Let’s Talk Hiking

I’m in no way an experienced hiker. That' being said, I’d love to be a somewhat experienced hiker someday and I’m working hard to accomplish this goal. My ultimate goal is to take these adventures with kids in toe. A 9 month old, 3 year old, and 7 year old can be challenging but let me tell you — the time together and amazing views are more than worth it.

Right now, I’m mostly hiking with my 9 month old strapped to my back using the Osprey Poco LT carrier (shout out to Osprey) and it has been a GAME CHANGER. My shoulders don’t hurt, weight is evenly distributed, and my baby is perfectly happy for 3 hours (the longest we’ve tested thus far).

My 3 year old poses an entirely new challenge — she’s capable of walking but the poor girl takes 3 steps for every one of our 1 step. She tires out after a bit so we take lots of breaks and generally keep the distances short (unless dad is with us and can throw her into a kid carrier). I’ve looked into the Trail Magik carrier for the solo-mom days when she needs a short break but we can keep moving. If anyone has any experience with Trail Magik, I’d love to hear your experience!

My oldest kiddo has been a dream. This age is so fun! She carry her own pack, snacks, and the complaints are minimal. She loves the adventure just as much as I do.

Spokane and the surrounding area has endless amounts to explore. From the Painted Rocks to Mt. Spokane, there’s an adventure for everyone. We’ve been utilizing the All Trails app to scope out new spots and find new hidden treasures. My favorite view so far has been on Knothead Trail starting from the parking lot just off of Hwy 291. We haven’t accomplished the entire loop yet but instead have done some out-and-back adventuring. Some challenging hills (at least for me and my adorable weighted baby vest) have been inspiring to continue training. Maybe in my next post I’ll be the “somewhat experienced hiker” I aspire to be. Stay tuned!