Quick guide to my Top 5 pieces of gear.
Read MoreToddler Camping Hack
This is a short post but one I felt worth sharing.
This past weekend I brought my 3 year old daughter camping with me, for her first daddy daughter day camping trip. She is recently potty trained and the week leading up to our trip I was racking my brain about whether or not I was going to pack pull ups.
After much deliberation and thought I decided I did not want to put her back in diapers. This however put me in a dilemma. Will I be able to convince my daughter to drop trough in the middle of the night while out in the woods?
No I Won't.
Come the solution. Last year I was working Ina home DIY project to convert my junk mail into paper pulp and dry the pulp bricks into paper logs to be burned in the fire place. To do this I needed two 5 gallon buckets, one with holes drilled in the bottom of it. I took this bucket and her potty seat and made her a camp potty. I couldn't be any more happy with how this worked. She didn't balk at all to go pee-pee on her camp potty and I didn't stress every time she had to go.
So that's it. Yes I will pat myself on the back.
Camp Potty- potty Training Sear and 5 Gallon Bucket.
Happy Camper
Dukes Creek Falls - Chattahoochee National Forest
Dukes Creek Falls, which is located a mile or so from Raven Cliff Falls , provides a completely different hiking experience. The hike down to Dukes Creek Falls is only 1.1 miles down a nicely groomed set of switchbacks. The trail may be shorter in distance than Raven Cliff but has more of a dramatic change in elevation.
Not being one of the more popular hikes in the area, I was lucky to come across it on my drive to Raven Cliff. My wife and I just gave birth to our daughter 3 weeks prior to this post and we were looking for a trail that was just long enough for my wife to feel like she was exercising but short enough to keep her from over exerting herself while she is still recovering from a C-Section. We were pleasantly surprised after making it down to the base of the falls.
We packed the kids in the Kelty Kid Carrier and Bjorn and brought lunch and made our way down the trail. Spring bloom was in the air with a clean crisp scent, which always reminds me of summer vacations in Connecticut. The temperature was perfect and I know my wife enjoyed and appreciated the perfect conditions for her first trip back to the trail.
Dukes Creek Falls is perfect for hikers of all ages, and there are quite a few seating areas for those that need to take a little break. The Chattahoochee National Forest is speckled with little hidden gems like this all over the place. The only trick is how do you find them all?
Raven Cliff Falls - Chattahoochee National Forest
Raven Cliff Falls located in the Chattahoochee National Forest is a little hidden gem. Tucked away in the foothills of the North Georgia Mountains this hike is great for people of all ages and experience levels. A 5 mile round trip that is mild to easy on a scale of strenuousness, this trail is just long enough to make you feel like you have accomplished something. Especially if you are carrying a 35 pound child on your back.
We have been buried in the house the last 2 weeks with the birth of our new daughter. I woke up this morning and couldn't let such a beautiful day go to waste. My wife, still recovering from child birth wasn't able to make this trip, so it ended up being daddy daughter day with my lovely 3 year old. With a sandwich packed and M&M's in my pocket, I put Faith Marie into our Kelty Child Carrier and set off the the 2.5 mile hike up to the waterfall.
There is something special about having your daughter on your back while you trek her through the woods. She loved every minute of it wondering when daddy was going to take her camping. She was campaigning for a nap in her sleeping bag. Spending time outdoors since she was born has giver her a real itch to camp and hike.
We made it to the top of the falls and sat to eat. We listened to the water cascade off the rocks as we shared our deli sub and water. I let her climb around a little and let her feel as if she accomplished something big. This was a great afternoon.
Backpacking Gear List - Hammock Camping 1 to 3 Days - Summer
Are you planning a hiking trip for a few days but not sure what to take? Here is how I go about picking the gear I am going to bring and how I chose the items to bring. Everyone requires something a little different but maybe this will give you an idea of what and how to pack.
Read MoreMOUNTAIN CROSSINGS’ THRU HIKER KICK OFF PARTY
MOUNTAIN CROSSINGS’ THRU HIKER KICK OFF PARTY!
Our day started off with a bit of a surprise. Snow, and a lot more than we anticipated. Georgia had received a winter storm a few days before and 60 miles south of Blood Mountain there were hardly any remnants. Pulling in to the parking lot of the Byron Reese Trail I quickly realized that my decision to wear my trail shoes instead of boots was the wrong one. 6 inches of snow lay on the trail and as the sun broke from behind the clouds it turned to mush.
We left our packs in the car and headed to the top of Blood Mountain to enjoy the views of the valleys below. Our hike allowed us to cross paths with NOBO thru hikers who had recently started there trek to Mount Katahdin Maine from Springer Mountain Georgia. Passing the trekkers made me wonder if they will make it all the way, it also had me questioning whether I could do such a hike. It is a bucket list item for my wife and I.
After our hike up and back on Blood Mountain, we decided to join the Mountain Crossings Thru Hiker Kick Off Party . March 1 is the traditional start date for most thru hikers and Mountain Crossings lie on the path to Neel Gap. Hikers can stop in to refuel and refresh as they have a fantastic store full of gear and food as well as a hostel for hikers to take a break and wash up. The party was joined by vendors from various outdoor companies and live music provide by Raven and Red.
We hiked a little way up the trail, set up camp and came down to join the party. There we were greeted by many of the locals and joined some of the thru hikers in conversation. We were invited to join the bonfire that night and enjoyed stories and laughing while everyone had a great time around the fire. Some of the seasoned hikers passed along some wisdom and trail etiquette that I will pay forward and adhere to on my treks. 2 of the more important pieces of information I received were in regards to the Leave No Trace initiative and to pay respects to the old timers on the trail.
If you haven't had an opportunity to join one of these events, I suggest putting it on you calendar. You can follow them on Facebook for updates on other events and specials. And read up on Leave No Trace . As important as it is to inspire others to get out on the trail it is just as important to educate the new breed to respect and treat these trails with care as the are the life blood for so many and meaningful to even more.
Winter Hammock Camping Without An Underquilt
If you are ready to spend the 200-300 dollars needed to buy and under quilt for your hammock that doesn't mean that you have to be a 3 season hammock camper. The key to 4 season hammock camping is understanding how you trap heat to stay warm. While having an under quilt makes this easier not all of us can afford to drop that kind of coin on a hobby.
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