Day 22 - Rest day #3

What is a rest day without a little exploration. After breakfast at the hotel we headed out around 9:30am to go to the West Fork of the Rock Creek. This hike featured two waterfalls back a canyon which was a 10 mile drive from the main road.

Hiking by water is the best, throw in some waterfalls, and it’s stellar. A five mile round trip hike was just want we needed to keep the legs from going stiff (at least that is the story we are sticking to if the boys ask).

In 2008 there was a forest fire in the region and because there is very little soil the regrowth is slow to come back. I think it’s another example of the beauty that can come from ashes.

A trail runner told us he saw a moose and her calf at the second waterfall area, we did not see it. On the return I kept looking for a moose or bear (yes, we had the bear spray along). The group was ahead of Al, Mike, and I by a few steps. We were almost back to the van, when I looked to the right and wham, there he was standing. I thought I was recording a great video of the moose eating, but instead I recorded the sky while I ran to get the boys. It was the perfect end to our hike, lunch by a waterfall, and enjoying the beauty of creation.

Now a few of us are at the laundromat and the rest are napping or swimming. Later we are going to check our Red Lodge and have dinner in town.