July 3: Waterfall Hike

There's a wonderful group called the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy that is working to buy private land for preservation, especially in the North Carolina / Tennessee highlands. We are lucky to have ties to this group, because their land is open to the public but unknown to most hikers...beautiful places that you need person-to-person directions to get to (i.e. turn right by the church, stop at the metal gate on your left after three more churches...).

We took the boys to Molly's Ranch, one of SAHC's properties, in October. It's a beautiful mix of woods, meadows and a series of rushing waterfalls and crystal-clear swimming holes along a cold mountain stream. The boys got soaked then, in the cool fall weather, so we wanted to take them back in bathing suits and summer warmth so they could swim more comfortably.

(Above) Along the way: blackberries grow wild all over these mountains. We were just a bit too early.

Trying to find the right path down to the creek can be tough. Adam took Isaac rock-hopping to the waterfall, but I wasn't ready to do that with Jonah yet. So we found this path, with twisted lines of barbed wire across it about halfway down. We had to sit on our bottoms, lean back and slide under it through the mud...not ideal, but we got there.


Then we were at a beautiful waterfall and a clear swimming hole full of rocks.


The boys loved it.









Adam showed them how to build dams and change the flow of the water.


We'd seen a baby snake slither across the trail on the way to the water, and then we found a crawfish. I'd never seen one alive before - I think the closest I'd come was a po' boy in New Orleans. And luckily, it didn't look like this on my sandwich.


We could see straight through to the bottom.


We played until the boys were tired, and then we headed back for lunch and naps. Adam carried Jonah back across the rocks, which was much easier.




I walked with Isaac and was so impressed with his navigation skills and coordination. He, like I, was scanning the stream and finding the route he wanted to take. I'd picked the easiest route, and he kept wanting to go the hard way - climb the big boulders and go through the deep pools - so we did, and he did great.
In the little pools, I showed him the water striders - one of my favorite insects. Sometimes people call them Jesus Bugs, and you can see why.


The path home...

July 2: Hike to Little Hump

When we arrive at Yellow Mountain, I always want to get to the Bald as soon as possible. So we planned a hike for our first full day.
After an indulgent mountain breakfast (piles of bacon, my dad's awesome French toast with eggy bites, my mom's summer fruit salad and perfect biscuits), the boys played while we got our things together.


My mom has a big book of birds that describes them in detail and includes a recording of each bird's call. There are some pretty crazy bird noises in there, and Isaac found one that he thought was hilarious. In these pictures, he's pushing the button over and over. I don't remember what the bird was, but it kind of sounded like a sick frog to me.


Isaac ran to explore the yard while we put our pack in the car.


And then we were on our way. Jonah was doing much better riding in the pack than sometimes.


Adam and Jonah charged ahead, while we stayed with Isaac, who did a great job on the big hill.




And then...the greatest reward.


We gave the boys some crackers and water and let them soak up the sun and wind and exhilaration of the mountaintop.


Cork was in dog heaven.




Then we hiked over the top of the Bald and down into the woods.






Isaac was proud to be the leader of the hike - so proud that our not-quite-four-year-old not just walked, but RAN, almost the whole 3 or so miles. I had to remind him to slow down and wait for us.


He did get a ride through the grasses that were almost as tall as he was.

And there is our first view of Little Hump. I used to hike here and farther on every Yellow Mountain visit, but between illness and babies, I hadn't been here in more than five years. Unbelievable. I was overjoyed to see it again.


Looking down, you can see the Appalachian Trail coming up from the left side and meeting up with ours.





My parents stayed back with Isaac. You can see him trudging along right in front of my dad.


There is a perfect group of boulders near the top of Little Hump, and we always stop there to drink water and soak in the gorgeous mountain views.


Isaac is looking tired by this point.


But he woke up a little and climbed the biggest rock, the one that we've all been inspired to climb as kids. There's a picture of me and one of Taylor, later, sitting on top of this rock - the perfect lookout.


Isaac was one solid hiker today.


But even good hikers need to be carried sometimes...On the way back, Isaac walked some and my dad carried him some. By the time we crested the back side of the Bald, my dad and Adam were each carrying a sleeping or almost-sleeping boy.


A little lunch, a short nap, and they were ready to go again. My dad had brought a baby pool with a spray feature, and the boys loved it.






Tired boy at the end of a fun day.


Rhododendrons in the front yard.

July 1: Back to Yellow Mountain!

I took the boys home with me for a week, and Adam joined us for a long weekend so we could spend the 4th of July on our favorite mountain.

My parents brought up the sand and water table, which the boys love.


Even though Adam had work on his mind for much of the weekend, he was able to relax a little too.


Oh, Jonah.




My mom brought 4th of July napkins and decorations to make it more festive.


My dad cooked us a pasta the first night, and my mom taught Isaac how to set a table.

June 26: Chautauqua

We spent this beautiful Saturday morning in Boulder doing one of our favorite activities: hiking and Chautauqua and a pizza lunch at Beau Jo's.


The grasses are so green and lush after our cooler summer.