I have to try to write this post about a hike in June at the Birch Cove Blue Mountain Wilderness Area - yes, another one, but this time with two different families. Let me tell you how crazy excited I was. (I did already write a whole post on it one night in June, but somehow managed to lose it....darn technology, how did it disappear? or darn me for typing in the dark and pressing the wrong key).
I talked to Patricia weeks before about doing it. We both marked it on the calendar for Father's Day but never discussed it again. I also mentioned it to Ashleigh who sounded interested weeks earlier but we didn't make any firm plans. It was Father's Day morning, and in the midst of a little disaster (our front end washer leaked all over the floor), the phone rang. It was Ashleigh checking to see if we were still going to do the hike. We made plans to meet at the MEC Kayak day first to give the kids a chance in kayaks, and then we'd head to BCBMW area. We've done a bit of hiking with Ashleigh and her husband and two boys before but it had been quite awhile ago. Pretty exciting because I know her boys have the same kind of energy as my boys. It gave me confidence to call Patricia to check on her. She was keen to go too. Yay!! What a keener as her hubby wasn't able to go, but she was willing to take her 3 kids under 6 with her. She would meet us at the trailhead.
It was early afternoon, and sunny and warm at the trailhead. We waited a bit for Patricia as my directions weren't perfect. The boys were raring to go. Al loaded the youngest in the backpack child carrier (to give Patricia a bit of break because the route we chose goes straight up to start). It wasn't a really long route, but the trail is not marked, lots of roots and rocks and up, up, up. I felt a bit torn about being everywhere - keeping up with the kids who had tons of energy and excitement, making sure the adults were comfortable with each other, letting the kids enjoy nature (without the constant parental constraints, yet making sure they remained safe). We stopped at the "top" of the hill to have snacks in the shade and then onward to the trail to the lookoff. I love giving the kids the opportunity to run. I want them to be safe, but I want them to learn what their abilities are. It's hard to see scraped knees but I definitely believe it's part of the process.
Everyone remained in great spirits and enjoyed more snacks (chocolate and other healthy things) at the lookoff. It is on a rock outcropping which overlooks a beautiful isolated lake. We did keep the kids away from the edge (how close to the edge of a cliff is not the kind of learning I think the kids need to understand yet, "just stay far far away from the edge and you'll know you're safe").
One of Ashleigh's boys wanted to get a closer look of the lake so without much difficulty, most of the crew found their way down to the lake by way of another little trail. They had some fun tossing rocks and wood into the lake, while Patricia and I headed back to her vehicle with her baby who needed a bottle and her 3 year old.
It was a bit mentally exhausting for me (because I want everyone to be happy and think that I can somehow control that) but overall, very satisfying! and we hope we can get out with more kids soon!on
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