On June 9th, 2012 Travis took Landon on his first real hike, and boy was it a big one! Practically in our backyard, and just a short drive away is Mt. Baden-Powell. Travis had hiked this trail once before and had been wanting to take Landon up the mtn. for a while. We weren't sure how Landon would do, so Travis went into the hike with low expectations. He was prepared to turn around at the moment Landon started to show signs of fatigue.
The hike is an 8 mile hike round trip, 4 miles up and 4 miles back down.
They needed to get an early start not knowing how long it would take Landon to get to the top...IF he could get to the top!
*On a side note...As Landon was leaving the house to go on the hike I did one last check over his clothing, and his hat and shoes. I realized that his feet had grown quite a bit in the past few months and his hiking shoes no longer fit! His heel was hanging over the back of the shoes by over an inch! I knew those wouldn't work and would be really uncomfortable for him. So we, at the last minute, switched him into his slip on tennies. Not ideal for hiking, but it would have been a bummer to call off an entire planned hike because of something so last minute. So hike the mountain he did, in his Vans! No blisters or problems, thankfully!
Starting the hike at 7:30 a.m.
Excited and ready to go!
Landon picked up a "hiking" stick as soon as they started on the trail. He was using it to hit things and swing at the weeds. He was especially interested in poking the sticks down all the holes he saw in the ground. Travis said he used it for everything but a "hiking" stick. Daddy did promise Landon that he would buy him his own set of hiking poles if he was able to make it to the top of the mountain. Landon was also promised a Dr. Pepper as soon as they were done hiking!
Exploring the trail, and checking out the scenery!
Taking a short break
I almost had a heart attack when I saw this picture! SO high up and Daddy let him stand SO close to the edge of the mountain! Yikes!
Mile marker 3!
At three miles in he was 3/4 of the way done with the hike up! Only one more mile to go!
Landon and Daddy take a quick picture while resting.
Landon resting at the top of Mt. Baden-Powell. Inside this metal stand is a book inwhich those who have made it to the top can write their name, and or the date and any other info they wish to leave. Landon got to sign the book, and added his age as well!
Travis and Landon rested for a while at the top and ate lunch before the hike back down. Landon was very anxious to get back to the truck and get to the store to get his celebratory Dr. Pepper!
Doing what a 5 year old does when they've climbed a mountain! Goofing around!
So beautiful and so proud of our boy!
This is the story of how my boy climbed a 9,407' mountain in an 8 mile round trip hike on a sunny day about a month shy of his 6th birthday! It took him 4 hours to get to the top. 3/4 mi. in he was tired of carrying his waterpack and passed that onto Daddy. Sure do love that boy and his strong sense of adventure!
