We arrived at the trailhead at 10:30 AM on Saturday, August 1, 2009, a rare non-rainy day.  The idea was to climb Round Mtn (3100') the long way, a 6.2 mile round trip which would have the benefits of supplying water sources for me, Dickens, your favorite hiking Welsh terrier.
     The trip up to Round Pond reminded Bruce of "The Hippopotamus Song" by Flanders and Swann which has the chorus:  "Mud, mud, glorious mud.  Nothing quite like it for cooling the blood."  Since June and July were record-setting rainy months, the trail here was full of water and mud. 
     Near Round Pond, we met some people.  We met a couple from Fort Anne who live near the hillbilly miniature golf where we often stop for ice cream.  After that, we met a Bernese Mountain dog named Bonnoo who was hiking with a young couple from Middlebury.  Bonnoo told me her name is Indian for "Gift from heaven." 
     After that we saw a very vivid green frog.  Up in the trees we saw a woodpecker and then, nearby, a hummingbird.  There were some interesting flowers too.  We saw a wild lupine and a lot of hawkweed.
     Once we got near the Boquet River we came through an area of flowering turtleheads (chelione) which is always a pretty sight.  By 12:22 PM we arrived at the Boquet River, meeting three backpackers who were heading to the Dix Leanto.  They went west, but we turned north on the trail to Round Mtn. 
Although the Boquet River looks like a pristine mountain stream, we soon saw that this branch of it has its source in two large, marshy beaver ponds.
     As we came to the turn off to head east up the mountain, we met a group of young French Canadians, three women and two men, who passed us.  The trail goes up and over a knoll which has a nice view of nearby Noonmark Mtn.  Later, the trail goes up and past a number of ledges where there are views out towards Dix Mtn, which Bruce has climbed four times, and Noonmark, which I have climbed once and Bruce has climbed three times.
     Thanks to the wet June and July there were a number of rushing watercourses on this route to help keep me cool and non-thirsty. 
     Finally at 2:20 PM we reached the top and had lunch.  I had a turkey sandwich and half of Bruce's ham and cheese sandwich.  I also had a nice bowl of water to wash it down with.
     The bare, rocky summit is very spacious with many great areas to rest on and enjoy the views.  There are absolutely wonderful views of Dix Mtn, Noonmark, Gothics, Armstrong, Wolfjaw, Hedgehog,
Big Slide, and Porter.  You could see Whiteface off in the distance.  From a different lookout, there were great close-up views of the cliffs and slides on nearby Giant Mtn. 
     While we were there, we could hear the French Canadians joking and having a great time.  A couple with a baby and young child came up and rested near the view of Giant. 
     We talked to both groups.  Due to the wet trail, the couple with the two children  had decided to take the shorter route out, and then hitchhike back to their car.    Then after that we talked to the French Canadians who told us that they were going to do the same thing.
     Bruce and I, however, left the top at 3:15 and went back the same way we came.  When we hit the Boquet River again at 4:24 we broke out the Ritz crackers and had a snack.  After that we met a few backpackers coming in to go to the Dix shelter.  Near the end we met a hiker coming out who told us that he had climbed both Dix and the Beckhorn in one day -- no mean feat! 
     The two of us were back out at 6:24 PM.  We drove up to the ADK access road to look for the hitchhiking hikers, but none were there.  With all the tourists driving up Route 73, we figured they must have had no trouble hitching a ride. 
     Overall it was a very enjoyable hike and the views were well worth the time hopping around and trying to get past the muddy and flooded areas.

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