First Hike of 2016

We have a tradition of trying to get a family hike in as close to New Year's Day as possible.  This year that day would be Jan 2.

Nobody had a scheduled event and nobody had a job to go to so we loaded up the car and headed to one of our favorite hikes to see Yellow Branch Falls.  It has been raining for the past 30 days, so I expected this sometimes weak waterfall to be FULL.

We grabbed our matching backpacks and with the promise of Chick-Fil-A milkshakes we heard no complaining as the hike started out.

We crossed a few creeks on the way to the falls.  A few required rock hopping

. . .and one used a fallen log as a bridge where I did battle with my daughter!

 What started out as a staged fight for a photo turned into an opportunity for her to grab my arm. . .

Around half way we stopped for a lunch break just off the trail.

When we arrived at the falls there were a few other groups already there and taking photos.  We found a spot among the other hikers to stop and take our own photos:

On the way out I found a tree that had fallen across two banks and rested overhead across the trail.  I climbed up and walked part way out onto this tree and stood over the trail for a few photos.

Then I got scared I would fall and climbed back down.

After the hike Cari and I came through on our promise.  We had completed a family hike with no arguing or complaining by anyone.  We arrived at Chick-Fil-A and ordered too many peppermint milkshakes.  The cashier smiled and apologized.  They were out of peppermint shakes for the day.  We substituted chocolate and everyone was still smiling.  The first hike of 2016 had been a success!

BLOOPERS!  

It's pretty tough getting us all to make a nice smile for a photo. . .