Camping on the Summer Solstice

We managed to kick off summer with an overnight camping trip to a nearby (2 hours) state park.

While the kids were a bit more squirrelly than usual, we had some fabulous outside time including a 2 mile hike along a trail sprinkled with wild blueberry bushes.


We still haven't backpacked with them, but I think that day is finally coming.  So far we have only car-camped, selecting sites along the edge of the campgrounds that back up onto the wild of the park, a trail, or stream.  I have to say that I have been spoiled by being able to bring a pillow (and all you can fit in the trunk of your car) with me - it makes for a much nicer night's sleep.

The kids are much more independent out there now.  And while bedtime is still a chore, gone are the all-night nursing marathons that kept them quiet and rested but left me ready to go home at 5 in the morning.  O is now requesting to poop in the woods and after this past trip (with multiple wildlife warnings everywhere we looked) both are well versed in what to do if they encounter a Black Bear.


I love that they are so comfortable out there, spending hours playing with a headlamp or hammock instead of the couple of toys brought along.  And I believe that the squirreliness and unexpected whining we experienced last week will lessen with 'practice'.

I'd like to do one more year of the car camping, moving to a 'cart-in' site next time, and then do our first backpacking trip as a family next summer.  I have visions of a hut-to-hut trip in the White Mountains before a true backcountry trip.  Hmmm...

1 comment:

  1. My kids and hubby are doing a hut hike to Zeeland Falls in the White Mts. as I write. I'm bumming I can't be with them. We've been hiking in NH w/them since before they could walk, and, yes, it gets better and better (and we get more and more rest now that we aren't nursing them, catching them falling off of top bunks, pooping in the woods, etc) Yes! blueberries and slippery rocks are way more interesting than any toy Lego can make... Best to you and yours.

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