Great Slide on E Dix

[Dunbar]

Looks like there are two slides - is one of them better? The N one starts earlier but looks like it stops before the summit. The S one looks like you could pick a route right to the top without any bushwacking. It looks like there is also a herd path coming off the south one to the col, but that wouldn't be a whole lot of fun.

[Neil]

I've done them both. One is bad news.

[masshysteria]

Where possible, go south young man! There is a point after you start rising above the S. Bouquet that you reach a cairn with a stick and some flagging on it, at least as of '07. Left leads to the Zipper Slide (northern slide), which Neil is familiar with. To the right (south) leads to the very bottom of the Great Slide, which is only 150 feet from there. Avoid climbing the rock here, as that is not a continuous part of the slide. Follow the obvious path on the south side up until it crosses back across the slide. Then the climb becomes obvious. A great hike for sure!


pics of E Dix slide; http://good-times.webshots.com/album/560480991nYzHAM

[alistair]

I'm planning to hit this very slide on Saturday with Doug Hillman. We will then traverse the Dixes.

[mastergrasshopper]

after threading your way up from South fork ( please ignore sketchy worthless description in backpacker ) you will come to a very obvious base of slide. Straight ahead is a slippery moss covered slab that leads into a small wet drainage and true base of Great slide. a few degrees to the left is the zipper. Looks great from the bottom but tough at the the top and is at the far end of ridge from the summit. go hard right and pick up herd path that will take you up another 100 ft elevation 1/4 mile to true base of great slide. at the top you are still not at true summit. follow herd path to right for about 5 min.
I was sitting at work today dreaming of this route :D 73 north fork to 73 round pond. I've done this route a few times. The road walk back is short and sweet :D every other time I get a ride.
MG

[alistair]

I was sitting at work today dreaming of this route :D 73 north fork to 73 round pond. I've done this route a few times. The road walk back is short and sweet :D every other time I get a ride.
MG

Your welcome to join Doug and I .... 10am at Noonmark Diner.

[Neil]

Something good to know:
The herd path crosses the river within 10 minutes but there is a split in the trail at that point. The correct branch goes right and crosses immediately. (The wrong split, which looks more like what you would think is the real path goes to Rhodendron Pond and peters out.)

On the opposite side of the crossing there is a fading splash of orange paint on a cedar.

If you miss the crossing, no biggie, just whack from the end of the "false" herd path to Lilypad Pond and pick up the herd path to the NW of Lilypad Pond.

An interesting option if your only interested in slides, not summits, would be to climb the Zipper, turn around and go back down then climb the Great Slide.

[mastergrasshopper]

Your welcome to join Doug and I .... 10am at Noonmark Diner.

10 am start :eek: thats like a Cory hike.
MG

[randomscooter]

The road walk back is short and sweet :D every other time I get a ride.

Me too ;)

[WalksWithBlackflies]

A suggestion:

Instead of taking the herd path at the top of the Great Slide, directly attack the cliff face (the nub) directly in front. Lots of great exposed Class 3/Class 4 routes on that face:

http://www.summitpost.org/images/original/62532.jpg

[Dunbar]

A suggestion:

Instead of taking the herd path at the top of the Great Slide, directly attack the cliff face (the nub) directly in front. Lots of great exposed Class 3/Class 4 routes on that face:


Yeah, that's exactly what I did. I believe I went up the slab just right of the climber and thought it was some Class 3+ scrambling (not sure there was enough exposure for Class 4, but then again I don't know that much about ranking them). From the top of the slide to the "nub" you could easily do with only Class 2 stuff but plenty of opportunity for more fun.