Moving to http://hikingbootsbigandsmall.wordpress.com/

Hi All,

I wanted to let you all know that I have moved all my blog data and will continue to blog via http://hikingbootsbigandsmall.wordpress.com/ . 

I've changed the name of the blog to reflect the inevitable (Lil Chica will someday be out of a carrier).  As well, I have learnt that Google (who owns Blogger) would own all my blog info and photos.  With Wordpress, I own my stuff.

I hope you choose to follow me on Wordpress and that you continue to read up on out hiking adventures.

This might be my last post via Blogger.  See you at http://hikingbootsbigandsmall.wordpress.com/

Marie

Summer Legs Gone

Meeting up Parent #3 at Whitevale

Good fun last weekend with my Meetup crew  (http://www.meetup.com/Pickering-Parents-Hiking-Group/), including my hiker buddy T'ana.  We really like to pump up the jam for a good few hours when we get out, so we decided on a 15km-Seaton Trail stint last Sunday morning.  The plan was to go northbound for 4.5 km whereupon we'd meet up with another parent, continue northward for 3 km, rest, then return south to drop off the parent and stop at our parking spot -- 15 km in total.


It was really good to be out on the trail with her familiar face, especially as we had not hiked together for over 2 months; a far cry from the almost daily walks while we were on mat leave together.  I think that the last time we hiked together was on the Bruce Trail in August.  With lots to catch up on, we chatted for a good long while about Halloween, family, day care, work, housing prices (ugh!) and life in general



Stop pulling my hair on the steps :-)  Too cute.

After a good hour or so, we met up with another Meetup parent and continued on to Green River where we rested, stretched and ate.  High spirits kept up even on our way back ... until we were at about the 12-km mark -- the mostly up-hill part... ZOIX!  Trying to keep up our old summertime pace was a challenge as our legs were feeling the burn and tightness.  Was it the increased weight on our backs... heavier babies?  Was it the thinning air as we walked up-slope?  Nah, it wasn't like it was Mount Kilamanjaro.  The one comment that rang true was:  "My summer legs are gone."  I won't tell you which one of us said it.  But, suffice it to say that we both thought it.

Looking forward to our next leg-burn.

Glen, the Rouge and Missing Mittens

The day started out really well -- not too cool for early November; joining up with my fellow volunteer, Glen, who was leading a hike that morning on Rouge history; a 10k hike starting out on the Mast Trail.  We met up at 9:30 a.m. -- not too early and just enough time to eat breakfast and play for a bit at home.  Not too late -- we'd be done well before noon and on schedule for the afternoon nap.

Glen (in green), his dog Les Paul, and some guest walkers

Glen had about 4 guest walkers on his hike that morning, so it was okay for me to join in without having signed up for it.  We walked at a slowish pace and learnt about camping in the park during the 1950's when Glen was just a wee lad.  Neat-o!  After almost 3 km, at their turnaround point, we pressed on for about 2 km more until we stopped for a snack and stretch at the wetlands.  Not too much going on there, but I did notice that the clouds were getting thicker.  Hmm... our half-way point meant rest time, so rest we did.  Off with the mittens -- snack time!

After about 15 minutes, Lil Chica started to fuss a bit so I decided to pack up.  Hmm... her hands were colder too.  I got her gloves back on, got her in the carrier, and off we went -- 5km still to go get to the car. 



Lil Chica WITH gloves still on

After about 1km or so, she had started complaining again.  I looked back and realized that ... oh no! ... mittens missing.  With a good 4km still to go, I had to head back to find them.  Some people we met on the way back said that they saw the pink Minnie Mouse mitts on the trail, so I felt good knowing that we 'd see them soon.  Almost 10 minutes later and very close to the wetlands where we snacked, there they were.  I took off the carrier, made Lil Chica even more agitated, put the gloves back on, and headed back to where we just came from.  Seemingly in higher spirits now that the gloves were back on, Lil Chica ensued in a game of hit-mummy-on-the-head while laughing out loud.

We made tracks for a good 20 minutes in high spirits until I realized that the mitts were off again. What?  Really?  Back track again?  Darn!  It was that hit-mummy-on-the-head game.  As soon as I turned around, still a good 2.5 km from the car, Lil Chica started to cry.  The sky was still thick with clouds and it was indeed colder.  Man oh man, I knew that she was feeling the chill now.  After about 5 minutes, I gave up.  It was just about noon and we were both tired.  I called for back up.

I called home to get my better half to pick us up.  The house was only 5 minutes away from where I had parked the car and then another 5-minute drive to get us on a nearby road. 

After less than a 10-minute wait, Lil Chica's dad arrived to save us.  We got into the car and were soon warmed up.  Glove #2 would have to wait for later in the day when we got L'il Chica home and fed.

Lessons Learnt: # 1 -- Find a better way to keep gloves on. #2 --Go for shorter hikes as the weather gets cooler.

Well... we gave it a good shot.  We'll be on the trail this coming weekend.  I think it'll be sunny.



 

Fall Hikes ... almost gone

Part of what I do when I get out on the trail is lead and interpret hikes for the Rouge Park and the Altona Forest.  This month, my fall hikes will be on fall colours -- why and how leaves change.

A couple Saturdays ago, I led a public hike in the Altona Forest.  It's a small forest that backs onto our yard.  The fam came out with me to this one for moral support, so L'il Chica hung out with her dad as I spoke to members of the public about carotenes, tannins, and anthocyanins.  I'm not a schooled or official naturalist, but I do like finding out about trees and other plants, bees and ants.  Then, I share what I find out.



Lil Chica and her dad came out for moral support

The crowd on these public hikes are usually a mixed bunch.  Depending on how well prepped I am on the topic and depending on who shows up, they can be really good hikes.  Some people are inexperienced hikers to the extent that they ask questions about the non-existent bears that might be lurking and ready to chomp them down like dinner.  Some walkers are very knowledgeable about the interpretation topics and I like to learn from them.  Some walkers seem to enjoy challenging the interpreter's (my) knowledge.  These folks can sometimes be unpleasant, but I grin an bear it like a good hike leader repping the conservation groups.  I always state my amateur yet eager-to-learn status as an interpreter and am the first one to claim ignorance if I do not know.  But, those who come out to ask questions simply to claim superiority bug the hell out of me.

Most walkers, though, usually come out to enjoy nature.  Me too!  Fall colours are awesome!  For the most brilliant colours, head out on a sunny day after a cool night.  Head out soon before they are all gone.

Ten Reasons to Hike with your Young'uns

I love hiking.  I think I've liked it ever since I was a little girl in Trinidad and stomped thorough the bush on adventures with my cousin Terry.  We were really close and would go on what seemed like adventures on our extended families' properties that stretched for acres and acres.  We would 'go missing' for hours and hours, eat what we picked off of trees, discover 'stuff', make our own paths and just... well... have fun becoming exhausted.

This freedom to roam the land led to me being who I am, at least in part.  I know that there are a few life-long values that I got out of it -- a sense of adventure, a bit of fearlessness, a love of gardening --  and I would love that for Lil Chica, too.  So, now, I present to you, what I think are the 'Top Ten Reasons to Hike with your Young'uns':



Checking out pebbles at Rivière-des-Prairies near Montreal

1.  It's cheaper than an amusement park.  All you need is a carrier and good hiking boots for you.  Once your little one starts to hike with you, they'll need some walking shoes (inexpensive ones as they'll likely grow out of them before they wear them out).  More long-lasting gear comes later.

2.  They learn to love the outdoors -- and to depend on it for life, love and entertainment. My hope is that L'il Chica's first go-to spot for a good time will be the forest, the hills, and anywhere else that nature hails.

3.  They can learn about loving nature to the extent that they will fight to keep it healthy. 

4.  They will develop strong muscles, a naturally fit body, and a super-fit mind.

5.  They will learn to create their own entertainment as opposed to waiting to be entertained by an Ipod or something on a rectangular screen (like the one I am looking at as I type this).

6.  You will learn to slow down and appreciate once more the child in you -- bend down at your child's level and play in the leaves, pick dandelions, or turn over rocks to look for worms. 

7.  More fresh air and the bumpity bumps in a carrier have always meant a calm temper and an extra nap.  Careful with later afternoon hikes, though; a later nap always meant a later sleep come night time, staring sleepily at the child who wants to play and play and play ... and it's 10:30 p.m.

8.  You get a good workout -- with a carrier, it's cardio and weights at the same time.

9.  They'll hopefully end up liking hiking as much as you do.  Think of the umpteen years of hiking together and loving it together.

10.  They can develop a sense of adventure and independence as they roam through the bush -- something that too few people do nowadays.

There are, for sure, tens of more reasons to hike with your children.  Feel free to share your ideas here.

 

Kiss! Car! Arbre!

One of the fun things about raising a baby to speak more than one language is that you get to see which words the babe says in French and which she says in English (if her Pati were here, I'd add Tamil to that make it three languages).

When we are walking on the street, I might see a car coming and say, "Auto!" as a car is passing.  Without fail, L'il Chica will shout out, "Caaaar!".  Hmm... her dad also takes her for walks along our street.  When we are at home, I'll ask, "bisou?"  Inevitably, she'll say "kiiiss"!  And, I'll get a peck on the cheek.  A lovely disappointment, but then everyone of her anglo connection asks her for a kiss. 

But, when we go hiking (only with me), she will always imitate me when I say to her, "arbre".  She'll reach out from the carrier to touch a tree and say "aaarbre."  I've got at least one for the French team.  At the least, I know I am raising a future tree-hugger.

The tree hugger says, "Arbre!"