New Year's Hike

We like to start the New Year off on a good note by getting outdoors and exploring nature with a good hike. We may not always go on New Year's Day, but we try and go the weekend following New Year's Day. It always feels so good to get outside and enjoy the cooler temps while reflecting back on the previous year's activities and looking forward to new adventures that coming year. 

We love to hike to a waterfall. Hiking along a river and listening to the sounds of the water is so relaxing...and very refreshing during the warmer months! When we asked Cal if he wanted to go hiking, he gave an emphatic 'YES!' We followed up by asking where he wanted to go hiking, and he responded with 'waterfall!' He already shares our love of hikes that lead to a waterfall. We are always looking for new trails to take, especially ones with waterfalls at the end of the hike, or along the way. Thanks to our friends Liene and Roberts' recent adventure to a waterfall close by, we chose to go to the same area to see Falls Creek Falls. 

I opted to carry Callen on my back for the trip in, knowing that there would be two fairly steep climbs. I made the first one without much difficulty. We opted to stop at the large boulders for a lunch break and to let Cal stretch his legs for a while. He had a big time climbing on all the rocks and then jumping off the smaller ones to the ground. This proved to be a great stop for lunch and to fuel up since the remaining part of the hike was a bit challenging.

We made it to the top of the rock!

It's a little higher than I thought now that I'm looking over the edge

Climbing on the rocks...his favorite thing to do

More climbing

After leaving the boulders, there was a good part of the trail that was flat and good for Cal to hike along. In order to keep him on the trail and hiking at a reasonable pace, we had him looking for the purple blazes that lined the trail (this was the best marked trail I have seen in a long time...and for that I am thankful since it kept Cal on task to the waterfall!). Anytime he would start to wander off, we would ask him to find the next blaze, and off he would go to find a purple blaze!!

Cal always has to have a hiking stick to hike. He does a good job of finding one on his own

Hiking with dad

Mom trying to get Callen to come along and find a purple blaze

Look! A purple blaze!!

The last 1/2 mile of the climb to the waterfall was pretty steep. Cal attempted to hike this part himself, but he kept slipping and it was taking forever to go just 10 feet with him, so we put him back in the pack. I only lasted a bit further with him in tow before I had to give him over to Doug. It was steep and my short legs couldn't climb the steep steps and roots with him on my back. Once at the falls, we stopped for a few minutes to admire the view, but soon headed back because there wasn't a good place to sit and enjoy off the trail without getting too close to the falls...and it was too cold to get too close and just sit. We have been in places like that before with Callen, and he gets miserably cold so fast. 

View of the lower portion of the falls through the trees

View of the upper portion of the falls

The hike back was uneventful and Callen slept most of the way. It's funny how it seems so easy and quick to get back to the car after it was so tiring and took twice as long to get to the falls!!! 

It was a great day and I hope we can continue this tradition of a New Year's Hike year after year.