Hike Near Payson With My Sweet Family

The Thursday of Mark & Jillian's Arizona visit we went for another day trip adventure!

But before that, we had a Wednesday dinner and movie night!

I took over my own meal + these peanut butter chocolate chip cookies.  By the time Greg and I left, there was one cookie left.  They turned out very well!

The girls were all extra clean and fluffy after a day of swimming in the pool.  Cora was making artworks from her desert treasures.  Here she was making a basket out of palm fronds.

We had dinner on the patio.

The paintings had dried, so I brought them over.  The girls explained them to Grandma and Grandpa.

The lake looked pretty as the sun went down.

Then we watched "Abominable"!  It was delightful.  The film was great and the company was EXCELLENT.

The next day I had to take Claude for a follow-up vet visit (her owie is all healed!), but after that, we headed off for our next escapade!  This is the newest addition to my list of favorite hikes.  It's near Payson.  The drive up is gorgeous in spite of extensive wild fire damage.

There are lots of warnings at the base of the trail.  Many members of a large family died here a few years back when there was a flash flood.  Mountain snow melt rushes down this canyon in a river.  If it rains up north at all, the river can rise quickly and sweep away anything in the way.  Branches from trees come down the river, bashing any creature in the way on the head.  People get dragged away and drown.  We are careful not to hike here if there ANY chance of rain in the nearby vicinity.

They also warn about bears.

This time of year is the low season, and no money is required to hike here.  I think they should still require payment because our wild areas need support!

The sky was a lovely bright blue color.

We had a picnic next to the stream.  It was chilly but comfortable.

We used the pit toilet (it isn't that bad when the weather is cool):

Then we headed off on our exploits!

There's a big wheel off to the side of the trail.  (If you look hard, you will find the name of the trail relates to this wheel.)

We looked at the strange empty sign . . .

As we walked along the river, we found a nice sandy beach!

And then we started climbing up the rocks of the gorge!

But not before taking a couple of family photos.

And a couple of selfies.

Here we go!

We crossed the river safely (it was lower than it was when Greg and I were there in November) and started enjoying many streams flowing down the nice flat smooth rocks!

Cora was impressed by the green streaks in the rocks:

Mark and Jillian laid down for a rest in the sun, and the girls and I began exploring!

We're so powerful that we held up this huge boulder!

Then we moved on and found the BIG waterfall!  

This log is wedged into a rock.

I sat on it.

It flows down into a (chilly) pool.

Mark loves the sun and it helps his psoriasis too!

On the way back, we found a grove of cairns!

Esme wanted to make one to leave, too.

Greg accidentally stepped in a chilly puddle.  Oops!

Don't worry; he had brought extra socks with him just in case!

What a perfect day!

We stopped for a snack on the way home.  I got some mixed nuts at the gas station and they really hit the spot!  Everyone else got some ice cream.

Greg pretending to be confused:

Greg pretending to be surprised:

We got home in time to have pizza night at my parents' house, and the Mark & Jillian came over for Doctor Who with us!  I fell asleep a few times during the episode, but it was still fun!  What delightful memories we made!

I love these people!

xo