|
|
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 574
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 574 |
Sorry for the OT - but I figured among friends this is worthy. (I miss you all!) Little Kai is 3 1/2 now..so we decided he was old enough to try a local mountain (in our backyard) of Crowder's Mountain. Though our state holds mountains up to 6,000' (yeah, still not west coast elevations), Crowder's tops out at just 1,625' with about 800' of elevation gain. That said, the trail is quite steep and rocky in places..so even relatively fit hikers can find a challenge in it. Our total hike distance was 5.2 miles..which was incredible for the little guy..I was really, really impressed. We didn't carry him at all, but did hold his hand for some of the sketchy parts..  Mommy and Kai fueling up on Subway prior to the hike..  Hitting the trail..  Couple trees are already starting to turn..  We did the 1 mile loop around the lake as the warmup.. Saw a snake and some other cool stuff..  We thought we had a kid, but apparently we hatched a monkey..  Kai told me to tell Richard Piotrowski that he found the ultimate hiking food (better than pizza or McDonald's breakfast sandwiches)...Sour Patch Kids..  Mommy and Kai enjoying the rest of a Subway sandwich on the summit..  That kid is something else..  Kai having one of Daddy's birthday cupcakes that Nana sent me. Georgetown Cupcakes overnighted!! Woot!  [img] http://www.mudspike.com/images/kaicrowd10.jpg[/img] Mommy and Kai on another clearing on the "Rock Top" trail.. [img] http://www.mudspike.com/images/kaicrowd11.jpg[/img] This looks less dangerous than it is..I promise. My Dad is screaming "get that boy a helmet".. He was on Daddy's hand belay for the entire trip where it got rugged..I promise.. [img] http://www.mudspike.com/images/kaicrowd12.jpg[/img] The final stretch.. [img] http://www.mudspike.com/images/kaicrowd13.jpg[/img] A congratulatory hug.. [img] http://www.mudspike.com/images/kaicrowd14.jpg[/img] As soon as he hit the car.. [img] http://www.mudspike.com/images/kaicrowd16.jpg[/img] All in all a great hike. Barely a complaint at all and he was peppy throughout. I think Mommy and Daddy were more beat than him. A few more years and we'll be ready to make a road trip back out west I think! Hope this finds all of you well and enjoying the late season.. Chris "BeachAV8R"
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 5,433 Likes: 9
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 5,433 Likes: 9 |
I'm sitting here shaking my head in disbelief...
I can't believe time is moving this quickly.
Cool report Chris!
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 945
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 945 |
I love that last sleep picture
Rest, when you are tired, is one of life’s greatest blessings
Norman Croucher, Legless But Smiling, page 288
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 720
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 720 |
That b&w photo of Kai with the red leaf...
Now that is precious!
Congratulations on having fun in the holy state of North Carolina (hint: I was stationed at Camp Lejeune).
Journey well...
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 783
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 783 |
Cupcakes and Gummi Bears, Oh My! He is adorable. Thanks for sharing. 
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 327
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 327 |
Agreeing with Tracie.
Thank you for sharing these great shots.
Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.
Helen Keller
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 904
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 904 |
1st summit is indescribable ... though your photos do a pretty good job. Nice, Chris! I remember taking my then 10 year old nephew up his first mountain: Piestewa Peak (also known as Squaw Peak) just outside of Phoenix, AZ. His first words were "I'm on top of the world." Second sentence was "I feel like I can do anything." Congrats to Kai! Only 3½ years old. Amazing!
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 574
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 574 |
Thanks for the kind words. He is the apple of my eye..no bones about it. He seems to have the genetic pre-wiring for the love of the outdoors that both my wife and I carry..(whew!) It was touch and go a bit after the 2nd mile when he started to whine just a touch, but it was just because he was bored. I proceeded to make him the "Leader" so he could show us the way up the mountain. That seemed to work wonders. Then, at the final "pitch" of 100 or so stairs we fueled up on the referenced Sour Patch Kids and that seemed to seal the deal.
I still think often of Kent Ashcraft and his stories and photos of sharing his love of the outdoors with his children. He is an inspiration and I hope to instill the same love of the outdoors in my son..
Really hoping to see you guys out there in the coming years. I can't wait to see Kai's eyes when he sees one of those hamburgers or pancakes that Doug whips up.. <g>
BeachAV8R
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 157
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 157 |
Thanks for the kind words. He is the apple of my eye..no bones about it. He seems to have the genetic pre-wiring for the love of the outdoors that both my wife and I carry..(whew!) It was touch and go a bit after the 2nd mile when he started to whine just a touch, but it was just because he was bored. I proceeded to make him the "Leader" so he could show us the way up the mountain. That seemed to work wonders. Then, at the final "pitch" of 100 or so stairs we fueled up on the referenced Sour Patch Kids and that seemed to seal the deal.
I still think often of Kent Ashcraft and his stories and photos of sharing his love of the outdoors with his children. He is an inspiration and I hope to instill the same love of the outdoors in my son..
Really hoping to see you guys out there in the coming years. I can't wait to see Kai's eyes when he sees one of those hamburgers or pancakes that Doug whips up.. <g>
BeachAV8R
Congrats, Beach. what a great TR, and its not OT at all. The little guy will eat Whitney for breakfast when the time comes. And you have made one of the most valuable observations of all: kids don't get tired on a trip like this: they get bored. The fact that he got over that when you made him the leader is a little gem of trail lore that you will value more and more as the years pass by. Nice going, Mom, Dad and Kai.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 548
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 548 |
Oh, man, does this bring back memories! Nathan's first hike was at about 2-1/2 when we went out to Oregon and visited Crater Lake. We all wanted to do the boat tour. Having been there before (after the boats shut down for the season), I knew it was about a mile and 700' down to the lake from the rim drive. I figured Nathan would make it down but I would have to haul him back up. Wrong, granola-breath...he walked down, enjoyed the tour and Wizard Island and walked all the way back up under his own power. My rule of thumb for him was to be able to "hike his age," so Kai is already doing better than that. By the time Nathan was about 5-1/2, he made it from Agnew Meadows to Ediza Lake which is what? 8 miles? (carrying about a 10# pack as well). Treasure these days...they pass all too quickly and Kai will be grown up and on his own (Nathan is 24 and living in DC these days) and you'll still be wondering where your little hiker went. Keep him going and stretching those legs, and just hope by the time he has grown into a useful pack horse, he still has time to do a few trips with you! On one of our later trips, I noted that we carried about the same total weight between us but the division of labor had changed markedly...for the better, from my point of view. Two best trips of our lives were our two treks out at Philmont, the big Scout ranch in New Mexico. First one was about 80 miles in 10 days, second right at 100. Man, I miss our being able to be out and up in the mountains together...our last big peak together was Humphreys Peak back in 2008. Wow...has it already been five years? Best to all of you...hope he grows up to be as interested in the outdoors and mountains as you are...
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 838
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 838 |
These pictures are so very sweet.... and as others have posted ahead of me, the pictures certainly brought back memories of my own children's first hike. I love Kai's wonderfully expressive face... what a gift it is to see these places thru the young, everything-is-an-adventure eyes of a child.
Thank you for sharing these special, first-climb pictures.
Rosie
"What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal." Albert Pike
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 5,433 Likes: 9
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 5,433 Likes: 9 |
BTW: it goes without mention that we're going to have one heck of a Shindig when you do return... whether Shin attends, or not!
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 574
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 574 |
And you have made one of the most valuable observations of all: kids don't get tired on a trip like this: they get bored. Yep.. It is tough to compete with all the light and glitz of the iPad these days. But we try to explore everything and make each thing a "discovery" even when we've walked by it a zillion times in the past. (Who knew that moss could be so fascinating!! <g>) BeachAV8R
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 574
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 574 |
My rule of thumb for him was to be able to "hike his age," so Kai is already doing better than that. By the time Nathan was about 5-1/2, he made it from Agnew Meadows to Ediza Lake which is what? 8 miles? (carrying about a 10# pack as well). That is a pretty good rule of thumb I would think. Our next hike will be a car camping trip to the Linville Gorge where we'll hike down and back to the river which is probably only a few miles, but way more steep. No packs though since we'll be camping on the rim of the gorge. I wonder if they make a little kid size hydration pack he could wear..<g> Treasure these days...they pass all too quickly and Kai will be grown up and on his own (Nathan is 24 and living in DC these days) and you'll still be wondering where your little hiker went. Indeed. I still can't believe he's 3 1/2. We took him to preschool a couple weeks ago for the first time and I cried like a baby when we dropped him off. He's never been away from us and it was like losing a big part of me. Sigh.. On one of our later trips, I noted that we carried about the same total weight between us but the division of labor had changed markedly...for the better, from my point of view. So you mean I can sneak Mommy's bottle of wine and the frozen steaks into the bottom of HIS pack and make him carry it? <G> OK, this is really getting good! Best to all of you...hope he grows up to be as interested in the outdoors and mountains as you are... Hope I get to introduce you all in person in a few years.. (Who wants to volunteer to teach him the ins and outs of wag-bags???) BeachAV8R
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 574
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 574 |
I love Kai's wonderfully expressive face... what a gift it is to see these places thru the young, everything-is-an-adventure eyes of a child. Thanks Rosie. It is really a special time. He's our first and likely our only (we want another, but it just doesn't seem to be happening).. It really is enjoyable seeing things through his eyes all over again. Way too early to think about college yet, but we are secretly hoping he chooses Appalachian State so we can go visit him in the mountains.. <g> BeachAV8R
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 574
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 574 |
BTW: it goes without mention that we're going to have one heck of a Shindig when you do return... whether Shin attends, or not! Can't wait. We'll probably make some initial forays out there with Kai in a couple years, then I like to think the three of us might take a couple weeks and hike the John Muir Trail. Can't think of a better way to spend some of summer vacation.. Marisa and I might come out for a visit next year regardless. Or my brother and I..we'll see what develops. BeachAV8R
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 33
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 33 |
Beach, thank you so much for the great TR and sweet pictures. It doesn't get better than that. First hike I took my 5 year old son( now 27) was in the San Gabriels in So. Cal. The canyon is Millard Canyon and the destination is Dawn Mine. I have been hiking that canyon, with stream, salamanders and remnants of the gold mine since I was 8. I am now 65. It is my favorite local hike.
In my teens and adulthood I hiked it many times, always looking for wildlife and especially for the salamanders I used to see there. I finally concluded they had become extinct in the canyon.
So, I take my 5 year old there and wouldn't you know, we saw salamanders there. It was like dejavu all over again! We now know which pools we can usually see them in. Try to do that hike 1-2 times per year.
Indeed treasured, blessed moments.
Thanks for sharing!
Bob
|
|
|
|
|
