Family Camping - More Tips and Tricks (+ Giveaways)

Camping with young kids always takes a bit more thought and planning.  We've accepted the fact that the sleepless nights, dirty kids, bringing along a little potty and working hard to keep the mosquitoes at bay for our (apparently sweet) 3-year-old are just part of the game (which will change with time.)

To be perfectly honest, I dread the sleeping part of camping right now.

Laying awake I certainly spend some time daydreaming about years down the road where sleeping through the night is a possibility, even in a tent.  While it won't keep us from camping and getting out whenever we can, it certainly means built-in naps for Mama (because everyone else manages to sleep through the "struggles") in the hammock are a must if we want to do anything productive the following day(s).  I certainly won't claim to be an expert in everything, so this is my plea for anyone with tips to get a 1-year-old to be ok in a sleeping bag to send them on our way!

But, like I say often on here, the experiences are absolutely worth it and practice makes perfect.  While our summer adventures mean being open to the fact that they could be cancelled (very) last minute due to a wildfire (thanks to Mtn Papa's job) we are working hard to cram everything in we can (while still remaining sane!)  It's part of the "no excuses" motto we try to live by.

Yes, it takes more work.
Yes, it can be draining.
Yes, mistakes are made and lessons learned.
Yes, sometimes I want to bag it and head on home.
AND
Yes, it brings us closer as a family.
Yes, it is getting easier as our kids get older.
Yes, every kid is different (which means different perks AND struggles).
Yes, we will continue doing it (the big AND the little adventures.)

This past weekend we spent some time talking about our current favorite bring-alongs for camping.  The things we miss when we don't have them and may not have thought about previously.  This list is not comprehensive and is a bit random, but worth sharing.  It's the little extras (so does not cover the basics like tent and sleeping bags!)  Plus, read to the end for your chance to win some of them!

*Guest Post* Part 2: How to Choose the Right Trekking Poles

Adam Nutting from Hiking the Trail joins us again today for his second installment on his Trekking Pole series.  As always, feel free to leave him feedback in the comments! And Happy Fourth of July! I hope you are enjoying the outdoors with your family today!

In my last post The Importance of Trekking Poles I talk about the many reasons why so many people are using them these days.

When choosing the right trekking poles you need to first consider what you will be doing with them. Will they be for hiking or maybe used for snow shoeing? There are many different models out there that are for multiple sports. Once you have determined how you will be using your trekking poles you need to take a trip down to your local outdoor outfitter. Trekking poles are like shoes. Sure you can try them on at home and send them back or you can go to the store and try on lots of them and find out which ones you like and dislike.

Some of the features you will have to decide from will be:

1. Grip type
2. Shaft materials
3. Locking mechanisms
4. Shock absorbers
5. Height
6. Weight
7. Cost

Let’s take a look at each one of these items individually.

Grip type: Having a comfortable grip is very important especially if you are going to be using your trekking poles for a long duration. You do not want to end up with blisters on your feet and your hands. Plus it makes the trekking poles an extension of your body if you are not constantly nagged by your hands at how painful they are.  There are several grip types on the market. Cork, Foam, and Rubber are the most common. Cork fits to your hands better and resists moister the best. Foam absorbs moisture and is the softest. Rubber is best suited for colder weather activities by insulating hands from the cold. Rubber also has the higher chance to cause chafing or blisters.

*I'm a Runner* (Plus Backing Bia Sport and Ibex Momentum Review)

I am a runner.  I am a runner.  I am a runner.

Wearing Ibex Momentum Jacket - see running trail along the Yellowstone River behind me!

I have to continue stating that to  myself to let it sink in because, quite honestly, I am not a natural runner.  I don't have a "runner's body", I am certainly not breaking any records with speed, I would much rather be in a body of water any day, and running while pregnant (which has been a large part of my life for the last few years) is completely impossible for me.

So, why bother?

Because it makes me feel good.  It makes me stronger.  I am "addicted" to the rush of endorphins, and it is a great catalyst for keeping me in shape for other adventures.

But, more importantly, my kids see that running (which I do at 5 am so it is "me" time instead of "push the massive double stroller time") is an integrated part of my life (among other activities.)  I want to be an example of healthy living for them.  Later in life, I want it to be natural for them to turn to exercise instead of (insert questionable outlet here.)  I want them to see that anything is possible, challenge is good and hard work pays off.

And, so I run.  I am a runner.

Campfire Dessert - Chocolate Orange Cakes

We are no gourmet cooks around here when it comes to camping.  Truth be told, I am often so worried about all the rest of the gear and getting ourselves there that food falls to the wayside.  We just don't get too fancy (though stepping it up a little is in the plans this summer.)

Melissa over at Adventure Tykes is linking up a bunch of us outdoor bloggers sharing some camping recipes today (so check her site for links to all of them!)  I, personally, can't wait to see what everyone else offers (maybe I'll get some great ideas!)

So when are are NOT having hot dogs and S'Mores, this is our tried and true dessert recipe. Sadly, somehow I don't have any photos of it at all, so you'll have to use your imagination for now (or check out this or this post of others doing the same/similar recipe!)

Chocolate Orange Campfire Cakes:

- Oranges for everyone (1 per serving)

- Chocolate Cake Mix

- 1 Can 7-Up or Sprite

- Tin Foil and Knife

1.  Cut off the top of the orange so that most of the orange remains in its "ball" shape.

2.  Dig out the meat of the orange without tearing the peel (just go slow and easy!)

3.  Mix the cake mix with the soda (I usually just mix them up in the plastic packaging the mix comes in to save dishes.)  

4.  Spoon the cake mix into the oranges about 1/2 full.

5.  Replace the lid on the orange and double wrap it in foil.

6.  Place the package in campfire coals for about 15 minutes (though this depends on the heat of the fire, the thickness of the peel, etc. etc. so check often!)

Yummy Yummy!  

Anyone ever tried this before?  Any great variables I should know about?

This (Yellowstone) Moment + Blog News

*No words necessary, just a precious moment from our life.*

Also, as a little bit of a side note - Tales of a Mountain Mama is in the process of being moved over to a new server that can handle the volume of readers (yea!) a bit better AND open up some more options on our end.  More about that later!  

However, it also means that Google Friend Connect is going away (which is happening all over the place, not just here!)  Please make sure to subscribe via RSS (big orange button on the right sidebar) or Like us on Facebook so you don't miss anything.  Questions?  Feel free to comment here or email me at mountainmamatales(at)gmail(dot)com.

If you haven't heard, I will be representing Stonewear Designs as one of their six chosen Ambassadors starting this fall.  I'm pretty excited about the honor of joining these other inspiring women and a company dedicated to helping women stay active!

Not to be outdone, Mtn Papa will is just starting as a JoePro Ambassador for Piggyback Rider.  More about that later, but we're excited to show off some options for when the kid is too big for a backpack and too small to keep up!

Happy Adventuring!

Braving the Boys - A Conversation with the Brave Ski Mom

Through my blog, I’ve come to meet many other moms who write about their family adventures in the outdoors. Today, the Brave Ski Mom and I share a short dialogue we recently had about camping, hiking and getting outside. We both have two sons. My boys are young, hers are both teens.  So what do we have in common? Are their some universal family experiences? Here’s a bit of what we found out. (Note - BSM will also be publishing this interview on her blog so feel free to pop over there if you have questions for her!)

How old are your children? When did you start taking them on outdoor adventures?

MM: Our boys are three and one.  They are happy, needy, BUSY and stubborn!   Our oldest was camping at about 10 weeks (and even though it was July, the nights were still freezing!) and our younger son went on his first camping trip at about 4 weeks (after 6 weeks of bed rest for me, I was desperate to get out so we didn’t wait!)  Both boys were preemies, but strong and healthy. 

Thanks to a Moby Wrap and my Boba 3G (both baby carriers) we were out hiking with both of them within three weeks.  Nothing strenuous and I was certainly checking them often, but they were out there (and so were we!)

BSM: Our boys are now 15 and 13. I am not sure how that happened, but it did and it does! Our oldest went on his first expedition when he was four weeks old. BUT, we didn’t go camping. Instead we went to the family cabin at 10,000 feet. He spent the entire weekend in a Patagonia fleece bunting, but we were out there hiking. He also slept through the night for the first time on this  (thank you high altitude air). Our younger son was born in April, so I think he probably went camping at about 8 weeks.

BSM 

When they were little, we carried them, but by about age 2, both boys were done with being carried and wanted to hike on their own. When they were little, we were very respectful of their size and stamina. As they grew, a big challenge for us was not interpreting their enthusiasm for strength and ability. We made some big mistakes talking them into “death marches.” These hikes were too long, in both distance and time, and they almost stifled our boys’ desire to hike. Just because a child CAN hike a long distance, doesn’t mean they should.

Camping in the Backyard IS Camping!

I'm going to let you in on a little secret: I wasn't too psyched about camping out in our backyard this weekend for the Great American Backyard Campout.

I would have preferred to have been camping somewhere secluded with excellent views and no distractions.  However, our summers are dictated by the wildland fire season and we simply have to make the most of the time we have.  Mtn Papa was working late yesterday so instead of bailing, we decided to embrace the opportunity.  Nothing happens when you wait around for the perfect situation to come together.  Nothing.

And while we are being honest.... I figured this Mama would be MUCH too tempted to sneak back in her bed when the going got rough (AKA Mr. Horrible Sleeper not sleeping.)

It went much better than I expected.

Ready to head out to the backyard