April 2016 – rocky mountain tot

Rocky Mountain Tot Goes to Cub Lake

Last week we headed to Colorado to celebrate our fourth wedding anniversary, because what could be more romantic than bringing a one-and-a-half year old hiking? Well, maybe it wasn’t the most romantic trip we’ve been on, but I couldn’t think of a prettier place to celebrate than Rocky Mountain National Park.

Spring Weather Conditions in Rocky Mountains

When we plan hikes with our little one, the first thing we think about is the weather conditions. The Bear Lake area currently has 40 inches of snow. We wanted to stay in lower elevation, so we decided to check out the Cub Lake trail which is in the majestic Moraine Valley. We were lucky to arrive on a sunny day, but melting snow made the trail muddy in places and we went through a few snow patches.

Hiking Gear for Kids

It’s amazing how fast Cecy is growing. We are planning to replace her beloved baby carrier for a sturdier kid carrier soon, but for this trip we rented one at the Warming House in Estes Park for $10 per day. This carrier is similar.

I bought trekking poles which helped keep our balance in the snow and took some of the impact off our knees and back. I was also very thankful for my waterproof hiking boots! These hiking boots are similar.

hiking in the moraine valley rocky mountain national park

The Cub Lake trail is 2.5 miles each way. The trail-head starts out in the Moraine Valley where we spotted elk grazing right off the trail.

hiking in the moraine valley rocky mountain national park

Feeling the Burn

Beyond the valley you enter a wooded section of the trail that is scarred by fire damage. Truthfully, the first time I hiked through this area I didn’t think it was very pretty. This time I decided to find the unique beauty in it which made a big difference on how much more I enjoyed this section of the hike.

fire damage in rocky mountain national park

fire damage tree stump rocky mountain national park

There were a few uphill bursts before the lake – made more challenging by snow and baby.

april hike in snow in rocky mountain national park

We made it to Cub Lake and took a little refreshment break! Later in the season we’d likely see lily pads on top.

cub lake in spring rocky mountain national park

After our break I offered to take turns and have Cecy ride on my back. This lasted about 25 minutes going down hill. Aren’t I nice? But honestly, I couldn’t have gone much further. It was tough work!! I’m excited to try again and build up some endurance and muscles this summer.

hiking with a kid carrier

Overland Park Farmers’ Market

On our trip last month to California our family spent a wonderful day in Folsom which is located in Northern California between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe on the American River. Folsom is known for it’s prison, but we spent our time hiking along the river and strolling through the city’s farmers’ market in the quaint historic downtown. My aunt bought Cecy a gorgeous handmade basket for our market trips back home.

This weekend we had family visiting us, so we planned a little adventure to our local farmers market in Overland Park, Kansas. The markets’ season just started in April, but the vendors were ready to go with gorgeous displays of fresh flowers, fruits, vegetables, juices, grass-fed meats and more. Tucked back behind Metcalf between 79th and 80th streets, the market is bigger than we expected and has a great community feel.

Cecy’s basket got filled with fragrant fresh rosemary and flowers. We also purchased red potatoes, spinach and a loaf of bread for our dinner.

Our First Hike with Hike it Baby – Kansas City

Yesterday Cecilia and I went on our first hike with Hike it Baby. I’m so glad my friend told me about this group. They are a nonprofit organization dedicated to getting young families outdoors. They have branches in nearly every state.

We met at local coffee shop called The Roasterie in Leawood, Kansas and headed down 119th Street to hop on the Tomahawk Creek Trail. There were 7-8 friendly moms all pushing strollers, so we went at an adult’s pace but stopped a couple of times when our little ones needed some extra attention.

We eventually took a break from walking to let the kids burn off energy at a nearby playground before heading back to our starting point. Cecy and I both had a lot of fun and look forward to our next hike!