This is a great hike! It's a gradual 4.5 miles downhill to the North Fork American River. It's got forest, ferny grottos, small waterfalls, creeks, sweeping hillside views of the river, wildflowers, and critters!
This is the first hike we did 5 weeks ago to start our training so it was fun to see our progress. We hiked longer and in much hotter weather and we all did just fine! The kids actually had tons of fun getting wet every chance they could. Syd walked all the way back up the hill with a wet shirt as a rag. She just dabbed whichever part was hottest. Must remember this tip at Half Dome!
Critters:
one swimming snake (icky)
gobs of tadpoles
butterflies having a meeting (see pic)
very fast lizards
several soaring hawks
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| Happy birthday, Jason! |
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| A welcome watery spot |
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| First Jason dunked |
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| Then Janise |
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| Then everyone had to get wet! |
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| Maybe .... how cold is it? |
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| Yep, she went all the way in. |
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| These butterflies were amazing! Laying eggs? Don't know. They didn't mind us coming right up to them. |
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| On the hot part of the trail |
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| North Fork American River |
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| OK, now you know how we survived the hike on this hot day! |
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| Almost done and we still have energy!!!!! |
