If taking a four-mile hike with a 2-year-old doesn't seem like a terrific idea, you're right, because it's not a good idea. It's a good practice, for all of us.
So, that's what we did this weekend. We ventured into the wilderness of Jefferson National Forest and hiked the Cascades Trail, near Pembroke, Virginia. It's two miles to the falls, and two miles back. The Lower Trail was more difficult, but it provided good views of Little Stony Creek, despite being narrow at points and very rocky. The pregnant one managed well, and she's rather heroic for it.
M did well, too. Just look at him, all happy to be on a walk outside.
And he was happy, too, to be on my shoulders. He was the lookout, since I was busy carrying him, so he knew to say "Papa! Bear!" or "Papa! Deer!" if he saw either of those. In the case of an elephant he knew to say "What?!"
So on we walked, looking at nice flowers and learning about a spiderweb, since we've been reading The Very Busy Spider a lot lately.
Finally, the falls!
And lunch, though the falls were more interesting.
And a trip to feel the cold water spraying us.
Lissa and Baby made it, too!
The trip back started with a climb up many steps, but it was all downhill afterward. It was a welcome relief, and not too difficult to walk the two miles back. As you can tell, we all survived.
And we might do it again...someday.
Nice work!
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