Tag: Hiking with kids

Is it Spring? Make Up Your Mind Already!

In Like a Lion, Out like a Lamb. March means spring in Utah. And that means sun. Or snow. Or both.

I love that first day of the season when I don’t have to bundle myself and my kids into snow coats, hats and mittens. I love feeling warm sun on my face after months of chilling wind. I love having picnics with my tots at local parks. But the beginning of spring also means the end of winter. No more snow for sledding, snowboards or nordic skiing. No more snuggly nights by a fire or beautiful snow covered pine trees.

I love spring, but I hate that it means winter is over. Living in the mountains makes that two way pull even stronger. At my house, snow still clings to the ground and Sundance Mountain Resort is open for business. The snow will fall and I’ll get some great turns on my snowboard or get out on the flats with the We! Ski Kit.  Then the sun will shine and I’ll crave to go play at a park with my kids or break out the bikes. Just twenty minutes down the canyon daffodils are poking through the dirt and city parks are busy with laughing kids.

It’s hard to flip from cold to warm weather activities. It’s hard to bundle up with scarves and mittens one day, and find all our bike helmets the next. But this season, instead of being annoyed I’ve decided to embrace the change. Sure being prepared for cold and warm activities means the skis and baseball gloves are all pulled out of the garage at the same time. Yes my son has gone to school with either too much coat or not enough. It’s hard to balance some of the aspects of changing seasons, but what a blessing to be able to ski in the morning and bike in the afternoon. There’s not many places in the world where I can comfortably do that. Utah is one of those places.
In the past I’ve considered this shoulder season the ugliest season of all. The snow is gone but the green hasn’t come in yet. Now I’m more nuanced in my opinion. Yes, the majority of my surroundings are not as beautiful as they are in deep summer or winter, but there are still pockets of gorgeous everywhere. Driving down the canyon I can enjoy the pine tree sentinels on the side of the road. Playing by the river I can watch the currents in the water. The jagged rocks on a recent hike reminded me of the beauty of non growing things. And it gave Little g a great place to climb. There is beauty all around, even on early spring days.
The return to warm days is gradual. I can embrace that and appreciate all the opportunities it gives me.

Big Springs Park Snowshoe with Hike It Baby

Have you been “mama-stalked”?

Last August I was walking around the Outdoor Retailer trade show when a stranger approached me and handed me a card. She had noticed Baby L strapped to my chest (it was hard not to notice a second person plastered to the first). Her name was Shanti Hodges and she invited me to check out her website – Hike It Baby.
Once she said Hike It Baby something clicked in my head. I knew Shanti. We were part of the same Outdoor Family Bloggers Facebook Group. From there I knew she cared about getting outdoors with kids, just like me and I was more than happy to check out her website.

HikeIt Baby is a community of outdoors lovers who lead hikes in over 150 cities. Chances are there’s a local Hike It Baby branch near you. Run by volunteers, all hikes are free and offer an opportunity to enjoy the outdoors with other parents of young children.
Since last August I’ve attended several local Hike It Baby Hikes and last month led a Snowshoe hike at Big Springs Park – my favorite local trail.
Little g was excited to try out her bear print snowshoes while Baby L was happy to sleep on my chest once again. We went out, a group of five mamas all carrying at least one child. We were all trying new things as most of the others had never been snowshoeing before.
We started out on the trail that followed a beautiful stream. I loved the ice formed by the water edge and the frozen landscape all around. It was great getting outdoors and we did pretty well for the first half mile.

Then all hell broke loose. We had gone just half a mile, but half a mile of snowshoeing while carrying twenty extra pounds (or more) is really hard. When we turned around to head back to the trailhead Little G decided she was done. She cried, complained, whined and refused to walk another step. Unlike another mother of a four year old I hadn’t brought a second baby carrier to strap her to my back. Instead I hobbled down the trail with Baby L in the wrap on my front and Little G clinging to my neck on my back. 


It was awkward and difficult and we were all glad when it was over.
One great thing about hiking with other moms is that they get it. Yes my daughter’s crying was annoying to everyone but they’d also been in situations where their kid didn’t do exactly what they wanted when they wanted. They knew that sometimes adventures with tots don’t always go exactly as planned.
That’s what makes Hike It Baby great. No hiker is left behind because they care about building the next generation of outdoor lovers. If you haven’t checked out Hike It Baby now’s the time. See what hikes are in your area and get out on the trail! 

Midway Ice Castles – The Coolest Place in Utah

I’m always looking for new ways to get outdoors with the kids, especially in winter. That’s why I was so excited to visit the Midway Ice Castles, an outdoor attraction made entirely of ice.

This one acre winter wonderland includes slot canyons, tunnels, a slide and a throne formed from beautiful frozen water. The walls extend twenty feet high and are lit from within with multicolored lights that change in time to music.

These ice sculptures are truly amazing. They reminded me of visiting Lehman Cave in Great Basin National Park with all the stalactites and stalagmites. The formations are all unique, built by water spraying onto icicles. Some take weeks to truly grow.

On this outdoor adventure, Little G, Baby L and I braved a snow storm to drive to Soldier Hollow in Midway, UT for the media preview. Little G loved the Frozen soundtrack and spent most of her time pretended to be Elsa in her ice castle (in her version there was a grandfather who also had ice powers). In her game she explored every area of the castle, some of which were impossible for me, a full-sized adult with a baby strapped on, to enter. I was glad to have the baby strapped on though, the floor is ice and snow and a stroller would’ve been impossible.

The snow falling added to the winter wonderland appeal, creating a sense of wonder and excitement. I loved exploring the different rooms and pathways. It was truly beautiful.

The Ice Castles company have locations in Utah, New Hampshire, Minnesota, and Alberta, Canada. Opening dates and times may be different at each location since the attraction is dependent on weather. Last year they were only open 3 days, but this year they expect to remain open until March.

When you visit, make sure to purchase tickets online at the Ice Castles website – icecastles.com/midway. Not only is it cheaper, there are limited numbers of standby tickets available for each night they are open.

If you’re looking for something a little different this winter, check out the coolest place in Utah – Midway Ice Castles.

Hours
Monday-Thursday 3pm to 9pm
Friday 3pm to 10pm
Saturday Noon to 10pm
Sunday Closed

Online Pricing (Ages 0-3 are free)
Weekday
Child (4-11): $6.95
General (12+): $9.95

Weekend
Child (4-11): $8.95
General (12+): $12.95

Standby Pricing (Ages 0-3 are free)
Weekday
Child (4-11): $10.00
General (12+):$15.00

Weekend
Child (4-11): $12.00
General (12+): $18.00

Camp, Kayak and Hike in Logan Canyon, Utah

This summer we had some fun adventures that I never got to share with all of you. Here’s my chance!
When I look back at the photos from this camping adventure in Logan Canyon, Utah I can’t believe how warm we all look. The weather now has turned chilly and the thought of tubing the Logan River now sends shivers down my spine, but in the heat of the summer sun it was a welcome respite.

The family camped at Preston Valley Campground, a small 9-site spot right off the main drag. All the campgrounds in Logan Canyon are right off the main road which leads to a lot of road noise at night, but the benefit is that it’s also right by the river which allowed us some short fun kayaking runs. With our young children kayaking or tubing can be tough so we took turns on the water with the other parent watching Baby L.
In addition to kayaking the Logan River we took a hike around Tony Grove Lake. The tots and I hiked there before and really enjoyed it, so now it was Mountain Dad’s turn.  
A high altitude lake, Tony Grove has some of the best wildflowers I’ve ever seen. Many people camp at the nearby Tony Grove Campground and bring their canoes and fishing poles to play with on the lake. It can get busy in the summer, especially on the weekends because it’s such a beautiful place to be. There’s a day use fee of $6.00 for Tony Grove but it’s worth it. It’s a beautiful place. 
Logan Canyon National Scenic Byway connects the city of Logan with Bear Lake on the Utah/Idaho border. It’s a beautiful drive of about an hour with no stops, however there’s so much to stop and look at I would suggest not rushing through. There are 31 destinations on the route from Logan to Bear Lake. Caves, hiking trails, overlooks and campgrounds are all marked and worth exploring. Check out www.logancanyon.com for a more detailed guide. 
The camp out in Logan Canyon, Utah was a great adventure this summer, and Baby L did great (so much better than her first camping trip).
Directions to Logan Canyon:
From Salt Lake City Drive North on I-15 to Box Elder County. Take exit 362 toward US-91/US-89, Follow signs for Brigham City/Logan. Continue approximately 30 miles on US – 91/ US-89. The road becomes Main Street in Logan. Turn Right on 400 North in Logan to continue on US-89. This road goes up the canyon. 
Enjoy these photos of Tony Grove and Logan Canyon.