Category: Backpacking

Best Summer Road Trips: Lake Superior Circle Tour

Post author By Jess
Post date May 22, 2017
6 Comments on Best Summer Road Trips: Lake Superior Circle Tour

Loading up the kids in a minivan and hitting the road over summer break is a rite of passage. I figure if you can all survive being crammed together for days or weeks on end, you can do anything, right? Traveling in the Airstream is a bit different, since we mix in school & work year round but occasionally we hit upon just the right schedule to create an epic road trip.

We visited my brother and his family in Minnesota one summer, and after taking a look at our schedule and the time available we decided drive around Lake Superior. Turns out its a thing. There are patches, stickers, maps, and even a website for that, something we didn’t realize until we started seeing the street signs pop up. The aptly named Lake Superior Circle Tour is a 1,300-mile drive that completely circumnavigates the lake, including the North East shore in Canada.

You can start the tour anywhere and travel in either direction. Most people take about a week, we just happened to stretch it out into 42 days. Our tour started at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigan and traveled clockwise. While our adventures on the shores of this great lake could fill a book, we’ve picked out a few of our favorite destinations to get you started.

Stop 1: Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

We spent 10 days exploring the “UP” as the locals call it. We started in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, ate a lot of pasties, learned about mining on the Keewinaw Peninsula, and hiked in the Porcupine Mountains. There’s definitely something for everyone!

Stop 2: The Apostle Islands National Lakeshore

The Apostles are a beautiful cluster of islands that sit just off the coast of Wisconsin’s section of Lake Superior. You can learn about the islands from visitors centers on the shore, but a rich experience awaits those willing to board a ferry. We opted for a two-night backpacking trip on Stockton Island. A ferry trip from Bayfield let us off onto the docks. We explored, hiked, and even celebrated Andrew’s birthday there! Other popular activities include kayaking to the sea caves, and lighthouse tours.

Stop 3: The City of Duluth

Duluth has a rich history in shipping activities, and you can watch huge cargo ships navigate in and out of port. Check the schedule before you arrive, and you can get an up close look as they come and go. There’s also some great mountain biking in the hills, a decent children’s museum, and a cute downtown with great food.

Stop 4: The North Shore

There are numerous spots along Minnesota’s North Shore worth stopping for, but Gooseberry Falls State Park was a favorite. We enjoyed our time on the shore here, appreciating the magnitude of this lake we were driving around. Split Rock Lighthouse is just a short drive away and don’t miss Betty’s Pies located to the south. We ordered the Pig Trough to share, complete with three slices of pie, four scoops of ice cream, a banana, and whipped cream and toppings. We liked it so much we returned a few days later and had the same thing again!

Other stops along the shore included Tettegouche State Park, Grand Marais, and Grand Portage. Check out our post here for more details.

Stop 5: Sleeping Giant Provincial Park

We had heard amazing things about Sleeping Giant Provincial Park and knew we wanted to spend at least one night there. It was mid-September so fairly off season for this part of Canada and the campground was not busy. The park hosts amazing hikes and beautiful views. We also enjoyed our lakeside campsite on the smaller Marie Louise Lake.

Stop 6: Sault Ste Marie

Our visit to Sault Ste Marie was punctuated by two things: Poutine (on the Canada side) and the boat locks (on the US side). Watching the huge lake boats move through the locks was enthralling, and everybody’s bellies were fat and happy after we ordered (and ate) far too much from Smoke’s Poutinerie.

Even having driven around it, I still don’t think I full appreciate the vastness of Lake Superior. It literally looks and feels like you are standing on the edge of the ocean, but there’s no salt smell. Something about it just drew us in and we were smitten from day 1. It was hard to narrow it down to just a few places on our journey! Maybe we will write that book….

What to Wear:

The weather around the lake is constantly changing. There’s sunshine and warmth, then there’s fog & rain. We had crazy wind and were wearing all our layers on the Apostles, and then up along the north shore it was t-shirts and shorts. Its best to plan on layering your wardrobe and taking pieces that are versatile! Check out some of my favorites from Aventura’s spring line:

Other Road Trips:

Check out these other favorite road trips from fellow Aventura Ambassadors:

Trans-Canada Highway & Icefields Parkway from Alyssa from Kidproject.org

Grand Teton National Park & Colter Bay from Kathy from GoAdventureMom

Hit 5 National Parks in Southern Utah by Alyssa from Kidproject.org

Glamping at Westgate River Ranch Resort/Central Florida by 365 Atlanta Family

Backpacking Tips & Tricks

8 Tips For Taking Your Kids on Their First Backpacking Trip

Post author By Jess
Post date February 14, 2017

My husband, Sam, and I completed our first backpacking trip together in New Zealand’s rugged mountains four months after we were married. Actually, it was my first backpacking trip ever. While he grew up with parents who frequently went into the back country, we were more front country, car camping kind of people. Despite the flies, the rain, and the incredibly steep trails, I was hooked after that one experience.

Knowing how incredible it feels to wake up in a tent on top of a mountain, we agreed that we would love to share that experience someday with our kids. This last year we finally reached our goal, completing four separate excursions in various states across the U.S. We watched our kids struggle up steep trails and bundle up against cold, windy weather but then also lift their faces in awe as they soaked up an early morning sunrise.

So, how did we do it? How did we go from tent for two, to trailside with five? Here are eight tips for taking your kids into the backcountry for the first time:

Plan Carefully.

There are many questions to consider when planning your child’s first backpacking trip. What are your goals? How many nights do you want to do? How far can your kids hike? What is there to do once you get there? Are you going to start after dinner? Early in the morning? How steep is the trail? Is it a long drive to the trailhead? Knowing your kids and their limits (generally speaking) can give you a good idea of where to start.

Many of our overnight hikes leave around 2pm, hike five miles to the campsite, eat dinner, have a lazy morning and hike back out around lunchtime. Simple, easy, yet a great way to unplug and be together as a family. Other families I know grab Subway after work on the way to the trailhead and hike a mere mile or two in before setting up camp for the night. Know your goals and then research the best way to accomplish them.

Start Simple.

Long before we loaded our kids up with a pack we hit the trails. We hiked short trails, long trails, hikes in the mountains, and hikes in the desert. Our kids could hike up to ten miles, which we did repeatedly over the course of a year. Our first backpacking trip, however, was a short 3.5 miles. We’ve gradually increased the distance over time, but we’ve found that hiking with a pack is a different experience for a kid. My husband has memories growing up of even shorter, one mile hikes to backcountry sites shouldering his small backpack and water bottle. The idea is to get your kids used to hiking in to their campsite wearing a pack whether it’s one or ten miles in.

Take Your Time.

On multi-day trips, my husband and I often remind ourselves we have ALL DAY to hike with the kids. The beautiful part of backpacking is that often there’s not much to do besides hike, so taking all day to hike that 3.5 miles not going to crimp anyone’s schedule. Smell the flowers, throw rocks in the stream, take a longer snack break and don’t push too hard.

Pack Plenty of Treats.

Well-thought out and distributed candy, snacks, and gummies can help motivate even the most reluctant hiker. Quick carbohydrates and sugar are often the perfect pick-me-up. We often have a mile limit or a goal to reach before we sit down to pull out the treats, which keeps the kids from asking every five minutes if they can have skittles. A special treat for reaching the “top” is also a welcome bonus. Our kids love Australian licorice, skittles mixed with toffee covered peanuts, mini M&M’s, and Pull-and-Peel Twizzlers.

Simple Meals.

While you may enjoy a gourmet backcountry dinner, chances are your kids are just hungry. In addition to plenty of snacks and treats, we do Freezer Bag Cooking for dinner and breakfast. All dry ingredients are prepared beforehand at home and then sealed in a freezer bag before getting tossed in our packs. Once mealtime rolls around, we boil water, add to our freezer bag, stir, let it sit in a cozy for 10 minutes, and voila! Dinner is served. Our three kids typically share a meal, while Sam and I eat a second. Our favorites so far are Cheesy Bacon Onion Mashers, Chocolate Protein Oatmeal, and Chicken Thanksgiving Dinner.

Be Prepared for Boredom.

Let’s face it. Most kids are addicted to screen time and even when they are conditioned to get outside often there’s still going to be whining about being bored. At camp, my older two kids will happily read on a Kindle for an hour or two, but after ten minutes my five year old is complaining because no one will play with her. We’ve learned to be strategic about how much time we will have at camp, whether or not there is anything nearby to explore, and to bring card games and even toys to play with once we get there. Packing a compass for scavenger hunts, a GPS unit for Geocaching, or a pocket knife for whittling sticks are all fun ways to spend time together once camp is set up.

Ultralight is Best, but Don’t Stress About Gear.

Between the two of us, we carry most of the gear. From the tent to the sleeping bags, cooking gear, and the food, most of it is packed into our two larger bags. Over time we’ve been able to make adjustments and swap not-so-light gear out for less weight as we gradually increase our distance, but start with what you have. At short distances, ultra-light gear is not as important. Let your four year old wear her Winnie-the-Pooh backpack and bring her stuffed animal. You can see our gear list here.

Have a Good Attitude.

The best thing you can do to help your kids have a good attitude and appreciation of the experience is to have a good attitude yourself. If your kids hear you talk about how much you enjoy the view, how much you appreciate the challenge of that ridge in front of you, and the good memories you have of other backpacking trips, your kids are likely to adopt a similar attitude. If they hear you complain about how dirty you are, how much you miss your bed at home, and the pains you feel, they will likely adopt those feelings too. Having a good attitude can be a challenge, but the payoff is worth it!

While we introduced our kids to backcountry camping fairly spectacularly manner, camping for two nights on an island in Lake Superior is not feasible for everyone. Our main goal, however was to have the experience end solidly with a “backpacking is really awesome” mindset for the kids no matter where we went. We feel it was a success since the kids happily followed that up with three more trips over the next few months.

Backpacking, or doing anything outdoors, with kids involves a different mindset. Suddenly we weren’t doing this for us, we were doing it for them. The miles are shorter, the terrain a little easier, the views maybe not quite as majestic, but the time spent together hiking, setting up camp, and snuggling in our sleeping bags while the stars wink overhead is irreplaceable.

Tags backpacking, backpacking with kids, kids

Backpacking Outdoor Gear

Gear Review: Deuter Fox 30 Backpack for Kids

Post author By Jess
Post date January 19, 2017

We started backpacking with our kids in 2015 with a fun 2 night, 3 day trip to the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. We used the packs we had on hand, which included small, and slightly uncomfortable day packs for both Andrew and Cara. They weren’t designed to hold much weight (which was fine) but also were a bit bulky and pulled on their shoulders more than we wanted.

After completing two more backpack trips as we traveled around Lake Superior we decided it was time to upgrade. As we looked around at pack companies , the clear winner was Deuter – the same German company that we had bought our Kid Comfort III carrier from we were still hauling toddlers around on our backs.

I contacted Deuter hoping to get in on their family ambassador program, but alas. They currently had all the ambassadors they needed. Instead, their representative graciously sent us the Deuter Fox 30 Kid’s pack to review.

Santa Cruz Island – Channel Islands National Park

I had originally planned for the pack to fit Rachel (age 10) but after trying it on we felt the bag was slightly small for her as she’s pretty tall. Luckily, it fit Andrew (age 8) perfectly.

Testing Duration: 3 days, 2 nights on Cumberland Island National Seashore; 4 days, 3 nights on Channel Islands National Park

Best Uses: Short backpacking trips, or longer day hikes.

Quick Specs: 2.6 pounds, 30 liters, 60/23/22 (H x W X D) cm

MSRP: $99

Find it: Fox 30 on Amazon, Fox30 at REI

Vari Quick Adjustable Shoulders Straps:

One of my favorite features of many of the Deuter backpacks are the adjustable shoulder straps. There’s nothing worse than buying expensive gear only to have your child grow out of it within a few months. With their Vari Quick system, the shoulder straps are easily adjustable and can grow with your child.

To size the pack, we adjusted the hip belt so the pack sat firmly on his hips. Next we determined how far above his shoulders the straps were and adjusted them up or down as needed. The straps shouldn’t sit right on shoulders, but are more for balance. Most of the pack weight should be on the hips.

Padded Shoulders & Hip Belt

The Fox 30 also has plenty of padding on both the shoulder straps and the hip belts. One reason day packs are so light is either the lack of a waist belt, or a simple buckle to keep the bag from swinging around. Totally fine if you are doing a quick day hike, but for multi-days the straps start to wear on your shoulders. I’ve also had plenty of bruised and sore hips from carrying my pack on a multi day trip and didn’t want that for my kids.

I do wish the pack had pockets on the hip belt. We call this our “garbage” pockets and its easy for kids to stash small candy wrappers (hiking incentives) or even to stow away trash they find along the trail as we are hiking.

Hydration Compatible

This pack is hydration compatible – although you wouldn’t know from my picture! Ha! Not sure why we just stashed the bladder on top, but the pack does have a zippered pocket to slide water into. I love it when our kids carry their own water and can sip as we hike. It definitely keeps them more hydrated!

Compression Straps & Outside Pockets

I love the stretchy pockets on either side of the bag. Its super easy to shove a puffy vest, or stuffed animal in those and I don’t have to worry about anything falling out. Andrew loves hooking his pocket knife to the daisy chain, and there are bungee cords to strap on a hiking pole if needed.

Overall I feel like there are possibly too many straps. Sometimes we don’t hook them all together and they dangle, or we get them mixed up. It is nice to have a tightly cinched pack, but I’m not sure this one needs two on each side.

Bottom Access

Many packs have both top down and bottom access. This makes packing the bag, and getting things out a bit easier as you can separate your gear more nicely. Its easy to stuff his sleeping bag and pad down in the bottom and then pile everything else in through the top. This doesn’t have a divider though which I actually prefer to keep weight higher up, but it works just fine.

Cumberland Island National Seashore – Georgia

This pack is the perfect size for Andrew to carry just his stuff without being overly heavy. We’ve tried to accumulate light weight gear so he can take his sleeping bag, pad, clothes, animals, water, and kindle while still being able to hike 4 or 5 miles.

The Fox 30 is basically an adult back shrunk down to fit a child roughly ages 7 – 10 years old. It has many of the features I like in my own bag and helps Andrew to feel capable while carrying his own gear on a hike. If you are looking for a starting backpack for your child, we definitely recommend getting one of these!

Backpacking Biking Hiking On the Water Outdoor Adventures Rock Climbing Utah

Summary & Review of REI’s Powder Mountain Outessa Summit

Post author By Jess
Post date September 13, 2016
8 Comments on Summary & Review of REI’s Powder Mountain Outessa Summit

We turned up the winding canyon road and our excitement mounted with every foot of elevation we climbed. We turned off the main rode and drove the last few hundred feet up a dirt road to the very top of Powder Mountain Ski Resort. We crested the final hill and were in awe of the view that would be ours for the next 4 days. This was truly going to be a spectacular weekend.

Partnered with REI, the brains behind an all women’s outdoor adventure summit went all out. From amazing REI guides and teachers from all over the country, world class food, national championship level athletes, prominent vendors in the outdoor industry, and a full schedule, they worked to cover every detail to create a one of a kind event.

After checking in, receiving my welcome packet (an Osprey day pack will all sorts of goodies inside!) I was led to the spot where Camp Outessa was being formed. I opted to bring my own camping gear and stake it out in the temporary camp, but immediately became aware it wasn’t going to be easy. We were set up in a parking lot at the top of the hill, and naturally, the ski resort uses a hardening agent in the dirt so the entire top of the mountain doesn’t slide off when the snow hits. It also makes it really hard to stake in a tent. Outessa had laid out fresh sod over the dirt which helped the stake situation (we angled all our stakes in practically sideways) and also provided a soft surface to sleep on. I was extremely grateful to not have dust and dirt in the tent area! We had some resourceful people helping us try to get our stakes in the ground, and resorted to a lot of sandbags, rocks, and sharing of large tent stakes so we could have at least one corner staked down well.

Thinking I was set up as well as I could be, I met back up with my friend and we explored the REI village where vendors were setting up. There wasn’t really anything going on that evening, just mostly checking in and getting set up. Unfortunately, I hadn’t realized meals weren’t provided until the following day, so by the time dinner rolled around I was one of quite a few hungry people hanging out. We snaked protein bars, almond butter, and a few other snacks laid out for the weekend, and after chatting on the deck and watching the sun go down we headed to bed excited and ready for the following morning.

Then the wind picked up, the temperature dropped, and nobody slept.

I swear it was the worst night’s sleep I have had in my entire life and I’ve been pregnant three times. Not being able to fully stake my tent fly out it was flapping loudly all night long while consistently hitting me in the head. It was also bitterly cold. I woke up around 2am and donned almost every single piece of clothing I had brought. Layered up I still slept fitfully with the noise and wind chill.

Miserable, angry, and feeling utterly defeated I woke up at 6:45am the next morning and grumbled my way out of the tent to attempt a sunrise photo. I wasn’t feeling it and I’ll admit I had some not nice thoughts going through my head. I was hungry, cold, tired, and not sure how I was going to manage a full schedule of outdoor activities on little sleep and no real food. Breakfast was light (tofu burritos) and I longed for oatmeal, eggs, or anything that could help give me a boost for the day.

At this point I had a choice. I could suck it up, change my attitude, and purposely strive forward knowing that nothing is perfect. Or, I could give in to the demons in my head, pack up and head for a hotel later that day where I knew I could get a good night’s rest.

I chose the former option and am so glad I did.

My first class wasn’t until 9am, so I went back to my tent determined to fix the fly problem. There were some helpful men running around with large hammers, more rocks, and helpful attitudes. We managed to stake my fly out a little better and I also found the Big Agnes camp hostesses walking around with ear plugs and hand warmers to help both the noise and the cold. Bless their souls.

Buoyed by this success, I started my classes and had a fantastic day. I made my own ProBar, tortured myself with a Trigger Point foam rolling session, conquered an overhang in an intermediate rock climbing class, and headed out on a mountain bike for a trail ride. I loved being surrounded by passionate women who excelled in their sports and were there to encourage and support us in whatever we were willing to try!

Thankfully there was very little wind Friday night (I fully attribute that to all the prayers that I’m sure were being said all day!) and woke refreshed and ready to pound another day.

Mountain Biking Tight Turns, SUP, Backpacking Cooking, and an amazing, travel photography workshop with Chris Burkard kept me running on my feet until dinner. Perhaps my schedule was a bit packed (I did manage to squeeze a few minutes to sit in the ENO hammock lounge) but I thrive on doing all the things. With so many options it wasn’t difficult to keep busy.

Saturday night we hiked a mile to dinner as a group where we were treated to a crab boil! I ate salad, cornbread, seafood, and potatoes amidst some great company, and a charged, positive vibe from the group.

Afterward we retired to the campfire and sat huddled against the cold laughing, talking and enjoying each other’s company. To top it off we were served grilled peaches, pound cake, and whipped cream while we watched the sun sink on the horizon.

Although I wasn’t in the mood to run, I knew that if I ditched my headlamp run I would forever regret it. Despite the fact that were were full of crab, there were 5 of us that set off on a short 2 mile trail run around 8:30pm. Decked out with Salomon running shoes we made our way down the hill and back up again. Lit by our headlamps underneath the moon and stars it was probably one of the most peaceful things I’ve ever done. Mid-way we stopped to just stare at the night sky full of stars. Proud of myself and warm from the run I crawled into my sleeping bag and slept easily until morning.

Sunday dawned bright and crisp and after a quick breakfast of yogurt, muffins, and fruit I got dressed in my mountain biking gear and headed for my most anticipated class: Mountain Bike Skills – Wheel Lifts. After attending my skills class the previous morning I was dying to add this class and the night before a spot opened up. The instructor for all the MTB classes was Cindy Abbot-Wood – the Senior Instructor for the REI Outdoor School in Austin, TX and one amazing pro-level mountain biker.

You guys – I didn’t know you could take mountain biking skills classes and I was hooked. I seriously wanted to just drink everything in.

outessa-jesscurren-_100 — Demoing her awesome skills to the class, our group of instructors including pro athletes Sarah Kaufmann, and Rebecca Rusch, and me learning how to balance while doing a wheelie.

If there was anything I got from attending Outessa, it would be the passion, desire, focus, and motivation to follow my dreams. Cindy and I chatted after class (and my amazingly awesome wheelie!) about life, what I could do to certify as an instructor, and how to continuously improve my skills and even get into the racing scene. She could tell I’ve been bit badly by the mountain biking bug and absolutely encouraged and empowered me.

outessa-jesscurren-_123 — Julia Mallon(co-founder), Cindy Abbott-Wood (REI Guide), Bart Davis (co-founder)

On a total high from my class and chat with Cindy, I skipped my stretching session and opted for a moment or two in the hammock and time to just breathe before taking the shuttle down to the reservoir for kayaking with OruKayaks. The instructors decided to throw in a little origami while we were at it.

Even though I was dying to go ride with the group on the afternoon trail ride, at this point I was feeling pretty spent and knew that 2 hours on the trail might just kill me. Instead I opted to check out the Leatherman class (and got a free Skeletool!) and ended the day with Yoga at 5pm.

My entire experience was a completely packed 3 days, but there were so many other classes I could have taken. Plenty on hiking, photography, campfire cooking, taking care of your body, meditation, or even map & compass. It was great to gather at meals and see what classes other women had taken and how they felt about it. So many felt enabled after taking an Intro to Backpacking, or Rock Climbing class. Many had sports or activities they had always wanted to try but never felt they could get into on their own. Taking a class, learning about equipment and being able to ask questions was just what most of these women needed. No egos, no judgement, just encouragement from all sides.

Outessa is all about empowering women in the outdoors. They encourage us to nurture our passions and feed our curiosities. I came home fueled up, filled, and completely ready to tackle whatever life throws at me. Was the event perfect? Of course not. From a less than ideal camping situation, to dinner on Thursday night, or even shuttle schedules, I know that the brains behind Outessa are working on solutions. For a first time event however, I completely feel Outessa knocked it out of the park. They were so aware of us, our needs, and what they could do to make our experience even better. Just as we learn from the obstacles thrown in our path you can bet Outessa is already hard at work hammering out details to make next year even better than this one and I can’t wait to be there.

Backpacking

6 Tasty Recipes Easy Enough for Backpacking With Kids

Post author By Jess
Post date July 20, 2016

Backpacking Georgia

I posted some of our favorite backpacking, freezer bag meal recipes after our first trip to the Apostle Islands last year in our 3 day meal plan. Since then we’ve done a few more trips and I neglected to add the NEW recipes we tried to our blog! Oops. Sorry about that.

Luckily for me, I have written about them over on The Outbound Journal which makes sharing these recipes super easy.

“Any outdoor activity with kids takes effort and patience, and backpacking is no exception. Its also an exercise in simplicity. While I may love to plan, prep, carry, and cook a gourmet backcountry meal when there’s just two of us on the trail, with kids I just want to get them fed. We look for meals that are simple, filling, and easy to clean up. With those specific requirements, much of our backcountry breakfasts and dinners are what’s called Freezer Bag Cooking.

Once you know what to look for, finding Freezer Bag Meals is pretty easy. We typically will do oatmeal for breakfast (I could easily eat it every morning), an easy, on-the-go lunch, and then a Freezer Bag Meal for dinner. There are plenty of recipes out on the internet, but here are some of our favorites tested and approved by our three kids.”

Check out the rest of the article over on The Outbound. New recipes include Freezer Bag Chocolate Protein Oatmeal & Freezer Bag Chicken Thanksgiving Dinner.

Happy Hiking!

https://theoutbound.com/jess-curren/happy-meals-6-tasty-recipes-easy-enough-for-backpacking-with-kids