u/by-josh

After work, we packed up fast to hit the trail in Medicine Bow NF. We planned to spend 3 nights out with our boys, but due to my pad struggling to hold air, we left after 2. On day 3, we made our way up Medicine Bow Peak for an absolutely insane view on the 4th of July. Our oldest, 5, did 99% of the hike up and down on his own...super proud of his resilience.

We are still shocked at just how gorgeous Wyoming's southern mountains are. What an incredible place to play around.

Planning a trip to Medicine Bow-Routt NF and looking for suggestions where to setup camp as close to the North or South Gap Lake as possible. Before kids, I wouldn't have minded wandering a bit to find a decent spot, but now with a 5 and 2 year old in tow, I'd like to minimize time wandering when we need a place to stop.

I understand the regulations re: distance from trail, trailhead, and water...it all just looks so rocky from above, so it's hard to tell where is decent. Thanks for the help!

Photo is from our last trip in Olympic NP last October...2 nights on Shi Shi Beach. Absolutely nuts trip with wild weather, but it was ultimately amazing!

Last week, this 5 year old really blew us away! He hiked for 7 hours, up 2000' and back down over about 4.5 miles to summit his 1st mountain all on his own 2 feet! It was super slow, but he kept at it, one foot in front of the other. He definitely earned the right to sign his 1st summit registry all on his own too.

This was Jobs Peak near South Lake Tahoe. It was steadily steep the whole way up. It was a chore, but we played games along the way and made it fun. A few snow crossings approaching the summit ridge made it interesting, but past that ridge, the trail crossed a slope that was covered in snow. If it had been just me and my wife, we would have been fine, but I wasn't ready to risk a nearly 2000' fall with my 2 boys.

So we instead broke for lunch and I did some scouting. After some searching, I found we could climb up to an unnamed(?) peak and walk around the snow with little risk. Once past this section, it was one last steep walk to the top. Mom ran to the mailbox to hide a lollipop for our oldest who was ecstatic!

It was a terribly slow, long hike, but it was so so good!

Last week, this 5 year old really blew us away! He hiked for 7 hours, up 2000' and back down over about 4.5 miles to summit his 1st mountain all on his own 2 feet! It was super slow, but he kept at it, one foot in front of the other. He definitely earned the right to sign his 1st summit registry all on his own too.

This was Jobs Peak near South Lake Tahoe. It was steadily steep the whole way up. It was a chore, but we played games along the way and made it fun. A few snow crossings near the summit ridge made it interesting, but past that ridge, the trail crossed a slope that was covered in snow. If it had been just me and my wife, we would have been fine, but I wasn't ready to risk a nearly 2000' fall with my 2 boys.

So we instead broke for lunch and I did some scouting. After some searching, I found we could climb up to an unnamed(?) peak and walk around the snow with little risk. Once past this section, it was one last steep walk to the top. Mom ran to the mailbox to hide a lollipop for our oldest who was ecstatic!

It was a terribly slow, long hike, but it was so so good!