Backpacking with Kids

Our first backpacking trip with kids! FDR State Park treated us well... small amount of rain the first night but mild weather the rest of the way. Exciting things to see kept the kiddos moving along... waterfalls, rock formations, mushrooms and trees with character.

 Gaitz always finds a little buddy. 

 Merritt has an infatuation with mushrooms. 

She brought me a specimen to examine, while I had my morning coffee. 

 

Cory gives tree identification lessons each time we go hiking. 

Even he was surprised when Gaitz started correctly answering all his questions. 

Smart kid!

 Misty morning hike. 

 

 

Love this man!

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 Frequent snack breaks keeps everyone's energy up. 

 

 

I wonder how long this has been around.

 I was too afraid we would spill the beans if we tried to add to the pile. 

 

Someone doesn't want her picture taken. 

 We ate deer jerky ALL weekend! 

Apparently, Render likes it better than M&M's. 

 

 Gaitz found a little rope in the pack. 

It soon became a fishing pole and a swing.

Render can't do anything the "normal" way. 

 

 

A couple incidents, but all is well now. 

 

Look at these guys. 

 

 

another mushroom... 

 

We had a chance to build our own stone tower. 

 

They are talking about how gross Gaitz's hands have become!

Rise and shine, guys!!

We made it!

We survived! It was a success! Two nights and three days in the woods proved we can do it. Little do the kids know that this weekend just opened their world up tremendously. Now that we survived a trial run, we can enjoy the adventures of backpacking instead of "car camping". Places like Cumberland Island, Cohutta Wilderness and the Appalachian Trail have been added to our must hike list! Stay tuned.....