Easter Hike at Garden of the Gods—Pictures

My wife, daughter and I took a hike at one of my old college stomping grounds—Garden of the Gods—on Easter.  I can’t believe that my daughter is a high school senior and I had never taken her here!  Nevertheless, it was a beautiful afternoon and I went and climbed and jumped all over the same rocks I did back in college—much to the chagrin of my daughter and especially wife!  One rock I particularly wanted to climb was “Camel Back Rock” which I like to call “Leap of Faith Rock.”  But my wife talked me out of it so I enjoyed the rest of the afternoon doing other things.  I did get my daughter to overcome some initial fears and she climbed a few, relatively easy rocks that gave her fantastic views.  

And I know already that there are some near-identical pictures here.  It was hard to choose when picking from my phone screen--oopsie!

At any rate, here are some pictures!!


Eric

That is an incredibly beautiful area. We went through there many years ago on one of our rock-climbing trips across the western states.
Thanks for the memories.

Joshua--You are more than welcome!!  I am just pleased that you can appreciate the beauty of Southern Illinois.  BTW, I don't know if I would exactly call Southern Illinois a western part of the nation--it is east of the Mississippi.  But looking at these pictures, one could mistake them for being in Colorado!

Again, I am pleased that you can appreciate the beauty.


Eric

BTW,  To anyone wondering why there are so many pictures of Camel Back rock, it is because the best way to get to the "head" of the rock (the part that sticks out) is to simply jump from one rock formation to the other--I really don't know how to climb it what with its severe overhang.

Getting back is just as easy, but the visual image is daunting.  Even though the span is only about 7'--an easy distance to leap--there is a deep drop off if you don't get all the way over and the background gives the impression that the leap is actually further than it is--despite most people having simply leaped to get there in the first place.

This is why I call it the 'Leap of Faith" rock--if you simply believe in yourself and do it without hesitation, then the leap is easy, almost nonconsequential.

But for those who hesitate at the last minute, well, they might not make it and they might take a nasty tumble.  Every year, there are people who go to the hospital with serious injuries, often incurred by not fully committing to the leap.  Thus, the name, "Leap of Faith" rock.


Eric