On this hike we set up a base camp near Shoe box falls and climbed two trailless peaks in 40 degree rain the next day. The second day we did the exhausting long hike from New Russia to Giant and back to camp in less rain. There was nice widlife and glimpses of sunshine between the raindrops and cold.

At the trailhead, the sun came out after a bit of a downpour	Cliff takes a warmup swim	The evening we wandered along the 1810 highway route to Rhodedendron pond -- which had a view of Dix
Beaver Dam is rebuilt upstream from Shoe box falls	We woke to sunshine and headed out before 5	But it was pouring by the time we got to trailhead; here we take a break in a leanto.
We now set off on the trailless herd path toward Panther and Santoni	We skirted the base of long cliffs	Taking a wet break in the rain
Cliff got wet too	We made Santoni Peak	and crossed over to Panther
where we enjoyed a wet, cold, lunch.	The trails were muddy	and the corduroy was classic
Returing to the falls, Nate pauses for some writing	The clouds clear (for a while)	Next day, we start climbing the ridge from New Russia; Nate points out Bald peak
Nate nears the summit	which speaks for itself	while Nate holds forth.
A view back toward Bald peak	-- there is even a view of Lake Champlain just beneath the clouds	Lake Mary Louise
and we have a windy time on Rocky Peak ridge	seeing an owl as we descend to the col before Giant.	Giant is cloudy at first, but eventually yields some views.
A glimpse of the Dix region	View above Chapel pond.	This is not a garbage heap; Cliff is napping.
We almost catch a photo of a beaver in action.	Nate heads out in the morning