West Clear Creek

Dara invited us to join her, Troy and James for camping and hiking. The camping was too much effort, but we got up early and deep into Rim Country by 9:15. Dara said it would be a hike down to a river with friends, dogs, and ‘a few steep spots‘. If Facebook only had a icon, it would have been all over her message. No worries, none at all — the Cballs represent. Beckie hauled Alana in the carrier, along with Dara hauling her 3-yr old McKenna. G hiked all 45 minutes and ~600 feet down, through rockfall and broken trees, along the river, and back up again. After two times freelancing and thumping herself on rocks, she began listening to exactly what i said and followed my path precisely. She dropped into steep down-climbs saying to herself ‘just like rock climbing class…just like rock climbing class‘. If I wasn’t proud enough of her strength and saavy when we got down to the river, I was blown away when she swam behind me through a 10 yard pool along the trail. The way out I could hardly pace her, her fatigue offset by excitement and empowerment rocketing back up the wall.