It rained, and it rained and it rained . . . At least until after lunch!
We ate breakfast, lazed around reading (or in my case writing) and making sure the kids didn’t injury someone with the pool balls. By the time the rain stopped after lunch, we all had cases of Cabin Fever. Mom had spent the morning looking up various, children (aka—easy) friendly hikes. My sister and her family opted out of hiking, they arrived late the night before and needed to buy some groceries.
We left Grandma to hold down the fort and headed off. Our destination: Owl Head, listed as a children friendly hike. We piled into the van and my parent’s car. After several cell calls and many turns, we decided the map was not very accurate. Owl Head was not to be found and conquered this day.
Dad stopped at a random trail – Rooster Comb. It looked promising. The trail map showed various length hikes. Bug spray applied, we headed off. Only to be thwarted by 4 inches of walk covering the first 500 feet or so.
Back to the car we went to tackle the next trail, Giant Mountain. Again, the map showed various levels of difficulty. The simplest trail led down along the river, very flat. Overly confident, I pointed everyone up the waterfall view trail, about a mile long. The three older kids ran ahead with Mom and Dad. The littlest chugged along on her short legs, but was unable to keep up. Matt walked with her, while I tried to keep the rest of the group in sight.
Alas, we lost them about half-way up. Knowing my parents are experienced hikers (and it’s rare for Dad to get lost anywhere), we trusted we would find them waiting at the waterfall. Our 2yo chugged her way up over rocks, stream beds and squelched through mud. All the while, the waterfall roared louder and louder. A flat, tree filled, area greeted us near the top of the waterfall. No sign, or sound, of my parents and three older children.
Various paths lead from the flat area to views of the waterfall. Matt looked down a couple until he found the one that lead to the very top of the falls. No sign of the rest of our little group. Only one trail branched off from where we were -- a 2.6 mile hike to the top of the mountain. We doubted my parents would take the kids up there, but we weren’t sure where they could be. With the 2yo gamely tagging along, we started up and we started praying. And up it was, straight up.
Fortunately the mud consistency led it to be wet enough for footprints, but firm enough to leave a good imprint. Unfortunately, neither Matt nor I can read tracks. In full fledged panic, my prayers turned into a chant of ‘Help, help, help.’
After 15 minutes we stopped. Pushing my anxiety into the back of my mind, Matt and I discussed it logically. We did not believe my parents would ever take the kids on a trail so steep. So, off we set, back down Giant Mountain, with the 2yo now being carried by her Daddy.
Unknown to us, my parents were going through a similar experience. They also thought we should have met up near the waterfall. When we did not appear, they assumed the Little One had grown tired and we took her down. No cell service equaled no communications. (Note to self – Bring walkie-talkie’s next time!) The set off back down the trail and walked the path along the river to the base of the falls. Not finding us there they headed back to the cars to see if we were there.
After what seemed like days, Matt, I and our sleepy 2yo emerged from the wilderness. The three older kids very excited and Mom and Dad relieved we were not lost. Still unable to to think in complete sentences, never the less I praised and thank God for keeping my family safe.
