Picnic and Hiking

Kelly visited this weekend. Phill left for San Francisco. While the girls were sad to have Phill gone, Kelly filled the void quite nicely. She actually put them to bed on Saturday. Who needs mommy?

Saturday was a busy day. Kelly wanted to see the mountains. We packed a picnic and ate at the South River Picnic Grounds in Shenandoah National Park. The girls gathered wildflowers--well dandelions. There were violets all around, but they didn't pick them.

Call me crazy, but I decided that the girls could manage a short hike. Finwe rode on my back. We drove the short distance to Dark Hollow Falls. Here's what my hiking guide book says:

The trail follows Hogcamp Branch downstream. The path swings right and then at 0.5 mils curves left at the confluence of a tributary of Hogcamp Branch that drains Big Meadow. You'll then follow the combined waters of Hogcamp Branch as the stream continues descending in small cascades.

At 0.6 mile the trail reaches an overlook at the top of Dark Hollow Falls on Hogcamp Branch.

The total elevation loss is 600 feet. We did not make the descent to the bottom of the falls as it is the steepest part of the trail, and I was pretty sure that Larien would not make it back up without serious help.

The girls were wonderful. They listened to the rushing stream that bubbled and babbled it's way down the rocks. They looked at flowers and bugs and fish and two deer that crossed the trail right next to us. Inwe was particulary interested in an ant carrying part of a cheeto. Kelly and I saw a Bard Owl and a Red Tail Hawk. We heard lots of other birds, but as neither of us are good at identifying the songs you don't get to know what the birds are.

Inwe told us at the beginning that she would say when she had had enough. I thought that was a good idea. When we made it to the top of the falls, Inwe decided it was time to go back. The hike is uphill back to the parking area. Inwe definitely felt the pull of gravity as she began the trek. She didn't complain for a while. She tromped along taking a rest here or there. Larien held Kelly's hand and walked slowly. I could tell Larien was getting tired. Inwe was getting hot. She shed her sweatshirt in the 57F weather. (I eventually whipped off the sweatshirt as well.)

We took rests for the girls. Inwe decided that she needed a bit of help and held onto the bottom of Finwe's backpack. Oh, that was a calorie burner. Twenty four pounds of baby and backpack plus the resistance of a 40 pound child. (See why I took off the sweatshirt?)

Behind me I heard Larien asking to be picked up. Kelly didn't see the signs of the impending meltdown. I told Larien to come to me. I picked her up and finished the hike holding two of my three babies. One funny part was when Kelly retrieved a beer bottle that someone had carelessly thrown into the woods. "Why did she do that, Mommy?" Larien asked from her seat in my arms. My answer: "Well, we don't want the wild animals to get hurt by it, and there's a rule that people should follow: If you pack it in, you pack it out. That's why I'm carrying you. I asked you to do this hike, and I'm going to get you out. Okay?" Larien grabbed my face, planted a kiss on my cheek, and said, "Okay, Mommy. I love you."

Inwe walked the entire 1.2 miles. Larien walked and hopped all but the last quarter of a mile. Right at the end, Inwe held onto the bottom of the backpack.

The girls were so good that I drove to the store at Big Meadows and bought them some ice cream. Kelly got some ice cream as well. I passed on the ice cream as I felt so healthy packing all those kids uphill.

It was another good day. Inwe was tired, though. Look how she was sleeping in the car. Yes, we did eventually lean the seat back.