Adventure with Alex

Boulder Loop Trail

This was actually Alex’s 2nd attempt on the 3.1 mile loop trail as he had been carried in his mother’s womb almost half way around the loop before we were beaten back by ferocious mosquitos during July 2011. Two months later Alex would come into the world and my life would never be the same.

The last 9 months have flown by. We’d become parents. We learned how little sleep we needed. We’d learned about diapers, wipes, breast-feeding, formula supplementation, sleeping patterns, and all the other amazing (and sometimes scary) day to day facts of early parenthood. Before I knew it, Alex was 9 months old, and I hadn’t taken him on a single hike yet.

It was time. I started researching child carriers and after settling on one (review forthcoming), I choose the Boulder Loop Trail. I wanted his first hike to be something a bit more substantial than a stroll to Diana’s Baths, but nothing as serious as a 4,000 footer. It turned out to be an excellent choice, as I found out a 44lb payload certainly slows me down a bit. A trail that would take me about an hour by myself, took just over “book time”; 2 hours.

Arriving at the trailhead we waited for Alex to wake from his drive induced slumber. It was a perfect 70 & sunny day, with low humidity and no signs of any of those mosquitos from our last visit.

Strapping In

Ready for his first hike

We took the traditional clockwise route around the loop and only saw a handful of hikers on the trail. Shortly after passing our turn around point from the previous year we arrived at the short spur trail leading to the ledges.

The halfway point has an excellent view up the Swift River valley

The views west up the Kancamangus Valley were perfect, and Chocurua stood proudly to the south. I pointed out the rock climbing areas of Sundown Ledges and Lost Ledge to my wife. Lost Ledge would certainly be a place to bring Alex when he is a couple years older as it has an abundance of very easy low angle slab rock climbing (ropes required).

After a nice break for nursing, diaper change, and food for mom & pop we loaded back up and finished the loop. Alex almost stayed awake for the whole hike.

This post marks the start of this blog. My main goal of this blog is to chronicle the hikes and climbs Alex and I have over the next decade. I’ld also like to make it a useful resource for other dads and moms with young kids they wish to get hiking. Over the next week I’ll be adding trip reports for the other half dozen short hikes we have gone on in the last 2 weeks. I’ll be adding some in depth gear reviews along the way, links to other helpful resources for families hiking with small children, and more. If this sounds like something you’ld like to read from time to time please subscribe using the link all the way at the top of the site on the right hand side.

I hope to inspire some, but knowing someone out there cares to read what I’ve shared is very inspiring to me. Feel free to comment on posts, and I’ll do my best to respond to any questions. Just keep in mind half the typing I am doing these days is one handed as I bounce a baby boy in my lap…