This is a big tidal flat at low water. A spectacular sight from the air but a nightmare for an uninitiated hiker short on time and wanting to take 'the direct route.' At low tide sloughs like this are mud…thick 'boot sucking' mud. “How hard could it be?” we sometimes josh, rolling our eyes, knowing 'it' – the mountain hike, the glacier walk or the slough crossing – could be very, very hard. Having attempted to cross this slough once, we now routinely take the pleasant, but much longer route along the grassy intertidal next to the woods. Photographer: Denny Capps