The Raging River

© shoutingforha

One of my boy's favorite things to do in Colorado is to visit Boulder Falls. The 70 foot waterfall is located eleven miles west of Boulder.

The boy loves to wade into the icy cold waters at the base of the falls. As long as the water levels aren't too high, he usually convinces the hubby and I to venture across Boulder Creek so that he can stick his hands in the water that sprays off the rocks.

© shoutingforha

The river normally runs at a fairly brisk pace, even when there has been a lack of winter snow up in the high country. The current is so swift that it has been known to snatch one of my shoes. I am then forced to endure the remainder of our hike barefoot until I am able to purchase new footwear down in Boulder.

© shoutingforha

As we approached the trail, we noticed that the path that leads to the falls was barricaded, preventing us from taking our usual hike. It soon became apparent that the closure was due to the torrent of water that was racing down the canyon. Not to be deterred, we decided to check out the river at a few key points along the road.

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As a side note, I should let you know that I have an irrational fear of white water. I was accidentally thrown into the Poudre River during a Brownie outing when I was six. I had to claw my way out of the river and onto a rock. The result was the end of my Girl Scout career and lifelong trauma when it comes to swiftly moving water.

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I am not ashamed to tell you that my heart was racing as I stood on the banks of Boulder Creek. While part of me was terrified, the other part was in awe at the sheer power of the river. It was an amazing sight to behold.

© shoutingforha

The boy was a little disappointed that our trip didn't go as planned. Although, in hindsight, I think he enjoyed the thrill of the swift current as much as our normal hike.