Camels "Bump"(Dix Mountain Wilderness/ Eastern High Peaks Wilderness-Adirondacks)

Finally got out for a real autumn hike, heading up into the Adirondacks to do some off trail exploring in the Dix Mountain/ Eastern High Peaks Wilderness near the Northway.  The goal for the day was to utilize the lightly used West Mill Brook access trail/ road to the west side of the Northway and eventually bushwhack up to a small, 2405 foot rocky knob NE of Camels Hump, dubbed Camels Bump.  It is possible to drive all the way to the gate and state land, but I do not have a high clearance vehicle so I simply parked along Route 9(Elevation 985 feet) and walked the 1.1 miles along the rough road.  The walk was uneventful, although there is one stream crossing, which was a non issue.

Fall conditions were simply perfect on this day, with temperatures close to 60 and a carpet of fallen leaves underfoot.

The access road/trail is in remarkably good condition for not being a maintained trail and basically parallels West Mill Brook for over 3 miles before finally petering out. 

After a 3+ mile walk, the trail is lost somewhere around a large and scenic wetland deep in the valley between Camels "Bump"and the eastern slopes of Macomb Mountain.

A wonderful area to explore, the wetlands provide marvelous views NE to Buck and Bear Mountain's(which are also both great bushwhack peaks).

West facing views towards the dazzling fall colors on Macomb's lower slopes.

After enjoying the wetland views, I headed southeast into the woods, bushwhacking steeply up towards Camels "Bump".  It was mostly easy going through hardwoods down low, but became more mixed, with more scratchy spruce up high.  I was able to find one nice east facing view on my way up into the many peaks of the Hammond Pond Wild Forest.

The woods opened up to several areas of moss covered rock as I neared the summit.

One final, steep push brought me up to the wide open, rocky summit cone of Camels "Bump".  The views were nothing short of spectacular.  This is a look north towards(L-R) Grace, Wyman, Bear and Buck Mountains, with Giant and RPR in the distance beyond.

Incredible views SW, with Sunrise Mountain rising to the right and the Niagara Brook valley below.

A look to the true summit of Camels Hump, just over half a mile away, to the south.

North views towards Macomb and Grace Peak.

Looking directly across the deep valley at Macomb Mountain's east slopes.

At a lower ledge, a view SE towards neighboring Camel Mountain, with more fall foliage all around.

Looking back up towards the open summit of the knob.

After enjoying the views, a steep descent NE through mostly open hardwoods brought me down to the West Mill Brook trail once again.  

Once back on the road, it was an easy hike back to the car.  Covered 8.2 miles round trip and over 1450 feet and didn't see another soul all day on a spectacular fall day.

Map Below.  Blue P=Parked Car      Blue X=Camels "Bump" summit     Red X=Wetland