I just purchased a Tough Traveler child backpack carrier over eBay for under $15, including S&H! It’s an older model but the seller says it’s still in great shape—just some fading. From what I’ve read, the Tough Traveler is the child carrier of choice for hiking. I’m really excited about testing it out. It should get here shortly and we have a couple of nice days coming up.

The only kink in my desire to hike often with the kids: my husband is now working a day shift and we don’t have a second vehicle. Don’t get me wrong - I’m happy he’s working during the day. It makes family life easier. And I figure I can take him to work or wait until the weekend to go on hikes. But right now, the kids have still been asleep when he leaves - he has to be at work by 7am—and I don’t want to wake them up so we can take him to work. Maybe they’ll wake up earlier once it starts getting light earlier. Anyway, that limits my away-from-home outdoor activities to evenings and weekends. Which isn’t really a bad thing. It has the benefit of giving my husband the opportunity to join us if he likes.

I’m still committed to hiking and camping with the kids—it’ll just take a little more planning and a little more effort on my behalf.

I’m also considering joining the local hiking club in this area. It’d be nice to do some dayhikes with other adults and it’d be a nice way for me to get some alone time outside of the house. The club seems to offer several hikes a month of various difficulties in warmish weather. It seems like a good way to get to know other enthusiasts and a way to get to know the area. And maybe I can meet some other parents out there who like to hike and camp with their kids.

Pretty tame compared to the other posts on this goal but the season is just beginning….