Backpacking 101

So since Dave and I both enjoying hiking in the mountains, and I have fond memories of backpacking with my family as a child, we decided to take all our kids on there first mini-backpacking trip.  It also came about by the girls continual pleading "Dad, you always backpack with the scouts and not with us!"  Little did they now what that meant.  Dave headed up the excursion and we were all excited.  Baylee, Kami, and Lydia (who insisted on walking and carrying a pack too) each carried their own clothes, bedding, water, and snacks - Dave found these very compact fleece sleeping bags for the girls, so they were able to fit in their packs.  I loaded my pack as much as I could, and well,,, Dave, had the rest...which was a lot, including Caleb on his chest.  Out trip consisted of hiking one mile to the campsite and spend one night.  Baylee hiked the whole way no problem with energy to spare.  Kami was a real trouper  even though it was hard to keep going the last 1/4 mile.  Lydia was determined to be so big and do it all herself, except after 1/2mile she wanted to hold her silky, drink her sippy cup, and then she says "some one carry me".  Dave hiked 2 miles because he  strode on ahead to drop his pack off at the campspot, then hike back 1/2 way to carry Lydia and Caleb to camp.    We had a fun spot in the pines to camp.  Even a creek close by.  The only unexpected challenge was it rained in the night (Dave had assured me of 0% prescipitation), which put a damper on the plan for Dave and Kami sleeping under the stars.  The two-man-tent we brought could only fit me, Baylee, Lydia and Caleb.  So Kami snuggled down in the waterproof warm sleeping bag under a sheltering tree and Dave played survivor all night, worrying about us all getting wet, and he eventually built a fire and slept by it to keep warm and dry off.  I slept with one ear open.  But hey..the kids all slept great and played hard the next day.   So our first backpacking trip as a family was a fun adventure and a memory.