my wife's first backpacking overnight

[Chip]

Schedule prevented a Pressie Traverse attempt but we wanted to do something. My wife enjoys car and boat/island camping but had never seen the logic in packing in all your gear, so I was pleasantly surprised when she expressed interest in a short overnight here Saturday.

Me, my wife, 2 boys and mutt were on the A.T. at Bulls Bridge at 3pm, a short but very scenic hike along the river to 10 Mile River and we were unpacked, set-up and wading in the river by 4:15. Shortly we were joined for the afternoon by VFTT members Kevin and Likeitsteep. Likeitsteep also brought his wife and 4 week old baby !

When there are beach chairs, beer and wine - the length of the hike obviously is not the point, but we had a great time visiting and just getting out there. Kevin, Likeitsteep and his family headed out around 7. The evening was clear and the field at the lean-to was full of fire-flies. Everyone, including Max the Wonder Mutt slept well until about 6am. We ate, packed up and were home by 10. My wife enjoyed her first backpack outing and is looking forward to more...at least that's what she's telling me today !

Photos: http://www.parazz.com/albums/chipdiane

 

[Kevin]

Chip... It was a good evening kicking back by the river and visiting with your family... I hope the 'Mini-Chips' did not fill the river in with their stones!

It was a nice evening for a hike, the trail there is so nice, with the water running in the back ground I bet you all slept well.

Likeitsteep and family and I headed into Kent for some ice cream (Kent Scoops... not better then the pistachio soft serve at Stew Leonards, but a good selection of flavors) after we left... YUM! And the owner is very hiker friendly, he was even offering to loan some thru hikers a tent they could borrow for the night... Nice guy.

Catch you on the trail again soon!
Kevin
PS.... I'll have to bring Max some more treats next time! What a nice pup....

 

[likeitsteep]

nice pictures chip! molly really enjoyed her first hike on the a.t. at one month old. sounds like your wife will do another trip sometime soon. see you soon.

 

[Puck]

Wow Chip, you have your wife talking about the next trip...Keep it up and you will become an icon spoken about on the trails in reverant whispers..."did ya ever hear about the guy for VFTT who converted his wife into a long distance beakpagger"
"No way!"
"Way! and it gets even better....."

 

[Jay H]

Nice pictures Chip, did you mention to your wife that the A.T. goes up to Maine (and then some)?

Jay

 

[Chip]

..."did ya ever hear about the guy for VFTT who converted his wife into a long distance beakpagger"

LONG DISTANCE BEAK PAGGER ?
Sounds more like one of your birds than something I'll convert my wife to !

No pics of the actual backpacking, but my wife was the one with the new Kelty Shadow full of pillows and sleeping pads, I was the guy in the old external frame with 50 lbs of cr@p ! Just calling it a down-payment for now, I'll seed more gear into her pack on the next outing.