Camping

  • Adventuring with Kids,  Backpacking,  Camping,  CDT,  Colorado,  Hiking

    Walking Across Colorado: Preparation Time!

    When he was six years old, my oldest son said to me, “Mom, I want to walk across Colorado.” Talk about music to a backpacking mama’s soul! I loved this idea, and researched it enough to know that there was no way we could do that at that point in our lives (physically we could have done it, but other factors like earning an income took precedence).  The idea stuck, though, and we pondered for a year or two…. We looked at the Colorado Trail, which starts in the Front Range and terminates near Durango.  It doesn’t technically go all the way across the state, but it’s a pretty amazing…

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  • Adventuring with Kids,  Backpacking,  Camping,  Climbing,  Gear Reviews,  River Adventures,  Road Trips,  Simplifying

    Gear Review: Black Diamond Mega Light Tent and Mega Bug

    Whether we’re car camping or backpacking, our Black Diamond Megamid is the shelter I reach for first (apparently they changed the name to Mega Light Tent, but we’ve had this shelter for 20 years, and it was called Megamid until very recently I think!). At less than 3 pounds, it’s fairly light, especially for a shelter that comfortably sleeps four.  I like gear that has enough bells and whistles to make things simple and comfortable, but not so many that it’s distracting and adds unnecessary weight.  The Megamid fits the bill. (Edit: I said the Megamid comfortably sleeps four.  If you’re backpacking and it’s pouring and you need to pull…

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  • Adventuring with Kids,  Camping,  Colorado,  Mini-Adventures,  Mountain Biking,  Road Trips,  Travel

    Mountain Biking The 18 Road in Fruita, Colorado

    The 18 Road in the North Fruita Desert of Colorado is our favorite family mountain biking area.  Most of the trails aren’t super long, and difficulty ranges from fairly simple to fairly intense.  It’s great for anyone from little guys on balance bikes all the way to their hard-charging moms and dads. When you go, you’ll want to camp at the North Fruita Desert Campground, which is 11 miles outside of town and easy to find.  It’s an easy-going place, and it’s right in the center of the action, staying there is ideal for some.  The campground is first-come first-serve, so get there early if you think it might be…

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