How NOT to hike to South Fork Falls...

This morning I went hiking with my friend Lindsay and her kids.

They joined me on an exploration hike...to find South Fork Falls.

And we did find them...eventually.

First of all I left my guidebook (with the map and gps coordinates) in the car.  So I had to rely on my memory and my phone to guide us.  The book would've been a whole lot easier.  (I did take bear spray though...that's something, right?)

Secondly, we hiked one mile in the opposite direction of the falls.  After we turned around, we did find a parallel trail to the one we took first thus making a loop.  (Awesome!  Way better than an out-and-back...I think anyway...)

Stephen and Aubrey

Lindsay and Dallin

After we got back to the beginning of the trail we did some quick exploring in the other direction...and then our thoughts--that-we-went-in-the-wrong-direction-from-the-beginning--were confirmed.

So we went the other way (and toward the noise...waterfalls are noisy...why didn't we follow the noise in the first place??)

We went over the logs covered in fungi.

Ew!  I don't like mushrooms!

We went around the plants that were still trying to wake up from a deep winter sleep.

But most of the time was spent dodging the spiky sticks of death.

And after all of that, we saw the falls!  But we couldn't get any closer than this...

Then it was time to turn around and go back.

Almost out!!!

And after that we had to check out our battle wounds.

Those sneaky little spikes were everywhere!

We realized we should've crossed the bridge...AND TAKEN THE TRAIL! (Lindsay said from the very beginning "we should go on the other side"...I should've listened!)

The trail isn't very visible from the main path.

Or we should've kept going past the river and caught the other trail to go to the WATERFALL OVERLOOK.

Seriously?!?  There was a waterfall overlook?

Ha!  What a fun adventure! (No one ever remembers the trips when everything goes smoothly...)

But next time...will be easier.

Hopefully!