The Hiker Mama

Category: Backpacking

  • Book Review: Best Hikes with Kids: Western Washington, by Susan Elderkin

    Book Review: Best Hikes with Kids: Western Washington, by Susan Elderkin

    When my kids were little, I pored through the Best Hikes with Kids books by Joan Burton. Originally in two volumes, they were combined in 2006 into one large volume, packed full of hikes and tips and interesting trail tidbits. But now the baton has been passed to Susan Elderkin, who has updated the information […]

  • Book Review and Interview: Backpacking 101 by Heather Balogh Rochfort

    Book Review and Interview: Backpacking 101 by Heather Balogh Rochfort

    Summer is in full swing, and our thoughts are full of adventures we’re planning. We yearn to travel far and light, and sleep in the backcountry, with the stars and moon in view. If you’re new to backpacking, or are a dayhiker contemplating the next level of adventure, then you’ll appreciate a new book about […]

  • Pete Lake Backpack, 8/20-21, 2106

    Pete Lake Backpack, 8/20-21, 2106

    Way back in August, Gabe had a camping trip near Salmon La Sac with the teen group at our church. I was ferrying boys up there for one night, so I thought I’d take advantage of the weekend and explore a trail I hadn’t been on before. I asked around for people to come with […]

  • Mt. Rainier Fling Part 2, Backpacking to Snow Lake

    Mt. Rainier Fling Part 2, Backpacking to Snow Lake

    In Part 1 of this series, I wrote about our first day at Mt. Rainier last week.  This post covers our second and third days, backpacking to Bench and Snow Lakes. We took our time on Tuesday morning, packing up and leaving Cougar Rock Campground. The weather continued to be warm and clear. The Mountain […]

  • Sheep Lake Backpack

    Sheep Lake Backpack

    With my son off to teen camp this week, I wanted to do something special with my 8-year-old daughter (she has picked the trail name Queen Alacorn, or QA).  She really wanted to go backpacking with me, and was super excited for a Girls’ Trip.  But we couldn’t find anyone to come with us.  Then […]

  • Lake Ann and Heather Pass Backpack – Moms Only Trip

    Lake Ann and Heather Pass Backpack – Moms Only Trip

    [Click on photos to see a larger size.] My friend Beckie and I had been talking about a moms-only backpacking trip for a few months, and our schedules finally coincided for us to get out last weekend.  There was a catch, though – each of our families only has one car, so we needed a […]