Family hike to White Rocks Cliffs

Last Sunday afternoon we went for a family hike at White Rocks, some cliffs overlooking Rutland, Vermont. We had a great time, and hope to do it again soon.

Figuring out which trail to take.

 Down at the lower altitudes there was a lot of recently downed trees, from a set of severe thunderstorms we've had in the past week. Some of them obstructed the trail a little bit. One decided to take some of the path with it.
 

Looking at the map and letting some little legs catch up.

This section of the hike was absolutely beautiful. Under the short evergreens there was a thick layer of moss, covering as best it could a mass of rocks.

For this picture I ran ahead and positioned myself past a bend in the trail. The trees hid the others completely, though I could hear them, until they rounded the bend.

At the place where the White Rocks trail turns of from the Long Trail and Appalachian Trail, there was a huge forest of cairns. We spent a little while there, taking pictures and building the cairns bigger.

A forest of cairns.

This is a very neat arch cairn that was there. Some interesting wildlife in the background, too ;-)

We decided that since everyone else built new cairns, we would repair and add on to
already existing ones.

Trail to the right goes to the cliffs; so do we.

A little bit of a gloomy stretch of forest . . .

Dad took this one. I didn't bring my tripod, and I couldn't find a place to perch my camera, as in the other group pictures.

   

Noah catching up. Run!

  

I though this was a cute shot. Sam had the funniest and most excited look on his face.

Finally there!

Having a snack, looking out over the valley.

At the top of the cliffs!

Noah starting an avalanche.
No children were harmed in the making of this photo

PHOTOSHOP!!