Backpacking

Emma went backpacking for the first time.  We were thrilled to be back on the trail with our packs, and with a new partner in crime - our daughter!  We headed to Willard Brook State Forest and Pearl Hill State Park.  There is a 4-mile trail that connects the two recreational areas.  We parked at one and hiked to the other to camp.  Then the following day we hiked back to our car.  It was quick, easy, and close to home.  Just what we needed for our first backpacking adventure with Emma. 

The trail was beautiful; it crossed waterways, forest, meadows, and open fields. We really enjoyed the journey and the fresh air was invigorating.  Emma enjoyed the journey in her Deuter backpack.  She fell asleep within the first 15 minutes during the first hike and slept most of the second hike.  When we were getting ready to leave for the hike back to the car - she reached her arms out to the backpack signalling she wanted to be in it.  She really likes it. 

We learned a lot about Emma's sleeping habits - a little too much.  We do not co-sleep and haven't slept in the same bed in months!  So we were very surprised to learn how active Emma is at night.  I imagine it to be the usual rolling, shifting, kicking, and flailing that comes with a one-year-old.  But we also learned that Emma likes to sit-up and body slam back down to horizontal while sleeping.  At home, she usually hits her crib mattress with such force we hear it across the baby monitor (we never knew what that sound was).  While camping, she would routinely body slam the sleeping bag, side of the tent, and her parents.  She did it with such force that you could "hear" our heads knocking together.  She didn't seem to wake up from her nighttime WWE wrestling activities. 

While backpacking, Emma enjoyed lots of new activities, such as:

• "Hiking" in her kid carrier backpack;
• Being sprayed with bug spray - those mesquitos love her;
• Playing with sticks, stones, and pine needles;
• Eating dirt (although not as much as her Mama and Papa expected);
• Exploring the campsite;
• Getting her toes wet at the Willard Brook swimming hole;
• Watching other kids who were enjoying the day-use park;
• Lounging and relaxing on Mama's sleeping mat;
• Helping set up the tent;
• Eating freeze-dried backpacker's food with Mama and Papa;
• Being carried around the campground and waving at other campers; and
• Having her Papa pull a tick off of her (got to watch for those out here!).

Here are some photos of Emma on the trail and at the campsite.

A family photo on the trail.

"Papa, are you sure Mama can handle this?!?!"

Taking a break on the trail.

Drinking all the water from the camelback.

Helping Mama set up camp.

"Peek-a-boo, Papa, I see you!"

Playing on Mama's sleeping mat.

Exploring the campsite.

"Swimming" with her Papa in the swim area.

Hanging out with Papa.

Cuddle time at the campfire before bed.

Innocently snoozing in the tent - her WWE
moves didn't start until it got dark.