I officially turned 40 this past month.  And my baby is about to be 6 months. Big milestones!

We have made our annual mini-vacation to Telluride four years in a row now.  It was never a conscious plan but it seems like we keep going back.  We found a great hotel with decent prices the first year and just kept going back.  The hotel (Hotel Columbia  ) is child and animal friendly, but has the atmosphere of a sophisticated boutique hotel.  Imagine our disappointment when we found out it was getting a face lift and would not be open for our annual pilgrimage this year! ( I need to add that they will also be raising their prices so we won't be able to afford it in the future).  So, I booked a cheap room in a nearby hotel I found on the internet, after speaking to an employee who assured me that the comforters where comfortable and new and that the rooms were nice.

After a four hour drive we arrive to our hotel and this is what we encounter:  A nearly empty parking lot with construction trucks, a closed office, and a phone with the message “ If you use this phone we add $40 to your bill”, a box with an envelope with our name on it and keys with another threatening note “ If you lose one key 40 more bucks”, a few of the hotel windows were open and we could see open bags of wonder bread, a jar of peanut butter with a knife stuck in it, and yappy dogs.

We lugged our luggage up to the second floor and entered the room. I almost cried.  It was my birthday and, although I was not expecting a hotel W experience (the room was 88 dollars, half the regular season price), I was expecting a $176 room.  The room was small, dank, and had only a stand up shower, the kind your grandpa buys to put outside his rustic cottage to offer privacy to folks taking a shower. The floor had linoleum and a musty carpet,  the bed had those road side motel covers that shine so much because they are made entirely of plastic.

 We rushed out to go eat a fabulous dinner at the amazing Cosmopolitan Restaurant --  a fancy fare restaurant with amazing off season prices, incredible service and always welcoming to the chaos of toddlers.

We returned to our Mountain Side Inn and I slept fitfully and depressed.  We had only one ¾ size pillow each and I could not call because there was only the emergency phone number ($40 extra).  The next morning I decided to go talk to the lady at the front desk, which was open at 9:00. I decided to be truthful about what I felt but to be extremely mellow and kind about it (This is hard for me; I usually take out my ‘lived ten years in New York card’ when it comes to customer service).  Somehow in the midst of this depressing facility, an angel was manning the counter and offered me the keys to a room in paradise.  She told us to take our time, leave our things there, go visit the other place and let her know.  So, except for the angel, never go to Mountain Side Inn unless you are: going to Telluride to ski and drink heavily and won’t look at your room or care, or if you are a group of teenagers. But rush quickly over to the Manitou Bed and Breakfast to stay in one of their fabulous rooms!  Both hotels are managed by the same company ( Telluride Alpine Lodging) but they are on completely different scales.

The rooms at the Manitou Bed and Breakfast ( not a real Band B; you aren't staying with a sweet old granny and all the amenities are in your room; so you don’t have to be quiet or talk to strangers) are large, lush, comfortable, and fabulous. Cora had her own bedroom and bathroom; we had a large bed and a large bath.  The best thing is that we paid the same price as the other place. I highly doubt that will happen again though; so it may be the end of our visits to Telluride. We put Cora down for her nap in her new room, while I went and emptied the old room out.

We really enjoyed our stay in Telluride. The town is so child and outdoor friendly.  During the off season many places are closed and the streets are empty but the fun is still there.  You can stroll on the path ( 2.5 miles one way) along the stream (San Miguel River) through town and explore the river bed. Cora did this with great enthusiasm even though it was November in a 9,000 ft elevation mountain stream.  We then visited a few shops and no one batted an eye lash at our wet daughter.   The river trail runs to two children’s park, a great skate park , and a fishing  pond.   Cora loves our visits to Telluride because she gets to explore outdoors, and play, and see some good skate boarding. She also saw a beaver, a beaver lodge, beaver dam and area where they take wood and slip back in the water; A great learning experience.  In sixteen years of living in Canada and going to a remote cabin on a lake I had never seen a beaver or any of these typical signs of their habits.

Telluride also has an amazing library, including the best children’s library I have ever seen, with so many activities and reading nooks. They have fabulous adult areas too.  We spent lots of time at the library .

We did the Bear Creek Canyon hike to a waterfall.   It's a well-groomed 2.5 miles one way starting at the south end of Pine Street. It is the mellowest of hikes around, which is good if you don’t have time to acclimatize to the elevation.  If you are staying in Telluride for a week then you can take the Gondola up to 12,000 feet and start different hikes on top of the ski slopes (Large Mountain).

We also ate some great food at La Marmotte, an amazing French restaurant with prix fixe for the off season. This place has a quieter atmosphere and is not especially child friendly but we will keep going because of the great food.

  I know that Telluride is a very popular destination during the skiing months and the summer for their various concerts. I have never been there during those times; so I cannot give any advice for traveling there then. I do know that it is busy, a lot more expensive and that the campground is often full.

Heidi

Gear Review update:

Now, that winter is in full swing here in the Roaring Fork Valley, I have had the chance to put some of the gear that I reviewed to a greater test.  Here is an update on what I think.

Mountain Sprouts Mittens:  They are warm, well-constructed, durable, and keep snow out, but they don’t work for a child that is already very mobile and independent.  My daughter finds it frustrating that there is no thumb and that she can’t grip things. She only wears them if she is asleep or doesn’t want to hold anything.

Oslo Waterproof Merrell Boots:  These are the most fashionable winter boots I have ever worn. I get stopped by total strangers, young, old, female, male, they are very waterproof and comfortable. Unfortunately, my feet do get cold in them.

Just the other week I was turning into a parking spot at my community recreation center.  My two and a half year old daughter was in the rear strapped into her car seat and the check engine light was on in our 2001 Subaru.  The spot was close to the door, right next to the designated spots for people with disabilities – perfect access for a young mother with a small child. Then I looked up at a sign that said “reserved for Hybrid vehicles.”

As part of an environmentally conscious family, I question the motives for creating such a designated parking area in front of a local governmentally funded organization.  To me it seems to promote consumerism (albeit green consumerism) over valuing families.  My family would love to drive a hybrid vehicle, but they are not in our price range, new or used.  We don’t even have enough money to bring the car in to figure out why the check engine light is on.  Instead, we selected a reputable used vehicle that we hope will last us years (it is already 8 years old).  I truly believe that this is also an environmentally sound decision.

The cost of automobile production is a significant factor in assessing environmental impact.   There's the additional factor that there is an environmental cost associated with every dollar spent on a car.  For example, if I spend $30,000 on a car vs $15,000, there has been an environmental cost associated with the earning of every one of those dollars.  It costs money to get to work, maintain the office, and prepare your life for time spent working (babysitter, lunches, etc).  Instead of upgrading to the latest model of vehicle, we try to maintain  this relatively efficient vehicle.  In the summer we ride our bikes, and all year long we recycle, reuse, compost all our food and paper, use cloth diapers, and buy eco-friendly products.  A decision to make hybrid parking a luxury seems to me to promote a type of eco-consumerism that is only accessible to the upper middle class and the wealthy over family support and equality.

I live in a community where income levels vary immensely from neighbor to neighbor.  I don’t believe that a local community center should place a value sticker on the choices of its residents.  Purchasing a hybrid vehicle is a luxury that helps people to advertise their environmental choices.  Some people are not within the means to make those choices. People cannot see what a person does on a personal scale inside their home to be on the cutting edge of environmentalism.  Don’t get me wrong, I am very proud to be living in a community that is so interested in being on the forefront of environmental stewardship.  I just think that before making decisions that affect everyone, the community as a whole should be considered.  Being environmentally conscious is in many ways a luxury and being well off enables you (if you choose) to make numerous green choices that are not available to everyone.  We should not forget that.

 The Hybrid spots are closer to the door than the parking spots for people with disabilities, which brings up the question of exactly what we are choosing to value as a community.  I also wonder if the needs of mothers were considered when making these designated spots.  It can be a challenge to carry a two year old out of the car with all your gym gear through a snow covered street and icy sidewalks.  Many moms that frequent this gym have two children.  Also, the more popular and efficient models of hybrid vehicles are not vehicles that are suited for larger families.

In contrast, Canadian super markets have mommy and me parking spots. They are close to the door and close to the places you are supposed to return your carts.  Supporting families and the needs of your community should be important to a community like mine.  After all, we are a town in a country that continuously boasts the importance of family values.  Family values means putting families first before looking at consumerist preferences or abilities.  We need to remember that purchasing a hybrid vehicle is still an act of consumerism. In the end, it is a consumer choice – a choice that can be value driven,  but  a choice that not everyone can afford.

Some of you reading this will say, you miss the point, driving a hybrid and hybrid privileged parking is about greening our lives and taking care of our planet.   I see that point, but I do feel that if families are not supported in their efforts to live within their means, then they cannot even aspire to reach the choices that are only available to some.

Erik, Cora and I left for Virginia at 6:00 am on Sunday.  The trip there was uneventful if you can  describe entertaining a two year old on a shuttle, through security, two airplanes, one layover, and a two and ½ hour car ride to my father’s house.

On the return flight we had a direct flight after the 2 ½ hour drive to the airport.

Here are the things I learned:

• Staying at a hotel near the airport is great for an early flight. You get to sleep longer and then you can leave your car there for the week.  Make sure that you are paying for a room that includes the parking.  A shuttle brings you to the airport.  It is faster than doing the long term parking and the airport shuttle.  We ended up paying $50 dollars more, then if we had only used long term parking, but then got to sleep two more hours.  The cheapest hotel by the Denver Airport is Microtel.  Don’t expect great rooms, but they are fine for a quick sleep and they have a comfortable and very safe shuttle service.

• Pack a small and light bag for your child to carry around. It makes them feel grown up.

• Have new toys in your personal carry on to take out for entertainment purposes. You can’t add them to your child’s bag because that would be too heavy to carry.

• You don’t have to spend a lot of money. Cheap goes a long way. Those markers that only write on special paper were a hit, along with shiny bracelets and a ten dollar doctor kit.

• Fly with Frontier if you want folks who support you traveling with children. They do things like open up your stroller at the gate when you get to your destination. The hostess talks to your child.

• Don’t fly with Northwest because they will break your gate check stroller and make you run around the airport to find the missing piece and then not refund you for the broken stroller.
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• Bring a cloth carrier with you. Something like the Ergo pack.  It helps your child stay grounded and it can easily be used on day hikes in the place you are visiting. This kind of pack is great also if you have relatives who won’t follow your child’s nap schedule. Wherever you are, your child can sleep on your back.

• Bring one familiar night time routine object with you to help your toddler fall asleep in a new place.
  

• Bring a lot, a lot, a lot of familiar snacks and special treats for your child.  Flying can be longer than expected, layovers can be shorter, and airport food sketchy.  You don’t want your child to be hungry and cranky. We bring enough food for Cora to last a day and a half.

• Your child should be hydrated.  Give them water or breast feed them on demand.

• Fruit leather chews and cheese sticks worked great to alleviate sore ears during landing and takeoff.

• If your child is just potty training, make sure that you have your child pee just before takeoff and before the last signal for landing.  It could be a while before you are allowed to get out of your seat.

• When visiting others be flexible with what your child eats or what they do during their day, but try to stay as close as possible to your regular schedule. This way your child will feel safe and the people you are visiting won’t feel like you are a complete freak if you impose all of your routines, eating habits, censorship, etc on them.

• Try to incorporate outdoor activities to your daily schedule. Children feel great outside and they love to visit new parks, trails or visit local animals.

• Take time for yourself to go for a run or go to the gym.  It will help you stay calm during family activities.

• Richmond, Virginia straddles the James River.  James River Park offers over 500 acres of urban wilderness on islands and river banks on both sides.  I'm most familiar with the Huguenot Woods section on the south side that stretches along Riverside Drive east of the Huguenot Bridge.  It has become a family tradition to walk along the river on Thanksgiving morning.  It is a beautiful and simple hiking path, surrounded by autumn trees, grasses, a pond, and friendly faces.  The trail goes along the James River where you can see birds, fish and rocks because the water is low this time a year.  If you are adventurous you can walk on these rocks quite far into the river.  In the spring this river is a great whitewater canoe or kayak spot.  But stay away from the shallow dam, where the turbulence can be treacherous.  The trail is about two miles long with different loop options.

• Further east, in Midlothian, there is a small park called Robious Landing, that can be a nice spot to visit with small children.  The park is adjacent to a playground and there's a short path along the water’s edge with floating docks that let you look at the river upclose or go fishing.
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Hope these tips help.

Safe travels.

Heidi

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This week’s item that you may like to add on your shopping list is the Terra 40 backpack , specially constructed for women.  This backpack is made of light weight materials, but is still bomb proof and truly comfortable.   The waist belt is very well designed and fits well along your hips. The back is made of a mesh verti-cool panel that let’s air flow along your back and does not soak your back with sweat.  Both my husband and I use this pack even though it is designed for women.  The Terra 40 is spacious enough for a short overnight trip or for long day expeditions and backpacking light.  This backpack has various small compartments that help organize your gear, in an easy access manner.  This is not an ice climbing compatible backpack, but it has room to handle hydration systems, water bottles, and sleeping bag.  The Terra 40 backpack comes with a lifetime guarantee.  A pretty affordable backpack.

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To find out about more gear suggestions read my Shopping List Blog.

Now, the whole 51 mile long trail has been paved and I have traveled the length of it.  You can start at any point along the trail or from either end.   If you start by Hanging Lake and go to Aspen you will be going uphill the whole way.  RFTA, the  Roaring Fork Valley bus system, has stops starting in Glenwood Springs all the way to Aspen. and they have bike racks. Some taxi companies also provide shuttle services.

Enjoy exploring this amazing bike path. You don’t have to do the whole thing at once or even a return trip (use the bus or taxi).  The longest two sections I have done are:

Carbondale to Hanging Lake one way: 16 miles total.

Carbondale to Glenwood Springs (14 miles) doesn't offer a lot of beautiful views. You can often see the  highway, but you are riding downhill.  To continue on the path past Glenwood, you cross the river and go by the Hot Springs to find the trail. Hanging Lake is 2 miles further. MAP

Glenwood Springs to Hanging Lake is the nicest part of this ride.  You are biking by sheer rock cliffs and the Shoshone part of the Colorado River.  It is slightly up hill with two long up hill stretches.  When you get to Hanging Lake, there is a public restroom, picnic table and a beautiful HIKE

Carbondale to Aspen: 35 miles total

This section is the most picturesque throughout.  At equal intervals you will arrive in the town of Basalt (13 miles), then Woody Creek ( 13 miles) and then Aspen ( 9 miles).  In all these towns there are restaurants, public parks and bathrooms. From Woody Creek to Aspen you will be on a non-paved trail but it is very well maintained with crushed rock (almost sand). Aspen has a great recreation center and pool for you to relax in after wards.

When we do the trips we stop often.  Take dips in the river, eat at breakfast, lunch or dinner spots along the way or bring a picnic.  When biking with a child, make sure you make it an adventure for them too.

Doing outdoor activities with your kids isn't often about  serious or intense training.  Just make it into a family fun day.  With two adults to pull it's easier too.  Remember to always wear a helmet, even on a bike path, and your child should have one on too.

I should also mention that more than 14 miles from Glenwood to Carbondale (Katherine Store bridge) is maintained during winter months for snowshoeing and cross country skiing.

Here are links to other great activities in the area: Hiking

Heidi

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Every week before the holiday season is really underway, I will write a short piece about a product that may interest some of the folks on your shopping list.

This week’s featured product is a pair of fleece pants by The North Face.  These Glacier pants are very soft and can be worn alone for milder outdoor activities or they can be one of the layers that will keep your toddler warm during those very cold winter days.  My daughter is sensitive to textures and seems to find that these fleece pants are fine directly on her skin. She does not get irritated from them.  These pants come with a full life time guarantee.  The pants also look good, with their simple cut that doesn't add too much bulk to an outfit.  I believe these Glacier pants are available in adult versions as well.

To find out about more gear suggestions read my Shopping List Blog.

Remember to visit our home page to find out about our latest Giveaway. All you need to do is submit a story for your chance to win.

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 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.

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.

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:

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

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!

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

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