4-17 Long Pool Falls

This was definitely a family adventure.  I packed the wife and kids in the mini-van and took off to Russellville.  We were on our way to Long Pool Falls, which is supposed to be kid friendly.  We got to the campground at Longpool and parked.  We saw the water tank and headed down the trail.  As the trail dropped off, it got steeper and slicker.  Daniel was carrying the tripod, I was carrying the camera bag and Jessica was carrying Grant.  I turned around to see this scene and had to take a picture!

What you can't see in this picture is the bluff we were on.  Like I said, it was definitely an adventure! (1/25 sec, f-4, ISO400)

 It turns out we were on the wrong trail. (1/20 sec, f-5.6, ISO200)

 This is the Big Piney Creek, and the trail disappears into the water. (1/20 sec, f-10, ISO200)

So, what do we do?  In true Gillson manner, we take a family picture!  The kids were having a blast!  I can't tell if Jessica's smile is forced, though. (1/40 sec, f-4.5, ISO200)

 Along the way take time to take pictures of the flowers.  Errr, gumballs. (1/10 sec, f-5.6, ISO800)

  Grant is fascinated with the spring water running through the moss. (1/30 sec, f-4, ISO800)

 All in all it was a pretty, if treacherous, side hike.  What do we do when we get back to the top?  That's right: another family picture!  (1/40 sec, f-4.5, ISO200)

At this point, we bushwhacked (in true Tim Ernst fashion) up the hill and found the right trail.  It was a quick half-mile hike to the waterfall.

There wasn't much water and we had other places to go so I only took a few pictures of the falls.  This was the one I liked best because of the way the water falls behind the rocks in the foreground.  (6 sec, f-20, ISO200)

After this, we headed to Haw Creek Falls.