Spence and I have wimped out lately on hiking with the kids. With one at 35 pounds and one pushing 40, we're approaching that no-man's land of too heavy to carry, too slow and whiny to walk. But cabin fever got the best of us and we ventured to Big South Fork two weekends ago...we feared against our better judgment.
Once we got there it took about hour to prep (pee, put on layers, put on boots, pack diapers and lunch, dig snacks back out of the pack because "we're hungry", adjust straps, find trekking poles, load everyone up) and head off.
Five minutes down the trail, we stopped to do this because somebody pooped.
Another somebody melted down because we were walking too fast. By the time we got reloaded, we each had a somebody screaming in our ear. But we pushed on, until...
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| Silence |
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| And lunch always makes it better |
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| After lunch we tried letting everyone walk |
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| Stopping to throw stones... |
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| And cross creeks |
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| And walk on logs |
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| Until Dawit designated himself hike leader. He hoofed it like nobody's business |
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| Occasionally he got off course and took a tumble |
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| Trying a little bouldering with dad's help... |
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| ...and without |
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| We start 'em early in this family |
By trip's end, Dawit had hiked more than a mile on his own, and Caroline more than 2 miles -- and a good bit of that in wet shoes as we had to ford a creek about 20 times. We were proud as punch at the oomph these kiddos showed. And we look forward to subjecting them to even more
suffering adventures this spring.
Since this trip, Dawit has hiked 2/3 of the trail at our farm -- about 2 miles. That boy's going to be running circles around us soon. Spence is already planning a boys' backpacking trip.
