If you are celebrating Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukka, Al-Hijira, Eid-Ul-Adha or simply buying gifts for office workers this may help you out.

If you are grandma and are clueless as to what to purchase, I have decided to give you a variety of different items that may suit different outdoor folks on your list.  I tried to keep the list broad enough so that these items could please the experienced mountaineer to the recreational park user.

Stocking stuffers:   These suggestions are low cost and can be used for all ages of outdoors person.

 Food: Here is a link to a review I wrote of some yummy treats: Food for the Outdoors

This simple bowl goes a long way:  Bowl/ Storage Container

Wet bag: It seems kind of funny to say, but I used cloth diapers with my two year old and only found out about wet bags recently. They are such a convenient way to carry wet and soiled cloth diapers that I am not sure why others did not tell me about them sooner!

Paisley Baby offers two sizes of wet bags that are great for home or out of the home use.  They are 100% cotton bags lined with waterproof fabric and close with a drawstring. They're useful at the beach, the pool or for toting laundry. These bags are perfect for carrying wet and soiled items while keeping the inside of your suitcase, diaper bag, purse or swim bag dry and clean. I have a small wet bag that I carry in my purse for soiled items.  I thought it was so cute that I contacted Paisley Baby to ask them to make small snack bags for my daughter.  Now she carries her snacks in little fashionable cloth bag. It looks like a cute little purse that closes with a drawstring. They are washable and reusable; so we don't need ziplocks  or bulky plastic containers. 

To find out more:   Wet Bag by Paisley Baby

Clothing for anyone one on your list:

For Toddlers:

You want your children to love to play outdoors, so you look for products that will keep them protected from the elements.  I really believe in the importance of having your children of any age play outdoors no matter the weather.  Maybe I am biased since I grew up in Canada and we didn't have school snow days. I remember walking two miles to my school in fifth grade with snow banks higher then two cars piled on top of each other.  I walked the sidewalk, but could not see over the banks.

Outside Baby has created a Reversible Down Hooded Jacket   for children three months to 6 years.  As you know down is light and compactable so this jacket will be coming on any of our cold weather trips.  Cora does not sleep in a sleeping bag so this coat can act as her sleeping bag during the cold season.

The hood is removable but I am not sure why you would take it off.  Cora has worn the coat and uses the hood instead of a winter hat because it provides a tight seal from the outside cold.  Many people stop me on the street and say things like: “Wow, what a fancy coat for such a small person!”, but why not, Cora is comfortable and happy because of the great warmth and fit of this coat.  This coat repels water and has pockets which are essential for toddlers.  This is our Colorado winter coat.

Reversible Down Hooded Jacket

For the parent:

North Face Fleece W TKA 100 Glacier ¼ Zip :  This fleece sweater is very comfortable and has a nice cut that makes you look good even when strolling in town after your long hike or skiing expedition.  Mine is red which I also think is festive, but it is available in a lot of different colors.  They have a men’s version of the same fleece.  It is a thin fleece that is worn over a t-shirt or light shirt. With quick-drying and pill-resistant features, this lightweight pullover is a superior barrier against cool to cold conditions.  It is very soft to the touch.

Women Fleece   Men Fleece

Other clothing you may be interested in:

Mittens 

Base layer

Pants

For the whole family who is going on an outdoor adventure:

Backpack system for day outings:

Outside Baby Cooler Backpack

Outside Baby offers a versatile and comfortable cooler backpack. It is the Cadillac of backpacks for parents with young children.  This bag is excellent to use for: diaper bag, dropping your child off at day care, day hikes, picnics at the park, ball games, or any other daily outings mom or dad may be going on with their child.

This bag has a cooler compartment for a lunch, separate wet/dry sections, adjustable straps, bottle holder, and an integrated removable changing pad.  I am so excited about this bag because it is the perfect companion for our afternoon hikes.  As the weather gets colder, I use the changing pad as a sitting mat for Cora who is already potty trained.   Either Erik or I feel comfortable wearing this backpack in town, because of its unisex design and non ‘diaper bag with lunch cooler attached’ look.

Outside Baby Cooler Backpack

Travel systems: Ways to carry your small ones around

Moby Wrap:  This is a cotton cloth wrap that grows with your baby.  This ergonomic system offers a variety of carrying positions, even for newborn twins, and children up to 35 pounds.  These wraps fit all size of parent and create a bonding hug between you and your baby. This wrap provides a space for discrete nursing on the go.  I find that this carrying system is very comfortable with newborn and small babies.  A good system to keep in your car for leisurely outdoor strolls or for travel if you have mastered the wrapping complexity.

Moby Wrap Baby Carrier-12 Colors with 2 New Limited Colors!!

Here is a link to another travel system that one of your outdoor families might love: Ergo Pack 

Footwear:

 Here is a link to reviews of different footwear:

Toddler:  Boot and Shoe  

Dad: City Shoe and Day Hike Shoe 

Mothers:

• You may start to get used to my usual “ I like gear that can be used for more than one activity.”  “ It is good on the wallet, the environment, and your gear closet.”  Merrell’s Siren Sport Shoe , is created as an all round performance shoe that works well for speed hikes, running or biking. The sole is made for stability and traction.  I own the women model that is supposedly created for our specific female stride.  I like the spacious foot bed and the mesh fabric that enable my feet to breath.  A good stable shoe for any of your daily outdoor pursuits.

• Oslo Waterproof Winter Boot ,  is stylish and the perfect boot for your tobogganing day with the kids.  You will stay warm and dry as you climb and sled down the hill, and then can be stylish as you hit your local coffee shop for hot cocoa.

For the whole family:  Help the outdoor family on your list be organized, green and able to travel in ease

Here is a link to a planner that may interest someone on your list.  Purchase of this organizer benefits a great non-for-profit organization  Day Planner by Mothers Acting Up 

Travel light: As the adventurous family on your list makes their travel plans think of offering them a gift certificate for a service like Baby's Travel Lite.  They help reduce the amount of  luggage a family needs to bring to their destination.

Green house make-over:

I was just introduced to this great service.  You could purchase a green house make-over for the outdoor lover on your list.  Most outdoor enthusiasts are into preserving our planet so this gift would be a great fit.  Green Irene offers a house make-over that will lower energy bills , save water, money and green resources.  A consultant will create a plan for your specific needs with recommendations to green your household.   Green Irene also sells some of the products so it is easy to start implementing these great suggestions.  The consultant will also brief you on safety and emergency preparedness along with ways to take advantage of tax credits and incentives in your area.  With the house make-over you will give your outdoor family a six month subscription to email and website support to help make the recommendations.

 

Happy Holidays and don’t spend too much money.

Heidi

P.S Our best giveaway yet: A DOWN REVERSIBLE TODDLER JACKET BY OUTSIDEBABY.COM ($100)could be yours by simply posting a story, tip, or question by December 12th.

To Read Part 1 click here:

Plenty: Eating Locally on the 100-Mile Diet , by Alisa Smith and J.B. Mackinnon offers some great flavors to mull around your head.  Do you remember your first drink of milk? Or your first bite of food?  Probably not, but I can assure you that it was probably a different kind of food than what you are eating now.  “According to the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University, the food we eat now typically travels between 1, 500 and 3, 000 miles from farm to plate.” In Plenty, (Three Rivers Press, 2007) Alisa Smith, and J.B Mackinnon share these kind of thought provoking statistics amidst their entertaining anecdotal account of living together and trying to eat food grown within a one hundred mile radius of their urban Vancouver home.

Do you remember the first time you fought over food? Or what argument peppered one of your meals as it was being prepared in your kitchen?  Smith writes about her take on eating local foods in a genuine and surprisingly honest way.  She shares information about herself that most people would not admit even to themselves. She questions her relationship with co-author Mackinnon, yet does not linger on this flavor for too long.  She is too busy filling us in with lovely anecdotes and stories to make her passages a well salted meal.  Smith’s sieves through her cookbook and shares with us memories of her grandmother; a woman who inspires her and places her current project under perspective. She has a great time detailing her long bike treks in the rain or her rational behind trying this nearly impossible task of eating so close to home.  “I sat at my desk, curiosity and suspicion aroused.  How would he make a sandwich? We had no bread, only a few tablespoons of remnant flour. He flourished a hand toward what appeared to be a sandwich festooned with a red-tipped deli toothpick.  It actually looked beautiful, like something you might see in an upscale restaurant. Layers of bright red greenhouse peppers, and fried mushrooms peeked out beneath delectably oozing goat cheese.”

J.B Mackinnon’s whips more research into his writing which gives the reader more meat for this mostly vegetarian read.  He is the main cook in this story and shares simple recipes at the beginning of each chapter.  The couple struggle with finding some basic ingredients, what we would consider essential foods.  For many months most of their meals consist of potatoes, cooked in a variety of styles.  “Seeds left, chaff right; seeds left, chaff right. I uncovered a rat turd the size of an olive it and carried it directly to the garbage. At the peak of the pile of wheat berries stood an insect, head lifted to the breeze like a mountain sheep on a backlit skyline ridge. “If you want to see a weevil, there’s one walking across the cutting boar right now,””

Both authors live in a small apartment that continues to be filled with local produce hidden in sock drawers, boxes and planters on fire escapes.  “Then there was my former clothes cupboard, the one now used for winter stores. The bottom shelf housed a twenty-five pound bag of organic yellow onions… The upper shelves help twice that weight in organic russet, red and French fingerling potatoes…”   They amase this food by meeting local farmers and visiting their broiled summer home in Doreen. As the year goes by the authors try their hand at making cheese, sauerkraut, canning tomatoes, pickling and growing herbs.  These food items become the back drop for friends to come to support the process by adding their own unique views of eating and sharing food. “He needed a place to stay, he announced, and he’d been in a fight.  He had a broken head. A broken hand. A broken life, really.  In my family, this is how people ask if you might want to come home for a visit.”

Since both Smith and Mackinnon must make a living as reporters, they travel at times and eat outside of their diet.  They must make money to support their expensive project.  “ …the grocery bill for that single meal had come to $128.87”  I have looked into the possibility of following in their footsteps, but my budget does not permit such elaborate spending.  I live in the Roaring Fork Valley of Colorado and all foods are grown here, but my food bill would increase 200 % if I ate locally.  The authors bring up some good lubrication to motivate me to look further then buying foods the easy way  “Supermarkets have another idea entirely. To them, “local”, covers a whole province or state, or even an entire country.  Signs announcing “CDN/USA grown” are increasingly common in the produce department, as though we should be satisfied knowing that our food comes from somewhere within the world’s second- and third largest countries.”  They also explain “Organic vegetables are frequently the end products of intensive production methods, and end up on your plate after, say, crossing the continent by diesel truck and passing through a plant that washes 26 millions servings of lettuce a week”.   Both Smith and Mackinnon take a lot of time researching how they can purchase food locally but affordably.  They visit farms, learn about their systems and buy in bulk. In this way they claim that there food bill, was similar to conventional levels.

Parents benefit from reading this book, because it shows us that there is so much more to food then simply buying, cooking and eating.  Our children, experience food, and food becomes who they are.  When the authors describe their efforts in planting a garden at the local garden plot, you can feel their disappointments and triumphs over growing food.  You see that having a garden teaches about life.  “The garden seemed to have the sense that I lacked. Life was stirring here. The seeds, enclosed in muck, had divined some slight warming, a lengthening of days.”  You realize that food makes up who we are.   It becomes a disturbing thought to think that to make up the cells of your body and that of your children you have to utilize resources as far as 3,000 miles away.  A 3,000 mile cell seems like a very complex thing for such a simple thing as sustenance.

 If you are looking for a present for your child’s teacher, the principal or superintendent, think of these two books.  People like your municipal leaders or President Bush would greatly benefit from these reads.  It may remind them about the human scale of life.

If you are interested in knowing more about these books or authors, each book has inspired a movement and non-for profit work; the childrenandnature.org and the 100milediet.org.

To purchase these books click on these links:

Plenty: Eating Locally on the 100-Mile Diet
Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder

Heidi

P.S. As you plan for your holiday travels think of using a service like: Baby's Travel Lite.

And remember if you post a story by November 30th you have a chance of receiving a copy of
 Mothers Acting Up organization Calendar.

The 2009 Mothers Acting Up Calendar is here!
The Moment: a calendar and guide for advocating on behalf of the world's children

The 2009 MAU calendar, The Moment, is dedicated to moments of personal change that shift the direction and purpose of our lives. Often these extraordinary moments are heralded by very ordinary tasks. They arrive – when we're cradling babies, grocery shopping or bicycling – and begin magically transforming us into passionate advocates for social change.

The Moment is a weekly engagement calendar that also offers tools and information on how to: get and stay inspired, get educated, and engage with other individuals and organizations working on important issues. Most importantly, the calendar features portraits of people who inspire our own activism – from the mom next door to Isabel Allende, Paul Hawken, Mukhtar Mai and Ann Veneman. This calendar and guide is a tribute to pivotal moments of change, designed to incite your own year of Moments!

Get inspired and in the process, support Outdoor Baby. For every purchase of the calendar through the link above, Outdoor Baby will receive 15% of the sale. The 2009 MAU Calendar makes wonderful presents for your mother, aunt, best friend and the lady down the street.

To purchase one please click on this link:  MAU  Calendar

There are mothers* all over the world doing incredible work to inspire, educate and engage their communities like:

• Amie Brooke Nelson is writing Celebrating Mothers to inspire mothers to use their voices to empower themselves and others;
• Winstone Zulu was the first Zambian to publicly disclose his positive HIV status and has worked tirelessly to educate his country about HIV/AIDS prevention and dispel its stigma;
• Gillian Caldwell and Colleen Connors engage mothers and others in communicating with their elected officials.

These inspirational individuals are rewriting the headlines; the 2009 Mothers Acting Up Calendar shares their stories.

The MAU Calendar, The Moment, is a weekly engagement calendar that features portraits of people who inspire our own activism – from new moms, to Isabel Allende, Paul Hawken, Mukhtar Mai and Julie Chavez Rodriquez. The Moment also offers tools and information on how to: get and stay inspired, get educated, and engage with other individuals and organizations working on important issues. This calendar and guide is a tribute to pivotal moments of change, designed to incite your own year of Moments!

These people, in spite of the doom and gloom news, find the courage and commitment to change the story – for the better. Read the 2009 MAU Calendar and get inspired!

Gorgeous, Full color, 6.5 X 9 inches, soft cover & spiral bound, two year-at-a glance section, $20.

In the next few weeks I will be giving away one of these great MAU Calendar's.  All you need to do is share a story on this website.

Mostly likely some of your fondest memories are infused with the essences of both food and nature. I don’t know if you are like me, but I try to have a running theme in my life; something that links all the little pieces together. For my family, the main premise is how to live wholesome lives connected to the basic principles of openness, kindness, understanding, growth, and compassion.  Two books that have inspired me to look at my habits have been Last Child in the Woods (Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, 2006) by Richard Louv Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder and Plenty (Three Rivers Press, 2007) by authors Alisa Smith and J.B. Mackinnon. Plenty: Eating Locally on the 100-Mile Diet

Richard Louv has coined the “Nature Deficit Disorder.” Although not a medical condition, the author explains how this phrase is useful in describing the state of childhood in the United States.  As parents we struggle to make our children’s lives more green. Some of your green choices might be: breastfeeding, using cloth diapers, purchasing organic foods and cleaning products, biking to work, or recycling. We also want to instill stewardship for the land, but as Louv explains “Surely children need a quality attachment to land not only for their own health, but in order to feel compelled to protect nature as adults- not only as common-sense conservationists, but as citizens and as voters.”

The author poses the idea that many people who have influenced our lives like Mr. Rodgers, Ben Franklin or Eleanor Roosevelt, often reflect that nature has been their first inspiration and teacher.  Many would argue that our country has been founded on principals of adventure, conquering nature, and reaching the last frontiers.  Although these actions may be seen as standing in opposition to environmental protection, they are what opened our land to discovery and inspiration.  People like Goodall, Lawrence, Muir, Darwin, Carson, and Edward Abby greatly benefited from the United States’ fascination with natural discoveries.  Howard Gardner, the influential education professor from Harvard University, developed the theory of multiple intelligences.  The naturalist’s intelligence in described as dealing with sensing patterns in and making connections to elements in nature.  Even some religions have specific connections to nature, and some used to greatly encourage a relationship with the natural environment.  The book left me with some lingering questions: As the United States is becoming more ethnically diverse, how do these cultures influence traditional views of the environment? What is the percentage of different ethnic groups that feel comfortable exploring the outdoors?  How can we help all of American children feel comfortable in connecting with this valuable resource even if their culture values nature differently?  Louv cogently explains the health benefits of a relationship with the outdoors, and it would seem only natural to have a better understanding of how to include everyone in that equation.

Families have different approaches to including the outdoors in their daily lives.  Some families go to local parks, others enroll their children in scouting programs, and many families include watching nature channels on television as an activity that connects one to nature. However, a decreasing number of people will visit national parks and a smaller number of families will explore the outdoors together by rafting, climbing, hiking or camping.  Louv has something to say about all of these activities, but you will need to read his well documented book to find out about all of his ideas.  Louv uses Madhu Narayan’s (Girls Scouts regional outdoor education manager) words to explain some of the challenges that many organizations are facing when including outdoor exploration in their programs: “Today, if a parent sends a kid to you without a scratch, they better come back that way.  That’s the expectation. And as someone responsible for people, I have to respect that.”  Americans are becoming more and more fearful of nature.  We are afraid of injury, disease, boredom, or even getting lost outdoors.  Louv has practical advice on what parents, schools, camps, neighborhood associations or even governmental agencies can do to bring us back into connection with nature.

Stay tuned for part 2, published next week:

 “Ruth Hanna McCormick noisily donated one of her “purebred” cattle to the Chicago Zoo, Saying, “It’s for the kids who have never seen one.  Thousands…have seen a rhinoceros, and a giraffe, but have never seen a cow.””-  J.B Mackinnon, Plenty.

Heidi

P.S. As you plan for your holiday travels think of using a service like: Baby's Travel Lite.

And remember if you post a story by November18th you have the chance to win a cooler backpack from outsidebaby.com. A $75 value.

The first snow has fallen in Carbondale Colorado the same night that Barack Hussein Obama has become our 44^th president.  I have to mention this because I am so proud to be living here and to be a part of this amazing history in the making.

So, here I am back on track. Before you take out your skis, snowshoes and other winter sports wear think of taking your kids on a few other hikes. I feel like hiking with children is a great way to stay connected to the earth.  Also, if you head out now, your kids will see how the landscape is quickly changing.  If you are reading this entry from another part of the country, rest assured you will still find interesting information.  With these pointers you can start to plan a wonderful family vacation to the Roaring Fork Valley.

A few weeks ago I wrote about the importance of letting your children do the exploring and discovering on the trail (to follow their pace).  Here I offer destinations that enable you to do this while still keeping your interest.  These are great places to visit with your grandparents or not so fit relatives.

Four small destinations that can enchant the young and the old:

Marble, Colorado:  Marble is a small town 22 miles south of Glenwood springs.  In Marble you can find numerous outdoor activities from climbing to skiing.  Much information can be found on the Marble Tourism Association website.  I recommend visiting the Yule Marble Quarry or Crystal Mill.  Both require a short amount of walking that is perfect for children, and yet offers many discoveries.

On your way to Marble or Redstone stop by the Penny Hot Springs.

Redstone, Colorado:   Read Stone is three miles north of Marble on 133. Visit Redstones website to find out about the different hikes and ice climbing activities in the area.

I like to bring Cora to Redstone’s kid’s park. It is beside the river and she can play and then we can walk on the bridge and explore the river’s edge.

Basalt, Colorado:   This is a small town on the way to Aspen on Hwy 82.  Once again here we like to go to the park that is adjacent to the Crystal River (one of the last free flowing rivers in the west) so that Cora can explore the river’s edge and walk on the groomed path.  She can also visit the pond and look at children fishing.  There is no playground equipment here, but there are amazingly grand picnic tables and the parking lot has a Mexican Restaurant.  From Basalt you can also visit Reudi Reservoir (offers camping)

Perham Creek Trail: From Carbondale travel south on HWY 133 for 10 miles. The trailhead

is 100 ft from mile marker 58 (they get smaller towards Redstone) on the right side.

The entrance is marked with two large metal gates.

This trail is a 4.2 mile hike that takes you up a steep first mile and a half but then takes you into a beautiful meadow.  You can see Mt. Sopris from the trail.

Hope you go out exploring,

Don't forget that if you contribute to this site by Nov.10th you could win a outsidebaby.com coolerbackpack.

Heidi

P.S You can always travel light with your baby.

Children bring another dimension to outdoor exploration. That is why it is healthy to take time away from your children to just go explore on your own.   I believe that relationships grow stronger in the outdoors. Erik and I are fortunate enough to live in a place where the choices of outdoor activities are endless.  We also have great babysitters that are willing to watch our daughter for a few hours.

With enlisted babysitting help we were been able to go white water canoeing three times this summer and raft once.  Being able to do activities that shaped your marriage before children can help you reconnect to your spouse.  Erik is an experienced canoeist and it is great to sit in the bow and feel how attuned and powerful he can be.   I love to hear him guide me through different strokes and explain river features.  Some people may read this as corny or that I am giving up power.  In other parts of the relationship I call the shots and I am the expert.  This is Erik’s time to shine and to remind me of the man I met 8 years ago.  Being parents can sometimes make you forget who you were as individuals or as a couple before children.

Another point that I want to make is that it is as important to reconnect with your spouse as it is to do activities with friends.   This summer we went rafting with friends down class III-IV rapids.  It is a great way to re-connect with friends and to remind us that life is not only about the family – it is also about relationships with others as well.  Outdoor activities offer a great way to get to know people and to create a feeling teamwork.  On this specific rafting trip we were accompanied by a couple (other teachers at the school) we did not know very well, a teenager from my husband’s school and two friends from Canada.  Since the teenager was the most advanced rafter he took the lead and enabled us to create a very good team.  When the river run was finished, some decided to kayak the same stretch of river. Others, including myself, watched from the path along the water.  Since only our teenaged guide was familiar with the stretch of river and the ability levels of the different paddlers varied, he took the lead in making sure everyone stayed safe. It is great to see a teenager take on such role.  We so often see teenagers playing x-box and shuffling along, and making poor decisions. It is great to see that people can reverse roles when necessary.  This trip enabled everyone to help each other and get to know each other more quickly than if we had went on ten dinner dates.  At one point one of the kayakers flipped and everybody needed to help – from shore and on the river.

Even if you are a single parent it is important for you to take time and do outdoor activities on your own. I like to go on bike rides and go fast.  I don’t have to worry about my daughter’s Chariot weight in the back, her happiness, or about keeping pace with Erik.  I just know that she is safe with Erik or a babysitter.  It is important to take care of yourself physically and spiritually.  I feel like the outdoors provides those avenues for me. The outdoors is a place that should also be experienced alone.

Other ideas of activities to do for yourself: Visit friends, go back to visit your college town or the city where you lived before kids, go to a coffee shop, travel to another country you always wanted to visit or even a nearby town.

Heidi

Snow is falling in Carbondale, Colorado today.  Wherever you are living in North America, your hiking, climbing, visiting the park and swimming outdoors days are coming to an end.  I take this as a sign that I should squeeze in just a few more outdoor activities before all the leaves fall off the trees.  Of course, there are plenty of cold weather sports to keep you busy all winter long, but I like to have a memory of a warmer hike to keep my spirits warm during crisp winter days. Also, taking children outside just before the weather turns is a great way to make them connect to the changing of the season, the reason for the change of pace, and activities.

In other blogs I have written about hikes up Red Hill, Thompson Creek, Mt. Sopris, Old Snowmass road, and a few others. Here I offer two more easy hikes that can be done with small children, with or without the help of a spouse.  Hopefully, before Thanksgiving I can write about a few more.

Hanging Lake:  This 2.4 mile trail is a Colorado tourist’s classic, but it is sure to enchant anyone who can ignore the large number of hikers.  The trail takes you from 6,100 to 7,250 feet (1,150 elevation gain) on a very well marked trail.  You will encounter dirt, large rocks, manmade bridges, boulders, and steep inclines on exposed rock (protective railing installed) while hiking along a stream.  Many resting spots have been strategically placed on this mostly shady trail. At the end of the hike you have a wonderful reward; you arrive to a beautiful, emerald-colored, crystal clear lake that is filled by a waterfall. Make sure to check out Sprouting Rock when you are out there.

Remember no fishing or dogs allowed.

This trail is part of the White River National Forest and should take you around two hours without counting rest stops.  Use the USGS Map: Shoshone for topographic information but this is not necessary.

How to get there: Take the Hanging Lake exit along Interstate 70 in Glenwood Canyon. Westbound travelers must exit a few miles farther west at the Grizzly Creek exit and double back on the eastbound lane to the Hanging Lake exit. Eastbound travelers can drive east from Glenwood Springs directly to the Hanging Lake exit. The return access to Interstate 70 from Hanging Lake is westbound only, so drivers who wish to continue east on Interstate 70 must travel west to the Grizzly Creek exit to get back on track after the hike.

Once you have parked your car at the Hanging Lake rest area (bathrooms and picnic tables are available), follow the paved bicycle path east, or upstream, for about 0.25 mile to a narrow side canyon.

New York Creek Trail:  This trail is significantly longer 4.2 miles one way and has a 2,000 elevation gain.  I have never hiked the whole trail but I recommend this hike if you want your small toddlers to hike a bit of the trail.  The beginning of the hike goes over a river and requires a bit of balance to get across, then for the next mile you are mildly climbing through pine forest and mountain meadows.  It is quite picturesque.  Your children will get to experience many different terrains on a very short hike.

After one mile you hit an old but well established Jeep trail. That is where we turned back down for an afternoon swim at the Aspen Recreation Center.

If you want to camp out there are many sites along the Lincoln Creek road.

If you are planning on doing the whole trail you should get the topo map USGS  New York Peak and visit this website:  Click for link

ACCESS: Drive 10 miles east of Aspen on Highway 82 to Lincoln Creek Road. Turn right and drive 3.1 miles on Lincoln Creek Road to the New York Creek Trail turnoff on the right. Although a 4WD vehicle is not necessary, high clearance is a must.

Remember you can win a fifty dollar gift card just by sharing your story or question before Oct. 31st.

Heidi

When purchasing outdoor clothing for yourself or your children, you may think of how you can support regional businesses and lower your carbon footprint.  You may also think about how you can stretch your dollar.  Children grow so fast and you want clothing that will look good on and off the trail.  Mountain Sprouts, a Colorado-based company, not only offers affordable children’s clothing, but clothing that is made in the United States.  This line of well-crafted clothing has branched out to offer Mountain Khakis, pants for men and women.    Mountain Sprouts and Mountain Khakis are sister companies. Both companies have a simple and unassuming logo.  This is a feature I love in children and adult clothing because I hate feeling like a walking advertisement. In patronizing Mountain Sprouts and Mountain Khakis I feel comfortable supporting regional companies that offer quality clothing at reasonable prices.

I have written a review of some of their products and have placed them under different categories on the site.  The reviews can be found under the outdoor activity the clothing is best used for.

Welcome to the Mountain Sprouts/Mountain Khakis tour.  Click on the links bellow to read more or browse through the site to find out more about these products:

Children’s Coat

Children’s Mittens

Children’s long underwear/ swimsuit

Men’s/Women’s pants

Jumper and overall for toddler

To top it all off Mountain Sprouts and Mountain Khakis have excellent customer service.  They reply to emails and phone calls and replace your order with very little questioning.   They are 1 % for the planet members (An alliance of companies that donate at least 1% of their annual net revenues to environmental organizations worldwide).

Remember a winner will receive a fifty dollar gift certificate for Mountain Sprouts.  All you need to do is share a story, tip, trick, question on this website and one winner will be selected by October 31^st.

MountainSprouts.com

Heidi

At the time that I am writing this review EcoBrain, a paperless publisher, has saved 10704 trees because the books they sell are sent to you via the internet.  Not only does this method of publishing save trees, but it also cuts on energy use (packing material, truck) to get you the book you buy.  EcoBrain offers a wide range of books from children books to how to cook books.  They also offer a large section of outdoor travel guides, that offer suggestions on different hikes around the country.  I am sure that if you visit their site you are sure to find a book that will tickle your green curiosity.If you are more into memoirs, fiction or academic books you are sure to also find a title of interest.  EcoBrain was started by two families who believe in supporting authors in their quest to publish while staying eco-friendly.

Here I review one of the books they offer to give you a taste of what EcoBrain offers:

You travel in the wilderness and cherish the moments you share with your children in the outdoors. You are proud when your children can identify specific plants or when they re-use a piece of paper.  There is a book that can help you go beyond your love for nature and support you in creating a smaller carbon foot print.  This book will not only guide you through a journey that will explain to you the context of your decisions but will support you in making decisions to simplify your life.

Radical Simplicity: Small Footprints on a Finite Earth by Jim Merkel is an easy read that is sure to inspire you.  Not only will reading this book give you great ideas on how to simplify your life, it will also not kill any trees in the process. It is offered through EcoBrain, a paperless publisher.  This book is a tool kit that will take you through the process or examining your spending, your habits, and your connection with nature.  Jim Merkel has an interesting background that reinforces the sound advice found in this book.

The book’s introduction finishes with these words:

“We have everything to lose and nothing to lose — everything to gain

and nothing to gain. And we have our life as the greatest expression of

our commitment to the ones we love, to the voiceless, to the land, and

to unborn generations.”  Jim Merkel

Please click on this link to purchase this worthwhile read:

Radical Simplicity: Small Footprints on a Finite Earth

Heidi

One lucky reader will receive a free e-copy of this book. Simply submit a baby of the month suggestion or a tip on how to simplify outdoor travel with children before October 15th and one lucky winner will be selected.

A few weeks ago while playing in the park I ran into a friend who also teaches early childhood and parenting classes.  I was letting her know about this website and she reminded me of something very important, something that is part of the mission of this website.  She reminded me that sharing the natural world with young children does not have to be complicated, costly or filled with special gear.  It also does not have to be a super hard core backpacking trip or rafting trip.  Small trips to outdoor locations can do the trick. She makes it a point to go on nature walks near her town or to lead toddlers on an outdoor exploration in a field.  This can take a long time, but that is what we want our children to do: to slow down, be connected with something bigger than themselves and for them to discover the life that is present all around them in the cracks of the sidewalk or the field of flowers.

Of course I know all this and I mostly spend my outdoor time at the park, in my front yard, on paved bike trails, or outdoor pool.  Cora, Erik and I go on a lot of wilderness outdoor adventures, but our day to day outdoor exploration takes place near our home.  A few weekends ago we went hiking off of Thompson Creek Road (see information below). This is the perfect trail for a toddler hike. Cora loved to follow the stream, play in the mud by the shore, scale some rocks, and explore moss and different vegetations.  She probably hiked a little over a mile when she got tired.  It took her almost one hour, but she made so many connections.  She rediscovered sage brush and learned about acorns.  It was very fascinating to her that their ‘little hats’ came off.  I remember this as one of my first outdoor discoveries more than 25 years ago.

The author Richard Louv talks about the importance of deeply connecting to one natural place. If children are to learn and understand about the life cycle, the seasons, the effect of rain water, human impact, or the passage of time on an environment, they need to spend time in one specific outdoor location on numerous occasions.  Maybe this way we can support our children’s naturalist tendencies.

 If you live in the Roaring Fork valley or in Carbondale, I highly suggest the Thompson Creek Trail, as time well spent with your children.  For those readers that felt neglected by my coverage of more advanced outdoor experiences I apologize and I will remember to share ideas on how to simply be with your children outdoors and to connect on much more simple terms.

After all, that is what this website is about, to support all parents on their journey through outdoor explorations with their children.  Let it be a first ascent or picnics in the park.

Trail: Thompson Creek Trail

Length:  up to 9 miles one way

Elevation: 8,200 ft.  max. elevation gain: 900

Directions:  Drive 7 miles out of Carbondale towards Spring Gulch ( cross country ski area) on route 106/108. When you see the Spring Gulch parking area on right ( moon shape road that connects with your road.  Look on your left for a dirt road that goes downhill. Take that road, pass the campground about a mile and park on the left hand side.  You will be hiking on the left side of the road by a stream.  When the road takes a steep uphill you have gone too far.

Notes: This trail is a mellow hike with small up/downs over mostly dirt/rock trail. You are following a stream and will encounter different vegetation and spectacular rock walls.  People use this trail for running, biking, and access to a climbing area, or for a leisurely hike.

More information on local Carbondale Colorado hikes, follow this link: White River National Forest

Heidi

Follow this link to learn more: click here 

Friends of ours came to visit us from Thunder Bay, which is located on the north shore of Lake Superior in Canada.  The landscape were they come from is full of coniferous trees, enormous bodies of water (Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake in the world) and literally hundreds of thousands of rivers and lakes.  There is so much water and greenery.

Somehow, it seemed the obvious choice but to bring them to Utah on their first visit of the Western United States.

We drove two hours south of Moab into the southeast corner of Utah with them and visited different archeological sites. In this part of the country there is very little water, if any, the earth is dry, the trees short, and the desert is sprinkled with sage, cactus, and rocks.  To get to some of these sites was quite easy.  A short hike from the car was all that was required to see ruins and to discover thousand-year old sites full of old pot chards and other little artifacts (which we put back exactly where we found them as archeological site etiquette demands). This proved to be a true delight for our ten year old visitor.

The other site that we visited required us to backpack in and to stay the night.  We found an amazing campsite on flat river rocks that overlooked an enormous canyon.  A cliff-skirting hike was required to get to the cliff-dwelling that we visited.  This was a scary but worthwhile adventure.  Although Cora (who is two years old) accompanied us on all these adventures she did not go on this part of the hike. She stayed behind and played in the dried up river beds, looking at frogs, tadpoles and snakes that were stuck in deep water pits that were filled by flash floods probably a few weeks earlier.  Since Zach is ten years old, he introduced Cora to exploring small crevices for live creatures.  It held Cora’s attention more than anything else ever did.

It is great to travel outdoors with another family. You get to learn how others interpret the natural world, what they do to get prepared for a trip and how they camp.  It was really a delight to share this terrain with them since they are very comfortable in the outdoors.  What was interesting was to see that most of their skills were very transferable to this new environment, but others were not. For example, they were suspicious of my concern that we did not have enough containers to carry the right amount of water.  I insisted that we stop and purchase a large dromedary to carry water.  This water became invaluable on the cliff dwelling section of the trip.    Having another child along during a trip makes it fun for your own child, even one who is comparatively much older. Coralie found it so exciting to see how Zach was a capable outdoors person and what he was interested in.  Everyone on a trip can really open their horizons when they are in the company of new people.

I really recommend visiting the area south of Moab.  It provides such an amazing landscape and has so many interesting historical sites to visit.  You would need to find yourself a book on the area to better find pictographs, petroglyphs and archeological sites.  If you are not a huge outdoor adventurer you can find drive-up sites near the town of Moab.

Heidi

As parents who are interested in sharing the wonders of the natural world with our children, I think it is important to support the health of our children and our planet as well.

Think Baby provides  affordable plastic baby bottles and trainer cups that are made from safe plastics.  If you are concerned with toxic chemicals leaching from plastic baby products think of getting one of these bottles or cups for your child.  They are Free of Bisphenol-A, Phthalates, and PVC.  Their peach colored handles are easy to grip and the spouts are extra soft.

Think of purchasing one of these cups today at this very customer friendly store.  They also have other products to offer you: www.thinkbabybottles.com

For your chance to win a Think Baby cup enter your story, tip, or question during the month of September. You may be our lucky winner.