I will never underestimate the power of a hike to Flat Rocks. I’ve written many times about this special place in our creek that the family calls, “Flat Rocks.” It is where I have instructed my family to spread my ashes when I die. On our trip to Grafton, West Virginia last week we took a group up (shown above). Once again, I was awestruck by the magic of this place.

This post is a mix of old and new photos. So much has changed, but so much remains the same. My children love this place as much as I do and almost instantly revert to their childhood selves as we hike through our woods. They climb things, throw things, and they paint each other’s faces with ground-up colored rocks. The only real difference between then and now is how elaborate the painting has become. It’s a special place and a special thing to watch.