Nathan's New Backpack
- Nathan got a new backpack - a nice Kelty - cheap on eBay - perfect for his first real pack
- We decided it was time to take it for a hike - an overnight/something short just to give Nathan
the feel of carrying a full pack
- rain was in the forecast, but we agreed we would go even if it snowed.
- We planned to take off on a Saturday afternoon - head out of The Ibberson Conservation Area
and camp on the AT at The Peter's Mountain Shelter - a hike I did a month or so ago...
- The day was full of thunder storms - it didn't look like we'd get on the trail
- we killed time visiting Wild Ware - Nathan got me a cool pair of The North Face shorts
for my birthday
- we went to the Bass Pro Shop - neither of us had been there yet and Nathan decided to
try out the climbing wall.
- Nathan did a great job - he got about a third of the way up - when he's taller he'll be able
to reach more hand holds and make it to the top.
- Nathan thought I should give it a try and for some crazy reason I agreed...
- I made it to the top and considering my fear of heights, I was scared to death, but it was
fun and the skies cleared while we climbed.
- We bought a pack cover for Nathan and headed to the trail head.
- We hit the trail way too late - daylight was a premium
- We were in the woods about 20 minutes and it started to rain - Nathan wanted to keep going...
- As we made the turn onto The AT we saw our last bit of light and the rain was now steady.
- We made it to the shelter and I thought it would be a good idea to stash our packs in the shelter
while we made camp, but the shelter was full with at least 6 people and all we accomplished was
waking them up. The forest was quite grown out since my last visit so the site I had planned wasn't
there so we stumbled over to the spot I used before...
- We pitched our tent in the dark and rain and made dinner using the vestibule of the tent to stay
sorta' dry while cooking...while we were eating 3 more guys passed us enroute to the shelter.
- After a good night's sleep, granola bars and water we headed back down the mountain.
- The group that piled out of the shelter was like the clown car in the circus - they just kept coming
- 10 hikers in all - 2 groups...
- Nathan spotted some ants working hard on a dead downed log.
- The morning sun was a welcome contrast to the night before.
- Nathan was a real trooper. He never wanted to quit and I probably complained more than
he did.
- I wouldn't recommend taking just any 10 year old out on a trail with a full pack, but they've
all gotta' start sometime. I was prepared to turn around at anytime carrying his pack, but it
never seemed to cross his mind. Maybe next time we'll cover some distance...
- Thanks Nathan - you're a great son!
- The Victoria Trail continues down the south face of Peter's Mountain to Route 325. We went for a short drive after the hike to find that trail head - maybe someday we'll go up and over the mountain and go to 3B Ice Cream when we're done...