“Caution: Trail not maintained. Use not recommended.” I think that is an accurate representation of my family vacations. My mom has always been a huge fan of a good adventure, and so far in my life I’ve been swimming in the ocean with manta rays at midnight, stuck on a dogsled at the center of a snowstorm, and driving through lighting bolts in Nowhere, Idaho. There was one particular trip, however, that was even more hilariously cliche and “what-were-we-thinking” than the others. Mom had just proposed to the family her newest quest: a mission to hike all of America’s National Parks. For my family, this was like a challenge. Us versus the National Parks. So we said, “Bring it on!”, and we headed for Mount Rainer in beautiful Washington State.
QUARTER-FINALIST 2015 FTF TEEN TRAVEL WRITING SCHOLARSHIP
Actually, we were just about to leave for the airport when my brother, Jack, and I decided to take a short bike ride and Jack challenged me to a race. I watched him quickly take the lead, and then, a couple houses away from ours, hit a bump in the road and flip over his handlebars. Jack broke both of his arms, and came home from the emergency room a couple hours later with bulky temporary casts and tear-stained cheeks. But, being his mamma’s boy, he insisted on still taking the trip. We rescheduled our flight for that evening and headed for Mount Rainer with a total of six functioning arms. The next morning dawned with potential. The trail my mom decided we would take was deemed “treacherous” by the visitor’s brochure and the somewhat-chubby park ranger warned us that people normally take about six hours to complete it. “Psh, what does he know,” my mom said, “People are not this family!” We drove out to what seemed like the very edge of the park, with no other cars in sight, and pulled up alongside the trailhead to a sign that said “High risk of bear encounters.” We started hiking along the edge of a dense forest, then forked off and began to climb over huge boulders through a canyon—my brother’s casted arms above his head like he was in a stick-up—trying to guess where the actual trail was. After half an hour, we spotted the one-foot-wide trail entering the bear-infested forest. Then, after two more hours of hunched-over walking and holding on to tree branches to keep from sliding downhill, we came to a sign announcing that we had reached the end of the “maintained” part of the trail. By that point, none of us were too enthused to continue on, but my mom reminded us that “this part is what our family does best!” I was convinced that this was not the part that I did best, but my dad had already begun to follow my mom, with the food and water in his backpack, so I followed. Then we came to the bridge. The bridge was straight out of an Indiana Jones movie: It swung about five hundred feet over a canyon and was built with wooden planks each spaced about five inches apart. I don’t remember much about crossing the bridge, but I will always remember the look on my dad’s face as he started to make his way across to his family. He was closing his eyes, and I thought he was trying to show off like he always did, but I later learned the truth: maybe my family was a danger-loving superfamily, but my fearless, superhero dad was afraid of heights.
Dear Reader: This page may contain affiliate links which may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Our independent journalism is not influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative unless it is clearly marked as sponsored content. As travel products change, please be sure to reconfirm all details and stay up to date with current events to ensure a safe and successful trip.
0 Replies to “Superfamily”
Comment on this article
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
I like the helpful info you provide in your articles.
I will bookmark your weblog aand check again here frequently.
I’m quite certain I’ll learn plenty of new stuff right here!
Good luck for the next!
Hi there! Would you mind if I share your blog with my facebook group?
There’s a lot of people that I think would really enjoy your content.
Please let me know. Many thanks
We absolutely love your blog and find most of your post’s to be just what I’m looking for.
Do you offer guest writers to write content
for yourself? I wouldn’t mind writing a post or elaborating on many of the subjects you write concerning
here. Again, awesome site!
Essential bags: Remember to bring commonly used medicines, prescription medicines, motion sickness medicine, cold medicine, wound closures, etc.
Thanks for sharing
Very nice article. I certainly love this site.
Contine the good work!
Wow, Fran Falkin’s pet travel tips are a lifesaver! ? Planning our pet-friendly vacation has been a breeze thanks to these insightful tips. We followed tip #2, and now our fur baby practically loves their carrier, making our journey stress-free. Plus, we found a cozy hotel that welcomes our pet, so they’re enjoying the adventure just as much as we are. Thanks, Fran, for turning our pet travel worries into tail-wagging excitement!
Hey There. I found your weblog using msn. That
is a really smartly written article. I’ll make sure to bookmark it and return to learn more of
your useful info. Thank you for the post. I will certainly
comeback.
i wish i was chinese
I am genuinely pleased to read this weblog posts which includes plenty
of helpful information, thanks for providing
these kinds of statistics.
Greetings! Very helpful advice in this particular
article! It’s the little changes that will make the biggest changes.
Thanks for sharing!
Explore the beauty of Sri Lanka with our family tours. Discover unforgettable experiences for all with Family Tours Sri Lanka. Book your adventure today with Sri Lanka Family Tours.
Great post.
Yes, recent trends suggest that Americans are regaining confidence in vacations and travel. As travel restrictions ease and vaccination rates increase, many Americans are showing a greater willingness to travel and explore destinations again. However, it’s important to stay updated on travel advisories and safety measures to ensure a smooth and enjoyable travel experience.
Reading Fran Falkin’s insights took me back to my first trip with Whiskers, my feline companion. The chaos of ensuring he was comfortable amidst the hustle of the airport was a lesson in patience. Had I come across these invaluable tips earlier, our journey would’ve been as smooth as a calm sea.
Thank you! I value it!
Great information. Cheers.
Very good write-up. I certainly appreciate this website.
Continue the good work!
I read your article on the Sheep of Sun Valley and I found it very fascinating and enjoyable. You have given a detailed and colorful account of your experience at the Trailing of the Sheep Festival, which celebrates the history and culture of sheepherding in Idaho. I think your article is a great way to introduce this unique and fun event to other travelers and families who are looking for a different and memorable adventure.
This is something new I saw on the internet today I want to thank you for writing such a great and helpful blog. I really appreciate your efforts.