I may be crazy but I am going to go on an overnight backpacking trip with my 12 year old daughter and my 8 year old son.
Plan to do about 7 miles tomorrow (Sunday) and finish with 7 mile return on Monday (Labor Day). Common sense tells me to leave the 5 year old home! Hopefully the little darlings will not do too much complaining. Or else I may be forced to leave them in the woods to be raised by wolves. :eek:
I have almost every thing in my pack and a very light pack for the 12 year old, and no pack for the 8 year old.
Planning on hiking in the Sand Lake Quite area near Kalkaska MI. It is a hike in only camp, no vehicle traffic. The only way in is to walk there, so hopefully no crowds to contend with.
They’ll love it! Earlier this summer we took the little 'tee out for his first trip–and he’s only a year old! Eating pinecones, squishing ants, splashing in a creek–what’s not for a kid to love?!?
Well we survivied. Wound up taking the 14 year old with us too, and it was a good thing because the 12 year old was not very happy about her pack weight. We cut the distance short (did about 7 miles total), Kids were happier with that and I was happy cause they were not complaining the whole way.
Had absolutely perfect weather. Camped at a beautiful lake, very clear and clean. There were only 6 other groups camping there, so was very private. Kids swam and played, Dad sat on his butt and read a magazine! Hiked past about 6 small lakes with not a house on them anywhere, saw only one person fishing on one of the lakes.
I think my next hike will be solo in the Jordan River valley, about 18 miles and lots of hills.