Kyle braves the heaviest portion of the water fall which is oh so freezing cold.

 
This morning we did a short hike to Ripley Falls which at 100 feet is the second tallest in New Hampshire. It took little time for the kids (and some of the more robust adults) to strip down and enter the frigid water. Each child in turn climbed up the rock face to slide down and plunge into the pool below.

 
After dinner the birthday celebration begins. Jeanine (aka Vanna) and sister Susan have created a Jeopardy style game featuring trivia questions, charades, pictionary, dance & stunts, and scavenger hunts. The theme of each question or challenge relates to some aspect of the life of my mother or I.

 
Seating for 21 was not a problem at the lodge. We have now been joined by my other sister Alissa, her husband John and my nephew Johnie and niece Rachel.

 
On the way down, Stephen, Burton and Mario take a quick plunge in this ice cold waterfall pool. Click on the photo for a better look at the expression on his face after a few seconds in the water.

 
The view from the top was spectacular and the cloud formations added to the overall drama of the scene.

 
We reached the summit of this very difficult climb after 5 hours and would take another 3 to descend.

 
This is Mario’s first exposure to climbing and he is the strongest of our team. It was a great pleasure to climb with him and to introduce him to this way of enjoying the great outdoors. His parents would have been very proud of his courage and tenacity. My uncle Bob was the first to introduce me to climbing so this uncle/nephew tradition has been passed down for at least two generations now.

 
Mayela (age 43) shows off her guns. Her older brother decides to stand behind the camera rather than face the humiliation of comparing biceps.

 
My uncle Bob (age 72), my sister Mayela and husband Stephen, my cousin-in-law Burton, my nephew and I set out to climb 4,000 foot Mount Webster, part of the Presidential Range.

 
Her protruding tongue is very cute, but I must teach her to protect it by keeping it inside her mouth.

 
After a quick breakfast Maya scales the first mountain she finds.

 
I am the first to rise and cannot resist photographing my favorite daughter.

 
After dinner young and old retire to the basement of the lodge for a ping pong tournament.