Baby's First Day Hike

As some of you who follow this blog know, we welcomed our first child into the world in late November - Charlotte. She hasn't gotten to go on any big adventures yet, but she has been on her first hike. Amber and I took a walk on one of our favorite trails only a few days after finding out we were pregnant. We took our two dogs and walked the Big Snowbird trail to Sassafras creek on a wonderful early spring day in March of 2013.

I have written about Big Snowbird creek often and it is a place we visit many times a year. We hike this trail often and have run it while training for different races. From the junction to Sassafras creek is about three miles; this distance and the easy grade of the trail make this a very do-able day hike. There is also plenty of opportunity for fishing along the way.

This particular day we took our dogs and allowed them to run off leash along the trail. I don't always do this, but we we're the only car at the trailhead and I knew the early time of year meant snakes wouldn't be moving. Abby, our jack russell, absolutely loves to be in the woods. She runs up ahead and then comes to check on us, which means she probably does twice the mileage we do. The chihuahua on the other hand, sticks pretty close to us.

Along the way we stopped at one of my family's usual resting spots. This is a place where an old car has wrecked off the bank, from when cars were allowed up that old road. Long ago, my brother hid a piece of coal that he had found along the trail under a rock. I checked and it was still there! It's nice to have these little things that make a place special and memorable.

We will be back on Snowbird this spring and summer, but this time with our tiny love. I can't wait to share all the outdoor things I love with her and to make our own traditions and memories!