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This is a tale about a little girl named Marley, who lives in the 

foothills of the San Juan Mountains, in Colorado.

One day while playing with her toys, Marley's grandmother came to 

her and said, "Marley, would you like to take a hike?"   She jumped 

up with a big grin, blue eyes wide open and squealed.   "Hike Gigi, 

Hike."     Gigi responded.   "Well then let's get our hiking shoes on so 

that we won't slip on the rocks.   That trail is steep."   Marley quickly, 

ran to the back door and sat down where a tray of shoes were 

waiting for someone to slip them on, for another adventure.

Marley's father is a great outdoor enthusiast.    He had cleared the 

trail behind their home, up a steep hill, so they could all enjoy the 

wonder of the forest, right outside their own home.   Nick mountain 

bikes and that steep trail was just another challenge for him to 

conquer.

Marley, a bright and spunky two year old, slipped her Merrill hiking 

shoes on and even put them on the right feet!   Gigi smiled and 

commented on what a bright little girl she was.   Marley seemed 

pleased that her grandmother had noticed.

Suddenly, Marley felt something breathing very heavy behind her.  

She spun her head around so fast, she almost bopped him in the 

nose.   It was Moby, their white shepherd.   He wasn't going to let 

Marley out of his sight and if they were taking a hike - he was 

definitely going.   Moby often roamed the foothills, chasing small 

lizards and looking for anything he could play with.

Off they went, out the back door, down the deck steps, up the 

trail, around the "little house" as they called it, where her Aunt 

Natalie lived.   Moby ran fast ahead of them, already a ways up 

the trail, but before they could go up the next hill, Marley 

tugged on Gigi's hand requesting to take a peek into the back 

window of Aunt Natalie's house.   Pressing   her nose on the 

window, she was hoping to catch her in the kitchen.   But she 

didn't see anything except some dishes that were left on the 

counter.   Aunt Natalie wasn't home from work yet.   Maybe next 

time, she thought.

They walked slowly, admiring all the trees and plants.  

"What a marvelous place to take a hike." said Gigi.   It 

was late afternoon, in early May and the air was 

beginning to cool down, as the sun dropped behind the 

mountain.    It was perfect weather for a hike.    The trees 

smelled of pine and the sky was as blue as the ocean.  

"Marley, look at that cute pink flowers."   said Gigi.   "Let's 

count them as we walk along."    "One, two, four, six",   as 

Marley spouted out the numbers in a melodic fashion.    "Try 

again Marley."   Gigi counted with her.   "One, two, three, 

FOUR!",   they shouted and both laughed at their good timing in 

counting together.  

"How about a walking stick?"   Gigi asked.   She 

handed Marley the perfect size stick and found one 

for herself, so they could peck away at the stones 

and earth, as they walked the steep hill.  

Walking sticks are often used to help hikers pay 

attention to where they place their feet.   If loose 

dirt or uneven rocks are there it can help the hiker 

maneuver around the object quicker and safer.  

Marley is a fabulous hiker, thought Gigi.    For a two 

year old to be so sure footed is amazing! She's 

going to be just like her mommy and daddy.   They 

both love the outdoors, nature and the beauty of 

God's handiwork.   

"Look!" said Gigi.   "A BEAR CAVE!"   Up a   ways was a huge 

opening.   "Shhhhhhh."   said   Gigi.    "We need to be very quiet, 

so that we don't wake the bears."   "There may be a baby bear in 

the cave sleeping and the mama bear wouldn't want us to wake 

him."   So the two hikers, sneaked by the bear cave.   Very quietly 

and ever so slowly, so they would not wake the bears.  

Marley was so sure there were bears, but she wasn't afraid.   She 

was respectful that they might be sleeping and didn't want to 

wake them up.   Gigi, giggled to herself thinking how fun it was 

to have her sweet granddaughter, so excited that there might be 

bears sleeping in the cave. Marley whispered , "Shhhhh, don't 

wake the bears Gigi."    

They moved on.    "Time for a rest."    Gigi sat down on a big 

rock.   She noticed something hiding under the leaves, crawling 

towards them.   Moby swarmed in to protect the two hikers.   

Suddenly, a gray squirrel scampered up and sat on his hind legs, 

with his little gray paws dangling in front.    "Hi!"   he said "I am 

Sammy the Squirrel and I live right there in that hole,    up there 

in that big pine tree."   "Where are you two going?"   he asked.  

The hikers were taken by surprise that the squirrel could talk.  

Gigi responded that they were on their way up the steep hill to a 

castle, where they had heard two beautiful princesses live.   The 

squirrel knew of the castle and two kind princesses and asked if 

he could join them.

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