Ten Reasons to Hike with your Young'uns

I love hiking.  I think I've liked it ever since I was a little girl in Trinidad and stomped thorough the bush on adventures with my cousin Terry.  We were really close and would go on what seemed like adventures on our extended families' properties that stretched for acres and acres.  We would 'go missing' for hours and hours, eat what we picked off of trees, discover 'stuff', make our own paths and just... well... have fun becoming exhausted.

This freedom to roam the land led to me being who I am, at least in part.  I know that there are a few life-long values that I got out of it -- a sense of adventure, a bit of fearlessness, a love of gardening --  and I would love that for Lil Chica, too.  So, now, I present to you, what I think are the 'Top Ten Reasons to Hike with your Young'uns':



Checking out pebbles at Rivière-des-Prairies near Montreal

1.  It's cheaper than an amusement park.  All you need is a carrier and good hiking boots for you.  Once your little one starts to hike with you, they'll need some walking shoes (inexpensive ones as they'll likely grow out of them before they wear them out).  More long-lasting gear comes later.

2.  They learn to love the outdoors -- and to depend on it for life, love and entertainment. My hope is that L'il Chica's first go-to spot for a good time will be the forest, the hills, and anywhere else that nature hails.

3.  They can learn about loving nature to the extent that they will fight to keep it healthy. 

4.  They will develop strong muscles, a naturally fit body, and a super-fit mind.

5.  They will learn to create their own entertainment as opposed to waiting to be entertained by an Ipod or something on a rectangular screen (like the one I am looking at as I type this).

6.  You will learn to slow down and appreciate once more the child in you -- bend down at your child's level and play in the leaves, pick dandelions, or turn over rocks to look for worms. 

7.  More fresh air and the bumpity bumps in a carrier have always meant a calm temper and an extra nap.  Careful with later afternoon hikes, though; a later nap always meant a later sleep come night time, staring sleepily at the child who wants to play and play and play ... and it's 10:30 p.m.

8.  You get a good workout -- with a carrier, it's cardio and weights at the same time.

9.  They'll hopefully end up liking hiking as much as you do.  Think of the umpteen years of hiking together and loving it together.

10.  They can develop a sense of adventure and independence as they roam through the bush -- something that too few people do nowadays.

There are, for sure, tens of more reasons to hike with your children.  Feel free to share your ideas here.

 

Back to Work -- 4 Realizations

This is my first week back at work... Day 4 of the old routine. It has also been 4 days since I last did anything close to a hike, so it was awesome to head out today after work with my little chica to Altona Forest... an easy trail that is close to home.  As eager as I was to get out, we only set foot atrail after 5:00 p.m. All was well until... well... she did the usual.  She fell asleep!  Why the exclamation mark, you ask?  Sleeping is not so bad in a carrier, but snoozing that close to her bed time is risky.  It is currently 9:34 p.m. and she has not yet fallen asleep. 

Realization #1 -- Early evening walks after work that are too close to bedtime might not work out well for a baby.

Realization #2 -- Successfully fitting in our daily hikes is not likely now that I am back at work.

Asleep at 5:45 p.m. in the Carrier ... Zoix!!!

Realization #3 -- I'll likely have to get out on the trail right after work in the late afternoon in case Lil' Chica falls asleep.

Realization #4 -- I am lucky enough that I have a small hiking trail within 5 minutes walk from my home.  If I had to drive to a trail head, I might not be able to hike at all on a weekday evening.

Realization # 5 -- I might have to re-assess my hiking goals and focus on the weekends.  Sigh.

Any tips for making it work out for us?  Let me know.

Gear Review -- Deuter Backpack Kid Comfort III

Gear Review -- Deuter Backpack Kid Comfort III

This past month, we invested in a new backpack child carrier -- the 'Deuter Backpack Kid Comfort III'. With this carrier, I have spent up to 4 hrs at a time outdoors, hiked one of the more difficult trails in my area, and had a decent picnic lunch with my child. Here's my review of the Deuter:-

Pros




Kickstand with Yellow Button Lock to Prevent collapsing,
Sunshade, Packed Upper Storage, Side Storage, Mirror Pocket on the Belt

1. Side Entry -- no need to lift the baby into the carrier as there is a cool and secure side entrance.

2. Hydration System Compartment -- no need to lug water bottles as there is a compartment for a 2 litre hydration pack.

3. Mirror -- use this mirror to view your infant behind you and play peek-a-boo. The neatest thing about the mirror is the velcro sewn into its edge. The mirror-velcro sticks to the inside of the sleek belt pockes -- easy access and it never gets lost.

Cushiony Head, Chin, and Neck Rests

4. Super Comfort for Infant:--

a. Headrest -- super-high, curved and padded headrest makes this good for a wobbly sleepy head, even for an older toddler or pre-schooler

b. Chin and neck rest -- extremely well padded... a mini-pillow of sorts that my little one enjoys. Plus, it is detachable for easier cleaning. I've even used it to rest my own neck if I lean back my head.

c. Padded Straps -- for extra comfort

d. Five-Point Harness -- all adjustable and really secure.

5. Built-In Sun Shade -- the sun shade is stored into a zip-up compartment in the headrest. You never have to detatch it or look for it.

6. Large Grab Handles -- for super easy transporting around and onto your back

7. Storage -- Lots! Enough for more than a few sandwiches; baby food, diapering items, clothes, bottles; small first-aid kit; rain gear (included with purchase); water canister; TP... the site says 20L; side and back pockets...

Cons

1. Weight -- at 7 lbs, 10 oz, this carrier is on the heavier side. Many other carriers are lighter ... but with fewer amenities.

2. Kickstand tough to close --Once the backpack is on you, the kickstand is tough to close because of a safety locking device. You can close the kickstand before you lift the backpack onto you, but you run the risk of the carrier toppling. It hasn't happened to me yet, though.

All set in the Deuter Backpack Kid Comfort III

There are many more aspects to the carrier that I have not yet detailed -- padded belt, breathable materials, easy to adjust to infant's height and parent-hiker's body frame...

I really am glad we purchased the Deuter Backpack Kid Comofrt III. There were less costly options, but I really am glad with what we got.

Let us know about your carrier and how it compares to the  Deuter.  Which carrier do you like?

Leaves of Three, Let it Be?

With the weather warming up, many hikers, especially parent hikers, might be wary of poison ivy along the trails.  But, what does it look like?  Can we safely identify it amongst the other "leaves of three; let it be"? 

Here some three-leaved plants that might be confused with poison ivy:

1.  Wild  Strawberry 

Wild Strawberry



Leaves:

long hairy stalks with toothed teeth

Edible? Toxicity?

Edible fruit and edible fresh or dried leaves.  Partially wilted leaves have been known to contain toxins.  Many people are allergic to the strawberry fruit, so be aware of your child's allergies to common foods.

2.   Trillium  

Leaves of White Trillium (Trillium Grandiflorum)



Leaves:

in a whorl of 3; almost stalkless; broadly diamond-shaped, slim, or mottled green with white; smooth edges 

Edible? Toxicity?

No known allergens

Purple Trillium or Purple Wake Robin

Mottled Leaves of Toad Trillium

 

3.  Jack-in-the-Pulpit 

Leaves and Flower of Jack-in-the-Pulpit



Leaves: 

usually appear with 2 leaves per plant , each with 3 leaflets; dullish green; each leaflet with a middle vein with many branches; each leaflet is usually rounder at base with a narrow point

Edible? Toxicity?

This plant is poisonous only if ingested.  Touching the plant does not seem to cause any known allergic reaction.

 

4.  Beech (young emerging leaves) 

Young, glossy beech leaves not leaves of three

Leaves:

The leaf at the very tip of a branch on many trees, including beech, are single leaves.  Because they do not have an opposite or alternate pair, the first three leaves a the tip of many branches might look like a trio of sorts.  Fear not!  If it grows on a tree with a trunk and is way above ground, it is not poison ivy.

5.  Poison Ivy



Poison Ivy leaves close to the ground

Leaves:

bright, glossy green (newest leaflets can be reddish brown); 3 oval leaflets; each leaflet entirely or partly teethed coarsely.  Trailing like a vine or in a small shrub.

Edible? Toxicity?

Do not eat this plant.  It contains an oily resin that causes a nasty skin reaction when touvhed.  Many people are very sensitive to poison ivy resin.  The resin is not airborne, but it can be carried on clothing, pet fur, tools, and even smoke particles from burning plants. REMOVAL of resin by washing with a strong soap.  The liquid that oozes from the skin does not contain the allergen. 

Red or Meadow Clover

6.  Clover

Leaves: 

on a low-lying bush, alternate leaves with 3 leaflets; sometimes stalked leaves; some leaves green while some have a white V-pattern 

Edible?  Toxicity? 

can be eaten raw or cooked; high in protein.  Known to cause bloating or to contain toxic alkaloids.





Note:  This information on plants with "Leaves of Three"  is not to be considered a professional opinion on plant toxicity.  Please consult your doctor when seeking to understand your child's allergies.  Consult a professional for more information on which plants might pose a danger to your child while on the trail.