Swimming at Jump Creek Falls

We've been a busy family lately. Most of our time has been spent trying to stay cool from the hot summer weather. What's the best way to cool off? Swimming of course!

First, I was able to visit Brent in Sun Valley last weekend. It was a great time. I was able to get a lot off my chest. While with Brent, we went to Shelley, ID to pick up Jess and Travis. While we were in Shelley, we floated down some canals in inner-tubes. It was good times, although I accidentaly swallowed some of the canal water filled with pesticides consequentely giving me a brief coughing fit.

(Click Pictures to Enlarge!)


The day I came home from Brent's house and almost every day since we have gone swimming at Jump Creek Falls. Jump Creek is a fantastic waterfall that's 27 miles(I measured it) southwest of Nampa. The bottom of the waterfall pools making it a great place to swim. Of course the water is mostly fresh, so if I swallow any my body doesn't try to hurl the water back out.


Before you get to the waterfall, you have to hike into this canyon for about one quarter mile. It's a pretty little hike but watch out for the poison ivy! There's supposed to be rattlesnakes too but I have yet to see one (fingers crossed).


There's a little ledge right next to the waterfall you can climb onto and jump off. Becka is a good swimmer and a good diver.


I, on the other hand, am not a good diver. My dives turn into painful belly flops that draw "oohs" and "aahs" with grimicing faces from onlookers. For the time being, I substitute my dives with flips. My summer swimming goal is to be better at diving.


Eric is becoming more and more brave all the time with swimming. He'll go almost anywhere as long as he has his life vest on. He says his favorite part is jumping into the water.


Timo is still very afraid of the water. This doesn't stop us from encouraging him even if his panic almost makes Becka drown in the process. Timo tends to be scared of a lot of things but to his credit he always tries. After swimming with mommy to the waterfall he's relieved to get out of the water and makes this face for the next 20 minutes.

However, Timo had a breakthrough yesterday and seemed to enjoy himself a lot more. The panic was at a minimum.

Stay tuned for more updated swimming pictures in a water fountain.

Jump Creek Falls

There's a cool waterfall hidden deep in the southwest part of the Boise Valley. Jump Creek Falls. It's about 85 feet high with a nice big, deep pool at the bottom perfect for swimming and cooling off.

A couple years ago Becka and I took Brent's family to this waterfall to cool off. Brent, Brent Jr., and myself all climbed to the top of this waterfall (which was no easy task). As I stayed at the top of the waterfall, Brent and Brent Jr. proceeded to down climb the wall so they could jump into the pool at the bottom. Watching them down climb this wall, which was almost completely vertical was enough to make you sweat profusely from nervousness. Finally, they picked a spot to jump from and I captured a picture of both of them before they took the plunge. It had to be about a 35-40 foot jump into a pool of water they had never been to before.

After they both jumped, I wildly screamed, "You're still alive!!" Later I asked Brent how it felt and he said, "I had some serious endorphins going!"

Indeed, he did.