Introspect and Imagery: July 2013

As we started this hike I had the feeling to say a prayer for safety and I am glad I did.

Starting the hike. They got their bug spray, sunscreen, cameras, lunch and water.

View up the canyon

Macey on the left, then Katey and Quinn on the right

You can see the cave way in the distance

We're a little closer now and the cave is still in the distance

Macey left, then Quinn and Katey

Here I am with Katey and Quinn

This is a small limestone cave carved out by water. Earlier in the season water pours over it making a small waterfall at the mouth of this cave

A long time ago I went with a class from Rick's College and we did trail work to minimize erosion from people cutting across trails. This is one area we focused in particular. You can tell our efforts did not pay off.

The cave is in the background.

The monument where the girls got killed by lightning and tree shrapnel. It is exactly 3 miles from the trailhead to here.

The last stretch becomes a goat trail

Going down before we ascend the crazy stair steps to the cave

Water flowing out of the cave

I used a flash so you could see the roof of the cave

The tree was growing right out of the rock

This is as far as we went.

Looking out of the cave

As I mentioned earlier I was glad I had said a prayer earlier. As we descended down to this waterfall after the cave, Quinn started sliding off the trail and almost went over the edge. I dove and slid after him and was able to catch him without going off myself. I was surprised we stopped sliding as we should have both gone off but I think my prayer helped us and maybe somebody unseen was there as well. I scraped my leg pretty good and Quinn is still quite shaken up about it, but I wonder what would have happened if we had not said the prayer at the start.