One of our playgroup friends organized a toddler and preschooler hike to St. Mary's Glacier recently. I was amazed to discover that it was exactly one hour door-to-trail for us to reach a 3/4 mile path to a glacier.
Of course, the path was very steep and covered in loose rocks. I gained new respect and gratitude for Adam's willingness to carry Jonah on all our family hikes as I struggled up the rough terrain with Jonah riding in the backpack. Even the parking lot is above 10, 000 feet, but the preschoolers seemed to handle the altitude pretty well, hopping up the rocks like little rabbits. Isaac had an initial period of unnecessary crying before he remembered that he is a good hiker. Then he did great!
Subalpine forest...and the path opening up as we neared the lake.
Suddenly, we reached the top, and there was a lake and the glacier.
The three- and four-year-olds loved having each other as hiking buddies. We were six families (minus dads, since this was a Friday), so that meant a total of ten kids. They were an adorable herd of happy little people exploring the outdoors.
The place was gorgeous, deep green and full of wildflowers. It seemed like such a surprise to find it there, this beautiful white patch of glacier and the clear, glacier-fed lake.
We congregated on the rocks by the water for a picnic lunch. Isaac loved this outing. Jonah looks a little ornery in these pictures, but he had fun too. Especially once he got out of the pack and followed Isaac into the cold water.
Happy boy!
I love this picture because, though you can only see his right arm in the blue sleeve, it's apparent that Danielle, Alice and Colleen are responding warmly to Isaac.
After lunch, we managed to get all the kids in one place to take a group picture. Only Josie was missing - at age 13 months, it was just easier for Leanne to leave her in the pack the whole time.
Aren't they adorable?
Then we got a few with moms too.
It's near impossible to keep my boys out of a body of water, but why bother anyway? They love it.
The trail continued up to the base of the glacier, so the other kids and moms went to explore it. I wanted Jonah to have a chance to hike some too, so I sent Isaac with Colleen and Alice, and Jonah and I walked slowly along after them. He loved getting to walk, and at his own pace too.
St. Mary's Glacier.
Claire gave us her pictures, so this is what Isaac saw as he climbed up with his friends.
You can always find Isaac in his blue hoody.
Meanwhile, Jonah and I had this view:
We made it this far before we met up with the rest of the group hiking down.
The smooth, beautifully-colored, twisted bark on these trees was amazing. I read later that they are bristlecone pines, hardy trees that can survive high-altitude, extreme conditions and can live for thousands of years.
I probably shouldn't have let Danielle lead the way to a hollow tree at the top of this hill, just off the trail...I was pleased with her explorer's spirit and enjoyment of the hike, and when she invited Isaac to go look at it with her, I thought it was close enough for a quick detour. Unfortunately, she got stuck up there and had to be coached down the steep hillside of sliding rocks to rejoin us on the trail. Isaac said he wasn't stuck, but he was taking his time getting down, and Colleen kindly went up to meet him halfway and help him too. I had Jonah back in the pack by then, and I was wary of the loose footing, so I was grateful for the other moms who helped them.
We walked back down to the lake,
then re-entered the woods. Here I am (in Claire's picture) with Jonah on my back.
Our gaggle of little hikers received many compliments and admiring glances from other hikers on the way down. There were also many moms who remembered hiking with their babies on their backs years ago. One mom of three said she used to wear one on her back and carry one in each arm! I think that beats all of us.
In any case, the kids did great and seemed to love every minute of it.
Here's Isaac with his friend Benjy, who will be in his preschool class this year.
Isaac fell asleep as soon as we were back on I-70 and slept all the way home. Jonah stayed awake and talked to me! But then he slept hard once I got him home.
No comments:
Post a Comment