Kids First Backpacking Trip

[Big J]

2026 has been weird.  Haven't really fished since me and Doug's October trip.  Couldn't get together a spring backpacking trip between scheduling with other guys and how busy I am this May.  Daughters have been wanting to do a backpacking trip and figured I could squeeze that in.  Two nights along a fairly popular trail with a few trout streams along it.  Only about a 1.25 mile hike to first campsite.  Figured it would introduce backpacking to the girls and I could sneak in a little fishing while they explored the creek.  Weather was perfect.  Memories made.  I'm tired.

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Lots of mountain laurel blooming, azaleas, geraniums.  No Lady Slipper.
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Got the mac daddy of primitive spots.  Lots of good camp rock chairs and a nice log bench!

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Kid went ham on that smore

Watched the fire burn down and then called it a night to experience the oldest having to piss every 2 hours on the 2 hour mark. Fun times.

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Coffee is a life saver

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Kids slept in.

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Fished a half day while kids hiked up stream with me looking for bugs and cool rocks. Bug activity was high.  Mainly caught trout on dry.  Only cut it off on a couple of the deeper pools.  Fishing was good, but low water levels made it tougher than it should of been.  Wouldn't want to fish it much lower.

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Cool spittle bug daughter found and taught me about.

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Back to camp for lunch, cards, hiking trail to main river and catching snakes

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Back to camp.  Rice and sardine dinner for me, mountain house pizza for daughter 2 and daughter 1 had some ramen.

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Second night was less peeing, but old daughter kept sitting up and sleep talking thru night.  Better sleep but still not the best. The youngest daughter is a champ.  She hit pillow each night and didn't budge all night long. They couldn't be more opposites.

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Scarlet Tanager.  Lots of owl action at night too.  Screech and Barred.  Also had a Whippoorwill wake me up at 5 am.  Carried on for about 15 minutes.

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Packed up and hiked out.  Youngest was a grouch hiking out.  Complained from the halfway point till the end.  But can't blame her, she's only 8 and had a long weekend.  Was originally planning a different spot that required a 3 mile hike in.  Glad we didn't do that one!

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Also I'm the only person that goes in with lighter pack than what I leave with.  Daughter had found a big piece of shale that she had to have.....


Great weekend and much needed.  Guess I'll need a bigger tent for when the 5 yo gets older......

[Mudwall Gatewood 3.0]

Good dad!

I wish I had known you and gals were there.  I could have added some late-night fun with a gorilla/bigfoot costume and weird animal sounds.  Coordination between us would have been required so you did not shoot me. 

That is a great spot -- remember catching over the limit of stocked rainbows on velveeta cheese balls when the hatchery truck broke down at the crossing and was forced to dump the haul in the small tributary.

Your gals gravitating towards science and the outdoors -- I like it!

[Dougfish]

Good job, homie!

[Native Fisher]

Youngest probably needs a lighter pack, both of their packs are looking pretty big for a longer trip.

[Big J]

Youngest probably needs a lighter pack, both of their packs are looking pretty big for a longer trip.

Look heavier than what they are.  Youngest is just carrying her sleeping bag, spare clothes and spare pair of shoes. Oldest has all that and the two hammocks and her sleeping pad.  I'm the pack mule for them.  My pack was 50 lbs going in.  Mile is nothing though.   For a longer trip we could pair down the unnecessary stuff and sub it out for more food.  Lose hammocks, axe, etc.   


Going out with the rock IDK what it was 

[trout-r-us]

Good going daddy.  👍