I don't know if we just like to make things difficult for ourselves or what, but we tend to do some crazy things as a family--most of them demanding physical exertion (e.g., pushing a big pioneer-inspired handcart on a 90-degree day along a trail that included a river crossing). Well, this summer we probably topped all our other crazy adventures with an overnighter hike/camping trip with the entire crazy fam, baby included.
So, here's how it all started ... I am brushing my teeth while Kevin gets ready for work on a random Friday in July, when he cheerily states, "why don't we hike into Lena Lake tonight for an overnighter. I'll try to come home at lunchtime so we can go." I smile and nod and mumble something (remember, I am brushing my teeth) like, "sure, Honey. Sounds good," honestly thinking that the chances of him coming home early are about as likely as me spending the morning scrubbing the oven. Translation: I'm in the clear. Whew!
Don't get me wrong. I like camping as much as the next outdoorsy gal. But air-mattress-type camping, where at night I climb into a nice comfy sleeping bag and cozy down with two fluffy pillows just for me. Not the type where I sleep on a pad as comfy as a cardboard box with a pillow that could fit in a lunch pail (assuming I have a pillow at all). Maybe my passion in this regard comes from the two+ weeks I spent backpacking in Chile, sleeping in a tent most nights. And I use the term "sleeping" very loosely.
Okay, so back to the story ... I'm busily going about my day, when Kevin shows up at lunchtime as promised:). Yay for me! Unfortunately I have not prepared one bit for the trip (wishful thinking I guess), and we have a house full of kids who need to be returned to their parents. Needless to say, it takes us quite some time to get packed up and out the door. By the time we are on the road, Friday-afternoon traffic is already in full swing. And as we creep our way out of the city I am beginning to get a little nervous that with the 2 hour+ drive ahead of us (more like 3+with the traffic), this hike is not such a great idea.
It is, in fact, 7:00 by the time we make our way to the trail head and twilight is already settling in, particularly under the thick cover of trees that crowd the mountain. A hiker or two pass us by on their way off the trail, but we seem to be the only ones just setting out (big surprise). Soon there are no other hikers to be found. Only us. Which in my mind makes us the perfect evening snack for a cougar or bear:). I smile, but I'm completely serious. When my mind is not focused on the pain and numbness in my right shoulder, it is intent on reassuring myself that if David could kill a Lion with a large stone (see Old Testament), than so could I. Which leaves me eying the trail for accessible and transportable rocks of very large proportions. No, really.
My only real reassurance is that Kevin and I both look quite large with our packs. The kids, particularly the younger ones, can't pack in much more than a light sleeping bag, so it's left to the two of us to bring up enough gear for the whole group (albeit, the older two boys do pack up all of their own clothing and some belonging to their siblings--great job, guys!). Since Kevin's pack is half full with a 5-man tent, we realize the only way to fit everything is for me to load the baby into a front pack/sling, so I can still manage a decent size pack on my back as well--hence the numb shoulder.
Since this post is getting extremely long, I'll just wrap it up by saying that since I'm writing this entry, we obviously did not get eaten by a bear. Or a cougar. We actually made it up the approximately four miles of trail in very good time and got our tent up just before the sky went completely black. We quickly climbed in and got ourselves arranged--which didn't take long since we had very little bedding;)--and settled down for a horrible nights sleep, which included me trying not to move a muscle for fear of disturbing the 10-month old cuddling against me who woke up crying every couple of hours (hope the other campers didn't mind:)), and all of the kiddies freezing their little behinds off throughout the night.
Okay, okay, so we cheated a little on the whole "roughing it" thing, and brought along my iPad so the kids could watch Rio.
I likely would have watched it as well, but Joseph was exhausted and would only be calmed by my laying really still beside him in the sleeping bag. Not the best thing for my slight tendency toward claustrophobia.
And now this is the scene in the morning: Joseph is as happy as can be crawling around, and I'm trying to hide away for a few moments of sleep ... probably some of my first.
The kids piling on each other in an effort to get warm. Their lightweight, "play" sleeping bags were all they could carry, but didn't provide much by way of insulation.
Mae, wishing she had slept here instead of in the tent ... her and me both!
Cheating again, playing DS by the fire.
Daddy and his boys (minus one). As a side note, all of our breakfast was cooked on that tiny little stove.
Still trying to get warm.
But never too cold to goof around!
Case in point.
Yay! The sun is out, it's a beautiful day, and we will be sleeping in our own beds tonight. Could life get any better?!
Oh wait, it just did ... FISHING!
And on our way back out, after a few hours of exploring. It was Saturday now and many hikers were on the trail. Let's just say we were quite the spectacle ... The story of our life!
Naptime for Joseph ... He was quite the trooper.
A quick stop by a local ice cream shop. Yum.
Okay, so the big question seems to be, would we do it again? Absolutely!! What an experience for our family. What a great opportunity to teach our kids to perservere, to do things even when they aren't easy. And what a great reminder of the fun and bonding that can take place in, well lets just say, not the most ideal of circumstances.
Only next time, no baby! Sorry, Joseph, you'll have to wait it out with Grandma for a couple of years ... make that a few.
So, here's how it all started ... I am brushing my teeth while Kevin gets ready for work on a random Friday in July, when he cheerily states, "why don't we hike into Lena Lake tonight for an overnighter. I'll try to come home at lunchtime so we can go." I smile and nod and mumble something (remember, I am brushing my teeth) like, "sure, Honey. Sounds good," honestly thinking that the chances of him coming home early are about as likely as me spending the morning scrubbing the oven. Translation: I'm in the clear. Whew!
Don't get me wrong. I like camping as much as the next outdoorsy gal. But air-mattress-type camping, where at night I climb into a nice comfy sleeping bag and cozy down with two fluffy pillows just for me. Not the type where I sleep on a pad as comfy as a cardboard box with a pillow that could fit in a lunch pail (assuming I have a pillow at all). Maybe my passion in this regard comes from the two+ weeks I spent backpacking in Chile, sleeping in a tent most nights. And I use the term "sleeping" very loosely.
Okay, so back to the story ... I'm busily going about my day, when Kevin shows up at lunchtime as promised:). Yay for me! Unfortunately I have not prepared one bit for the trip (wishful thinking I guess), and we have a house full of kids who need to be returned to their parents. Needless to say, it takes us quite some time to get packed up and out the door. By the time we are on the road, Friday-afternoon traffic is already in full swing. And as we creep our way out of the city I am beginning to get a little nervous that with the 2 hour+ drive ahead of us (more like 3+with the traffic), this hike is not such a great idea.
It is, in fact, 7:00 by the time we make our way to the trail head and twilight is already settling in, particularly under the thick cover of trees that crowd the mountain. A hiker or two pass us by on their way off the trail, but we seem to be the only ones just setting out (big surprise). Soon there are no other hikers to be found. Only us. Which in my mind makes us the perfect evening snack for a cougar or bear:). I smile, but I'm completely serious. When my mind is not focused on the pain and numbness in my right shoulder, it is intent on reassuring myself that if David could kill a Lion with a large stone (see Old Testament), than so could I. Which leaves me eying the trail for accessible and transportable rocks of very large proportions. No, really.
My only real reassurance is that Kevin and I both look quite large with our packs. The kids, particularly the younger ones, can't pack in much more than a light sleeping bag, so it's left to the two of us to bring up enough gear for the whole group (albeit, the older two boys do pack up all of their own clothing and some belonging to their siblings--great job, guys!). Since Kevin's pack is half full with a 5-man tent, we realize the only way to fit everything is for me to load the baby into a front pack/sling, so I can still manage a decent size pack on my back as well--hence the numb shoulder.
Since this post is getting extremely long, I'll just wrap it up by saying that since I'm writing this entry, we obviously did not get eaten by a bear. Or a cougar. We actually made it up the approximately four miles of trail in very good time and got our tent up just before the sky went completely black. We quickly climbed in and got ourselves arranged--which didn't take long since we had very little bedding;)--and settled down for a horrible nights sleep, which included me trying not to move a muscle for fear of disturbing the 10-month old cuddling against me who woke up crying every couple of hours (hope the other campers didn't mind:)), and all of the kiddies freezing their little behinds off throughout the night.
Okay, okay, so we cheated a little on the whole "roughing it" thing, and brought along my iPad so the kids could watch Rio.
I likely would have watched it as well, but Joseph was exhausted and would only be calmed by my laying really still beside him in the sleeping bag. Not the best thing for my slight tendency toward claustrophobia.
And now this is the scene in the morning: Joseph is as happy as can be crawling around, and I'm trying to hide away for a few moments of sleep ... probably some of my first.
The kids piling on each other in an effort to get warm. Their lightweight, "play" sleeping bags were all they could carry, but didn't provide much by way of insulation.
Mae, wishing she had slept here instead of in the tent ... her and me both!
Cheating again, playing DS by the fire.
Daddy and his boys (minus one). As a side note, all of our breakfast was cooked on that tiny little stove.
Still trying to get warm.
But never too cold to goof around!
Case in point.
Yay! The sun is out, it's a beautiful day, and we will be sleeping in our own beds tonight. Could life get any better?!
Oh wait, it just did ... FISHING!
And on our way back out, after a few hours of exploring. It was Saturday now and many hikers were on the trail. Let's just say we were quite the spectacle ... The story of our life!
Naptime for Joseph ... He was quite the trooper.
A quick stop by a local ice cream shop. Yum.
Okay, so the big question seems to be, would we do it again? Absolutely!! What an experience for our family. What a great opportunity to teach our kids to perservere, to do things even when they aren't easy. And what a great reminder of the fun and bonding that can take place in, well lets just say, not the most ideal of circumstances.
Only next time, no baby! Sorry, Joseph, you'll have to wait it out with Grandma for a couple of years ... make that a few.
Nice capture!!
ReplyDeleteThanks very much for post:
I like it and hope that you continue posting.
Let me show other source that may be good for community.
Baby Carrier
Sounds like SO much fun!! We love camping as a family and do a lot of day hikes but have never attempted an overnight HIKE! You guys are awesome!
ReplyDelete