The boys and I cleared out to go camp in the Jemez, giving Karen a home-alone vacation. Bodie was pushing for a Colorado trip, but we were a bit late getting out of town (not as easy getting everything ready by myself) so I opted for a local trip to
Three boys, one fourteener (also: ways to mobilize kids for outdoor success)
This past weekend my four-year-old Emerson hiked 7.5 miles with a vertical elevation gain of 3,000 feet, summiting Uncompaghre at 14,309 ft altitude. My 7- and 9-year-old were there too—it was a three boy + one dad adventure—but clearly my four-year-old claims the prize. The hike started at 4:30 AM,
Boys Camp on the Brazos Ridge High Point
I took the three boys by myself back up to far northern New Mexico, again a stone’s throw from the Continental Divide. This was our third time this summer to the same general vicinity, just south of the NM/CO border, north, south or—in this case—west of the Cruces Basin Wilderness.
Climbing Gym Sundays
Once upon a time I was a fully dedicated climber, road-tripping weeks and even months out of the year to destinations around the country for the purpose of touching rocks with friends. These days it is still important to me, though it has been rightfully placed a bit down the
Pre-dawn hike with the boys
When your five and seven year-olds tell you they want to get up in the dark and hike a mountain in the snow, well you just have to support that sort of ambition. Jasper wanted to get up at 2:30AM (not that he understands what part of the night that
Good times at Hoots in Albuquerque
No, NOT the infamous “Hooters”! Ha!! While perhaps poorly named, “Hoots” is nevertheless a fantastic indoor play area on the northwest side of Albuquerque, near the Balloon Park. I’ve made a point of stopping here after a long day of running errands in ABQ or doing other parent-directed activities, so
Hiking Mt Huron with the boys (a Colorado 14er)
Well, unbelievably, we did it. I took all three boys up to Colorado by myself this past weekend to find some Colorado alpine camping– high and cool and up a bumpy 4wd road that thins the herd. Our notional purpose was to hike Mt Huron, a Colorado 14er—one of 54
First time for the boys camping under the stars (no tent)
We’re about to head off on a week-long roadtrip to Utah—this will be the longest trip so far with all three boys, and the first time I will get them up to the Utah desert that I love so much. My trips to southern Utah over the past two decades
Las Conchas Trail – A lovely place to spend the day
The area of Las Conchas is truly a gem tucked up in the Jemez Mountains. Miraculously untouched by recent fires (though surrounded by the aftermath) AND boasting the lovely Jemez River (though these days more of a meandering stream…), it can feel like a bit of an oasis in this
Boys camping at Ortega West Saddle
(happened Apr 7, 2018, writing this Jan 17, 2022) Ortega West is a bouldering area in the Carson NF that some friends of mine developed. I don’t climb much these days, but the parking spot makes for a great, remote camping spot anyway. I took the boys up there by
Cave of the Winds
Cave of the Winds is a Los Alamos local destination that is surprisingly secret; I have met lifelong locals who have never heard of it. It’s a cave. A classic, straight-out-of-a-movie cave. Big and dark, with some small side passages to explore. The boys love it–what boy wouldn’t? When I
Weeknight winter camping
Quick trip the NF off the road to the ski hill with just the older two.
Bodie + Jasper + Dad camp in the rain in the Jemez
(Writing this 1/23/22 about a trip in August 2016) I took Jasper and Bodie up into the Jemez by myself for one (or two?) nights of camping. It rained pretty continuously on us. Shortly after we got into the tent, Jasper got sick, puked in the tent. I cleaned that
Sand dunes and retreat to Trujillo Meadows
We left Karen home with Emerson, and I took Bodie and Jasper up to the Great Sand dunes. The mosquitoes weren’t bad while we played in the stream, but as soon as we moved away from the stream it was INSANE. It was the most mosquitoes I have ever seen.
