Family Backpacking

You may already know this but my husband and I met in college in the outdoors club called "Wilderness Adventures."  The club went on many backpacking, canoeing, and other outdoor trips through Buffalo State College.

all of our stuff

We continued to backpack and canoe even after we got married but then it took a side-seat to raising a family. However, this year we now think that it's time to take the boys (6 and 9) on their first outdoor backpacking adventure. We have taken them on many car-camping trips since they were 1 (imagine a pack-in-play in a tent and you have the right idea). So now we think that they are ready.

Our first trip was to one of our favorite short loops in the southern tier of Western New York, the Minister Creek Area. According to Backpacker magazine:

• "This 6.4-miler loops through the lush forest surrounding Minister Creek, passing glacial boulders, wooded caves, and a plethora of streams. Follow leaf-covered Minister Creek Trail to the northwest through hemlocks and deciduous forest. After .6 mile, bear right at the junction to start the 5.2-mile loop around Minister Creek—you’ll stay within sight or sound of the creek for most of the trip. The trail passes gigantic, moss-covered boulders that were deposited by glaciers and crosses numerous streams. At mile 3.1, the route curves to the south for the return trip, crossing several more streams. Tackle a boulder-scrambling side-trip to an overlook above Minister Valley at mile 5 before closing the loop and retracing your route to the trailhead. Note: Use caution when hiking in Allegheny National Forest during hunting season."  Backpacker Magazine Link

(I have to admit I am not super-happy that they shared this loop with the general public because in no time the trails will be destroyed, garbage will be left behind and there will be no natural firewood remaining.)

We started the hike with a backpack for everyone in our family. We had to hike in everything we would need for our over-night stay and for the next day. When you are hiking a total of 7 miles over 2 days you have to ask yourself "what can I live without? or What do I truly need to survive?"

Meals consisted of:
DINNER and EVENING SNACK:

A description from bottom to top of the image above: 

We freeze one meal for the first evening because it thaws as we are hiking and is ready at dinner time. This time we froze a steak and a pork chop. We decided to have our favorite package of noodles (Garlic and olive oil vermicelli) which needed 2 tsp of butter so we went to Kentucky Fried Chicken and asked them for some butter packets. We also felt that it was important to bring some veggies and our family LOVES edamame. For a snack around the fire after dinner (and to keep us warm in our tent at night) we had quesadillas on the fire. Little known fact: make up your quesadillas and put them over a small open flame and they will be delicious!

NOTE: we froze the meats, cheeses, tortillas, butter packets, and edamame before the trip.

You just need to write yourself a note so you don't forget them)

BREAKFAST:

From bottom to top of the picture above: I planned to have a hearty breakfast of loaded instant potatoes, and lite spam for breakfast. (Even though I know this was way too much for me alone for breakfast I knew my husband would eat the rest of it.) They boys will  have dinosaur oatmeal (their favorite) and a cereal bar if they were still hungry. My husband will have 2 cereal bars for breakfast and of course we will have coffee.

LUNCHES AND SNACKS:

Lunches from bottom to top: We will hike and snack on sunflower seeds and flat fruit, we will stop and have turkey slim jims, tuna and chicken salad,  and granola bars and Snickers (which curiously enough have the same nutritional value as protein bars that don't taste 1/2 as good.)
(FYI: for the food images above I used the iPad app called Skitch)

cooking dinner noodles on our backpacking whisperlite stove

we carried a grill grate so we could cook over an open flame

our 2 person tent that was just barely big enough for the 4 of us

fire pit and "chairs" made out of stones

Andrew drew this picture of me and he put it in his backpack because he wanted to take it home. I made him leave it behind.

Reflection:
Every trip we go on we have a debriefing afterward to help us decide what to bring and not to bring next time.
What I brought and didn't need: SPAM that stuff is not edible! My 9 yr old loved it but I will never serve it again. It had the texture of tofu and the taste of ham...not for me.

What I wish I had: a better pillow. I had a fleece pillow that I stuffed my unworn clothes into but it was definitely not comparable to my contour pillow I have at home. I am actually thinking about buying another and sawing it in half with a butter knife (half for me and half for my husband).

Have you ever tried a family backpacking trip? What have you found that would be beneficial to others?
originally posted on www.ballinwithballing.blogspot.com