This is a picture of Kate before she got tired of the hiking backpack. She lasted about 6 miles in it and then was done.
There was some amazing scenery. In one area half of the branches on these trees were a deep red color. When the light caught them just right they looked like they were glowing.
We saw quite a few of these big old slugs. I'm pretty sure they're banana slugs. 
I'd like to say I was the one brave enough to pick up one of the slugs, but I wasn't. Christian wasn't either. This is just some random guy who was holding up the slug for his grandson to take a pictures, so I figured I'd take advantage of his courage.
At one point the trail split into a bike trail and a hiking trail. We didn't know it at the time, but it split because in order to get across the hiking trail, you have to jump about three feet across a waterfall. It wouldn't be too bad (we had already gone across four or five little creeks) but it had a pretty steep drop off below. The falls were twice as tall as it looks in this picture so it was a big leap of faith. This picture also features that brave banana-slug-holding grandpa. He's the one it the hat. I bet he had no idea he was going to get blogged about just for holding a slug.
I was so excited when the river finally came into view. It was really clear. You could see the rocks below the water, even from this height.
Kate's favorite part about the hike was the picnic we had once we reached the river. We had peanut butter and jelly while she had milk, squash, a few blades of grass, and a bug (oops!). 
We had a really great time, but I think Kate was glad to finally get home, take a bath, and get to bed. 
Great slugs! Sounds like a wonderful hike.
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