Travel PT Lifestyle:
Backpacking with Baby
A flat-noted wail that Ellen and I have come to recognize as Kinley’s tired cry echoes out over an otherwise serene alpine lake. A falcon dive-bombs an unsuspecting fish, a coyote softly sings the sun to sleep, just as the perfect orange glow of a Sierra sunset slips beyond the horizon…. or at least it might of. We were stuck in our tent tending to our little she beast. This is attempt #1 at backpacking and so far Mother Nature is winning. Up to this point we have forgotten Kinley’s sleeping pad, most of her food (thankfully we camped only a couple miles in and Ellen ran back for what we had stashed in the car), only brought one sleeping bag and only blanket (there are now 3 of us), and in a moment of exasperation let Kinley dump her entire dinner into the center of our brand new tent. This should make for an interesting night.
Fortunately for us things turned out better than they started. We had a successful first voyage in our pack raft, took some ridiculously beautiful photos, each of us got a trail run in, and one of us slept through the night (can’t win them all).
Our second outing went considerably better. 3 days, 2 nights, 2 thunderstorms (one including hail), and 10 miles of hiking all above 10,000 ft.
A testament to hard things
Backpacking with an infant is by no means an easy process. Each time is a learning experience. But then again if we always defaulted for what is easy or normal I would have never quit my career as a teacher to spend a year making $8.50/hr as a PT tech and taking classes to try to get into PT school. Best decision I ever made!
We hear all of the time how “impressive” it is that we are out hiking, running, camping, or even just eating out at a nice restaurant with a baby… These things are not impressive. They are simply learned activities. Sure, the first few times are rough. Screaming, food in hair, funny smells… and that’s just the parents. But humans are adaptable creatures, even little humans, and they learn remarkably fast!
Don’t get me wrong here. It is NEVER as if she isn’t there. It is by no means as easy as it was when it was just the two of us. But it doesn’t mean it’s any worse or less enjoyable. In fact in many ways it’s more enjoyable. Kinley’s favorite recent past time in her nightly run or hike is to bird watch. Well, more like bird spot. Lots of excited pointing and shouting “Birrr. Birrr!” at ever increasing volume based on either the number or proximity of said birds. Before being a parent these hikes and runs would be far less boisterous and would go by relatively unremarkably. Clicking off the miles steadily until whatever daily goal was reached. Now each outing is peaked with some new discovery or silly sound that leaves us all laughing or giggling long after the trip has ended. It seems like 2 or 3 times a week Ellen and I lay in bed rehashing some silliness from that days events with Kinley.
Ok, back to backpacking.
Concretely YES, backpacking has fundamentally changed for us.
There is no such thing as light and fast. No more grab what’s in the fridge and hit the trail. And no more romantic trysts behind a boulder or on some mountain summit along the way.
After these last two trips we have come to realize that it is more about getting our whole family out into the wilds and sharing our collective experience with exuberance. Dogs especially.
Sure we have had some freezing cold nights already, and even been rained out, spending essentially 17hrs huddled in a tent together trying to keep each others spirits up and toes warm (we hike in sandals). But all of this is part of the greater experience. One of the greatest lessons we hope to pass on to our little girl is that just because things are hard or difficult, or are not turning out as planned, doesn’t mean they can’t become magically transformative.
The cover photo for this post is evidence of that. After one of the longest nights I can remember we were jolted awake by our little angels sweet summons AKA shrieking. And groggily made our way to the waters edge only to be greeted by one of the most spectacular interactions of earth and sky I had ever witnessed.
Sure, I was red eyed and bleary with exhaustion. But 5 years from now I will look at that first backpacking trip and remember that photo and those two smiling girls. Long forgetting the toils of the night before… and if the ringing in my ears ever stops I’ll have forgotten the crying too.
Gear we have relied on
Easily one of our highest mileage items. We take this pack anywhere that we go where it may be hot or if Kinley is going to be on the move for an extended period of time.
Down Blanket
Written by: Stephen Stockhausen
