Instead of Turning Around

As adventurers, our journey was not finished when we stopped at that pool to dip our toes in. We had many more stairs to climb and sights to see. Along with the beauty of nature, there were plenty of ‘human’ moments that pulls the edge of my lips into smiles. Before I spoke of Christopher somewhat as the leader of this pack. He held true for the entire trip and climbed his way in and out of everything.

Climbing 20 of the foot high stairs, it was expected we turn around. Stopping for water, we found a water bottle just sitting around. Mikey decided it was a good idea to throw it down the rocks a few feet from the path. Christopher wasn’t having any of this and retrieved it.

 

 

Only for the bottle to be thrown by Craig much farther down into the brush. Thinking it was gone, I started walking up the stairs again to reach the landing with these roots.

On the tree is a metal map, once holding the location for wilderness hikers before the Falls had become a tourist destination hike.

Once I had made it to a soft, forest landing and found this cave, Christopher had retrieved the bottle and made it up to me. Kisses for my Man! Beyond the forest landing you make it onto the beginning of a ‘trailed path’ made by two lines of rocks on the hard mountain surface. Can you see it in that picture? It’s there.

 

 

 

 

 

Making it past the landing and a few large rocks, a tree or two (forest full) this wide expanse of rock and ‘survival trees’ clutching to dirt was unveiled, our second landing spot.The view out to the lake is fairly well…self explanatory.

Spending a fair bit of time here, there was some mischief to be had along with great pictures. Christopher Kept trying to catch a lizard hid his small body under an immovable rock. 

Christopher had the idea for us to all group up and get these shots, with him and myself switching out places. Obviously while I was snapping pictures the camera was facing the sun, sadly. 

We also recreated a photo Christopher’s dad had once took of him basically on a rock with blue sky behind. Christopher was very happy.

He wanted a shot of us together too, happily. Climbing up that rock took a running stop while he held out his hands. So glad Mom had given me her hiking sandals. 

Soon after we decided it was high time we get back to the house and snuggle in for the day. But not before finding this cute piece of nature. Because my knees were starting to hate me, I had to carefully descend the stairs while Christopher held out his hand to steady me. Perhaps I am bad at putting weight on other people, but just holding that hand lightly gave me confidence.

When we crossed the bridge Christopher halted the party for us (me) to rest awhile. Craig and I chose to sit with legs dangling off the rock and get some shots of the waterfall, while Christopher and Mikey were a bit farther.

Christopher sat up a ways with Mikey and looked down at us.

Butt, we all did notice one thing together.  

 

When we had finished our journey, it was time to sit and wait by the lake for Christie’s father to arrive. Clouds were starting to form and create shadows across the land. Half an hour later, we were back on the home towards cuddles.