Laurel's First Backpacking trip TR

“Early in March I took Laurel (3 1/2) for her first Backpacking trip in the Twin Rivers State Forest, Florida along the Florida Trail. Ellaville section.

We only did a couple of miles but she had a great time and constantly asks to go hiking again.

Her backpack consisted of the following essential gear:
1 light windbreaker jacket
1 small nalgene bottle
1 fruit-by-foot roll
1 plush leopard "Sneaky"
1 plastic elephant
1 plastic horse
2 plastic trowels
half a billion hickory nuts (added during the hike)

So, as you can tell, she was ready for anything nature might throw at her.

Later that day two of my friends brough their kids out for the night and the little ones all played together. It was a glowstick rave that night.

Marshmallows were had by all.

I have learned that the boys won't be persuing Laurel, she will be chasing them down like terrified prey. God help me.

Lots of fun.
http://www.humanpackmule.com/laurelhike3_06/index.htm
last edited: 3/29/06 11:17:21 AM”

“LOL... looks like fun.

Nice trekking poles for Laurel. And, don't ya just hate it when your chair gets taken by a tiger!!!!

:-)”

“He's a man-eater I tell ya!

Oh yeah, One of the boys picked up a hickory nut and was examining it.

Laurel: Whatcha got?
Jake: I think it's a bomb somebody shooted.
Laurel: No silly! It's a hickory nut.
last edited: 3/29/06 11:35:18 AM”

“Looks like yall had some great weather. She appears to be a natural. I just have one question. Is that the new Golite seethru pack? Suspension system looks a little weak. :)”

“I have learned that the boys won't be persuing Laurel, she will be chasing them down like terrified prey. God help me....
humanpackmule
11:16:54 AM


LOL!!!!
She is just so adorable.
She's a Daddies Girl for sure.

That camping area sure looks kinda familiar! ;-)”

“She's very much a Daddy's Girl SS. Yesterday I asked her if she'd be a good girl for mommy. She said "No, but I'll be a good girl for Daddy!"

I'm doomed.”

“What fun! She looks like she had a great time.

We have boxes of assorted rocks, nuts, snail shells and seed pods. It's getting ridiculous. Took me two years to finally get Abby to stop picking flowers (and a talking to by a nice, helpful Ranger).”

“Weak suspension?
Are you kidding? That thing held a leopard in it. I'd call that tough as nails.

Sure does SS.”

“Cute kid!! That sounds sort of like what I carry in my backpack.”

“I knew it!!”

“Oh! What a dolly! She is adorable. Looks and sounds like you had a great time. Love those smiling faces!”

“I can't open the link for some reason :-(”

“The server is acting squirrely I guess.”

“Sounds like she is a natural backpacker by her packed items.”

“Tara broke it!!! ;-)
Now I can't get in.
Worked fine around lunchtime.”

“Still not working. In the meantime, you can check out BowlderSon's first backpacking trip at about age 3 also....

http://community.webshots.com/album/54103529nOVnzg”

“I wonder where she get's that hair?

I like the pics with the poles

Trail names yet for her?”

“It's working! Great pics!!”

“Our Laurel has that same Nalgene bottle, but her pack isn't quite so see-thru (purple with a dolphin on it, closeout at L.L. Bean & actually has a waist belt). I'd try to get her backpacking if Mommy would go. :<”

““I wonder where she get's that hair?”
precision
5:39:04 PM

Hee Hee, no doubt about who the Daddy of that litte girl is.



I also noticed she was smart enough to put "Sneaky" the tiger in Daddy's pack for the trip out. ;-)
last edited: 3/29/06 6:22:09 PM”

“Trailname?
Well many moons ago Fritz referred to her as leaflet as a play on Treebait.”

“Thanks for posting this report, HPM. I needed something to make me smile. :)”

“Sounds like an excellent time. She looks to be enjoying herself, nothing better that watching a little kid explore.”

“birch, exploring always makes me feel like a kid again :) .........maybe thats the attraction?”

“I have learned that the boys won't be persuing Laurel, she will be chasing them down like terrified prey. God help me.

humanpackmule
12:16:54 PM
3/29/06

Sounds like she takes after her Aunt Tango! She's already "sassy"!!!”

“My wife and I got a kick out of the hickory nut story. Thanks for sharing the TR and pics.”

“Where can I get a backpack like hers? She's just downright adorable!!!

Thanks for sharing. :)”

“Lovely children!!

Papa looks like he's livin' up to his name with that giant pack.

I'm sure the kid would set y'all straight, "Its a leopard, not a tiger!!".”

“LMG, that daypack came from the toy dept. at Walmart, with a toy picnic set in it.”

“The evil Wal-Mart?!?! ;-)”

“No, not the evil Walmart, the very naughty Walmart.”

“Ha Ha”

“LMG, that pack would go well with your tent :). Don't you have a princess tent?”

“hey wait a minute, I thought Walmart was going to be a boon for the organic farming industry?”

“No princess tent. I draw the line there.”

“omigawd how cute!

:)”

“She sure has a full head of curls!

My youngest (~4.5) goes out for her first overnight wilderness trip next month. I was explaining the whole 'not bathing', 'pooping in a hole' bit to her the other night. I hope she has as good a time as Laurel seems to have had.
last edited: 3/30/06 12:08:20 PM”

“ohhhh...how sweet!!!!!!!....she is adorable!!!!!!
..thanks for sharing!!!!”

“Obviously this is a hoax. There's no way Laurel is old enough to go on a trip like that. She was just born last week, wasn't she? ;)


Time flies. She's beautiful! Glad she had a great time!”