Filed under: Kid-Friendly Trips, Nature & Wildlife, Outdoor Recreation & Hiking
Backpacking, Check!
November 11, 2012 by Cynthia Baum · 8 Comments
All 8 of Us!
We did it! We took the kids and all our gear and went backpacking yesterday for our very first time. Between freezing temperatures and over 50-pound packs, I am surprised we had as much fun as we did!
The kids had a ball and we enjoyed a moderate to easy hike (little elevation gain). We set out for the East Fork on Lion Canyon Trail in Rose Valley, California, around one in the afternoon. With lots of rest stops and frequent changes in our riders, we ended up just upstream from West Fork at the base of a waterfall by nightfall.
The trek to East Fork normally entails a relatively easy 2.5 mile hike– with four kids who all needed to be carried (for most of the way), it was anything but easy. On top of that, the camp spots were full since apparently a lot of other campers were out to enjoy a cool fall backpacking trip on their Veterans Day too. Not only were there no spots left at East Fork, there was also no water (contrary to what we had heard). So we had to backtrack and head back over to West Fork (which added another mile onto our hike). With my 70-pound pack (I was carrying my daughter, the 47-pounder, at this point), a mile felt more like four.
Me carrying my almost 50-pounder!
More to come, including information on nearby RV camping, a short hike to Rose Valley Falls, a shooting range, and three small stocked lakes nearby!
Last 5 posts by Cynthia Baum
- Beach Camping Must-Haves! - May 17th, 2013
- Camping with Kids Part II - April 20th, 2013
- Camping with Kids Part I - April 19th, 2013
- Desert Oasis: Top-Rated RV Resort - April 4th, 2013
- Getting Ready to Head Out? Don't Forget the Final Check on your RV! - March 7th, 2013
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Add some pictures of the family not hust a random view, although the tale is believable pictures document the trip.
True- I thought of adding pictures of us, but noticed no one else seems to on here…I am new to blogging…
When posting a hot topic specially one where folks may think your crazy for doing so, I don't, keeping the story truthful as possible helps readership buy the story and pitures tell a thousand words.
Done! I put a couple pics of us up for you Chris Winter! Do you really think us crazy?!
I like the photos, too! Rose Valley is my families annual hiking trip. We love the waterfalls and swimming holes. I still want to take them to Piedra Blanca, but they aren't big enough yet!
Now that is a winner!
you rock momma…this is one crazy trip…i don't know if I would have been able to hike with my little one and all our gear…keep up your hard work…you encourage me to get off my couch and do something…..i know I am not getting any younger.
You are so brave! I could not carry so much, but it looks like the scenery and the experience were worth it!