Backpacking with Kids East Inlet RMNP September, 2014

Hut Trip to Walter's Cabin 2014

Bring on the Snow... It's Hut Trip Season!

All ready to go!

And the snowflakes have arrived...   An end to our backcountry adventures?  Or just the beginning?  A few weeks ago, we ventured to the Colorado backcountry on a hut trip.  Now I know what you are thinking... What is a hut trip?  I would define it as the perfect extension of our love for backpacking  without the constant cold of winter camping.  The 10th Mountain Division Hut Association is named in honor of the 10th Mountain Division of the U.S. Army which trained in central Colorado in World War II.  This association manages several huts in the central Colorado area.  Individuals who make use of these huts share the love of the outdoors and sense of adventure the men of the 10th Mountain Division did in their day. 

Our hut experience began at the parking area at Vail Pass where we climbed out of the station wagon, donned our winter gear - snow pants, hat, goggles, and unloaded the trunk.  Gear included our backpacks, snowshoes, and a homemade pulk (a sled with lines and PVC pipe supporting so the sled can be pulled up and down the mountain with a measure of control).  And of course two eager little boys.

The views were inspiring!

We quickly found the trailhead, strapped on our snowshoes and were off!  Well, not really.  Gus was lying down in the snow more than up hiking.  Jack persisted with his slow and steady pace.  But it didn't take long before Matt resorted to pulling Gus in the pulk.  But our homemade pulk was a bit less than optimal, and we could see why others were willing to pay around $300 for this piece of equipment.  Gus was still spending more time lying in the snow than making forward progress.  We considered turning back.  But, have no fear, a few adjustments in the load and some hot cocoa and we were off. 

The path took us along a stream and clearing.  The clear sky let us see the surrounding snow covered peaks and a nearby ski resort.  We passed a few snowshoers who were headed down.  Otherwise, though, the silence the snow allowed was amazing.  We ascended only about 500 feet and traveled about 3 miles all together.  We got to a point where we crossed the clearing into a wooded area and found Shrine Mountain Inn.  Ours was the third in the group of three... Walter's Cabin.  I was told it was the best, and was not disappointed.  The view was amazing.

Our home for the night...  Walter's Cabin

Inside we were happy to find a propane heater and stove as well as running water and cookware.  Our sleeping bags were needed on top of the supplied mattresses and pillows.  There was a table and chairs in the living area...  In terms of backcountry experiences, this place was plush!

Warm and cozy...

We heated up some chili, fixed cocoa for the boys and peppermint patties for Matt and I and settled in.  We read books, played Uno, and just relaxed.  And in our exhaustion from the hike, were all to sleep by 7:30 or so.

In the morning, having the luxury of a stove, we had a great breakfast of eggs, bacon and bagels.  We were pleased to have another sunny day for our hike out.  Downhill, of course, was much easier.  We finished with some sledding on the way back.  All in all, a fantastic time!

We will see you on the trail!

Mama Bear

Introducing the West Side of the Park

Ah, the start of autumn.  Somehow our last backpacking trip of the summer turned into a fantastic showcase of the best of the fall colors and our discovery of a fantastic area of Rocky Mountain National Park.

Awesome cloud inversion

Before I delve into details of the backpacking trip itself, I must describe for you the beauty we passed while driving to the park.  Rocky Mountain National  Park has two main entrances.  The east side of the park, at Estes Park, is the area we had frequented most.  It is rather easily accessible from the front range, and I would guess, is the area most visited by tourists.  The west side, near Grand Lake, requires about one hour more drive time.  That drive took us right into the mountains, dark lush green, with golden aspens intermingled.  As we were ascending, we were blessed with a great view of a cloud inversion...  a perfect prelude to a colorful Colorado autumn!  We crossed up over Berthoud Pass, then eventually down into Grand Lake where we found our trailhead.

The East Inlet Trailhead is a great spot for both hikers and backpackers.  Not far into the hike is Adams Falls.  It is an impressive waterfall, that is easily seen from the adjacent overlook.  It was a perfect energizer for our hike ahead.

A game of Uno for evening entertainment

Our first campsite was not too far off the trailhead.  Only 1.5 miles in.  But wow!  We had never stayed at such a beautiful campsite.  This was at East Meadow campsite.  We were the only party there.  We pitched our tent perfectly, so we were perched above a meadow, with a gentle river flowing through.  The boys were able to splash in the water a bit while we did the usual camp chores like filtering water and such.  We had a dinner of lasagna and vegetables.  This was followed by apple cobbler.  Perfect to warm us up before getting into our sleeping bags for the night.  The weather report called for 29 degree temperatures, so we had to prepare well with warm bellies.

Yum!

With hats, long johns, wool socks, sleeping bag liners, and the four of us snuggled into the tent, we did quite well.  We woke around 6:30 to a frost-covered tent.  It was 22 degrees!  Immediately Matt got up and made coffee and cocoa.  Instead of the expected hot breakfast, we opted for homemade breakfast bars.  These worked quite well (recipe to be posted soon).  They delicious and filling.  And for the boys, they were easy to eat.  Added bonus, no dishes to clean.

Hot cocoa!

After packing up camp, we moved down the trail to our next campsite.  And who should we happen to see about twenty feet off the trail?  Why it is a bull moose, accompanied by his two moose cows.  We circled the wagons (Matt in front, two boys, then Robin), understanding that moose are the most dangerous animal in the park.  Respectfully, we backed away, but kept an eye on them at the same time.  The one moose cow stood up to look at us.  I guess she found us boring because she sat back down.  And the bull moose?  He definitely saw us but did not seemed threatened by us (fortunately!) and let us pass by.

One of three...

After setting up camp (also a beautiful spot, next to a less serene but still gorgeous river), we started on a day hike to Lone Pine Lake.  Now for some reason, Matt and I thought we could get there in time for lunch.  We thought it would be an easy hike.  Well, it turned out to be three miles one way, with 1200 feet of elevation gain.  We were tired but in good spirits when we reached the lake,  The hike back was a bit easier since it was downhill.  And a plethora of wild raspberries boosted our spirits.  And Jack?  Well, he was born to hike.  He probably could have gone a few more miles.  He wanted to run (for the fun of it) all the way back to camp.

A dinner of chili followed by chocolate oreo pudding readied us for a good night's sleep.  The temperature was cool but not cold like the night before.  We woke well-rested.  The hike out was lovely, and left us looking forward to our next adventure.

We will see you on the trail!  Also, be sure to watch our YouTube video:  Backpacking with Kids East Inlet RMNP

Mama Bear

Beautiful East Meadow

Anticipation...

So one of the great things about backpacking is the anticipation.  We have a trip coming up at Rocky Mountain National Park.  Just in time for the elk rut.  If you are unfamiliar, this is basically the term for the elk mating season...  where the head honcho elk bugles to communicate to his harem.  Or, in other cases, where the bull elk bugles to the other bull elk to keep away.  I have heard the bugling before, but I am looking forward to sharing that experience with the boys over the course of the weekend.

Matt and I are both looking forward to a September backpacking trip.  We love the quiet and absence of the summer crowds.  We look forward to the cool, crisp air of the mountains, drinking our coffee in the brisk morning air.  And we are excited to hear the elk bugle in the evening.  We checked our gear last night, including hot meals and warm clothes for all.  We will keep you posted.

See you on the trail!

Mama Bear

All in Fun...

After our last blog post, Matt and I received questions about how to get the kids excited about hiking.  How to keep them moving on the trail?  Aha!  The million dollar question!  Fortunately, Matt and I realized early that our end goal with family hiking trips is to have a great time, and to instill in our kids the love of backpacking and hiking.  Hopes of 25 mile days on the Pacific Crest Trail would not create a backpacking lover out of a four year old.  So what to do?

My first recommendation is to be realistic of the kids' hiking abilities.  No more 25 mile days.  A low mileage day of 2-4 miles (depending on altitude change) will keep the kids energized and enthusiastic.  It gives them plenty of time to do the things kids love to do...  Stop and look at lichen on rocks, throw a frisbee around, or play a game of catch with a tennis ball.  Let them play in the dirt, let them smell the flowers, and let them inspect the bugs on the ground.

Secondly, be sure to bring plenty of good food.  This is huge!  Hot chocolate in the morning to drink is a must.  Fruit leathers are always great.  And then there is the s'more dilemma.  How do you do s'mores if you are backpacking in an area where open fires are not allowed?  Well, have no fear.  We found a great recipe for S'more Bars from Martha Thompson, the Director of Guest Relations, at the Dave Ramsey Show.  Look at the Recipes page above for details.

Speaking of food, there are some things that you might take for granted, until you actually try it with kids.  One of those things is eating cereal out of a bowl while you hold it in your lap.  Little kids can't do this.  After much frustration, we have decided to go with some sort of breakfast bar for the kids.  You can make them at home or buy them at the store...  Whichever.  Just making it easier for the kids makes it more fun.

And fun?  What is more fun than a little water.  Kids love playing in the water.  Jumping in puddles...  Throwing rocks in a stream...  Scrambling on the rocks.  Let them.  Just try to take their shoes off before they get them soaked!

And last but not least, I have said it before, you have to know when to fold 'em.  If something is not quite right to ensure your kids will love the trip, you might just have to bag it.  If the forecast calls for rain, it might be wise to postpone the trip.  Same thing for sick kids.  Heck, I have been known to hitch-hike back to the car when we have gotten in over our heads with a trip.

So let your kids be kids.  Let them take their time.  Let them have some fun.  And let them love backpacking!

We will see you on the trail!

Mama Bear

Keeping It Light With the Little Backbreakers

So my last entry I talked about a lot of the things that Mama Bear and I have learned about with backpacking with kids.  This will be a post about one specific area...ultralight backpacking.
Prior to the existence of the little backbreakers, my wife and I were always attempting to lower our pack weight.  This was actually an academic exercise since we did not really having enough time to backpack.  We were, however, able to make the occasional excursion.

Mostly, we read a lot about backpacking, made long excel spreadsheets to weigh our gear and dream.
Now, it is time!  We live in one of the best places in the world to backpack and we finally have made the time to make it happen.
With kids, the gear added to one's pack can get heavy.   There are some redundancies, but the kids' sleeping bags, bigger tent, more clothes and more food is really the heavy stuff.
To break it down, we went from a tarp tent weighing in at just over 20 ounces to a four man tent at 5lbs 15 ounces.  The Big Agnes UL4 is what we use and it has worked great.

The kids sleeping bags are not the uber light weight ones that we have.  Both of our bags are right around 2 lbs.  The kids bags are kids bags, cheap and heavy at 3lbs each.  Plus pads, plus pillows.
Those are the really big items, but the way I am looking at it is that we are training our future Sherpas.  Within a few years, I expect they will carry more of their own gear, and then more of MY gear:)

Know When to Fold 'Em

Two happy boys at the start of the hike

Still doing okay here...

Why the sad title you say?  Well, Kenny Rogers was right, you gotta know when to fold 'em.  As I said in my first post, we want our kids to grow up loving backpacking.   So if there is something that might make them miserable when they are backpacking...  contracting giardia, getting eaten by a mountain lion, freezing to death, or otherwise, then it is best to stay home.

So what happened?  Well, the last full day of the Mills Family Reunion, we planned, appropriately, to hike to Mills Lake at Rocky Mountain National Park.  We woke to a brisk but clear morning.  Soon into the 6-mile round trip hike, Jack says, "I feel sick."  Being the crazy hiking mom I am, I thought that he was merely cold or tired (we were at the trailhead at 7 a.m.).  So on we went.

Soon, however, I realized that Jack was rather miserable and really not feeling well.  I should have realized it when he was not bounding off of rocks like his younger brother Gus (who by the way successfully pooped in a cathole on the same hike... not bad for a four year old).  We proceeded the three miles to our destination.  Beautiful Mills Lake.  There we bundled up Jack who was shivering by now and

And a no longer happy looking Jack...  Sorry kid!

who continued to shiver even though adequately warmed.  Yep... Fever.  :-(

At this point Tree and I made the decision to cancel the weekend backpacking trip.  We knew that even if Jack was feeling better the following day, it was very likely that one of us would end up ill in the short-term.  And sure enough, we all did.

And crossing the CDT, the next day!

So passing on a bit of wisdom.  First, if it is going to rain the whole trip, consider cancelling.  I can't remember where we learned that, but probably not bad advice.  Second, if a normally happy-go-lucky hiking kid tells you he is sick, take his word for it.  Or at least adjust plans accordingly when you realize he is sick.

Another trip coming up next month.  We will see you on the trail!

Full recovery for our future CDT hiker!

- Mama Bear

Day Hike to Gem Lake

Mills family reunion in Estes Park, Colorado...   A perfect time for some day hiking.   This hike was different in that our crew consisted of 15 people or so.  We were looking for a hike manageable for kids naive to hiking.  As well, a trailhead that can be accessed at Rocky Mountain National Park, without paying national park admission fees.  Gem Lake on the northeast side of the park...  PERFECT!

This hike is 3.4 miles, out and back,  and it gains about 1000 feet in altitude.  Don't be intimidated by the altitude.   Just like the tortoise and the hare,  slow and steady wins the race.  And the win is in the incredible views.  The kids ranged in ages from 4-14.  Our kids, and others, were quite used to hiking and had a blast the whole way.  A couple kids, not used to hiking, got a little warn out, but seemed to perk up after appropriate snacks and rest time.

So the views...  A couple points along the way, there are great views of Estes Park below and the surroundings mountains.  And Gem Lake at the top, though small, is something to see.  It is surrounded by rock walls, but there is a small "beach" area, just begging for kids to wade on in.  Keep this in mind...  kids love hiking and backpacking by water.  Let them take their time and enjoy it.  And that we did.  Shorts came off so the boys could wade further in their boxer briefs.  And when those got wet, no worries, just go commando.  In all, it was smiles all around.  And again, Jack declared, "That was awesome. I want to do that again!"  

Another great day of hiking...  We will see you on the trail!

-Mama Bear

Don't Underestimate Your Kids

The summit of Mount Herman

Immediately after our move to Colorado Springs, we began regular family day hikes in the area.  We decided to give Mount Herman a try.  Now I have to confess, I was excited about the hike... It has beautiful views of the surrounding area.   But I did not think the kids would make it all the way.  It has a 1000 foot elevation gain.  We took along the usual day hike supplies... Sunscreen, hats, plenty of water, and snacks for the boys.  The snacks for this hike included Chex Mix and M&Ms.  Nope, we are not above a little candy to add to the fun of the outdoors.  We have found that the whining definitely increases when they are hungry.   On the flipside, nothing brings a smile like a handful of M&Ms.



Happy Happy

 This was a great hike that passed through a meadow with colorful wildflowers, passed by a small stream, and climbed up rockfalls.  While not terribly technical, it was certainly a good workout.  We were careful to take frequent breaks.   Matt (Trail name: Tree) and I have learned that pushing our kids without breaks only leads to tears, and frankly, kids who don't like to hike.  So we have learned to stop and smell the wildflowers when we hike.

Well, wouldn't you know, our kids really liked the rock scrambling...  No they thrived on it.  The boys jumped off every rock they possibly could.  In a manner reminiscent of the Little Engine that Could, they huffed and puffed all the way to the top.  There we were rewarded with awesome views of the surrounding mountains, the Air Force Academy, and surrounding Colorado Springs area.  We rested and refueled on chocolate a bit while the butterflies danced around us.   From there,  it was downhill all the way.   The best part was Jack's declaration that "it was awesome!" and Gus asking when we can do it again.   VICTORY!   We will see you on the trail. 

-Mama Bear

Learning Experience

It is quite a challenge to take two boys under six backpacking.  It is also very rewarding.  Some of the times backpacking with the kids can be a painful car ride, or a trip to the dentist.  But, it is worth it when on the way home the four year old says "that was the best trip ever!"

I am going to list a few of the things that we have learned so far:
1.  Do not think you can ultralight a trip with kids.  Pack-weight of about 45lbs with food is about the norm.
2.  Keep the distance short.  With a four year old, we keep the hike in under 2 miles and plan on adding miles with day-hiking.
3.  Know where you are going.  Kids do not enjoy getting lost.
4.  Lots of snacks and sugary incentives.  Sugar is not a big part of the kids diet, but we keep the candy and sweets for times when they just need a little help getting over the next hill.
5.  Do not plan on cereal for breakfast.  Messy, stick to bars.
6.  Freeze dried coffee is a decent alternative to the lightweight backpacking coffee gadgets.

This is it for now, I will add more to the list as we learn.  We have only been on 3 trips with the boys so we have a lot to learn.
-Tree  

Just the Beginning...

We are twenty-three days into a lifetime of adventure...  My husband Matt and I connected over our love of the outdoors and especially backpacking.  The story of how we met is amazing, but is not why I am here today.  Let's just say that when we re-connected in Fort Collins, Colorado, we shared a passion for waking up to crisp mountain air in the morning, majestic views of night skies glittered with stars, and quiet solitude only backcountry camping can provide.

Somehow life took us out of Colorado for a time, back to the Midwest.  There we did what married folks do.  Had babies...  Two of them.  Jack and Gus.  As Midwesterners, we dreamed of backpacking in the mountains and longed for the day we could return to the freedom and solitude we so loved.  But here is the question...  How do we do this with two kids in tow?

We made the big move back to Colorado twenty-three days ago.  And so begins our adventure.  We have created this blog to share our backpacking experiences with you.

Our goal as a family is to raise our boys with a love for backpacking.  Our goal for this blog is to encourage you to give it a go with your family.  We will see you on the trail!

- Mama Bear