Friday, July 25, 2008 - Colorado Pictures - the hike
One of the things we wanted to do as a family was go on a nice hike. One that would be rigorous enough for those of us who loved hiking, but easy enough for those of us under 6... and the few who just wanted a nice stroll.
We decided to go into 
Aunt Nicole and I having a chat either about
Halfway up the hike - a lovely picture of Papa and myself. And Addie crawling around on the rocks.
Uncle Jürgen waving at the camera... and his kids, Chris and Nicole stopping for a Kodak Moment.
Christopher enjoyed the hike immensely - all he had to do was hang on!!
Here we are in front of the waterfall. It was huge and very pretty.
You rarely ever see a picture of my uncle without a camera - even at the edge of a waterfall. Especially at the edge of a waterfall!
A lovely group shot with Papa and Nana. Speaking of Nana...
We had all gone up the mountain at about the same pace, but we went down in smaller groups - Some people (those without children) even opted to go farther up the mountain. Nana and Aunt Ann went down first with most of the littler ones, then Mom, Uncle Chris, Uncle Jürgen and I went down together - Uncle Chris and Mom racing each other to take pictures of different flowers and insects.
This was the last picture we took of the group before ours - and we were scared for a bit that it would be the last picture of Nana that we ever got!
When we got to a bend in the road, Nana, Aunt Ann, and some of the younger kids accidentally took the left bend, not the right, which was the way to get back to the starting place. We managed to catch Aunt Ann, and all the kids were with her.
(the infamous bend)
It wasn't until we were all getting into the shuttle back that we all realized that Nana was not with us. Mom, Papa and Aunt Ann all stayed to search out Nana, and the rest of us got onto the shuttle back to the parking lot. Everyone was very worried about Nana - but there were kids who were getting cranky and hungry. I was left in the parking lot with the keys to Mom's car, and everyone else went back to the condos.
I heard some interesting conversations between the shuttle drivers, the park ranger (it took me a while to realize that the ranger was actually a she!) and the hikers who seemed to have no reason to be lounging all over the benches at the waiting area. Then over the Ranger's walkie-talkie I heard something about 'No woman of that description up here... but we'll keep looking"
I could only assume they were talking about my grandmother.
About an hour after I had been left on my lonesome, Mom, Aunt Ann, Papa and Nana got off a shuttle. Apparently Nana had kept going when she and Aunt Ann and company went off the wrong way. Mom had alerted the rangers after we had left, and they were all over the place looking for Nana. Aunt Ann and Mom went up the way Nana had gone, hiking halfway up to the next shuttle stop and then back down to the original trailhead - where they found Nana, who had just thought she was having a pleasant hike, and wondering where the rest of us slowpokes were.
We all went back to the condos - me to finally get something to eat, (it was tiring just sitting there waiting... the only thing there was to read was an old copy of Rebekah's Pointe Magazine) and everyone else to a well-deserved rest. 
Tomorrow, we have the trail ride!!
Sarah Beth
Comments
Friday, July 25, 2008 - Hiking Trail
Posted by Nana
Correction. I walked all the way up the other trail. It was beautiful, but, except that it was more up-hill and longer, not too different from the correct one. When I realized it was the wrong one, I asked a ranger if there were another parking lot and was asked my name. I was told, "They're looking for you." Had to wait for the next shuttle to leave and take me down to where you were. Arrived about the time Ann and your mom returned, having turned around at the trail split. And now you have the rest of the story! Love ya!
Monday, July 28, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Dancing4Him
I'm glad you are having a good time.
blessings,
Anna
