We enjoyed a final gathering of the family after the sun set. Heather and my father showed old family photos and quizzed the youngsters on their knowledge of our ancestors.

 
Immediately after diner I gathered everyone for a family photo. The mosquitoes were out in droves and could not have been more annoying. The group suffered through the attack long enough for me to get two photos of everyone and I am pleased with the result.

 
Mario looks over the edge onto the Crawford Notch. Rising on his left is Mount Webster, which we climbed the day before.

 
After lunch my nephew Mario and I ascended Mount Willard in a record time of 36 minutes practically running the entire way. At the top we met up with other members of our party who had climbed up much earlier.

 
For lunch we dined at the Mount Washington Hotel which affords a spectacular view of its namesake pictured here in the background.

 
Under the careful supervision of her Uncle Stephen, Maya is not to be outdone by her brothers and cousins. She climbs the rock face and becomes the youngest member of our crew to survive the plunge.

 
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.