Jan. 6, 2007 - a beautiful day for a hunt

Oh, today was so beautiful, we went on a waterfall hunt.  After sleeping in late, eating breakfast, and the guys raking three full cans of leaves (we still have our responsibilities, you know), we decided to go on a waterfall hunt.  A little before lunch, we left with our backpacks and lots of water, stopped at a Subway and grabbed some sandwiches, then found Haw Creek falls.  It was about a two hour drive.  I still don't have a camera, that's the only thing I was sad about.

At first, we had our lunch at a picnic table, then started toward a falls called Pack Rat.  About half way there, the sides next to the creek got to steep and we were concerned the children might slip into the water or we'd stumble about trying to get through.  We turned around at a beautiful spot, nonetheless, that had a cascade waterfall.  We went back to our van and parked near the Haw Creek falls and went over to it, letting the children and daddy throw (skip) rocks into the falls.  There was a beautiful slab rock the water was flowing over.  It was loud.

Then we drove up the road a bit, to find the next falls called Pam's Grotto.  Some family had parked their big truck in the way at the parking area, and so we had to go back to a wider spot next to the highway and hike our way back to the trailhead.  This was a very steep climb, but well marked.  We went slow and helped the little one up the whole time.  When we got to the top of the hill, there was a rock climbing area and high bluffs to look up at.  We followed a fairly level route close to the base of the bluffs.  It got pretty rocky and steep a couple of times close to our destination.  At some point while my husband was carrying 3 yr old, he slipped and hurt his leg.  She was ok after she told us her foot hurt.  My husband had cut his shin a little bit.  We went on and found the falls.  It was so cute, when my 3 yr old saw the falls, she said, "Hi, Waterfall.  I found you!!" She was so excited. 

But the sun was behind the hill and we needed to get back quick.  The hike back seems so much shorter and of course we got back in plenty of time.  At one point on the hike up, we had to call a family meeting.  Since big brother and big sister fought about who should be in the lead, we had to put a stop to that.  We had to give the lecture of "we are a family and we love each other, etc. etc.  we shouldn't be selfish and we should let others go first, and on and on"  I don't know if it helped but fighting ceased soon after the that and the happy family continued on their way.

We found these waterfalls by using a Tim Ernst book about waterfalls.  If you ever want to explore Arkansas, I suggest getting a few of these.  It helps us make those family memories without having to pay all that money for going to Disney World.  (not that if I had the chance to go, I'd refuse.)