2020

COVID-19 Perspective: Tons of miles of trails! We did not see a single person until 3/4 of the way into our hike. Definitely get there early because the park got crazy busy after noon.

Kid Perspective:

Running Wild – One area to exercise caution, which I point out later. Otherwise, no worries to run free! And I am telling you, right now it is important to let the kids run wild and free. Too much time cooped up = stir crazy kids. Letting them loose on the trail is more important than ever right now.
The Trail – We followed the river, took a short jaunt on the road, back to the river, cut across to another trail along the river, crossed the road for a 1 mile loop back to the road and back to the car.
Trail Conditions – Lots of debris on the trail in some areas, portions of mud and water but otherwise PERFECT!
Plants – First flower spottings of the season!
Bathrooms – We did not encounter a bathroom along the way but I am sure they are likely located near parking lots and campgrounds. Check the local maps if needed. **Note – we have not been using the provided vault toilets during the COVID-19 pandemic. Make sure to prepare yourself before hitting the trail.
Cell Service – Terrible. We were in “airplane mode” from the moment we left our car until we returned. Even then, we did not pick up service until we were closer to the visitor center and that was sketchy at best.

Trail Information:

Length – 7.77 miles
Moving Time – 03:20:41
Elevation Gain – 179 ft.
Difficulty – Easy overall and Moderate when we consider the distance. The kids have become accustomed to shorter trails due to winter so it will take a little bit to get them used more miles as we continue into the warmer months.

Highlights:

Combo – Giving Biff a piggy-back ride!!
Biff – Acorn fight!
Blaze – Acorn fight!
Ripper – Finding a long trail where we only met one actual couple on the trail! Social distancing at it’s best!

We chose this park because it has TONS of miles of hiking trails and we thought we could find a route that would keep us away from people. Passing the visitor center we drove on a paved road for a short distance and then hit the dirt road – YES! Lots of twists and turns followed and even a few bridges! As the miles continued we felt more and more confident that this was the right choice. When we found the trailhead we were even more pleased to see that it could only hold a few cars (one space already taken).

Combo had fallen asleep sometime within the last hour of our drive and was slow to come to her senses (just like her daddy) and Biff…well he was Biff and upset over something or another which I cannot remember at the moment. But we were off! I share this because the kids are not always super excited to hike but we persevere and do our best to help them enjoy the experience.

We took off on the trail towards the river and surrounded by massive trees on all sides. Just what we were needing! Biff somehow became energized and renewed and took off like a bullet….so much so that we had to hoot and holler to get him to wait up for us. We have a rule that you can run ahead as much as you want, as long as we can see you (apparently he chose to disregard this rule with his new found zest).

It was a short walk to the scenic overlook of the Kettle River and my oh my was it beautiful!! We stopped for several moments to take in the scenery and check out the historical information posted at the outlook. We were feeling better by the moment!

Both Blaze and I have continued to work throughout this pandemic. Blaze goes to work in contact with EVERYTHING and I stay home utilizing Vidyo, Skype, etc. to continue my work while also attempting to facilitate distance learning…you all know that distance learning is rough. To my surprise, Combo actually wanted to spend additional time with me despite being cooped up in the house with me for far too long. It did wonders for my soul! Biff took this opportunity to collect as many acorns as he could (don’t worry we never let him remove them from the park).

Here we encountered the one area where we exercised caution with the kids. The drop-off was steep down to the river and it would not be good if they took a tumble.

And this is where the real fun began – commence the epic acorn fight of 2020 (we did not know it at the time but this would continue along many hikes in the future). Biff and Blaze rifled acorns at one another like nobodies business while Combo tried to talk to me and dodge the acorns at the same time. It was hilarious! We also found our first rhubarb (rebar) sighting of the year and shortly after a hilarious game of acorn baseball ensued. I cannot make this stuff up folks!

Continuing on, we noticed just how gorgeous the Kettle River was and talked about how amazing it would be to build a cabin along it’s banks. It would be an easy drive from our house but far enough away to feel like a retreat. AND we saw the first of the springtime flowers!!

The weather was predicted to be the warmest we had hiked in yet so Mom and Dad chose to wear shorts/capris. Well, the weather turned out to be a little bit chillier than we had expected but it was still manageable. The shortened length of my capri choice led to the first hiking blood of the season…I tripped on a branch and it left an ugly cut above my right ankle…battle scars:) One of the perks of the warmish weather was that we were still able to enjoy the icicles across the river!

The trail continued along the river and as we hiked further we decided that the Kettle River could be the perfect place for a cabin. It was magical and we started to envision what our getaway might look like. Envisioning the future and creating goals is something that we have always been good at – it keeps us focused and striving for more. We may not always end up where we envision but we always find home!

One of the most hilarious parts of our trek was navigating the mud on the trail!

The peace on the trail is something to treasure – alone with your thoughts or the conversations with your companions is something to be treasured! This was definitely true this time around. We found peace within ourselves but beyond that peace as a family…that is something and that is why we hike.

Soon we found a bridge and of course we had to throw some sticks in and watch where they landed!

We left the bridge and shortly there after Blaze found the PERFECT walking stick, which he carried for the remainder of our adventure. Of course Biff needed to find a walking stick too to be just like his Dad! Here the trail met the road for a short time and Biff used his walking stick to carve a “sidewalk” into the dirt road to protect Combo and I. He was ADAMANT that we walk within the barrier of his sidewalk…ok buddy.

Our short walk on the road brought us back into the woods thankfully!! Combo was excited to use Blaze’s walking stick to navigate a water crossing:)

Quickly finding the river again we noticed that the scenic overlooks all had really cool benches that we decided we should replicate in our yard. Biff and Combo HAD to compare the size of their sticks…yikes, I can only guess what that means for their future!

The temperature continued to drop and the wind picked up but we found warmth in laughing at a tree that had a “butt” shape at it’s base! Yes we are immature but we ask you to appreciate this as a part of our charm. We also found some really cool mushrooms growing on a tree!

As we made our final jaunt along the river the kids were filled of Daddy Tree jokes and songs about the Old Man Snoring (see previous posts for full explanations). It was both exhausting and hilarious at the same time to keep up with their antics! Living life folks – that is what is all about!

Nearing the cut-across I informed Biff that we needed to take a Left to continue on our journey. He DID NOT agree and let me know his displeasure (tantrum) BUT when I showed him the map and how the cut-across would actually cut mileage off of our hike, he was in. Yep, he is still adapting to our lifestyle despite the fact that he has been raised hiking. It’s never perfect with little people – they have their ups and downs and we as the “adults” learn how to manage it and make it fun. The learning curve never ends folks but that is okay because the payoff is worth far more than the distress. I promise!

When we met up with the trail along the river we were disappointed to find that we could not see the river but we continued on! Biff was still being crabby and Combo decided she should cheer him up and gave him a piggy back ride! Combo and Biff can be oil and water but there are those precious times where they support one another and it’s amazing – it usually happens on the trail. More proof that we need to continue to be out hiking! The piggy back ride led to quite the puddle crossing. Blaze took the lead and instructed Combo and Biff to use his impromptu hiking staff to get them across the barrier. They did it! To celebrate Combo and Biff enjoyed another piggy back ride!

Soon we crossed the road to take a longer loop and Biff became quite tired…tantrum. We coaxed him out of the tantrum and continued on…OK we told him we were not acknowledging his tantrum and we would continue on until he used his words to describe his frustrations and we did! He fell behind, like REALLY fell behind but we kept moving. Eventually he realized that he needed to catch up to us and he did. He was rewarded with Blaze carrying him:) Blaze and I talked about how lucky we were to not see a single soul in over 5 miles but we jinxed ourselves. Shortly after 5.2 miles we saw another couple on the trail. We walked off the trail for several feet and let them pass y, giving them the Minnesota nod. As we finished this loop we found a parking lot that was PACKED with people. Time to kick it into high gear!

It started to sprinkle around this time and this helped Biff get motivated to get back to the car. He made it up in his mind that if “X” amount of raindrops his us a BAD thunderstorm would happen and he had a zipper on his and that would attract lightening! I made sure that he knew he was safe and then encourage him to pick up the pace to a run to get back to the car before too many raindrops hit. We found several cool rocks along the way and Combo and Biff really picked up the pace to beat the rain!

We made it and the day was AMAZING! Blaze left his hiking stick against a prominent tree within our parking space for other hikers to enjoy. Word to the wise – small parking lots mean less people.

Thank you so much for joining us on this journey!! Hiking has always been my passion and over the years my family has found that passion within themselves. There is something magical about being on the trail. During times like this I hope you can all find that special something to make life manageable and even enjoyable. It’s difficult and sometimes impossible. Please know that we are there for you and if you want to reach out to someone about your struggles I promise we will answer. You are important and you matter! Take care and happy hiking!!

Frontenac State Park – Frontenac, MN 04/11/2020

COVID-19 Perspective: Early on we (9:13 am) only saw one hiker (actual person enjoying hiking) but as the day went on we saw more and more people. I want to encourage families to get out and hike because it is AMAZING! But…it saddens me that people are flocking to the trails without taking the time to abide by trail etiquette. We have seen more garbage on the trail and more signs of miss-use. It’s a double edged sword. More to come on this topic.

Kid Perspective:

Running Wild – Caution should be exercised on the trail leading down to the Lower Bluff Trail. A misstep could be quite awful. We told the kids to walk and stay close to us. The rest of our journey allowed the kids to run wild and free.
The Trail – We took the trail from the first parking lot at the entrance and into the woods. From there we took the winding path to the campground and then the Lower Bluffside Trail. Next was the Quarry and Pine Loop Trail and then back to the Hiking Club Trail before diverging to go passed some homes within Frontenac and walk near the road before returning to our car.
Trail Conditions – Great!!
Bathrooms – There are bathrooms within the visitor center and dispersed throughout the park.
Cell Service – There are places on the Lower Bluffside Trail that have absolutely NO cell reception.

Trail Information:

Length – 5.23 miles
Moving Time – 02:45:13
Elevation Gain – 401 ft.
Difficulty – Moderate to Easy. The Lower Bluffside Trail was more strenuous getting down to the trail and then ascending back up to the other trails. Other than that it was pretty easy going.

Highlights:

Combo – The flowers!
Biff – Taking the lead!
Blaze – I loved seeing the old man with Croc’s at the Lower Bluffside Trail wondering how he would get up the other side! **editors note – this was a couple that we saw on the trail. Both were not equipped with hiking shoes nor were they wearing clothing that would allow for easy hiking. Good for them for getting out and about BUT they were also a group that did not attempt to practice any kind of social distancing. We had to social distance ourselves within the brush for the greater good. Again, more to come on this subject.
Ripper – The Lower Bluffside Trail is ABSOLUTELY amazing! The big trees, water and rocks are something to marvel at. We’ve camped and hiked here but somehow I forgot just how incredibly beautiful this park is!

It had been quite the week with distance learning and working from home. Both Blaze and I have been deemed as essential employees but I have been staying home and Blaze continues to go out into the world coming in contact with gosh knows what as the post-master. It is a struggle for me to stay home. I want to be able to go into work and see the individuals that I am working with but right now the risk is too high. I could spread infection through what Blaze brings home…so I stay home and work while facilitating the distance learning for our kids. It has been heartbreaking, overwhelming and nerve-wracking all at once. All of that being said, Blaze and I decided that we needed to hit a park that would bring us back to us and fill our hearts with the happiness that we so need, Frontenac State Park was the one we chose!

It took just under 2 hours to get to the park and once we got there we were all ready to go! There were only a couple cars in the parking lot at this time.

We have been to this park a couple of times camping and hiking and we have consistently noted that there are several bird houses along the way on the trail. We took a guided tour of a trail within the park a few years ago and the lovely gentleman that led it told us all about the history of the bird houses. It was pretty cool to see them in action this time around!

We walked next to the road and Biff REALLY had to pee. We told him that he would have to get into a covered area where he could actually get off the trail and not be seen by anyone and practice good trail etiquette. The kid took off!

Next we encountered a wonderful hill up. We had to stop several times to take off layers of clothing (I should have taken my bigger pack) and we did some creative rearranging within my pack to make it all fit.

Our next portion of trail leveled out for the most part. We were heading to the campground and both kids recognized the trail as we had been on it two years ago. The unfortunate part was that we saw litter on the trail. I don’t think people intentionally do this but I also think they do not intentionally try not to do it (more to come later).

We passed by the campsite we had previously occupied to hit the trail to the Yan Teopa Rock Trail. The kids really loved this part!

The next portion was my favorite. We hiked down the steep switchbacks to get to the Lower Bluffside Trail. It was gorgeous!

The Lower Bluffside Trail was where we really found our way back to ourselves. We connected as a family and as a unit that was ready to tackle anything that came before us. Just the best!

As we continued on our way we found some really cool moss! Any guesses as to what it actually is?

At this point on the trail all worries had fallen to the wayside. I found myself truly happy. And when I looked to my family I could see that they were feeling the same thing. There is something about hiking and experiencing the great outdoors that restores the soul and makes everything OK again.

We also found some pretty flowers along the way!

The landscape was amazing here and we could not help but to stop and wonder at the beauty. And before we knew it we found a rock that shimmered and shined with it’s own beauty. The trail truly provides wonders for our family!

And a few more delicate flowers because they were so beautiful!

From here the kids decided to make a race of it! They ran their little hearts out! Eventually Biff had to take a break against a tree – he was POOPED! But then he found a rock in the trail that looked like a face and found renewed energy.

Combo became too warm in her pants so we took a quick break for her to change into her shorts. Boom!

Next up was the Rock Quarry Tail – super cool!

We LOVED checking out the wild Turkeys on the trail!

We had a quick debate as to whether or not we wanted the hike to last longer – no brainer…YES! So we took the Pine Loop Trail. Funny side note, Biff had run quite some distance ahead of us and the came sprinting back to us yelling “PEOPLE!”. I think he has the idea of social distancing:)

This trail brought us back to the Hiking Club trail and we thought about the many picnics we had near this spot but today we were grateful that we did not need to stop in the blazing sun. This was our return trip to our car and we decided to take the longer route which brought us by some homes and then a quick walk near the road. There were SO MANY people here by this time. Definitely best to hit the trail early and head home early.

Lot’s of love for you guys! Take care during this scary time (and always). We appreciate all of you that join us on our adventures! See you soon and HAPPY HIKING!!

Sibley State Park – New London, MN 04/05/2020

COVID-19 Perspective: While travelling the outer trails we did not see a soul! BUT as we made our way back to our car and the more popular trails we encountered MANY people.

Kid Perspective:

Running Wild – The trail was peaceful and had no foreseeable risks for our kids, so we let them loose!
The Trail – We started on the Hiking Club trail from the parking lot and then made our way equestrian group camp and followed an equestrian/hiking trail loop and back again. The trail was full of rolling hills up and down, surrounded by large trees. We even found ourselves hiking past two lakes which offered opportunities to see birds.
Trail Conditions – Great! Barely any mud on the trail and lots of packed dirt to keep our feet moving.
Bathrooms – Vault toilet located at the parking lot.
Cell Service – Great.

Trail Information:

Length – 5.34 miles
Moving Time – 02:22:31
Elevation Gain – 151 ft.
Difficulty – Easy for the most part. Walking up to Little Mount Tom had a decent amount of elevation gain in a short period of time but that was about it.

Highlights:

Combo – Watching Biff struggle with his sweater after he dragged it through horse poop!
Biff – Picking on Combo “But I didn’t try!”
Blaze – We took the horse trail and it was something different.
Ripper – Finding a trail within this popular park that was not overwhelmed with people! Being together as a family is always my favorite part (yeah I know it is corny, but bear with me please).

So the day before we attempted to hike at Greenleaf State Recreation Area but we were thwarted with too many people not practicing social distance for our comfort so we quickly turned back. There is only one trail within the recreation area so there were not many options for avoiding those that did not seem to be concerned with the current status of the pandemic. It looked like a cool area but did not have anything awe-inspiring as far as we could tell. Maybe if we had given it more of a shot we would have a different opinion.

After turning around, Blaze installed a new light above our sink and then we all enjoyed a wonderful curbside to go meal from one of our favorite restaurants in town – Mill Creek Inn. We have been ordering food to go from one local restaurant each weekend to support our local business owners. This meal was AMAZING! We then had a bonfire and roasted marshmallows while enjoying the view of our new light from the backyard. It was a good day!

Given our experience at Greenleaf, I wanted to choose a trail to hike that I thought would not be heavily trafficked. I chose a trail that was not advertised on any hiking apps and did not have any special overlooks to speak of. It was a good choice! I have found a new challenge for our hikes!

When we arrived to the park and were driving past the welcome center, there was a car driving through the parking lot with their passenger door WIDE open – not sure what was going on there but it was strange for sure. We continued on our way and I parked as close to the trailhead as I could, so we could be in and out in the event that there many people upon our return. There were a few different groups preparing to hike the Mt. Tom trail when we arrived and we made our departure from the car swift, stopping only to grab a quick picture. Let’s do this!

We quickly made it to the hill up to Little Mt. Tom – as you can see by the pictures it was not strenuous. But it does have great views and during the summer it is pretty awesome to look out over all of the greenery from the trees. Plus, not as many people usually head that way. Most seem to gravitate towards Mt. Tom.

We continued along the Hiking Club trail until we hit the dirt road. Where we would usually turn left to continue along the Hiking Club trail, we turned right and headed to the equestrian group camp.

At the equestrian camp Biff was super excited to finally be able to shoot off the cap-gun that he had carefully packed away for our trip. BIG bummer…his caps did not work. Of course this was devastating and it took quite a bit of cheering up for Biff to return to good spirits.

We continued back into the woods from the dirt road and we were thrilled to get away from it all. That is what hiking is about for us. We get away from everything – work struggles, pandemic nerves, social relationships that bother kids, you name it and dissolves on the trail. We can be just US. We talk, relate, laugh and spend the much needed time together to get back to normal. YES!!

Seeing different houses in the distance, Blaze and I wondered what it would be like to live so close to a park like this? Would we love the opportunity to hit the trail whenever we wanted or would it be like a carrot dangling in front of us? Either way, we decided we would love it! At this point we were walking along the park’s boundary and enjoyed seeing a different side of this park. The large vine that we saw growing around a massive tree reminded us of our old house and the numerous vines that we continuously battled.

Our fart jokes and laughter about the “Combos” (poop) we saw on the trail soon brought us to the loop that took us away from the road we had been travelling beside and into the woods. We stopped to show the kids where we were on the map – they love tracking our progress on our hikes and it seems like the farther we go and the more progress they see the more motivated they are. It was game on and both kids stepped up and cruised on! This gave Blaze and I several moments of Mom and Dad time which is precious during this social distancing and stay home times. Seriously the kids are awesome but they are ALWAYS there now, so when we get those few precious moments to talk Mom to Dad it is pretty awesome. Needless to say those precious moments of alone time did not last long and soon we were singing “Daddy Tree” and making up funny stories about “the old man snoring” and all of the horrible things that could happen to his schnitzel (code word for male genitalia)…yeah I know it is probably terrible to do this but the kids LOVE talking about all of the horrible things that can happen to a schnitzel and while we are on the trail we make exceptions for inappropriate language. It makes it fun, the kids enjoy it and Mom and Dad laugh their behinds off! And boy oh boy did Combo and Biff have some very painful stories to tell!

As we hiked past the lake we saw several birds and the kids enjoyed making up back stories for them – “oh that Momma is out searching for her baby duck that did not listen and got lost in the woods” or “that Goose is really taking a good bath – he needs it because he stinks super bad!” Beyond that, WOW did the old man have some TERRIBLE things happen to his schnitzel but it was absolutely hilarious and kept everyone in good spirits. Biff is destined to be a storyteller!

Soon we found ourselves at the “overlook” of the lake. We stopped for several moments to contemplate life and what we wanted to do with our time ahead of us. Some of the discussion included camping, backpacking, and finding the coolest road side attractions we can find. All of it sounds great but so far out of reach. But dreaming is important and therapeutic – it did us good and we have new plans for the future because of it!

Shortly after we left he lake Combo was continuing to destroy the Old Man’s Schnitzel and we saw a deer in the woods! We stopped for a significant amount of time to watch the Doe in the distance. She watched us even more closely and then slowly walked away. The kids were enthralled and Mom and Dad enjoyed the sighting just as much! We also saw where an animal had likely met their demise – this was interesting to describe to the kids.

Biff asked to take a break shortly after the deer sighting and we agreed since they had been doing such a wonderful job of not complaining on the trail. Loading up on gummy worms, veggie chips. jerky and conversation we were ready to hit the trail again. The rest of the trail was filled with schnitzel jokes, worries about going back to school and Biff dragging his sweater through some serious horse poop. He denied that it happened for the longest time and quite the standoff with Blaze about it (Blaze had continuously told him to hold his sweater up, around his shoulders or around his waist but to no avail). Once Biff agreed that he had actually allowed his sweater to touch the yucky pooh we all took part in helping him keep the yucky sweater tied tight around his waist.

We took a shortcut to the Hiking Club trail and Biff was sad about his sweater. Blaze and Combo continued on ahead but I stopped to wait for the sad sweater dilemma with Biff. Eventually I was able to coax him out of his funk and we ran along to catch Blaze and Combo.

The running did not stop there. When we reached the Hiking Club trail for our final portion of our journey there were SO MANY people. EVERYWHERE. Unfortunately not a single person was practicing social distancing so we really ran. Thankfully we were able to make it to the car without incident and headed home. Side note – I am writing this more than 14 days later and no one in our family is showing signs of COVID-19.

That’s it for this one folks! I truly hope you are all safe, healthy and happy! Take time to address your mental wellness. It’s ok to edgy right now. Things are rough and it is understandable and it is ok. Each and every one of you are important. Make good decisions and stay happy. Our family is with you and we appreciate and love each and every one of you! Take care and HAPPY HIKING!

Glacial Lakes State Park – Starbuck, MN 03/30/2020

COVID-19 Perspective: When we arrived to the parking lot (11:40 am) there were zero cars – SCORE! All in all, we saw one couple hiking, two moms with kiddos resting at a picnic table and another family hanging out in the parking lot when we left. As we drove out of the park people were starting to pour in.

Kid Perspective:

Running Wild – No areas of concern, they were able to run wild and free!
The Trail – From the parking lot we hiked past Signalness (Mountain) Lake to an overlook of the lake, through the Oakridge campground and along the High Peak trail which was open prairie with expansive hills and views. From there we traveled past a backpack site to the highest point in the park. A quick loop back led us to the other side of the backpack site and past a small body of water before connecting with the High Peak Trail again and back the way we came.
Trail Conditions – The trail was clear of snow and absolutely wonderful! A few places were wet near the water but nothing that caused any issues.
Bathrooms – Vault toilets located at the parking lot and within the campground.
Cell Service – Sketchy in some areas but good overall.

Trail Information:

Length – 2.74 miles
Moving Time – 01:16:32
Elevation Gain – 181 ft.
Difficulty – Overall easy. The one climb was short but steep. We’ve been here in the warmer months and would caution to bring extra water during that time, as the open landscape gets VERY hot BUT the wind is quite helpful!

Highlights:

Combo – Spending time with my family.
Biff – Running through the water!
Blaze – Walking by the pond and seeing all the ducks and birds, just like last time.
Ripper – Feeling normal and like a family again! Also, singing Pocket Robin on top of the hill and being chastised by the kids when we sang the actual words to Rockin Robbin (more to come).

On our way home from Buffalo Lake State Park we decided we were not quite done exploring for the day so we made a quick stop at Glacial Lakes State Park. We have been here before twice – once Biff and I tried for a Mom and Biff hike only to be thwarted by a gigantic storm and the second time we were successful with the whole family. We knew what we had in store for us and we could not wait!

The kids were full of energy and raced ahead of us to the lake. So many giggles and squeals of joy made my heart sore! We took in the beauty of the lake as climbed a hill and descended another one, checking out a different trail that we might need to check out next time. Soon we found a boardwalk to traverse and Biff proudly let us know that he saw his first mosquito of the season…not already?! Avoiding the water and mud at either end of the boardwalk we made our way to the overlook of the lake. Biff was VERY proud to make it to the overlook first – he was shredding the trail!

The overlook of the lake leads to a Council Ring, where two moms and their kids had stopped to take in the scenery and enjoy the nice day. Guiding our kids to remain directly behind and Blaze and in front of me, we quickly made our way past them giving them the Minnesota nod before moving quickly to the campground. We have previously examined the campground and there are a few spots that look promising but overall it is pretty cramped without any sites offering much privacy. But really beautiful! Before we knew it we were traversing the High Peak Trail and it was just as wonderful as we remembered!

The majority of the High Peak Trail was filled with the “remember when so-and-so did this” at given points on the trail. Last time we hiked this one (last year) Biff was full of tantrums but this time he was leading the pack and happy to do it. It is amazing what a difference a year can make. Combo continues to give Biff encouragement on the trail but at home picks on him ruthlessly.

Eventually the trail led us back into a wooded area where we climbed the short but steep trail to the point of highest elevation.

I’ve mentioned this before but on our long car rides I like to listen to my favorite podcast “Small Town Murder” and Combo used to pretend that she was sleeping so that I would keep the show going. I’ve since discovered this and will listen to episodes (skipping the non-kid friendly portions) and they have grown to really like the shows and podcasters.

That being said, there was an episode where James (Pietragallo) and Jimmie (Whisman) broke out into a new version of Rockin’ Robbin where they replace Rockin’ with Pocket (you have to listen to the episode to understand). We have played this version for the kids several times and they LOVE it! When we reached the top of the hill, Combo randomly broke out into Pocket Robin! Biff, Blaze, and I began to sing along but eventually Blaze and I reverted to the Rockin’ Robin version and boy oh boy did the kids chastise us! It was AWESOME!!

Our trip down the other side of the hill was filled with many poop sightings, which we lovingly named after members of our group – “hey look, there’s another Combo!” Luckily the kids have become accustomed to this tradition and no longer take offense to it. Blaze and Biff blazed on ahead, talking about all the boy gross things that are truly wonderful, while Combo and took the time to enjoy the butterflies, moths, and cool rocks that we saw along the way. Family bonding at it’s best!

Biff really wanted to stop and check out the backpack site as we hiked past but this was not the day to do so. We promised the kids that we would reserve this one and give it the proper attention it deserves the next time we are back.

Leaving the backpack site we knew that we were drawing nearer to the pond which promised bird sightings – but would they be here this time? Yep, they sure were! We were delighted to see the geese and ducks but sad to have missed the swans that were there previously. It’s comforting to know that some things continue on in their normal patter despite the craziness of what is happening around us humans.

As we headed back to the hills Biff again took the lead, showing us where the boards were somewhat shaky on the bridge that we crossed. He was also pretty excited to finally be able to unzip the pants portion of his hiking pants and turn them into shorts for the first time this hiking season! BOOM!

Blaze and I were super proud of the kids for still going strong despite the double hike day and several hours in the car. They are really turning into little hiking troopers and it warms my heart to no end! This portion of the trail was where I realized that I had completely forgotten about the troubles that were currently plaguing our world. We felt like us again – at one with one another and the natural world surrounding us. Our mental wellness had sky rocketed and the trail was our oyster! This is what it is all about for us!

We did encounter some mud on the trail and Combo took great care in directing us around the worst of it – we love letting the kids lead the way when there is not anything significant to worry about. Wondering just where we were on the map, we stopped to examine Avenza Maps and our GPS coordinates while also showing the kids the path that we would take to return to the car. They LOVE seeing where the little blue dot is on the map!

Animal poop is always exciting, whether we are naming it or examining the contents. Today we saw CORN in the poop!!

Soon we were back to the campground and the kiddos were lavishing Blaze with love, expounding on how excited they were to have him stay home the next day! We encountered the same wet ground as on the way out but this time Combo was not so lucky – she fully stepped into the water up to her shin! She was soaked and cried out “But I didn’t try to do it.” Of course Blaze encouraged Biff to reiterate this sentiment on the way back to the car, only pushing Combo further over the edge. Eventually I was able to calm Combo and she did see the humor in it all – family fun!

When we reached our car there was a family stopped in the parking lot, having a picnic. We were tense but quickly entered our car and headed out. As we headed out we noticed multiple groups of people congregated here are and there – so much for social distancing. I know that we cannot worry about the actions of others and whether or not they choose to distance themselves but it is still unnerving and scary. PLEASE, if you are out on our trails practice social distancing. Be smart. Leave no trace. Keep our trails open because if we do not follow these rules, our parks may close and we may not be able to enjoy them during this time of great distress. Rant over (more to come later).

This particular week the kids were actually on “Spring Break” so we did not have school work to worry about and we had already taken the week off for our planned trip to North Carolina. I chose to keep my vacation time and Blaze decided to head back to work for a few days. Knowing this was our little Spring Break vacation we decided to make one more stop on the way home. The “World’s Largest Crow!” It was pretty cool and a perfect way to end our hodge podge adventure.

That is it for this one folks! Thank you for following us and please, if you have any comments, suggestions, or overall feedback to give us please leave a comment below. But above all, stay safe. Be smart when you hit the trails. You are important. The health of your family is important. The health of your community is important. The health of our world is important. Let us all choose to lead by example and set a good one. Take care and HAPPY hiking!

Buffalo River State Park – Glyndon, MN 03/30/2020

COVID-19 Perspective: We made it to the park at 8:14 am and did not see a single car except for a state vehicle at the visitor center.

Kid Perspective:

Running Wild – No concerns but the kids chose to be careful in the areas of deep packed snow.
The Trail – This one was a loop connecting several trails through the park. Old Grade Trail (prairie), Wide Sky Trail (prairie), connector trail, River View Trail (along the river) and back to the Old Grade Trail.
Trail Conditions – Areas of open trail and DEEP snow packed trail.
Bathrooms – Located at the parking lot and again within the campground.
Cell Service – No issues.

Trail Information:

Length – 2.29 miles
Moving Time – 01:21:50
Elevation Gain – 85 ft.
Difficulty – Easy

Highlights:

Combo – The deer!
Biff – Throwing sticks into the river!
Blaze – It was super early in the morning and the ice and snow was still frozen so we did not sink in everywhere until near the end.
Ripper – The sun rising and bouncing off the surrounding snow.

We were planning on making a 5 hour drive to Old Mill State Park but once we began driving common sense took over and we shortened our drive to head to Buffalo River State Park. This has been quite the adjustment for us, as it has been for everyone. We are used to travelling long distances to check out new parks and cross them off of our Passport and Hiking Club lists but we realized while driving in the dark that it was smarter to stay closer to home.

I manage my “normal” anxiety through hiking. Hiking with my family is the one thing that grounds me and gives me the reboot that I need to keep moving forward. Realizing that driving farther away from home and feeling my anxiety increase by the mile was an eye opener which prompted us to take stock of our options and choose something smarter. Closer to home it was!

Since this whole COVID-19 thing started, or more like was finally brought to doorsteps it has been unnerving to step out onto the trail despite reassurances that getting out to enjoy the outdoors is still safe and actually recommended as long you follow the rules. That being said I still feel it in the pit of my stomach when I leave my home but that all changes within 10 minutes of being on the trail.

With each step we took into the prairie through the snow-packed trail, I felt myself slowly return to normal. I stopped worrying and started noticing the beauty that was around me.

The sun was slowly making it’s way into the sky and above us, creating beautiful sparkles from the frost covered landscape. And little by little, I started to become more present with the laughter from our kids and of course the normal fart jokes.

And if things could not get any better – we noticed deer off in the distance. We were able to follow the deer along our journey and actually got quite close. It was really neat! Biff bounded ahead, relishing in the adventure. We thought the deer would get spooked but they seemed to take joy in his joy and just bounded on ahead, stopping here and there to take stock of our whereabouts.

There was something about this early morning hike and the frost covered ground that really brought a sense of peace and excitement to each of us.

We had decided to hike this one backwards and ended up finding the Hiking Club password sooner than we were accustomed to – the kids were pretty surprised. But the promise of the views of the river kept them pushing forward to see what else they might discover.

As we started on the cutoff trail we found that the trail was covered with snow packed deep to our thighs! It was crazy to see that much deep snow while the surrounding area completely devoid of the not so fluffy white stuff.

Our first glimpses of the river had the kids mesmerized and they were hooked! They were ready to forge ahead and conquer the trail!

The snow was filled with the footprints of other hikers and we had a fun time maneuvering through the mine field.

At this point the sun shone above the river casting glorious rays of warmth in our direction, filling our hearts with happiness. I found myself incredibly thankful for these moments, as the stress and anxiety seemed to fade away.

This is where we noticed that we were in that sweet spot right before the sun started to melt the snow and provide us with some real fun trekking through the depths that covered some areas of the trail. Bring it on!

Soon we rounded the bend and were brought to an AMAZING view of the river and stopped to enjoy the complete and absolute beauty that it had to offer. How could one not feel at peace with this surrounding you?

From here we traveled into the woods with the river just to our left. I imagine that during the summer months you can hear the river flowing but you probably would not see it. There is give and take hiking during the winter months. You miss out on the greenery and trees but you do see so much more.

AND finally we came to a place on the river that Biff could get close enough to throw some sticks in. He was elated and made us spend a significant amount of time there. He took the time to pick out just the right sticks and then to watch each of those sticks disappear into the distance.

We usually do our family hikes on the weekend but we did this one on a Monday. I will take this moment to explain our current situation. Blaze and I are both essential employees and still working. I am staying at home with the kids, working remotely. This was a part of their spring break and I had already asked for vacation. Blaze continues to go into work, coming into contact with numerous people as the Post Master of our hometown. We were elated when he informed us shortly after the stick throwing that he would be staying home with us for ANOTHER day of spring break!

Our excitement of having ANOTHER day to spend time together brought us quickly to an abandoned bridge…or where it used to be. Of course we needed to throw some more sticks into the water! DUH!

One thing that we took note of at this point was the precautions that were already put into place for the impending flooding that would happen once the “thaw” really hit. It’s an eye opener for what living near a river is truly like. And I can only imagine what it might be like given our current circumstances.

We walked by the swimming area to ANOTHER bridge where we were able to throw some sticks in! I really want to check out where this bridge goes the next time we are in the area. I also want to check out the University of Minnesota facilities that this park offers (currently closed) when everything returns to normal.

Our trip back to the car was filled with sinking snow and wild animal poop everywhere. The kids wondered how there could be so much poop around and we had a fun time explaining how the animals poop in the winter and then it is all just preserved for the spring:) Fun times!

Buffalo River State Park brought peace to my soul (sorry Blaze I know that is corny)! We decided to check another state park on our way home, stay tuned for more! As always, thank you for joining us on our adventures. I do have a favor to ask of anyone reading this though. Can you please comment with where you are from and if your are doing ok or not? These are HARD times for all of us and I hope that you are all well! Take care! Be safe! And hike happily!

Camden State Park – Lynd, MN 03/21/2020

COVID-19 Perspective: Way too many people not practicing social distancing. We did not get there until 2:30 pm and learned a valuable lesson. You HAVE to get to the parks earlier to avoid the crowds!

Kid Perspective:

Running Wild – We exercised caution at the start of our hike due to the terrain but the rest of the time we were OK with letting our buddies run wild.
The Trail – AMAZING! I cannot wait to come back to this park when things finally get back to normal. The first portion was my favorite. We walked along a stream via a small footpath and then through the woods, along a prairie and back into the woods before returning to our car. It was beautiful!
Trail Conditions – It was very slick at first (hence the caution) and one more section towards the middle that had a sharp hill down that had us sliding on our bottoms but other than that – easy going.
Bathrooms – We did not see them but again we were trying to hit the trail as fast as we could to avoid people.
Cell Service – No issues.

Trail Information:

Length – 2.24 miles
Moving Time – 01:09:01
Elevation Gain – 274 ft.
Difficulty – Easy to Moderate. The Moderate rating is due to the ice and terrain during the first portion of the hike. We did not exert ourselves but needed to be very careful not to take a big digger down a hill.

Highlights:

Combo – Falling in the mud and getting up just to fall again!
Biff – Watching Combo fall in the mud!
Blaze – The bridge and the water.
Ripper – Walking along the stream!

As we drove into the park we enjoyed seeing the windmill and that actual road to the trail – it was quite scenic. We parked at the Hiking Club trailhead and noted several great places for a picnic and even a playground that the kids would have LOVED given different circumstances. We will be back!

Upon arriving to the trailhead we saw another couple walking and waited a moment in the car to see if they would pass us by. They stopped to check out the surrounding area and we decided we would just make a mad dash for the trail. Minnie had a crash course in making a run for it! She was tired for sure but she kept up like a little pup. Isn’t that something? She loves being with us so much that she will endure long car rides and hasty retreats from the car just so she can spend more time on the trail with us.

This was my favorite portion of the trail! We had a long discussion about why Biff could not race too far ahead – he needed to be a good leader and not a leaver!

Soon we were headed into the prairie. We still had not seen a soul on the trail at this point and the kids were gleefully belting out Carly Rae Jepsen “I really like you” at full blast. Blaze loves this song and plays it often. The kids and I…well it is growing on us but for whatever reason we felt the need to share the sound with the surrounding wildlife. I am pretty sure we killed it:)

Here we saw our first person on the trail and needed to practice social distancing. We had talked to the kids extensively about what to do. Step off the trail as far as we could and give the Minnesota nod as they went by. It was uncomfortable and Combo was pretty nervous but Blaze and I tried our best to calmly set a good example. The bright side as that we found the password!!

Full disclosure – I have a fair amount of social anxiety and meeting new people or even talking to people that I do not know well can send me into a tail spin. I’ve dealt with panic attacks for quite some time now but nothing too recent as I have found ways to cope. Our recent environment has made it exponentially more difficult to be around people but I did my best (it probably was not that great) to assure the kids that everything was A-OK.

As we traveled back into the woods we caught sight of another group hiking ahead of us. Kids running wild. We slowed our pace and continued on. The woods were far slippery than we expected and we forgot about our other worries as we slipped along the trail. Lots of laughs!

And back into to prairie we went! This is where it got MUDDY. And Combo biffed it saying “BUT I DIDN’T TRY TO!” This has since become a standing joke for us. We exclaim “but I didn’t try to” whenever someone makes a careless oops. Poor Combo…

This last leg of our journey was the worst with the people. We saw families meeting one another on the trail and stopping to talk and play along the way. I feel strongly that we all need to practice social distancing on our trails to make sure we all stay safe and our parks remain open during these difficult times. We ended up breaking one of our rules and we left the trail for the woods to get around the large grouping of people, as their kids had run straight up to us. Then we ran full speed to our car because there were several other families congregating at the playground which was directly in our path. The kids loved the “race” that we set forth for them and we made it to the car. All in all, the park was gorgeous and we will be back when things have calmed down.

As we left the park we promised ourselves we would come back and camp so we can really spend some time in this area as it is truly wonderful.

Thank you for joining us on our last hike of this trip! I hope everyone is doing well and that we all continue to practice proper trail etiquette and social distancing. Other states have closed their state parks because residents have not been doing this. I hope that Minnesota can pull together and not make this the case for us! Take care and HAPPY HIKING!

Lake Shetek State Park – Currie, MN 03/21/2020

COVID-19 Perspective: We saw one couple walking along some of the paths near the entrance to the park but after that we did not see a soul. We were there from 1:09 pm – 1:53 pm.

Kid Perspective:

Running Wild – Let ’em loose! We sure did!
The Trail – Flat trail throughout. The trail began by crossing the causeway to Loon Island and then lead us around the perimeter of the island.
Trail Conditions – A little snowy when we went but nothing significant.
Bathrooms – None that we saw but we were just trying to rock and roll outta there.
Cell Service – Great.

Trail Information:

Length – Approximately 1 mile
Moving Time – 00:44:00
Elevation Gain – Forgot to record the hike but it was VERY flat.
Difficulty – Easy, definitely great for the little little ones.

Highlights:

Combo – Checking out the island!
Biff – Beating everyone at the race!
Blaze – The causeway and cool ice formations along the shore.
Ripper – Hitting a second park:)

Our hike took us across the causeway to Loon Island Loop pictured at the top left of the map. The first thing we noticed when we got to the boat launch was how incredibly windy it was! Once we got onto the causeway it was even windier but that just added to the fun. I’ve read that the island and causeway is an amazing place to view birds in the warmer weather, so I am guessing that this is a popular park later in the season.

Biff really enjoyed racing across the causeway and took every opportunity to blaze ahead yelling “the race is on!” leaving us to scramble along behind him. During one of the rare moments that Biff actually stopped, he tried to throw a rock through the ice unsuccessfully. Of course Blaze then grabbed a massive rock and Biff squealed gleefully as it KERPLUNKED through the ice and into the water. Where it was especially windy we noticed that the wind had pushed and pulled the ice in such a way to make amazing ice creations along the shore of the causeway.

Entering the island we took a right and began the loop. It was pretty windy on this side of the island so we kept our pace quick, looking for less windy terrain.

Having the island to ourselves was pretty awesome and we enjoyed every single moment of it! We noticed many blown down trees along the way and Biff took shelter from the wind in the trunk of a wounded tree.

It didn’t take long to find the password but that did not matter, it was still an exciting moment. Having these goals for both of the kids to work towards together really unites them and brings them together. It is pretty cool.

Our run back to the car (the kids had to go to the bathroom) was truly a race to the finish. Poor Minnie was starting to get tired and really needed some coaxing to keep up BUT she did it like a little trooper!

One more park to explore – go to Camden State Park for our next adventure! Thank you for joining us and please stay out there folks. Practice social distancing even on the trail – it is important for all of us. Take care!

Kilen Woods State Park – Lakefield, MN 03/21/2020

COVID-19 Perspective: There was one car in the parking lot when we arrived and we saw two other cars pulling into the parking lot as we were leaving. Not a soul on the trail.

Kid Perspective:

Running Wild – No concerns.
The Trail – The trail took us down to the river and along the river for a peaceful stroll. Then we were climbing back up to a trail that wound above the river before looping around through the woods to an open prairie, through the campground and back to the parking lot.
Trail Conditions – The trail was snow covered when we went with a few portions of open trail.
Bathrooms – There were bathrooms located within the shower-house in the campground and also at the trail head.
Cell Service – No issues.

Trail Information:

Length – 2.05 miles
Moving Time – 00:59:49
Elevation Gain – 207 ft.
Difficulty – Easy

Highlights:

Combo – Hanging out with Minnie!
Biff – Treats!
Blaze – Walking along the river – I liked that part of it.
Ripper – Getting a new stamp and password! And knowing that this was just our first stop of the day!

We thought long and hard about getting out of the house for hiking this weekend. We decided that we were going to do it and we were shooting for the stars. 3 state parks, 3 passwords, and 3 passport stamps. Choosing the Southwest portion of the state was a no brainer – we never get down there and we could get the most passwords & stamps for the drive time involved.

When we got to the park we saw one other car in the parking lot and felt immediately uneasy but we continued on. We quickly geared up (it was nearly a 3 hour drive) and got ready to hit the trail. At that point we saw the occupants of the other car off in the distance and we pushed a rush on things. Time to move out!

Our lovely Black Labrador Retriever Minnie looked at us with such sad eyes this morning that we decided we should bring her with. Minnie is 7 years old and a rescue dog. Our vet told us that she must have been severely malnourished as a pup because of the size of her teeth. Beyond that she has a TON of anxiety and hates being away from us for even a moment (but has gotten better the longer she has been with us.) This leads me to believe that she was probably mistreated as a pup, which likely explains all of the problems with her hips. Labs are known for their hip problems but our poor girl can hardly move after a mile or two walk around our neighborhood. But she has a young heart and she really wanted to go so we bit the bullet and I think she had the time of her life!

As Blaze mentioned in the Highlights the walk along the river was absolutely gorgeous! The kids ran ahead hooting and hollering, while Minnie tried desperately to pull me along to catch up with her little ones (she is very protective).

Our river walk brought us to a bridge crossing and Biff was elated!

At this point we stopped worrying about the chaos around us and started to feel more like ourselves. We took pleasure in our fart jokes, laughed at Biff tripping over rocks and had a blast chasing one another along the trail.

And if things could not get any better a second bridge presented itself!

Then we began the climb up, up and up! It was a decent climb up and I was super proud that the kids did not stop to complain. Minnie continued to pull on her leash and actually gave me a little boost up the hill:)

Upon reaching the top of the hill we took a left and found ourselves walking above the river, which eventually led to an amazing overlook of the river and the password!

Soon we were walking into the prairie and passed the point where we diverged left at the top of the hill to see the overlook.

Our short walk along the prairie brought us to a decent down and to another bridge crossing.

This fun trip across the water soon brought us to a point where we had to do some serious route considerations. I mean the trail was no longer visible but thankfully Avenza pointed me in the right direction and we blazed our own trail to continue on our way.

We knew that we were on our way back to the car but the winds were super brutal with very deep snow. But we persevered!

When we finally left the bitter winds we were in the campground of the park and we could see people at the visitor center so we boosted our pace and raced to the finish!

Another amazing morning on the trail and we were all looking forward to the next park for the day. Any guesses as to which one we chose? Take care folks!

Moose Lake State Park – Moose Lake, MN 03/14/2020

Kid Perspective:

Running Wild – Not a single concern on this one! Let ’em loose Mom and Dad!
The Trail – Winding through the woods we hiked passed a lake and a dam, through tree covered tunnels (beautiful with leaves), past another lake, and through open space that made us truly feel at home.
Trail Conditions – Lots of snow when we went but nothing that was not manageable with our hiking shoes.
Bathrooms – No facilities on the trail that we took.
Cell Service – Decent.

Trail Information:

Length – 2.13 miles
Moving Time – 01:27:12
Elevation Gain – 115 ft.
Difficulty – EASY

Highlights:

Combo – The wildlife at the pond!
Biff – Finding the password!
Blaze – In retrospect, I liked when it was back when there were still no people in our state parks.
Ripper – I felt so grateful to be on the trail and having fun with my family during such uncertain times.

So this is just about when our world changed. COVID-19 had not completely uprooted our lives but it had everyone getting nervous. We were uncertain if we should leave our home. Deciding that hiking was still such a fundamental part of our mental wellness we decided that we should give it a go and head out to a park that was likely to have few visitors. Hand sanitizer in hand we headed out, still somewhat worried. We decided that Blaze would be the one to procure the passport stamp and took extra precautions so he would not actually have to touch the stamp and doused him good with hand sanitizer upon his re-entry in the car. We parked and were pleased that we only saw one other vehicle in the parking lot.

We’ve hiked this park a few times but we never got the Hiking Club Password, so we hit the trail ready to check another one off of our list. This time the trail took us across the country highway and back into the woods. The kids were a bit confused crossing the road (we usually only cross streams or rivers lol).

As we strolled into the woods we found a section where the water was actually flowing! And the ice surrounding the flowing water had made intricate icicles that we all marveled at.

An interesting find – small yellow signs throughout the park with animal names along with their bearing and distance. I wonder what this was for?

We soon found ourselves walking by a large and expansive pond about 0.2 miles in. We took a moment to check it out and then moved on.

Our next moment to stop was the Dam. We did not see the actual dam but saw the signs marking it’s existence. The kids REALLY wanted to venture off the trail to check it out but we made sure that they stayed close to us despite their disparaging comments. Such is life kiddos!

The trail then brought us to rolling hills and lots of laughs. What a perfect distraction from reality!

At this point we all were a bit chilly but the love and laughter warmed our hearts and we continued on with glee. We were also so happy that there was not a single person on the trail with us! Social distancing at it’s best! We also found another yellow marker for animal sightings. I really wish I knew what these signs signified!

As we neared the password Biff became more excited and jetted on ahead!

Following the Hiking Club (HC) password we came upon a hiking shelter. The kids really LOVE these! If it were not for COVID-19 we would have stopped to have a quick snack here.

Shortly after the shelter we chose to diverge from the HC trail to make our hike a bit longer. We were enjoying ourselves and starting to feel like normal so why not?

Our divergence took us through some wonderful terrain. Terrain that made us race to have fun and enjoy the great outdoors! We laughed and hugged and felt like our normal family despite the concerns that were abounding.

And as we continued life felt truly wonderful again despite the scary. As I left the trail I was very sad because I felt that this could be the last time we took to the trails as a family. It was heartbreaking. Hiking has always been a center for our family. Not having these moments would truly break my heart. I said a quick prayer that we would be able to continue to enjoy these moments.

That’s it for this time folks. Stay tuned for how we have managed to hike while also socially distancing ourselves from others. It has been hard. Please in these times of desperation take the time to take care of your mental wellness. Stay safe, get outside safely and still find a way to LIVE LIFE!

Myre Big Island State Park – Albert Lea, MN 03/07/2020

Kid Perspective:

Running Wild – Go for it! No concerns whatsoever on our entire trek!
The Trail – We cruised the island and then took a winding trail along the lake, through the prairie, past the visitor center and then back towards the island.
Trail Conditions – Snowy and WET! Our feet were SUPER soaked! I actually drove over 200 miles with bare feet because my shoes and socks were way to much for me.
Bathrooms – Located at the trailhead. I am sure we could have found one in the campground and then again at the visitor center but we did not stop.
Cell Service – Great!

Trail Information:

Length – 6.27 miles
Moving Time – 03:09:51
Elevation Gain – 123 ft.
Difficulty – Easy

Highlights:

Combo – The snowball fight!
Biff – The snowball fight!
Blaze – The ongoing snowball fight and being out there by ourselves!
Ripper – Really stretching our legs for the first time this season was awesome!

We chose this park to get another stamp in our Passport Club Book and password in our Hiking Club Book. Plus it had the most miles to offer for the Hiking Club that we had left. Let’s do this!

The first thing that we noticed was the MASSIVE trees that we walked under while starting the trail around the island.

The kids brought their watches with to count their steps and decided to challenge Blaze!

Biff really enjoyed the tree that looked like a butt crack! Yep, he’s our kid for sure:)

As the kids raced ahead of us, Blaze and I had plenty of time to talk about everything that we were experiencing – the breeze, the big trees and the AMAZING house across the water that we would occupy in a heart beat!

As we rounded the corner of the Island Trail we found that things were way less windy. Thank you!

This brought us to the paved road through the campgrounds. There were actually a couple of RV’s there!! It was less windy and an easy trek without the slippery snow. The campground soon led to walk on the road between the main park and the island…SO WINDY!!

The next moments on the trail were probably my favorite! We left the road for the snow covered trail and Biff really took a digger but LOVED every moment of it.

We then did a little trail finding towards the lake.

Once we found the trail along the lake we also found the VERY wet portions of the trail. There was no getting around the wet shoes!

This park had so many opportunities for bird watching. This was one of my favorite moments when the birds flew directly above our heads.

As we made our way to the picnic area (which I really want to check out in the warmer months) we joked about farts and who had the loudest farts and who had the stinkiest farts – yep we are THAT family!

But as we left the picnic area Combo became unhappy because she picked on her brother (as older siblings are known to do) and was scolded. She did not take it lightly. The pictures tell the story!

But the end we made sure to make sure she felt loved and Blaze took some extra time with her hug on the trail. After that she was ready to rock and roll!

As we continued on our journey we caught a glimpse of the freeway and the kids kept alerting us to the sounds of cars:)

We passed a bridge and an old bench on our way to the prairie. The kids rushed on ahead because we told them there was an overlook with a bench that we would be able to stop and take a break to enjoy a treat.

We left the overlook and encountered running water that both kids deemed as “stinky”.

The stinky water gave way to a steeper climb up and then a walk along a ridge line that was quite enjoyable.

The ridge line led to the PASSWORD! It also led to everyone feeling warmer and packing extra clothing into our pack.

The open air in the park really energized all of us!

We do not have enough pictures of the EPIC travelling snowball fight but trust me folks – this one was one for the history books!

Maybe I amend my earlier statement…trudging through the deep snow here was really fun!!

But as we continued on with our SOAKED feet we really wish that we could see more of the paved trail that was before us.

No pictures noted but the kids had a MAJOR blowout here, taking much Mom and Dad help to keep things going in a positive direction. Once that was accomplished the kids enjoyed looking at their steps to see just how far they had gone.