| Swimming holes have a certain nostalgic feel about | | | | that was about 40 feet across. |
| them. Long before swimming pools were common and | | | | Of course I had to try it, so I climbed the hill above the |
| in areas where there weren't many beaches, kids had | | | | hole and crossed over to the rocks. There was a rope |
| to go to a wide spot in a stream, or to an old rock | | | | to help me descend the last part, down to a low part |
| quarry to swim. Perhaps you did this as a child. Well, | | | | of the cliff, just fifteen feet above the water. The |
| these spots are still out there, and they are not just for | | | | deepest, and therefore safe, part of the water was |
| the kids. | | | | probably only seven or eight feet across, so you have |
| Searching For A Swimming Hole | | | | to jump with some accuracy. After leaning over the |
| When we recently moved from Arizona to Canon | | | | edge and staring down at the water for a minute or |
| City (pronounced canyon) in Colorado, we were | | | | more, a young guy decided that I should go first. I |
| looking forward to having water around. One of the | | | | jumped quickly, because hesitation just makes it |
| real estate agents at the closing on our house told us | | | | worse. |
| about a swimming hole he had been to. He even drew | | | | I didn't hit bottom, and the water was deliciously cold. |
| us a small map, and it wasn't more than a week | | | | Afterwards Ana and I sat by the water and watched |
| before we went looking for it. | | | | some of the crazier stunts. Two guys actually jumped |
| We took highway 50 west out of town, then went | | | | off a sixty-five foot cliff on the other side of the |
| north on highway 9. We came to Road # 11, and | | | | swimming hole, fortunately landing in just the right part |
| consulting our hand-drawn map, took a right. Fifteen | | | | of the hole. It was almost too nerve-wracking to |
| minutes later we passed the turnoff to Cripple Creek, | | | | watch, so we walked down the stream, where we |
| and a couple miles further we came over a hill. There | | | | watched the trout scattering. It was a wonderful hike. |
| was a parking area on the left, with a sign that had the | | | | Finding Secret Swimming Holes |
| various BLM regulations posted for the area. | | | | To find these spots, ask the locals. If you buy county |
| Across the road and over a hill, a small trail started | | | | map books for the states you'll be in, you can look for |
| down a narrow gorge. It was beautiful, with large | | | | little ponds and lakes that have only trails going to |
| boulders, cliffs on both sides, and flowers everywhere. | | | | them. You can also watch for anyplace that cars are |
| The stream was very small, however, so we | | | | parked, on the weekends especially. If people in shorts |
| wondered if it could really produce any decent | | | | going off into the woods with a large cooler and a |
| swimming holes. About a mile down the trail we got | | | | towel, you can be sure they aren't just hiking. In any |
| our answer. | | | | case, it is a lot of fun just doing the exploring, even if |
| We saw the kids before we saw the water. There | | | | you don't find any swimming holes. |
| were a dozen young men and women, aged 16 to 22, | | | | Steve Gillman hit the road at sixteen, and traveled the |
| sitting on rocks and grass and all looking in one | | | | U.S. and Mexico alone at 17. Now 40, he travels with |
| direction. Following their gaze we looked in time to see | | | | his wife Ana, whom he met in Ecuador. |
| one of them jump off a cliff and into a swimming hole | | | | |