Wet and Trailless Hiking with Steve
May/June 2006

We head into Shoe Box falls in rain, beginning three days of wet feet	the falls are roaring	we set up camp with a tarp
and head toward Elizabethtown No4 avoiding most river crossings	we use the East Dix "herd path" for the crossover between the North and South Boquet	first views on the climb of Etown No4
more climbing	the view from the top	wet feet already demand attention
view above the clouds	Cliff loves these mountains	the descent begins
we did need to cross the South Boquet	and returned to a raging Shoe Box falls	for dinner
hanging things to dry at 5am the next morning	we skirt the North Boquet to the herd path	and enjoy breakfast on the stream that runs from the South Boquet toward Dix
we follow the stream	taking a break	here is where we follow a side stream
Steve trying to kick rocks down on Cliff	we reach the slide	take on precious water
and climb,	climb	climb
spring is just starting for trees on the slide, and the sky looks promising too	view of the slide	climb near the top
into the brush at the top	on top	flat out
dry those feet	take in the view	and descend the other side
with walls of rock	lunch by the stream	thunder sounds as we reach Dix pond
we scramble along the trail as the thunderstorms hit	taking some shelter at Slide Brook	we climb toward the slide
reaching its dirty, eroding, lower end	making progress	more to go
wide view from the slide	clambering at the top of the slide	taking a break on top
we cross over to South Dix	as rain hits anew	there are several split rocks on the cross over to East Dix
Cliff sits on the height of land	Steve takes a view above the slide	and takes a quick rest
descending slightly	then more seriously	as the sun gets low
we descend the slide	make the stream crossing back after dark	for a very late dinner, after 17+ hours on the hike
the next morning we head out past Shoe Box	to have breakfast at the trailside swimming hole	and we climb toward Jay
through misty woods	we take a break as we reach the ridge	we wander along the ridge
soon the ridge is mostly open rock	with hints of more to come	neat rocks to play on
some interesting descents	raining on the summit	we take some shelter for lunch
a nice cold, wet lunch that is	back along the ridge	the salamander is happy with the weather
we return	to break a wet camp	last look at the flowers
we can't resist a canonball into the swimming hole	and hike out refreshed