Perfect Fall temperatures this morning. Ideal for our first real hiking expedition with the girls.
Chris found a park near by, Indian Lake County Park, that had some shorter trails, historical markers and water. Sounded perfect for our outing.
We loaded up the daypack with snacks, water, pacifier, extra toys for Avery, wipes and diapers. The child carrier was in the car and both girls were appropriately bundled up (or at least I thought; they both ended up being chilly in the shaded woods!). We were ready.
We got there and the parking lot had more cars in it then we were expecting but the park looked beautiful. We hiked along a couple of different trails for a while doing what ended up to be a big loop the took us up some hills and past the lake. There were lots of stops, two shoulder rides for Sam and water breaks. It was about 1.5 miles of hiking.
Then we were back at the car. But saw another trail that looked very promising. We headed out again giving Sam a snack to keep her going. This trail was a major up hill but there were built in log stairs that Sam loved. There were neat old signs along the way telling stories of the plants and landscape in the area. These worked as great breaks for Sam and good reading for Chris and I. When we got to the top there was this adorable little church up there that was built in 1857. It was adorable.
We took a look around and then headed back down the hill. A great morning!
The big successes for the day -
1. Sam peed in the woods for the first time.
2. Avery took her morning nap in the carrier.
3. We got 2.5 miles out of Sam today with only one snack and a few shoulder rides!
This park was the prefect choice for our first real hiking experience and it couldn't have gone any better. We can't wait to go back and explore more of the trails and try longer distances. This morning really made me excited to do a backpacking/camping trip with the girls as well. I think they are ready and we have missed our outdoor adventures. It is time!
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The Nitty Gritty!
Some tips for hiking with young children (brought to you from "Kids in the Wild" by Cindy Ross and Todd Gladfelter:
- Dress your children in bright colors so they are easy to spot down trail.
- A hiking stick held in one hand by both parents can act as a railing for children to hold on to when the terrain is treacherous.
- Children should always be able to engage in a conversation while hiking and never be short of breath.
- Keep your child active while you walk; pointing out things that you see, listening to things and playing games.
- Always plan the hike around the needs of the youngest child.
Have you gone hiking with your children yet?
Awww shucks....no pictures of the cute church? Glad you had a fun and successful day!
Posted by: Tami S | 09/25/2010 at 09:58 PM