www.wta.org September 2008 » Trails On Trail « 

A Sense of Wonder The joys and challenges of hiking ’s with kids

of the gear that the five of us would need on Mom, look! A family adven- the 93-mile hike. In 2007, our daughter would “Mom, look! Look at that double tree!” “Mom, ture: In 2007, the be fourteen and we knew that she and our look! Look at this salamander!” “Mom, look! author and her youngest son would only be able to carry a Look at the cool shape of those rocks!” These family decided to light load—just their personal gear. are the words that ring in my ears as I think trek the 93-mile about my hike on the Wonderland Trail with my Preparation Wonderland Trail husband and three children—ages ten, four- In the summer of 2006, we began to prepare around Mount teen, and seventeen. Whether it was the white for our big hike, which would take place the Rainier. mushroom with the red polka dots that looked following summer. Our oldest son had grown like it could be part of Alice in Wonderland, into a strong young man and was now nearly the wiggly tadpoles in the alpine pond, or the 6 feet tall and weighed 180 pounds. As we had rocks that were shaped like string cheese, my hoped, he could indeed help us carry the load children called out the wonders of the Wonder- so that his younger sister and brother could land Trail all along the way. Even though I had manage their lighter loads. hiked for many years, I felt like I was hiking for Having just finished my doctoral studies Colleen the first time, seeing the forests of the Pacific at Seattle University, I could now direct my Ponto Northwest anew. research interests to the Wonderland Trail. I When Colleen Ponto, Our Plan read every word of Bette Filley’s book on the Ed.D. is not hiking When our youngest child was born in 1997, Wonderland Trail and the June 2006 article with her family, she my husband and I set a goal of hiking the on the Wonderland Trail in Washington Trails. is teaching at Seattle Wonderland Trail around Mount Rainier when My husband and I spent hours studying maps University and offer- he was ten. Our thinking was that when our of the trail, calculating distances and eleva- tion gains and losses, and pondering the best ing environmental oldest son was seventeen, he would be big education in her enough and strong enough to help carry some trip plan for our family. We finally decided to circumnavigate the mountain clockwise, start- community. 2 » On Trail September 2008 » Washington Trails www.wta.org

Lessons ing at and completing the hike in er at the White Ranger Station. We spent fourteen days. the night at the National Park Inn and rose Learned I became a frequent face at the Seattle REI the next morning under sunny skies to begin • Children enjoy hik- store—learning about gear from their salespeo- our journey. After a rough start complete with ing when they don’t ple and shopping every sale. In the seventeen grumpy kids not wanting to go on the hike and have to hike all day years since we had backpacked, the technol- a husband nervous about the weather, we start- long. A 5-mile day ogy of the gear had changed significantly. I ed to climb, and soon the complaining lessened (with an occasional had a lot to learn! Once we had acquired all and we settled into a peaceful hiking rhythm. longer day) is plenty the necessary equipment, we went on two As we continued, our focus began to shift from for them. short backpacking trips that summer—our first our strenuous work to the beauty of our sur- • Pay attention to all with our children—to test our equipment and roundings. Our ten-year-old began searching the data, especially to determine if we could carry the weight and for a good hiking stick. Our fourteen- year-old the weather. Don’t volume needed for our trip. Both hikes were began to notice the big Douglas-fir trees. And ignore data just successful, and completing the Wonderland our seventeen-year-old took the lead, setting our because you have a Trail hike seemed possible. pace and hiking with ease. My husband stayed goal to accomplish. Mother Nature Alters near the front of our line while I pulled up the • Good tents are rear, making sure that our youngest two were key. They must have Our Plans as happy as could be. After 5.9 miles, five and a a good rain fly, and In November 2006, a devastating rainstorm half hours, and 2,200 feet in elevation gain, our they must be big washed away many sections of the Wonderland first camp was a welcome sight. We set up our enough so that your Trail, and our goal of hiking the entire trail tent in the forest at Devil’s Dream Camp. As we sleeping bags do the next summer seemed unlikely. We made cleaned up after dinner, it started to rain. not touch the sides our campsite reservations and would start our Day Two of your tent. hike at Longmire, head north along the west The next day, we hiked 6.6 miles from side and travel clockwise around the moun- • Bring plenty of Devil’s Dream Camp up to Emerald Ridge and tain for eleven days, finishing at Box Canyon. trail snacks. We’ll then down to South Camp. The southern section of the trail was closed. bring a lot more We stopped at Uncle Henry’s Patrol Cabin Even though it wasn’t what we had originally chocolate next time! to eat our lunch on the porch and out of the planned, we were glad to be able to hike 80 rain. Crossing the suspension bridge over • Lighten your miles of the Wonderland Trail. the Tahoma River was a scary highlight that loads. Our packs Joys and Challenges the kids enjoyed very much. Our climb up to weight in at 51, Emerald Ridge was beautiful, and a marmot 46, 46, 26, and 24 On the Trail greeted us as we reached the top. We couldn’t pounds. We plan to see the mountain as it was shrouded in clouds, leave at home ev- Day One On August 17, with a mixed weather forecast, but beautiful wildflowers lined the trail. I fell erything we didn’t behind as I stopped to take pictures and they use last time. we left for Mount Rainier, driving two cars so we could leave one at the start of our hike, and were quite annoyed with me when I finally one at the end, at Box Canyon. We stopped caught up with them. It was nearly 6 p.m. and along the way to drop off two food caches: one we still had some distance to travel before din- at the Ranger Station and the oth- ner and dark. Crossing a footbridge. You’ll have to be prepared for all sorts of weather and conditions on the Wonderland Trail. Photo by Colleen Ponto www.wta.org September 2008 » Washington Trails On Trail « 

Day Three her to drive to On our third day, we climbed 2,000 feet in 4 Mowich Lake miles to Klapatchee Park. We hoped for sun, but and rescue us. none came—just rain and more rain. A highlight Suddenly, along the way was a bumper crop of huckle- the fears of berries along the trail. We stuffed ourselves survival disap- with the treats, and it took our minds off of the peared. We rain. Despite the welcome distraction, I began could now en- to worry about keeping my children dry and joy the beauti- warm. ful 6-mile hike Day Four down through the forests We woke up to clearing skies the morning to Mowich of the fourth day. What a hopeful sight! Our River and the youngest two played with tadpoles while the 4 miles back rest of us packed up our soaking wet gear. We up to Mowich deliberated for 45 minutes about which way to Lake. What go—continue on to Golden Lakes or head back a grind. The to Longmire and our car. Both routes were two only way we days away. As we stood there with our packs made it was on, the sun shined brightly, the clouds cleared, because we and we saw Mount Rainier for the first time. knew that The mountain seemed to call us forward, and Lisa would be we decided to continue our hike, hoping for bet- there for us ter weather. An hour after leaving Klapatchee when we got Park, the rain and clouds returned and it was to the lake. I a near whiteout. In no time our spirits sank as played the al- we hiked down to the North Puyallup River and phabet game then began the ascent up to Golden Lakes. The and telephone only highlight of this day was the abundant game for patches of blueberries along the way. As we set hours with Take up camp that night and unpacked our sleeping the kids to bags, we discovered that one sleeping bag was Two help the miles In front of Mount Rainier. completely wet and unusable. I shared a sleep- In August 2008, and time pass The adventure took 5 days, ing bag with our youngest son. My husband’s we returned to the away. When climbing 10,100 feet and sleeping bag was wet at the bottom, so he slept Wonderland Trail we finally traversing 34.5 miles. curled in a ball to avoid getting his feet wet. to continue where arrived at Photo by Colleen Ponto Fortunately, the kids’ sleeping bags were dry. we left off last Mowich Lake, Day Five year. When this is- we looked around to see if Lisa was there and sue went to press, I didn’t sleep a wink the night before. As I didn’t see her. So we took pictures and picked our plan this year listened to the rain pelt our tent, I recited over up our cache. I decided to check the parking lot was to hike clock- and over again, “We’re safe, dry, and warm,” to again, and there was Lisa sitting in her mud- wise from Mowich keep from panicking. At the first sign of light, covered car. “Lisa’s here!” I yelled to the others. Lake to Box I looked over to see my husband studying the All three kids came running with big smiles on Canyon, traveling map. We rose to a thick fog and rain, quickly their faces. Our journey was over. 44 miles in eight ate some granola bars, and broke camp. As we I had mixed feelings about having to quit our days. With new packed up, my husband suggested that we hike trip halfway, but knew that it was the right de- and better equip- back to Longmire. “Absolutely not,” I responded. cision. We were soaked, and the weather was ment, a trip plan “We must get to Mowich Lake to get our food still socked in. Lisa had brought dry clothes, more suitable for cache. We can’t walk four days back to Long- fresh fruit and cookies for us. After hiking 10.3 children, and more mire without more food.” He agreed, and we miles that day and climbing up 2,300 feet and chocolate, we look continued on to Mowich Lake where we could down 2,420 feet in the rain it felt very good to forward to once at least replenish our food supply. As we began be sitting in a warm car driving home. again experienc- our descent to the , my oldest son All in all, we hiked 34.5 miles in 5 days, ing the wonders suggested that I try to call someone on my cell climbing up 10,100 feet and descending 7,470 of the Wonderland phone. I didn’t tell him that I had been trying feet. Even though we were proud of what we Trail. And naturally, my cell phone for the last twelve hours to no had done and learned a lot, I felt as though our we are hoping for avail. I pulled it out and dialed my friend Lisa. mission was not accomplished. As we drove good weather. Much to my surprise, she answered the phone. home in Lisa’s car, I began to think about the And I am looking I told Lisa that we were struggling, and then I lessons we had learned about hiking with chil- forward to hear- immediately broke into tears and quickly hand- dren and what we will do differently the next ing, “Mom, look! ed the phone to my husband. He explained our time.  Look at Mount situation and made arrangements with Lisa for Rainier!”