Trip Report
Alpine Start on Life: A 3 Year Old's First Backpacking Trip
Thursday May 24, 2018 2:52pm
Fresh legs=smiling faces.
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Off to a running start!
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First obstacle successfully navigated.
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Leader of the pack.
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Appreciating small wonders.
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Training for when pine cone hurling is added to the 2032 Olympics.
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Scenic juice break.
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Warm-weather boy enjoying the remnants of winter (not shown: his sudden turn of attitude about 30' later when he slipped going downhill back to the trail).
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He was inordinately proud of wet toes. I guess we need to invest in wool socks before the next one.
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Getting portaged past the last major snag.
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After that we got to camp, so to keep him busy while tents were set up and such, we directed him to collect pine cones to throw on the fire. This is what we came back to.
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Mama's tikka masala is spicy!
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Patiently waiting for dessert.
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Anything can be a toy.
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Tuckered out.
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On the trail again.
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Scenic Gusher break.
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(This was his high point of the trip. Every time I go backpacking I always buy Gushers, he always sees them and asks for them, and every time I tell him "When you go backpacking you can have Gushers." I'm a man of my word, and he earned them.)

No caption needed.
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All puddles need rocks thrown into them.
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Tired legs=smiling faces.
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Distance was just a tic under 2 miles each way which we covered in about an hour and a half, and except for getting lifted over a couple big fallen snags and a small (for us, big for him) creek crossing he walked the whole thing, with a backpack full of water, snacks, and toys, and never once did a smile leave his face.

  Trip Report Views: 2,013
looks easy from here
About the Author
looks easy from here is a climber from Ben Lomond, CA.

Comments
Mungeclimber

Trad climber
Nothing creative to say
  May 24, 2018 - 02:56pm PT
nice, need to share with sister to take their demons out for hiking fun!
Ezra Ellis

Trad climber
North wet, and Da souf
  May 24, 2018 - 03:25pm PT
Awesomeness, fun family adventure
johntp

Trad climber
Punter, Little Rock
  May 24, 2018 - 03:33pm PT
Sweet!
mtnyoung

Trad climber
Twain Harte, California
  May 24, 2018 - 03:35pm PT
Well, well, well. Trained to hike in the Santa Cruz mountains and at Pinnacles, he makes his first overnight!

Only 20 more years and he'll be carrying you ;)

Where'd you go, southern Sierra?
splitclimber

climber
Sonoma County
  May 24, 2018 - 03:39pm PT
Awesome and lots of smiles.

But.... it reads like an instagram post. So tell us where this is? I can't be some spot you want to keep secret. :)

L

climber
Just livin' the dream
  May 24, 2018 - 04:36pm PT
Loved this!

Especially the sting of pinecones. :-)
looks easy from here

climber
Santa Cruzish
Author's Reply  May 24, 2018 - 06:22pm PT
Only 20 more years and he'll be carrying you ;)
I have to wait 20 more? I was counting on 15 or less.

We just hoofed up a forest service road out into the Sierra N.F. about halfway between Shaver Lake and Courtright.
Grippa

Trad climber
Salt Lake City, UT
  May 24, 2018 - 06:37pm PT
Most adorable TR ever to be on the site,
i-b-goB

Big Wall climber
Nutty
  May 24, 2018 - 06:48pm PT
Happy Camper!
donini

Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
  May 24, 2018 - 06:55pm PT
Super!!! More parents like you taking the time and effort to introduce their children to the outdoor lifestyle would knock the stuffing out of the child obesity epedemic!
Charlie D.

Trad climber
Western Slope, Tahoe Sierra
  May 25, 2018 - 06:37am PT
That's great, what a lucky kid.....so many fun days ahead for you all, enjoy your gift.
clinker

Trad climber
Santa Cruz, California
  May 25, 2018 - 08:38am PT
Great to see!
NutAgain!

Trad climber
https://nutagain.org
  May 25, 2018 - 08:44am PT
This gave me a big smile. TFPU!
looks easy from here

climber
Santa Cruzish
Author's Reply  May 25, 2018 - 02:59pm PT
Pssh, I don't give two whits about obesity. This is strictly selfish: I'm training a personal pack mule.
Fat Dad

Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
  May 28, 2018 - 08:23am PT
Nice! I wasn't able to get mine out until they were about 6 or so. Helps to have mom on board. I would have guessed west side/southern Sierra as well. Looks alot like where I took my kids in the Golden Trout/Upper Tule (i.e., Needles) area.
looks easy from here

climber
Santa Cruzish
Author's Reply  May 29, 2018 - 08:34am PT
Helps to have mom on board
Yes it does. We've been making a concerted effort to prepare him for this from as early as we could. 5 or 6 months old at Shuteye:
tro4130

climber
San Diego, CA
  Jun 4, 2018 - 01:35pm PT
This is great! Looking forward to more trip reports.
SC seagoat

Trad climber
Santa Cruz, Moab, Bozeman, the ocean, or ?
  Jun 4, 2018 - 02:47pm PT
That is a real special trip.

Tell him we are all rooting for him to have lotsa adventures.

Susan
Jan

Mountain climber
Colorado & Nepal
  Jun 4, 2018 - 05:00pm PT
This is so refreshing to read. Please update us with progress reports!
Alpinista55

Mountain climber
Portland, OR
  Jun 4, 2018 - 05:04pm PT
SO fun to see this TR. I started both my daughters backpacking at 6 months. Now I am 68, and we still do a 8-10 day trip every summer together. Your efforts will yield great rewards in your old age! The kids carry the lion's share of the group gear these days!
limpingcrab

Gym climber
Minkler, CA
  Jun 4, 2018 - 05:50pm PT
So awesome!
Nick Danger

Ice climber
Arvada, CO
  Jun 5, 2018 - 08:01am PT
What a lucky kid! What a super dad! Good on ya all the way around.
Hope you and the family have many, many more such adventures.
cheers
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