Sappy Hike Post: Grotto Falls

Our most recent family hike was up a local trail that was very short, but very beautiful.  I love where we live. 


Below:  My goofball son that I just ADORE these days.

Matt took the following picture to prove that I was there, too.

Below: The two boys in my life who are my life

Hike with a View

On the spur of the moment, we decided to hike the Y to watch the fireworks on Saturday.  Jackson was so excited, he practically ran up the mountain.  I, on the other hand, took my time and enjoyed the shade a while. 

Yeah, I made him look into the sun for a picture.

 Jackson enjoyed making his mother crazy nervous by hiking/climbing all over the "Y."

 There's the temple!

 And to prove that I was there and made it, here's my self-portrait.  Yes, my face was really that red, and yes, I realize just how lovely I look.  In good news, it only took me 45 minutes this time to hike the 1.06 miles.  Last time, it took me 55 minutes.  If you want to remember that post, it's here: Tough Enough

We enjoyed watching the sunset while waiting for the fireworks. 

We sat for an hour and a half before the show started, and Jackson got tired and was ready to go home, but we waited it out and watched the fireworks.  It was pretty neat to watch them from so high up.

And now we're all so tired from such a long day!  (I would post a picture of my husband asleep on the couch, but he wouldn't really appreciate it.)

Rock Canyon Hike: June 5, 2010

After a few weeks break, we were finally able to go on another family hike. We picked another easy hike, the Rock Canyon trail. We went later (after noon) because we had so much going on that morning, and so it was pretty warm. We packed a lunch to eat on the trail. Our start wasn't so good. We decided to put Jackson's water bottle in the backpack and it didn't even make in there. It slipped through Matt's fingers and smashed to the ground, cracking the bottle and leaking water all over the parking lot. So, there was one less bottle of water.

After a half an hour, we stopped and ate lunch in the trees. (Let me clarify that statement, a half an hour's hike with a kid doesn't mean we were hiking the entire time. It includes crossing a stream, stopping at each hill of rocks for him to climb and each "cave" in the rock face for him to explore.) While eating lunch, Jackson looked at Matt and said kindly, "Dad. . ." and then changed his mind, "Oh, wait," looked at me, and yelled, "Mom, you broke my water bottle!" Actually, Child, no, I didn't. Your father did, but it doesn't matter. Honestly, I had to laugh because he sounded so funny sounding so authoritative. Within minutes, by accident, Jackson knocked over my water bottle, dumping half of the remaining water on the ground. So, by the time lunch was over, the water remaining in Matt's water bottle told us that we shouldn't hike any further up the trail and that we should go back to the car.
Well, we enjoyed what we could do, anyway.

Maple Dell: April 17, 2010

On Saturday, April 17, we decided to go on a nice, leisure hike. Unfortunately, the trail that we thought would be perfect for us wasn't open yet. We decided instead to pull off into a parking lot and hike a simple trail nearby. I thought it was a great idea until I saw this:

At least it's a wide, stable log, right?! "Okay," I told myself, "you can do this. It's not that far to the other side." I was ready to cross that log until I got right up to it. Matt had helped Jackson across, and there I stood, paralyzed, looking into the muddy water envisioning my fall into it. Suddenly, the log was the width of a stick. It was at this time that all of my shortcomings combined against me: my fear of heights, my uncanny ability to trip over thin air, my weak knees, and my stubbornness. "I can't do it! You two go on ahead without me," I called to Matt. This was one of those times when I know I married the right person. He didn't call me a "wuss" or ask if I had brought a book to read in the car while waiting for them. He marched across the log, told me I could do it, and held my hands the whole way across. Yes, he walked backwards while I clutched his hands and he guided me across.

The hike itself was short and easy, and the trail wasn't much. We did eat our picnic dinner looking down over the parking lot. The entire time we hiked, I kept thinking that there had to be another way down and across that canal. I really, really didn't want to try to cross that stupid log again. Well, we found some back-woods way back that seemed more like a cattle trail than anything else and didn't even have to cross the canal back to the parking lot. We came out on the south side (the log was on the north side) of the parking lot. Yes, I was safe, and I could calm down.

Until . . . Matt and Jackson decided they weren't done playing on the log. Yeah. I think my heart stopped about 10 times while Jackson got confident and comfortable on that stick. I really don't want him to inherit my fears, but still, I'm a mom, and I reserve the right to panic. I decided that I would take pictures to keep me occupied and so I could try to hide my worry. I don't think it worked though.

Getting a feel for the "bridge"

Notice I'm far enough away to get a nice picture of them

A little too comfortable on the bridge -- Matt held his jacket for my sake more than his own, I think. Thanks, Hun!This is the best picture I could get of them. I really look forward to Jackson growing out of the "Make an absurdly silly face for the picture" stage.

See what I mean? Absurdly silly! Oh, well, I can't resist those two faces anyway. Those are my two favorite guys, they make me smile (Jackson thinks it's his job to make me laugh, and he usually succeeds).

Cathedral Gorge: April 8, 2010

After I tell someone where I grew up, the population of my hometown, and how many students were in my graduating class, I always get the classic question: "What is there to do there?"

Well, one of my all-time favorite places is Cathedral Gorge State Park. There are some fun, easy trails to hike; caves to explore; and rocks to climb.

Looking from Miller's Point down to the trail. That's Jackson and I on the bridge.

Don't worry, he's not going to jump, and it's not that dangerous. He just makes it look that way.

I felt like being a goof.We even trusted Jackson enough with our expensive camera to take a picture of Matt and I.

There are some great scenic/nature pictures that Matt took, and I think I'll post them soon.