One of the highlights of this past Fintry forest fire infested summer was a very special hike undertaken by Sebastian, Jasper and me. This happened the first week of the summer before all the sparks started flying. (Actually little did we know that Terrace Mountain was already on fire 20 kms away at this point.) Regardless, that week we “secured the creek” not unlike soldiers. Monday we walked part way up the creek with some of the accompanying family, Tuesday even further and so on each day of the week. Typically Grandad Doug or Grandad Blake came with us. On the last day we could hike we arranged for an ambush… Tess, Grant and Karen waited at the bridge. (Very, very patiently I might add, it took us quite a while to hike up the stream but Tess had everything arranged when we arrived!) As we approached, water balloons came hurtling towards us.
“Incoming,” I yelled to which all the kids responded with squeals twice the volume. High-powered water guns hosed down on us. A water balloon landed in the creek next to me but didn’t burst. “I’ve got a live one,” I yelled, reaching for the undetonated munition. “Here, Sebastian, throw it back,” I said passing it on to the very excited Seb. Eventually we secured the bridge with much enthusiasm and uproar.
The last accomplishment was securing the falls – something that Sebastian desperately desired. After taking the above group picture a handful of us embarked on the mission. First we broke away from the creek to find better access to the falls (the red line in the picture below.) Fifteen minutes later it was Sebastian, Jasper and I stepping into the creek two hundred meters downstream of the falls. This was an adventure Sebastian and I previously completed in 2005 but we had several adults to pass Seb back and forth across the rocks.
This year, with the water levels so low, I was certain the creek would be easily passable, particularly the tricky and slippery treacherous parts. Slowly and steadily we marched upstream but each step of the way required more independence from each one of us. The last 50 meters required me to repeatedly scout out the next two to three meters, assessing how the boys could navigate their way and then encourage them towards me. Eventually I found myself up to my waste in a pool of cold water, next to a steep rock incline with Jasper a meter away and Sebastian another meter behind him. Jasper was getting cold. I had tried and calculated every possible way up this rocky slope but really doubted if we could make it. Of course, by now I was also carrying the boys’ toy guns, a large water gun, walking stick and my own backpack. Thoughts of being an irresponsible parent gushed through my mind. (Left: this is the pool of water. We had to climb to the right out of view.)
I shouted back to the boys, “I think we have to turn back. It’s too dangerous.” Jasper nodded, he was getting cold.
I looked at Sebastian, “It’s too dangerous, Seb, I think we should turn back.” Then Sebastian responded with determination I’d never seen before in him…
“No, Daddy, no! We can do it. We can do it!” Seb exclaimed.
To make a long story short, I asked Jasper if he could hang on to my back. He said yes. “Okay then,” I explained, “I am going to help Sebastian get up the rock then I will come back for you.” He agreed. I took off all my gear, tossing it over the crest of the rock. “We’re committed now,” I thought as the bag containing the digital camera disappeared. Sebastian climbed past Jasper across to me and I pushed him up the incline. I went back to Jasper who clamped his little arms around my jugular veins as I pulled myself up the rock. We continued on our way until finally we landed at the foot of the falls that towered about 50 meters above us. Excited with our success, we set the self-timer for the portrait at the start of this post. After a big snack and drink of cold water, we scaled the hill opposite the falls – another tricky manoeuvre. (Left: admiring the falls during our snack.)
I was amazed at the boys' cooperation and determination to complete the mission. As we slipped over the fence back onto the path that would take us down the other side of the hill, the walkie talkie crackled. Now out of the cavern beneath us, we had a signal. “Charles this is Blake are you there, over?”
“Fintry Base, we’ve had a major victory. The falls are secure and we’re on our way back home, over.”
We had a fantastic afternoon, made successful by Sebastian’s persistence.
