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