After we left my car at the Jumpingpound Ridge trailhead (50.986689, -114.955736), Aga drove Zosia and me to the trailhead at Dawson Provincial Recreation Area (51.023211, -114.881978) where we subsequently geared up and set off along the trail to Cox Hill.  Right off the bat, we kept left at a split--right is an equestrian trail.  After crossing a bridge over Jumpingpound Creek, we passed the equestrian trail cut-off and soon arrived at a signed T-junction.  Turning right, we began to climb steadily up the northeast ridge of Cox Hill.  About 2.4 kilometres from the trailhead, we veered off the trail to the right (westward) to access Shell Hill.  Aside from an easy-to-miss arrow carved into a tree, there was initially no indication of any human passage here, but we soon stumbled onto an intermittent beaten path which led us more or less to a saddle separating Shell Hill from Cox Hill.  The few rock bands on Shell Hill are easily avoidable, and we had no problems hiking up to the mostly forested high point.

	Aga and Zosia cross a bridge over Jumpingpound Creek at the start of the hike.
	Shell Hill is visible at right as Zosia and Aga climb the trail to Cox Hill.
	This carved arrow is the only indicator for the start of the route to Shell Hill.
	Zosia and Aga follow a beaten path across the forested slope.
	In his palm, Sonny demonstrates the partial coverage of the sun due to an annular eclipse on this day.
	A few rock bands on Shell Hill are easily circumvented.
	Sonny, Zosia and Aga stand on the high point of Shell Hill (1832 metres).
	Under a pile of rocks at the high point is a disintegrated box of seashells and the world's smallest summit register.
	A break in the trees at the high point of Shell Hill grants some views of mountains to the southwest.

Aga, Zosia and I paused at the high point of Shell Hill for about twenty minutes before retracing our steps back to the saddle.  Instead of backtracking along the beaten path though, we climbed straight up the forested slope until we intersected our original trail.  From there, we had no issues hiking the remainder of the trail to the high point of Cox Hill where we stopped for an extended break under some nearby bluffs.

When we resumed hiking, Aga, Zosia and I followed the continuation of the trail which heads south and then turns west into a dip separating Cox Hill from Jumpingpound Mountain's north ridge.  Climbing out of the dip was a little annoying, but once we crested the ridge and intersected the Jumpingpound Ridge trail, we enjoyed an easy descent to the second trailhead and my waiting car.  I then drove us back to the Dawson trailhead where Zosia and I dropped Aga off at her car before we all headed home.

	As they descend Shell Hill, Zosia and Aga get a brief glimpse of the top of Cox Hill in the distance.
	Zosia and Aga take a short cut to regain the trail to Cox Hill.
	Zosia and Aga pause at a viewpoint along the trail to Cox Hill.
	Zosia and Aga approach the top of Cox Hill.
	Sonny, Aga and Zosia stand on the high point of Cox Hill (2214 metres).
	At some bluffs near the high point, Aga keeps the rocks from collapsing under Sonny. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	Moose Mountain dominates the view to the southeast.

The numerous high points of Lusk Ridge crowd the foreground in this view to the northwest.

 

	Aga and Zosia descend the south side of Cox Hill en route to the forested ridge at far right which is essentially the north end of Jumpingpound Mountain (distant left).
	Here is a look back at Cox Hill from the north end of Jumpingpound Mountain.
	Aga and Zosia descend alongside a clear-cut near the end of the traverse.
	Total Distance:  15.6 kilometres Total Time:  8 hours 9 minutes Cumulative Elevation Gain:  919 metres GPX Data