian Brook LT and just before the large bridge crossing Lillian Brook. As of 9/14/17, this site had a yellow “Camp Here” disc, designating it a fully legal spot, despite it’s proximity to a small stream nearby. The stream is probably a convenient water source when flowing good, but we opted to get our water a 100 meters or so down the trail by the Lilian Brook bridge.
Dix Range Adirondacks Day 1 Elevation Profile – Sintax77
Day 1 Total Mileage: 4 miles Day 1 Gross Elevation Gain: 633 feet Day 1 Gross Elevation Loss: 339 feet
Notable Camping / Backpacking Gear Seen on this Video
– Freeze Dried Dog Treats for Hiking
Coghlan Bear Bell
(don’t trust your dog with the cheap key chain grade ones).
hammock sleeping system
(Mike’s Pack)
USB Rechargeable Headlamp
Bear Canister
in 
