Hiking on the Western States Trail

We spent our last Saturday, before the soccer season started, hiking on the Western States Trail.  It is a trail that goes through the Sierra National Forest (20 minutes from our house) from Squaw Valley to Auburn.  Daddy has run on it lots of times, and he knew of a fun hike he wanted to take us on. 

It was a rainy day, but the rain stopped just in time of us to go exploring.  As we hiked along the trail, we first came to No Hands Bridge.  Legend has it that when the Western States Trail 100 was a horse race there was a woman that would let go of the reins and ride with no hands across the bridge on her horse.  Back then the bridge didn't have rails.  Most people would dismount and walk their horses over it.  I guess she trusted her horse a lot.

It was a beautiful bridge built into the granite cliffs along the American River.

 Next we came to the waterfall.  It was beautiful from all of the rain.  It had wild figs and grapes growing around it. 

 Finally, we decided to hike down to the river.  The kids loved playing in the water and on the rocks.  Lily would have swam if we would have let her.  She got pretty wet.  :)

 Daddy climbed to the top of a big granite boulder.  Alex wanted to do it too, but he was nervous. 

 

Next thing we know Alex was on top of the boulder too!  He overcame his fear and climbed up on his own.  We can do hard things when we set our mind to it!