There’s a great sense of pride when your toddler tells you she wants to go camping. At least it is for parents who moved to Colorado from Illinois in order to be in proximity to the outdoor adventures they both grew up appreciating.
Nothing would please us more than to be able to pass on that love to our daughter. We are fully aware she may very well grow-up to detest the mountains, the snow and sleeping on the ground, but for now we’ll appreciate the fact she likes what we like. She likes us all being together. She likes ‘riding on mommy’s back.’ She likes pine cones and rocks and looking for deer and ‘moosies.’
So on a nice day in late November, we met up with some friends and hiked Horsetooth Rock. That’s the whole point of living here and we don’t do stuff like that nearly as often as we should- It’s our backyard after all- and we have no excuse to not take advantage of these gorgeous afternoons when it very well could be snowing.
Although we got a late start on this Sunday afternoon, it was a good hike, perfect weather and we got to see a gorgeous sunset.
And what better way to create that bond between our kiddo and nature. She has already been camping a half dozen times, she’s been to Silverton and Yellowstone and we already have more excursions planned for this spring and summer. Layla is lucky that the mountains are her backdrop to life, but it will be up to us to ensure she appreciates them and to help create these memories that will hopefully inspire her to make the place she lives her personal playground.
So here’s to seizing opportunities to hike local trails, I think Arthur’s Rock will be next. And who knows, maybe next year we can leave the carrier at home and Layla can hike on her own. A mom can dream.
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