Five Billy Goat Gruffs

Some time in PA gave SD a chance to catch up with some old friends.


A billy goat in its natural environment



The littlest billy goat gruff. Cute little fellow with the biggest smile that hides a devasting cancer within.



This superstar princess is a miracle, both of modern medicine and of the human spirit. Born with a rare autoimmune disorder that left her own immune system destroying her gut and lungs, she has always had a radiantly cheerful personality that gave her the strength to survive the many surgeries and treatments and that has inspired hundreds, perhaps thousands, of admirers and supporters. Last year, a bone marrow transplant gave her working regulatory T cells that could keep her immune system in check. Now she is growing like a weed, eating lots and lots, and still shines with her innate charisma and charm.


They grow up so fast. From baby to tween in a twinkling of an eye. I did get her to look up once or twice from the computer.

Stone Door

The Savage Gulf state natural area around Stone Door provides a number of great camping, backpacking, hiking, and photography options. JPD and SD took advantage of some of them on a trip with the local Scout troop. The onset of cool weather and the off and on rainstorms made for quite a nice fall weather effect. Nothing like being cozy in your sleeping bag during a chilling rain.

Stone Door
Looking back towards Laurel Falls area.

Laurel Falls
Through the Stone Door.

TE on the rim.
Boardtree Falls

Upper Greeter Falls

Lower Greeter Falls






Notes to self and other interested in camping and hiking:

Camped Friday night at the group 3 campsite for the Stone Door ranger station. Stone Door Ranger Station would make an excellent family campsite as there is easy walk-in to sites, full service restrooms if desired, and water. Then hiked to the nearby Laurel Falls (0.3 mile roundtrip) , and then to the Stone Door (0.9 mile, but part of direct route to Greeter falls). Because we had a number of small boys in our group, chose to do the Big Creek Rim trail rather than the Big Creek Gulf trail. Big Creek Gulf would be really interesting and requiring wading, etc.. Turned out that we would not have been able to get to Ranger Creek falls on the Gulf trail anyway because the rains had flooded out the trail there. Crossed through Alum Gap campsite (3.2 mile from Stone Door, would make a good second day camp) and went on past Boardtree Falls and then upper and lower Greeter Falls (~6.0 mile total). All three of these falls are spectacular. Since one of the youth leaders had driven from Stone Door over to parking lot near Greeter Falls, we all shuttled back to the ranger station. The vicinity of parking lot also means Greeter Falls is an easy family hike for those not afraid of heights.