One Year Down! Many More to Go.

Ever since I entered into the world of carriers, I have strived to share my love for outdoors with Lil' Chica.  It did not take long for me to realize that she was quite like most babies who would settle down from a crying episode once outdoors and in the fresh air. 

The outdoors has offered us one year of calm & tranquility and many hours of sleep.  Along the way, we met many friends, some of whom you will soon meet.

The Ergo Sport Carrier

We started the year trying out a few slings, wraps, and carriers before we settled on this one, Ergo Sport Carrier... not by choice but we were happy with it, all the same.  It was gifted to the family as a surprise from my Auntie Cindy.  

I had initially mentioned to her that we were looking for a sling for just around the house, but she would have none of what she called 'that thing that she could fall out of'.  Hmm... decided that we would get a sling any way.  But, no sooner than having finished our discussion, Auntie Cindy was out to the shops and had purchased an Ergo Sport Carrier.  I had not even tried it on!  I was hoping that it was not a waste of her money or time.  Luckily, it fit really well on both of us parents, and, more importantly, it fit really well on Lil' Chica.

Three Months Old in her Ergo Sport Carrier

Hiking is addictive, especially when one lives within a few km of 6 trail heads and is on maternity leave.  For the whole year, we got on the trails almost every day, especially once I realized that hot tempers and sleeplessness are cured in fresh air and in a cosy carrier.  Hiking also was a cure for my cabin fever.  Here we are in the fall; her head is almost fully peeking out of the top of the carrier.

Doing what we do best together -- hike!

Looking down at her eyelashes soon became one of my favourite sights on and off trail. Some of the winter accessories were the Hudson Bay Company scarf and her bib on a bad drooling day (they're still here).



It wasn't long before we created a network of hiking moms, some with carriers, to join us on our hikes. We soon found out that there were other hiker-addicts out there and that we could walk just about anywhere.

Here we are in the early spring at a Meetup walk at the zoo checking out the hippos.

The Lake Ontario was one of our favourite places to walk as part of our Meetup group. We usually ended up walking along Highland Creek and then along the lake every Friday. Much fun was had, and good friends were made along the way.

At the Glen Rouge Campground at the end of the Mast Trail.

Still in the Ergo, Lil' Chica hung out in the Rouge Park a whole lot. Here are a few hiker buddies who often hiked the more challenging Mast and Seaton trails -- Katie and Tizziana with their Lil' Chicas.

 

We also took in the breeze at the Altona Forest -- a hop skip and a jump from our home. Here we are at the north pond listening for frogs.

At some point in a baby's growth chart, something's gotta give. For example, a new carrier needed to replace the Ergo for longer walks. We looked into a second-hand Kelty Kids. After a few jaunts in the forest, we decided that the Kelty carrier would be best suited to shorter walks in and about the town where we'd need plenty backpack space but no headrest for sleeping.

Mother's Day 2012 was particularly special for me. Not only was it my first, but I was also gifted a brand-spanking new Deuter carrier by my partner, Chandran. Thrilled as ever with the fit, bells, and whistles, this is our current carrier of choice and will likely be our number one go-to for longer hikes for as long as Lil' Chicauses a carrier.

One of her favourite things to do in her Carrier is to Sleep

Every week of spring 2012, we would still meet up with out Meetup hiking group. At this point, we were getting close to the end of year one and I was trying to use every day for hiking. Here are a bunch of hiker parents at the half-way point of a 10k hike. We were just done our rest stop at the Beare Wetlands in the middle of Rouge Park.


Can you spot the two Deuter carriers?


Year one has been one of the best years of my life. Lil' Chica and I have a long way to go, if I have anything to say about it. So far I am happy that we both enjoy the outdoors and especially the trails. Many more experienced parents say to me, "Enjoy it while you can!" Soon enough, she'll have her own friends as buddies and will want to hang out 'sans moi'. I just did a Cathy 'Ack!!'. I plan to enjoy her company in a carrier and in my hiking boots for as long as she'll let me.

Rest Stop at the Glen Rouge Campground

Now that you've gotten to the end, leave me your thoughts on my first year and comments or suggestions for my year to come. Don't forget to join the site :o)

Happy Father's Day Hike

It has been a while since we enjoyed a family hike.  Here is Appa and Lil' Chica heading south on the Orchard Trail.  This was at the 7km mark of our 10km hike.  The good thing about a family hike with 2 parents is that you get to share the load that only gets heavier.  One thing we need to remember is to adjust the back height to suit a different back length.

On the walk, we encountered a choo-choo train.  This awoke the sleeping baby.  Can you spot the train in the background?

Hiking with my best buddy is good fun as we both get to forget about life's hassles together.  If Lil' Chica sleeps, we even get non-parent 'couple' time, an rare occurrence these days.

Hope you all had a lovely Sunday and were able to spend it with your loved ones, especially a father in your life.  If you were on the trails, I'd love to hear about it.  Drop a line in the comment box.

Finally and because of Family... On the trails!

After a week and  half of celebrating with family, we ended off our Year One Celebrations with a night at the campground.  My nieces were keen on trying out a night in the tents, so, all of us keeners spent one night and a morning at the Glen Rouge Campground in east Toronto. 

Company while Working

Prior to the camping, I was on volunteer duty at the Glen Rouge trail head for the Rouge Park's 1st Bio Blitz.  Waiting for 4 hrs for eco-researchers to register at my check-in site was not the most interesting volunteer gig, so I called on my partner to drop off Lil'-Chica to keep me entertained.  We live a hop, skip and a jump from the Rouge Park.  Lil' Chica and I had fun practising walking on the grass, playing with pine cones, chatting with researchers, and ... gasp... peeling bark off of trees! 

On Duty at BioBlitz before the Fun Begins

The Main Event

The main impetus for our one-night camp-out was our 2 visiting nieces.  High on the list of camping events would be roasting marshmallows and making smores.  Here's a taste of it:

Smores before Snores



The Next Morning

In the morning, we were all up by 6:30.  Feathered folk sure put on a show come sun-up.  Singing birds are super alarm clocks, and they also work against the usual sleep-in that prevents us from enjoying the best part of the day.  Lil' Chica, on the other hand, woke up around 7:30, her usual wake-up time.

Tent for 5

Challenge Young Muscles on the Mast Trail

Our camp-out in Rouge Park would be incomplete without a walk on the Mast Trail, an easy to moderate hike for the average adult.  But, for children on foot, it could be challenging -- hills and a return distance of 6k (with the walk-in portion to the trail head). 

With hot-chocolate and peanut-better sandwiches in their tummies, my nieces were up for the challenge and conquered it with energy to spare.  

At the bridge over the Rouge River a couple 100m to the Mast Trail head.

Start Young for Best Practices on the Trails 

One of the best reasons for taking youngsters on the trails is that they can learn best practices from an early age.  On the Mast Trail, there are many unofficial trails that have led to fragmented animal habitat and loss of native flora.  Staying on official trails is one way to keep a more pristine forest floor. 

When coming to a fork on a blazed trail, follow the direction by looking at the upper of the 2 blazes.  In the case below, the upper blaze indicates a veer right.

Which way to go?  Right!

 Looking forward to a few more camp-outs with the family.  Since I am new to it all, I would appreciate any suggestions for camping with toddlers (foods, gear, clothing, etc.) and good camping spots that are no more that 2-hrs drive from Toronto or Montreal.  By the way, the Glen Rouge Campground is the only official public campground in the city of Toronto.