Skedaddle

Iditarod 2012

2012-03-03T19:31:00.004-09:00

It was a picture perfect day for the start of Iditarod 2012. The group gathered to cheer on the mushers during this ceremonial start. The mushers let their dogs stretch their legs through town and down the trails before heading to Willow for the real start tomorrow. The race is about 1000 and those dogs looked ready!

Just look at this group of rowdy tailgaters! Woo Woo!

(Thanks to Harmony for this and the next picture)

While I love the increased number of female mushers, my favorite was Hugh Neff who dressed up as the Cat in the Hat. He had a wonderful cat nose and his dogs even had red and white coats. Mush on Hugh!

It was snowing quite hard so we had to bring out the umbrella to keep the snow off the donuts and sleeping child.

I loved how many dogs wore coats with advertising. This is a rather expensive sport and race so they take all the help they can get. You can even bid on riding in a musher's sled for this section of the race. How exciting would that be for your aunt in Florida?

Perennial favorite, Lance Mackey, was drinking a coke and eating a sandwich down the trail. Everyone waved and their riders all looked thrilled.

The kids weren't as interested in the mushers. They found holes to dig, snow balls to toss and donuts to eat. It was a wonderfully festive atmosphere and it was nice to meet some new families in our group. I hope you join us at another outing soon.

Elderberry Park buried in Snow!

2012-02-28T13:29:00.000-09:00

It seems there always is a breeze at this park. The amazing inlet views and mountain backdrop does come at a price apparently! The trails around the park were nicely smashed down so I only went over the top of my Bogs a few times.

The baby swings were sitting on top of the snow until one mother, S., tossed it over the top bar. This raised it up just enough for kids to swing.

There was a crowd down at this whale. In the summer, there is sand around it and you can climb up it and sort of slide down the whale's back. We unburied one fin, but never found his tail!

We had a little pow-wow under the branches of a huge pine tree. There were strong limbs for kids to sit on and it looks as if you could climb up quite a ways (don't tell the kids).

Sleds were the usual mode of transportation. It really helps just get the kiddos from the car to play area. The little hill wasn't much for sledding, but you sure could zip down the slide.

One mother in the group makes these hats - so amusingly adorable!

It seems that one group of parents arrives a little before or right at 10 with another set a bit later. I think it is wonderful that people just make the effort to get outside. It really is a monumental task to get children fed, dressed and in the car.

I tried to get a picture of the kids on the swings as we were leaving, but the snow banks were just a bit too high! I hope you had a great day playing outside! It was wonderful to meet a new mom, connect with one we hadn't seen in a while and enjoy the day with our old friends!

Fur Rondy Dog Sled Tailgate Party

2012-02-24T14:34:00.001-09:00

It was a wonderful crowd for our tailgate party this year! The kids loved watching the "puppies" run by with their tongues sticking out. They also enjoyed playing on the little hill.

I think the friendliest team went to Will Kornmueller who waved and said, "Thanks" with a bright smile. I won't mention the other musher who yelled at us to keep still and be quiet when he passed.

He might have thought we were an unruly tailgating party, but we were all quite well behaved!

Except this little guy - trouble! (just kidding)

It was fun to see them zipping down the trail. Some children tried to count the number of dogs and say the number on the musher's bib.

Some chose to have some tasty snacks instead!

It seemed like everyone had a good time. It was wonderful to meet some new families. I had to leave early due to the wishes of a child and didn't get to visit as long as I would have liked!

The mushing goes on all weekend. If you go downtown to the start, sometimes you can take pictures with your favorite mushers and dogs. It is fun to see them all lined up down town!

Skedaddle, Kincaid Park in Winter

2012-02-21T15:17:00.001-09:00

It started snowing early this morning and hasn't stopped yet! I love the snow and it seemed that all those at skedaddle did too. There was a bit of a breeze as usual out at Kincaid and it looked like a blizzard most of the time.

Not many of the kiddos were in the mood for sledding and they chose to do some shoveling or to work in the snow restaurant under the play structure. Apparently, this is quite a popular game around town with workers serving up snow pizza, snow cookies and even a snow sandwich or two. They played so well in their restaurant and even the littlest kiddos joined in the game.

Kincaid Park is a wonderful place to ski, snow shoe or sled as the chalet is often open for warming up or a quick bathroom break. Here is a link to the trail map for Kincaid so you don't get lost! I hope you get out and enjoy this amazing snow! We just might break the snowfall record of 132.8 inches (here is a fun link with snow records for Anchorage).

Arctic Valley Tube Park, with toddlers in tow!

2012-02-19T17:27:00.000-09:00

Arctic Valley Tube Park with Toddlers in Tow

My family (aged 2-67) all had a wonderful time at the Tube Park! It was warm and quite uncrowded this Sunday morning. The boys had so much fun and kept saying, "more tubing"! I highly recommend this activity!

You buy tickets at the lodge, just a short walk from the parking area. Next time, I will bring a sled to pull the kiddos from the lodge to the tube park. Each person (and child) pays $12 for a two hour session: 10:30-12:30, 1-3 or 3-5 (open Saturday and Sunday). They will direct you to the tub park which is past the lift and on mountain left.

Grab one of the tubes (large or small) and move down to the rope tow. Each child has to ride up in the their own inner tube. While they have smaller tubes for children, I liked how my kids could hunker down inside of the adult tubes.

You give the tube rope to the attendant and then sit in the tube facing down the hill. The rope hooks onto the tow bar and pulls you up in just a few short minutes. I pulled my kiddo to the lift and then got on myself and had another person push him to the attendant. The attendants were so cheerful and helpful!

An attendant at the top pulls your tube’s rope off of the tow bar and you get out. I hopped out and then waited to grab my son’s tube. With two young kids, it would have been difficult without another adults.

Looking down the hill, the run to the left is a bit slower. You just walk around the rope tow to get to the two slightly speedier runs.

I held onto my son’s rope on the way down just to control speed and direction at the bottom. There is a bit of wall at the bottom, but you just go up a bit and come down like a luge run. We never had a problem with tipping. At the bottom, I got up and pulled the kiddo out of the way and to the tow rope again.

Both children had a great time at the tube park and I was comfortable with them the entire time. Remember to dress warm as you don’t walk much or generate heat - my children didn’t get out of their tubes at all. The only drawback I have is the price, but for a wonderful adventure it was fine. I also like that it supports this ski hill (it is a non-profit!).

Skiing from Campbell Creek Park

2012-02-17T12:33:00.002-09:00

We had a wonderful morning of skiing! Leaving from the Campbell Creek Park lot (off of Lake Otis), the trail is quite flat. It was nicely groomed and tracked.

Seven families set off down the trail with kids in sleds, on backs and in trailers.

There were kids on skis and some little ones bundled in their pulks.

We happened upon a dog race! It was a race for kids with the youngest aged 4! Isn't that amazing? They were yelling commands at the dogs and our children were enthralled. There will be races all weekend starting at 10:00 and we had a wonderful vantage point so we could see them coming and going. They go through a tunnel under the trail.

Some kids needed a lift getting home after a long ski!

It seemed everyone was smiling today on the trail.

I hope you will join us next time for a great day of skiing!

Goose Lake Trek

2012-02-16T13:31:00.002-09:00

We look forward to getting out on a hike each Thursday with the Taiga Trekkers. This hike did not disappoint us at all. We started from the Goose Lake parking lot and hiked towards East High. One group did a large loop and met up with those of us with little hikers. It was perfect with temps that didn't let us overheat or freeze the tiny kiddos. We saw many skiers and there were bike tire marks on this wonderfully groomed multi-use trail. A benefit of this hike is that there is a great little playground with pirate ship, plant to walk and tunnel slide at the parking lot (walk towards the lake that has a plowed area for skating, along the right side of the building).

See what Harmony wrote about the wonderful hike on her blog!

To see future hikes with the Taiga Trekkers, join the Anchorage Outdoor Family Network on meetup. It is free and you can join a wonderful group of parents getting their families outside all year!

Sledding at Russian Jack on Valentine's Day

2012-02-14T13:27:00.000-09:00

Mother Nature showered us with lovely sunshine on Valentine's Day! It was gorgeous and shining off the five or more inches of snow that fell over night. The parking lot was wonderfully plowed (as usual!), but we had to make our own tracks down the sledding hill.

Everyone was geared up and ready to zip down the hill, but needed quite a bit of pushing to get any speed due to the beautiful snow!

This gal had a need for speed!

This little guy mainly enjoyed falling into the snow and laying on his stomach!

Parents got in a work out pulling or carrying kiddos up the hill (so we could eat more Valentine's Day chocolate!).

These kids had a great time making and smashing a mountain for dinosaurs.

Other children invited us into their "snow house" under the limbs of huge trees.

It was a magical day and once again I bored my children with my soap box rant about how lucky we are to live in Alaska!

Ice Fishing

2012-02-12T13:23:00.002-09:00

We are lucky enough to have a free fishing jamboree each year in Anchorage. You just show up and the wonderful boy scouts show you the holes, scoop out the ice and even will bait your hook.

You are never too young to get started ice fishing! You don't need a boat or expensive gear for this outing. You need a stick with fishing line (wrap some extra around the end so you can control depth), a small hook and a few shrimp (toss a few down the hole to really bring them in!).

The poles in this picture are nice, but we never reeled in a fish. Just pull the fish out of the water by grabbing the line!

As long as it is isn't too cold, children seem to enjoy holding the pole and waiting for the excitement to happen.

It doesn't take any skill, just a little shake of the bait every now and then.

If you are lucky, your child can get happily covered in fish slime and grin all the way home.

*Suggestions*

1. Bring a sled or blanket for a warm seat.

2. Dress for a temperature colder than it is as there is a lot of sitting around.

3. Extra gloves are a good idea as the draw of a hole filled with water is hard for most kiddos to resist.

4. Bribes for letting go of the fish. My children traded their fish for cookies so the smelly critters could ride in the back on the way home.

5. Hand warmers for kiddos that want to stay out but have cold digits.

6. Rations - a thermos of hot cocoa and a sandwich help a kiddo stay warm!

Earthquake Park Hike

2012-02-09T14:05:00.000-09:00

It was hot and blustery day with temperatures in the mid 30s. Some parts of town were like ice skating rinks, but this area was perfect for a hike. Six families started out together, but soon spread out along the trail. There were strollers, back packs, sleds and some tiny walkers. We set out from the second Earthquake park lot - it is open and has a great view of the ice moving in the water. Amazing.

This little guy enjoyed looking at the trees from this wonderful riding position.

These two hikers were adorable along the path!

Some kids needed walking sticks.

There is a wonderful hill on the trail, but there is a turn at the bottom a bit hard to negotiate (my sled crashed).

The trail was fine for the stroller, but a bit bumpy for little babies.

If you head back towards town on the bike bath, there is a wonderful opening in the trees where you can see this wonderful view of town. It is a great turn around point making about an hour walk in total (with kiddos).

Half of my crew fell asleep in the sled on the way back. I need to attach a chair to help him not tip over during his sled-naps.

Cheney Lake for Skating

2012-02-08T19:08:00.001-09:00

Get out the skates and head to Cheney Lake. This little pond behind the Baptist Temple (Northern Lights and Baxter) has an area cleared and seemingly hot mopped for skating. There is a bench cleared of snow for lacing up and a little playground when skating gets tiresome!

Westchester Lagoon Snow Style

2012-02-07T16:13:00.001-09:00

Bluebird skies smiled down on us as we played in the frosty air this morning. I was fooled yet again by the weather forecasts teasing me with 30 degree temperatures. It hovered around 10 degrees so I filled up the thermos for cocoa.

Children (and adults) had such fun at this playground. If you get tired of the normal playground slides and swings, the Westchester Playground offers something different. The large swing in the first picture held three toddlers and can swing pretty high. This "swing" is part teeter-totter and I had a great time. My son got a bit nervous as my weight lifted him quite high into the air!

The playground filled with parents and kids. My newest problem occurred again as one child wanted to stay and another leave. My current solution is to take one to the car and then slowly get the other one so he has a bit more time to play! How do you handle this situation?

This little guy has been trained to wear his winter layers and now is a happy outside boy in the winter! My conclusion about winter clothing for children is that the coat and snow pants should be waterproof, but you can layer so much underneath that they don't have to be rated to the negatives. I will now spend my money on gloves and boots - it seems that my children need to have warm digits to have happy days.

This pair had a great time on the swings!

Even the littlest kiddos emerged from their cozy homes. We had a little guy a couple of months old in the tiniest snow suit!

This spider web was popular with the older children. I liked the protection offered by the layers of snow.

This little girl is practicing her crawling in the snow. It just goes to show that even little ones want to enjoy themselves in this wonderful weather!

Trekkers at FNBP

2012-02-02T17:58:00.000-09:00

The warming temperature felt so wonderful this morning for our hike. Four of us met at the North Bivouac trailhead off of Campbell Airstrip Road (mile 2.2 from Tudor, parking lot on the left). The other kids were carried and one mother even carried two - one on front and one on the back. Strong mama!

The skies were blue and the trail packed perfectly for us. We met a biker, a few skiers and many happy dogs (this trail is a designated off leash area).

There are wonderful maps along the way showing the multitude of trails in the area. There is a red, sort of bull's eye marking your location. The trail out of the parking lot is the Tank Trail and you can head off for quite a long distance. It is wide and perfect for little hikers, just watch out for traffic behind you.

I pulled my boys in the sled and we had some fun downhills on the trails!

Oceanview Park in the Winter

2012-01-31T13:50:00.001-09:00

It was a heat wave, so kids came out in droves. I think the temperature was 15 above and boy did it feel nice and toasty. No frost nip on the cheeks or frozen nose hairs - it is the little things.

Behind the playground is a gazebo with a wonderful sledding hill behind it. The kids had a great time and a few of us parents even took a few runs without kiddos.

This sled was wonderful - it inflates, but has a back. It gives support, but also allows the child to spin around rather than tip out on uneven ground. She loved it and already knew how to scoot to get towards the hill!

The picnic benches were a wonderful place for some hot cocoa during a break. I have started filling sippy cups with cocoa powder (or chocolate breakfast drink mix) and brining a thermos of hot water. I don't trust them not to get their mittens wet with a real cup!

Moms had a great time zooming down with this children. I love how this pair is color coordinated!

I do wish my children could still wear snow suits like this fella as they are so much warmer than a coat a snow pants.

Man Down!

The inventive mother of this cutie has him in a 3T coat and pants. She has zip strips around the cuffs to prevent cold air from entering! If you have two kiddos close in age, you can appreciate this!

The kids moved to the playground, which was awash in show. We had to have a parent blocking certain areas to prevent falls and at the slide to pull kids off at the bottom. The children zipped down that slide!

Some creative children allowed us to eat at their restaurant. They had "snow food". I asked what types of food they had and they told me, "white." I ate a lot of 'snow cookies', 'snow bananas' and 'snow pizza'. Good times!!

Close Moose Encounters

2012-01-26T17:46:00.001-09:00

We had a wonderful encounter with a baby moose this morning. Mama moose was in the front yard and baby was in the back. I talked about moose safety just a bit and my boys reminded me that moose are wild animals.

We talked about what food moose enjoy eating.

What their teeth might look like!

And if they had very good hearing!

Winter at the Alaska Zoo

2012-01-24T13:43:00.001-09:00

Visiting the zoo in the winter is a wonderful way to beat the crowds. I only saw one other visitor and that was on the way out. We had the place to ourselves! Another family joined us for a walk around the zoo at skedaddle. It was a few degrees below zero. There was a temperature inversion (warmer up higher), but I guess we weren't high enough!

We got to see animals over the snow berms. Some were hiding in their houses. The polar bear was playing when we arrived, but soon went into his den. The snowy owl was beautiful against the snow and the llamas didn't mind the frosty weather either.

There were no crowds to dodge as the boys played tag around the bee exhibit.

The sun was peeking up over the mountains and trees as we were getting ready to go. I brought my sled with blankets and the other kiddo rode in a chariot with wheels as the walkways are packed down right now. We encouraged the boys to run as much as possible to stay warm, but we still made a trip to the Coffee Shop for warming up. Thanks to our friends for buying us a cookie to share!

Making Ice Eggs

2012-01-22T18:25:00.001-09:00

Fill up normal sized balloons with water and put them outside. If it is well below zero (as it was here in Alaska), you don't even have to wait a full 24 hours!

Bring them inside to the delight of your children.

Peel off the balloon "skin".

Let your children play with them inside.

Then toss them outside. We call them our dinosaur eggs and love to watch the dogs lick them!

Campbell Creek Science Center

2012-01-19T12:24:00.004-09:00

My son does not like the cold. I have tried polypro long underwear, a million layers, heavy duty mittens, hand warmers and thick neck warmers. I have tried getting him up and running, hot chocolate and bribes. I am throwing in the towel and admitting defeat.

I try so hard to accept my children the way they are. I don't mind that they are obsessed with fishing, pick out pink frosting for their cupcakes or enjoy watching inane cartoons (a.k.a. Diego). It has taken me way too long to accept that he doesn't enjoy this freezing weather.

I felt that if I kept getting him out that he would eventually learn to love it. What in the heck was I thinking? I would never use this form of twisted logic with myself and surely should not use it with my wonderful children.

I hereby swear to listen to my children about their wishes related to the outdoors. I will encourage, offer opportunities and encourage again, but will listen to their voices. I am sorry for letting my stubborn determination to have a hike in negative 20 make it miserable for us all (except my other son who quickly fell asleep in the sled). I ruminated on my misstep as a parent so much that I almost hit this wonderful bird on the road home!

Deep breaths. New days and challenges await!

(What bird is this anyways? Grouse? Oddly colored ptarmigan?)

Valley of the Moon at minus 13

2012-01-17T12:07:00.001-09:00

It was a bit chilly and I debated canceling skedaddle until I looked at the website. There were 5 other crazy Alaskans signed up for the outing. I was happy to see two other cars in the lot when I pulled up to Valley of the Moon Park!

There were 5 families out playing this morning. Everyone was bundled and looked so darn cute, at least the parts that were visible.

The slides were fast and the steps of the spaceship were amazingly slippery.

We tried blowing bubbles in the cold weather as well. They deflated and acted so oddly. I suggest that if you are having a cold snap to give it a try!

I loved the ice crystals on everything. I do carry a bottle of hot water for hot cocoa and stuck tongues (one of my greatest fears as a mother).

This guy had the cold weather gear down to an art. Nothing was showing and he could even talk like Darth Vader!

A neck warmer covered up most of this little guy!

This park gets so crowded in the summer, but we had the whole place to our selves!

The spider web was a bit hard to climb!

My boys had fun eating rice crispie treats and drinking hot chocolate to warm up after our 30 minute play outing!

I must say that it was cold, but gorgeous! Hope you join us next week at the zoo!

Birding in Alaska with kids

2012-01-11T08:14:00.001-09:00

I love the invasion of the Waxwings each winter. They arrive in huge swarms - tweeting, tossing berries and knocking snow off of the branches. We are lucky enough to have a Mountain Ash tree by our window so we can watch them while they dance and whirl around. We have other bird feeders, suet and a little bird house for our feathered friends as well.

I found a pdf document of common Alaskan birds with little boxes so you can check off each species you identify. I clicked to the guide through the Get Outdoors Alaska website.

My boys have been sick and we had a wonderful time with the chart this afternoon. They each had a copy and would try and find each bird's "name". While it was mainly me pointing out each bird, they seemed to enjoy the activity.

Print out a copy, laminate it and take it on your next hike. It would be a great distraction for toddlers on a trail who are getting antsy or even a great way to let the parents take a needed break!

Lights in the Snow

2012-01-08T17:03:00.000-09:00

(child with headlamp and light exiting a playground tunnel)

I used to clip these lights to my dog's collar when off leash at night. I loved watching the light bounding towards me! Alaskan winters are rather dark and I started clipping them to my children as well. I like being able to see them at a glance and the extra visibility it gives to cars.

They enjoy the halo of red following them around and my youngest son loves eating "red snow". My older son enjoys wearing a headlamp as well. He likes exploring snow forts and running after the light. It is hard to carry a flashlight with toddler mittens and this gives him an easier way to have his own light source. While they make child sized headlamps, I found many adult versions work well for my children when they wear winter hats.

(small red, pet light attached to a zipper pull)

Winter water survival

2012-01-05T17:22:00.001-09:00

My children are avid fishermen and winter in Alaska means ice fishing. On those miserable sub zero days, my toes are cold but my mind is at ease. It can turn off that hyper vigilance for creaks or cracks. I am petrified about us falling through the ice.

We also hike near lakes and rivers often and my boys aren't always steady and careful of their footing. I was very interested in a new article by REI about water immersion survival in winter.

Here is the link to the article in full. The basic theory breaks down to 1-10-1.

1 minute - stay calm, don't thrash wildly. Try to get your wits about you as you have one minute to calm your breath.
10 minutes - before you lose movement in your limbs, try to get out or call for rescue. Go to where you fell through as that is where ice was thick.
1 hour - to get warm before you lose consciousness

Tips- your arms will freeze to the ice and maybe you will get rescued even if you pass out.

My plan- get the kid's arms onto the ice quickly (if they are wet, they will Reese themselves out of the water). They might be light enough to not break the ice around us. Calm myself and tell them to go for help.

If you know of other information related to saving your children if you all fall through the ice, I would love to add it to my mental plan!

Sunset Park at -7 degrees

2012-01-03T15:16:00.001-09:00

It was about -7 this morning for our skedaddle at Sunset Park on Government Hill. This is a great place to sled for toddlers to adults. It took quite a while to pile on the layers and try to cover as much skin as possible. We arrived and were happily greeted by a mother and son who was happily "launching" down the slide and onto the sledding hill. He was having quite a good time! The mother was so upbeat and enthusiastic about keeping moving so we didn't get cold. What a wonderful spirit!

My children did not even want to get out of the car. I was torn between throwing in the towel and heading back home and ripping them out of their cozy car into the cold elements. I opted for some optimistic bribery as a mediating option. "We will have so much fun zooming down the hill and will get so warm when we walk back up for another run!". Woo Woo, I should have had pom poms for this show of spirit.

I won't go into details, but we left soon after our first and only run down the hill. Looking back, I think their core was warm enough, but the exposed facial flesh was suffering from the biting cold. I told my friend that I should reconsider skedaddle in the negative temperatures, but she reassured me it wasn't child abuse and that the effort is worth it. Thank you Harmony (of Tiaga Trekkers).

I am not complaining about the cold weather as I had to hold my tongue during the warm weather!

I hope you join us next week for another try at sledding. We will be on the Eastside at Sitka Street Park. There is a little playground and wonderful hill!

Luminaries

2011-12-30T14:29:00.001-09:00

A wonderful way to celebrate the incoming New Year for children is to make Luminaries.

Materials

Bags - I have used plain paper bags and these colored gift sacks. You can cut out shapes in one bag and then place another inside, but for children the one sack method is easiest.
Sand - Children can help scoop a bit of sand into the bottom of the bag. This gives a little place for the candle to rest and also weights down the bag a bit.
Candles - Small tea lights work fine, but we have also used larger candles as well.

Have the child scoop sand into the bags and put a candle into each bag. They can help select a location for the bags as well. Of course, the adult should light the candles!

Then, play outside as your enjoy your lights during the last night of 2011!

Snow Play by Birgitta Ralston

2011-12-27T12:55:00.001-09:00

Snow Play by Birgitta Ralston

I received this wonderful book for Christmas this year. I was surprised that I had not heard of it before! There are four sections: Curious Creatures, Magical Lights, Playing with Snow and Adventurous Spaces.

The author’s creativity is amazing and I kept showing pages to my family. The book opens with needed tools (scissors, spray bottle, saw an knife to name to a few). It shows some of the materials needed for projects such as bread, firewood or marbles. Each project also explains the time needed, difficulty and type of work. This opening also contains an explanation of types of snow and how they can be used (fresh, sticky, compressed, loose, deep, ice and crystallized). It talks about proper snow building techniques and snow safety (what to take and what to wear).

(Pixel Man)

Here are some activities on my tick list for this winter:

Build an upside down snowman (looks like legs and arm sticking out of the snow)
Make a Snow Nessie (lock ness monster!)
Build a winter campfire
Make monster footprints
Make a snow ice bar (you might be invited to my ice party)
Snow slide (if I find a large snow hill)

(The Eyes)

It might seem like a large and insurmountable list, but the book outlines the preparations and steps so we can do it. Look for pictures of these adventures in the future!

Link to Amazon so you can get your own copy before winter is finished, currently at $10.91.

Solstice!

2011-12-21T11:02:00.001-09:00

Today is the shortest day of the year for the Alaskan Skedaddlers! It also is the start of winter - thank goodness, maybe our winter will really take shape now.

Solstice is scientifically a time when the Sun is at the farthest distance from the equator. It also is the birth of a new "solar year". This is what we get in Anchorage today:

Sunrise - 10:14

Sunset - 3:41

Total - 5 hours 27 minutes and 38 seconds

We will end with a little solstice poem from Selena Fox:

Solstice Sun, Shining Bright!
Shortest Day & Longest Night.
Solstice Wish of Hope & Cheer:
Peace on Earth, throughout the Year!

Russian Jack Sledding

2011-12-20T18:27:00.001-09:00

Surfer Boy! This little guy surfed all morning at Russian Jack Park. It was a wonderful morning with warm temps, fast snow and laughing children. This is a great hill with an amazingly well maintained parking lot - even in these conditions. The hill gives you a long ride and great exercise for the parent on the way up! We all should have been wearing ice grippers this morning as there was a bit of ice under the new snow.

It was so nice to have new snow as it made fun sledding and great snow angels!

We all bundled up and this little guy was well prepared for the weather!

The big sled was great for the three musketeers!

Here is the crew dispersed along the hill!

It was a great day!

Elementary schools for sledding

2011-12-19T18:46:00.003-09:00

We are lucky in Alaska for many reasons! Many schools have hills on their grounds perfect for sledding in the winter (Trailside, near Service High School is wonderful!). The small school by my house does not have a hill, but the amazing school district plows the field into a wonderful hill. Every night, I can hear children laughing and screaming as they slide, tumble and roll down the hill. Even if your local school doesn't have a hill in the summer, check it out and see if it has one in the winter! Winter break is a great time for the kids to run off some energy (and sugar highs)!

Ruth Arcand Trails

2011-12-15T12:36:00.002-09:00

The road in to the park is HEINOUS. There is a lot of snow that isn't packed and there is a lot of snow to plow through to get to the road. About ten brave women bulldozed their way in just to take their kid's hiking. Babes were carried on the back, front, walking on their feet, being pushed in a chariot with skis, pulled in sleds and one in a KinderShuttle.

It was a beautiful day and the trees had so much snow on them that they reminded me of Christmas Card pictures. The trail is just wide enough for a sled and we had to navigate over a fallen tree (the Chariot had to turn around). Just beyond the tree the trail was cleared a bit by a snow machine that also had removed fallen trees.

If you decide to brave the parking lot (or go after it has been plowed), I suggest taking the trail closer to the road (not the one that goes by the playground). I saw a snow machine trail there so it could be better for Chariots.

Frontierland in Winter

2011-12-13T12:46:00.001-09:00

It was a small group today at skedaddle - about 10 of us (kids included) had a great time. The weather was cool, but not cold. It made the snow light and fluffy, which was nice as it was up to my knees in places! One brave mama with a newborn (tucked into the coat) and toddler came as well!

The hill is great for rolling down in the summer and perfect for toddlers to sled. I like that it gives them a ride, but it isn't too far for me to pull them back up for another ride! I recommend this hill!

We also had fun at the playground as the slides were speedy with a nice landing. The swings were close to the ground and perfect for kiddos. The little houses were great as well!

Gatherers

2011-12-11T17:14:00.000-09:00

We can deal with snow and are accustomed to icy weather. We don't typically get a lot of wind though. I found a great way to entertain the children outside. We made a huge pie of branches that had blown down in the storm. It was a bird's nest, then a bonfire (pretend) and then a beaver dam. The possibilities are endless for fun and education that can lead to a neater yard!

Sick Day!

2011-12-07T06:47:00.001-09:00

After a lifetime of going outside almost every day, my boys are accustomed to this routine. I think they just expected having time to burn off energy. I was sick the past two days. The sort of sick where I was at my best lying on the bathroom floor without moving. Without children, life can adjust to having you be a lifeless pile of mush. I do have wonderfully empathetic toddlers, but their brains could not understand why I was not chipper and able to give them wild piggyback rides. I was lucky enough to have in-house babysitters that allowed me to commune with the tile floor in private. If you are not this lucky, I put together a list of activities the might give you a few minutes of rest.

5 Ways to Entertain Toddlers

(so you can just be sick)

1. Painting - I put finger paint on big plates and give them a brush. To increase horizontal time, I put them into the bathtub. They paint the walls, each other and all of their toys. After my Picassos are finished, I add water to the mix. Give them a scrubber and you might get a few more minutes.

(This is a variation with shaving cream into the muffin tin mixed with a drop of food coloring)

2. Fetch... um, er... Catch - My boys love to chase balls. I start out tossing one and then another. Soon, I am throwing them all directions. You can do this laying down on the floor and the variations are endless. I make them wait and count to ten, get the blue one first or carry them all back at the same time.

3. Animal Races - Our house has a circular path through the living room, kitchen and dining room. Ready, Set and Go! One lap like a frog, another like a horse and even like a fish. They must make the appropriate noises and actions.

(My children also enjoyed "fishing" in the sink for a while)

4. Chef - My kitchen floor had tile, but it was hidden by the masses of pots, pans, dishes, spoons and other cooking paraphernalia. If you have a headache, this might help the situation. They cooked beads, plastic toys and paper. Encourage long oven times, lots of stirring and creative mixes.

5. Sink - My mother kept a toy sink from my childhood. You pump on the handle for water to come out into the sink portion. I suggest covering the floor with towels to prevent slippage and allow you to rest a bit easier. If you don't have a toy sink, bowls filled with water work just as well. Toss out a few cups, pitchers and toys for water fun. This one does have some post-clean up but you can do it on your hands and knees if needed.

*If you don't mind a little danger and excitement in your life, step stools are quite fun for toddlers. They can practice climbing and jumping in a controlled environment.

Abbot Loop Community Center

2011-12-01T12:56:00.001-09:00

The Taiga Trekkers led us on a wonderful hike this morning. The sun was shining through the trees and was brilliant. This is a great trail that connects to other trail systems in the Anchorage area (here is a map). The trails are perfect for young walkers and pulling a sled. They would be great for skiing, but beware the first hill from the parking lot as it is pretty steep (but fun on the sled!). It flattens out nicely afterwards.

The Snow Kitchen

2011-11-30T04:00:00.000-09:00

If you have snow filling up your yard and are fresh out of activities to entertain your kiddos, build a snow kitchen. We flattened out a pile of snow, gathered up some cooking implements (a small pot, spoons, bowls, etc.) and began cooking. Snowballs can make endless different meals and a garnish of icicles adds a fantastic touch. We got creative and made some snow ice cream (milk, a bit of sugar, a dash of vanilla and snow) to eat in our snow dining room. I did find a recipe which sad to mix 8 cups of snow, a can of sweetened condensed milk and a tsp of vanilla. That sounds a bit more like ice cream than our icy snow milk!

Balto Seppla

2011-11-29T11:47:00.001-09:00

Just look at what you missed if you stayed tucked inside your warm house this morning! We got to the top of the hill just as the sun was peeking over the mountain tops. Amazing sight that just keeps getting better as the mountains start to turn a pale pink.

About 10 families had fun sledding on the hill at Balto Seppla Park this morning (Northern Lights, Left on Wisconsin and Right on Milky Way and you will see the hill on your right with a large parking lot). We are slated for a warm up this week, but we braved the 7 degrees for some fresh air.

This hill is perfect for children (and adults!). It is basically a large bump in a field so you can sled down all sides. There was another group there, but we didn't even notice them!

Children piled into sleds, rolled down the hill and slipped their way up (it was hard to get any traction!).

I loved seeing all the families out and about in this weather. It is always nice to have crazy ideas that other people also seem to share!

Tip from O (pictured), wear smart wool socks under your mittens for extra warmth

Tip from B - put your hands over your face when going down the hill to protect yourself from the spray!

This little sledder also joined us and took a few runs down the hill.

This amazing mama brought out her infant (encased in a furry hood) and her toddler. Alaskans don't let a little thing like having an infant keep us inside!

Slediquette

2011-11-27T14:16:00.001-09:00

Slediquette

After getting rammed into by a sledder and yelled at by another, I thought I would jot down some simple ideas about keeping sledding a bit more civil!

Wait for people to get out of your intended path before shoving off down the hill.
When walking up the hill, try to stay to the side and out of the main downhill path.
Keep your eyes up the hill when returning to the top.
Keep your children behind you when walking up the hill to protect them from sledders.
If you are sledding down and see people in your path, shout a warning.
Keep profanity to a minimum as sledding attracts many young children.
Parents, please take responsibility for the safety of your children and the sledding habits of your children.

What other "rules" do you think people should follow when sledding?

Skedaddle-less Day

2011-11-22T14:58:00.001-09:00

(Very old picture of my cousin's dressed up in their winter best)

No one signed up for skedaddling today and that is a first! I am hoping it is due to the proximity to Thanksgiving and not a waning interest in taking children outside. It also could be the single digits (pre-windchill) slated for the day on top of the slightly icy roads!

I am more inclined to take the children out if I know they can be in our house within minutes of freezing feet or tingling fingers. We did get outside in the yard and played in our snow fort for a bit, did a little sledding and some forced walking to stay warm. The boys didn't last too long, but at least they were outside for a bit.

GREAT HOLIDAY ACTIVITY ALERT!!!

Nov 25, 2011

5 - 6:15 p.m

Town Square

Meet Santa and his reindeer and watch the lighting of the tree in Town Square. Concert at 5 p.m. is followed by ceremony from 5:30 - 6:15 p.m. followed by Santa and his reindeer. Free hot cocoa and cookies.

Sitka Street Sledding

2011-11-15T14:57:00.001-09:00

An expedition setting off? No, just a lady and two kids!

It may have been in the single digits on the thermometer, but we had a double digit number of people sledding today! We had a little baby only a month old who was bundled up with her mother. Parents discussed boots, neck warmers and rubbing stuff on little faces to prevent frost nip.

It seems that the colder it gets, the more beautiful Alaska becomes. There was even a rainbow due to the frozen bits of mist floating through the air. The mountains were pink and just glowing! Fantastic!

This hill is amazing for sledding. I had a great time and the kids even enjoyed themselves too! We did a bit of sledding, some ice cold time on the swings and even got to drink a cup or two of cocoa in the 45 minutes were out there.

I hope everyone gets out or at least looks out their window today. It is beautiful. Yes, it does take 45 minutes to get ready (that is what it took us from first sock to last car seat buckle) and there is a lot of crying and whining when the cold nips at toes and fingers. But, I loved the screaming with excitement down the hill, the giggles as they pushed each other on the swings and the rosy cheeks sipping cocoa sitting in the sled. Memories.

Sledding at Nunaka Valley

2011-11-08T12:39:00.001-09:00

It was amazingly gorgeous with the sun twinkling off the icy trees. The sun peaked over the mountains as we arrived and as the last boot was pulled off it got covered up by the clouds. Even though numerous kids were screaming at various times, the sun brightened moods.

Older kids enjoyed sledding at the hill almost as much as their parents. The parents agreed it was an amazing workout pulling children up the hill repeatedly.

The little sled on the right (blue) has a back on it to help little kiddos stay upright when they zoom down the hill like J is doing!

These buddies enjoyed sledding together as well!

This little guy was quite bundled and warm. He really seemed to enjoy being outside!

C shows the wonderful use of a neck warmer for little kids. It helps shelter them from wind and makes a little place to trap warm air to make breathing easier!

The kids also enjoyed playing at the playground (after one mother used my shovel to unearth it a bit!). There is a nice bouncing toy with room for three kiddos across one side.

Hot cocoa helped warm up some kids (and give a much needed blood sugar boost).

It was just a wonderful day for our first sledding adventure of the year. Please join us next time! If you have questions about bundling up kiddos or yourself, just shoot us an email using the link on the sidebar!

Where to Sled!

2011-11-06T13:56:00.003-09:00

A wonderful activity for adults and children of all ages is sledding. It tires kids out, gives adults a work out and gives you a great reason to get out of the house.

*A lot of the elementary schools around town have hills or plow snow to make them during the winter*

Highly Recommended

Loretta French Park (Eagle River)

Others

Winchester Park

Service High School

Sand Dunes at Kincaid

Elderberry Park

Cheney Lake

Jade Park

Frontierland (downtown)

Arctic Valley

Centennial Park

Random Sledding Tips

For little kids, about any incline will do (my kids loved the bump at the Westchester Lagoon parking lot)
If you have a walker, dress them in layers as running up a hill can make you sweat!
If it is cold, a neck gaiter or face protection helps the sting of the wind on the way down!
Wrap the handles of a crazy creek sling chair to the sled for a backrest
A blanket on the bottom gives you a bit of cushion on icy hills
Great article by Jen Aist about safe sledding habits

Just a Tip!

2011-11-03T18:49:00.002-08:00

Remember how warm you get when you sip some hot coffee, tea or chocolate and use it for your kiddos. You can heat up warm milk and put it in a sippy cup. I often bring a thermos for the kids with apple cider, Tang (it is for this medicinal purpose only!) or even hot chocolate. I know another mother who gives her daughter herbal tea. Just remember to make sure the temperature won't harm your kiddo!

Pamela Joy Lowry Park

2011-11-01T12:38:00.003-08:00

Pamela Joy Park is wonderful. I think 12 parents romped in the snow this morning. They played on the bouncer, took sled rides and ate a large amount of snow. I loved seeing the little faces framed by fleece or fur and the tiny legs trying to walk in snow suits. This is a great park with areas for all ages, lots of trees, a small creek and it is on the lighted trail system. It is on a dead end making it quiet and safe for kiddos!

-The mittens on the hands are great for little kids. You can layer them over some little smart wool socks for warmth. They stay on and keep tiny fingers warm!

-Shovels, buckets and bowls are fantastic for the snow!

-Remember that walkers need to wear layers as they can heat up while running around and get a chill when sitting for a snack.

-When it gets colder (yes, it will!), the toe warmers with an adhesive are perfect to stick into the kid's boots and mittens.

-Infants need more insulation as they are not moving to generate their own heat!

-Remember to keep your car stocked for emergencies with gear for the child as well. I always keep a sled in there as well, just in case we need to do some impromptu sledding.

**Please Join Us Next Week for more skedaddling in the snow**

Eagle River Nature Center

2011-10-27T12:55:00.003-08:00

It was 22 degrees this morning as we set off from the Eagle River Nature Center. It was a crisp and clear morning with the sun peaking over the mountains making everything so sparkly.

The kids were all bundled in their winter finest with little kiddos in carriers sporting down suits and the toddlers running in as little as their parents would allow.

This is a wonderful area to hike, play, ski and snowshoe. It takes about 45 minutes in good weather from East Anchorage and allows you be in the wilderness quite quickly, but near a little lodge if needed!

There are trails to explore, trees to climb and my kids can't pass the "tree house" or "hobbit hole" without looking inside. It is perfect for jogging strollers and sleds in the winter.

(taking a break for some "special hot apple juice" aka cider)

There is a $5 parking fee that helps maintain the trails, rental cabins and area. I usual am twitched by parking fees, but this one goes to a good cause! Here is information about renting the cabins and even the yurt for birthday parties!

Wolverine Park

2011-10-25T11:46:00.002-08:00

It was a blustery day with rain, wind and blowing leaves. It didn't stop children from dragging their parents (or the other way around in my case) outside to get some fresh air. I thought we heading towards winter, but the 46 degree day changed my mind. The winds were crazy and made it feel much colder with wind chill. After much wardrobe debate, I decided on fleece layers and a rain suit for blocking the wind.

This is a nice park that is actually rather large with two separate play areas: one for little kids with shorter steps and a slide and a larger structure aimed at the older set with a twisty slide. There are lots of trees, a covered structure and an open area with two benches.

I have a goal of staying outside at least as long as it took to get ready, but that just about didn't happen today. My kiddos might be coming down with something (other than a grumpy attitude). They played for about 45 minutes and then wanted to get into the car. I didn't get many pictures as we left so soon.

It is amazing to see the children who started out crawling and eating rocks are now climbing up the steps and going down the slides by themselves. It is crazy how quickly these little people change.

Tonight is the last Tuesday Night Race and is at Kincaid Park. Wear a costume and the little kiddos can trick or treat along the way. It will be blustery so bundle up for the wonderful event! If you see a chef chasing after a fisherman and frog, that will be us!

Beach Lake Ski Trails

2011-10-20T13:17:00.001-08:00

The ski trails at Beach Lake Chalet (close to Chugiak High School) were wonderful for our hike today. Ben led the way on our trek through the white birch trees that were so beautiful against the still green moss. It seemed the children all took turns fussing, but at some point everyone had a smile.

We started out with hats, mittens and coats. Most of the little walkers soon shed their layers and ran through the trees.

The wide open trails were perfect for strollers and walkers. The ground was hard and fast on the downhills! These trails are off limits once snow flies and they are groomed. Get some skis and you can pull the kiddos though!

It was a wonderful day and it seemed that we are all getting used to the colder temperatures. Parents are figuring out the mittens and boots, while the kids are learning to walk in those darn clunky boots!

Some random tips that work for my kids related to winter gear:

1. Fleece dog booties from Mill and Feed are easy on and often are tolerated by little ones.

2. The back wamers that you microwave are good to put on the lap of a kiddo in a stroller. They will put their hands on top of it to keep warm.

3. You can put warm milk (or hot cocoa) in a sippy cup.

4. I always keep the chemical hand warmers to put into mittens or boots for a quick warm me up.

LLoyd Steele Park

2011-10-18T12:21:00.002-08:00

No fighting the fact that I need to start getting the kids dressed a bit earlier. The extra layers take time in the mornings! I have also found that my older son is warm blooded and wears 1/2 the clothes of my younger son who has a heck of a time staying warm.

Lloyd Steele park in Turnagain is a nice little neighborhood playground. It would be perfect with the addition of a few swings! The equipment is nice and the slides interesting, but most of the children spent most of the time in the woods. We built a little shelter, they played hide and seek and a few kicked a ball through the trees.

It was chilly and the mobile kids kept a bit warmer with their running around!

We hope to see you at the next skedaddle and if you have questions, need tips on winter dressing or have ideas about parks, email us at akskedaddle@gmail.com.

Repost and Update: Ski Pulk DIY

2011-10-16T22:29:00.002-08:00

(Original post from last year, edited at end)

(Pulling the pulk without skis)

(Pushing the pulk with the front wheel on snowy terrain.)

(Actually skiing with the pulk - it is hard, but the kids stay warm and I get out of the house!)

My father transformed my double bike trailer / jogger into a ski pulk. We looked at many kits you could purchase and tutorials on the Internet and ended up combining ideas and winging it.

Here is what you start with - a bike tailor and two semi-grumpy kids

1. Cut off some old skis. We just looked at the length of the trailer and made an educated guess.

2. Make a cradle for the wheel out of wood. We saw some where you removed the wheel and used the axle, but this seemed easier to us! My dad drilled rows of holes where we will zip strip the wheel into it's cradle.

3. The attachment from trail to puller was a bit trickier. We decided to use electrical conduit as it is malleable and rather inexpensive. We made two long lengths that slide between the fabric of the trailer and the metal frame. They have holes at the ends and a bungee connects them behind the trailer so they don't pull out. Holes at the puller's end will connect with carabiners to my harness.

That is it! Here are somethings I read and heard along the way...

1. You need to be able to quickly detach from the trailer in case of tippage or emergency (Jen Aist). Remember you will be wearing gloves or mittens.

2. It is nice if the trailer can rotate up and down on an axis. In other words, if you lift up on the conduit, the trailer tips rather than the entire trailer and skis lifting off the ground.

3. If you can find used trick skis with tips that round up on both ends, grab them! They would make going in reverse easier (I don't ski backwards very often, so I didn't care too much).

4. Just do it! Nothing we did compromised the trailer and was really inexpensive. Get some skis and find someone with tools. Bring over some brownies and then can have it done in less than hour!!

----------------------------------------------------
UPDATE After using it for a season!

I am getting ready to bring up the skis for the pulk and get it ready for this season of skiing and pulling kiddos through a winter wonderland. I am just going to bullet some items that are important!

The skis had some trouble when I turned in deep snow and they would slide off of the wood cradle. We used some heavy duty zip strips and let some air out of the tires and then when tightened, we blew up the tires again. It worked, but it would be nice to have them attached so they don't move at all!
I changed the attachment of the poles to the pulk. I put two zip strips at the front of the pulk to keep them close and allow me to easier rotate the front of the pulk "up". The carabiners at the back broke on a sub-zero day and I have to find another method to keep them tight along the frame and not be pushed through when going downhill.
The plastic on the carrier did break a bit on another sub-zero day! Just be warned that they are not rated for this weather.

If you have questions, let me know and I will ask my handyman (fantastic father)!

Upper Huffman Trailhead

2011-10-13T16:17:00.001-08:00

It was a beautiful hike, but quite icy. While I love that the kids are hiking now, I was just ever so jealous of the parents with infants snug inside a carrier. The difficult trail created two frustrated toddlers, both of which wanted to be carried. I picked one up and grabbed the hand of the other. I just kept trying to see things through my whining kiddo's eyes. It wasn't easy to stay upright on the icy sections and when walking in the grass, it hit him in the face. I just kept telling him how great he was doing and we made it back in one piece.

Here is the Sleeping Lady and a link to the native fable about her.

The walking crew before heading off.

There were beautiful ice sculptures and this one had a little moth (on the left).

Two hiking moms with the city in the distance.

Westchester Lagoon Playground

2011-10-11T13:33:00.002-08:00

It was an amazing day for skedaddling at the new Park at Westchester Lagoon. This park has very new and modern play equipment. From the fabulous swinging hammock to the slide that looks strangely like a tongue (you put your legs on either side and slide down).

The children seemed to enjoy finding out how the new structures worked. There were little round steps with ropes to cross, tires to climb through, and a new teeter-totter that hung down from a structure.

There was frost on the equipment when we arrived and the children loved eating the snow and ice.

The ground is covered with wonderful smelling wood chips that were perfect for shoveling.

It was exciting to see friends taking their first steps!

Some little people were not as excited about this as others.

The fireweed had gone to seed and some kids had fun hitting it with a stick and watching it float away on the breeze.

Everyone was bundled up in winter clothes as it was in the mid-twenties this morning!

We had a wonderful time and met some new families. I hope you join us next week!

The official grand opening of this park is on Friday, October 14th at 1:30. There will be music, snacks and fun!

Adventuring Parent, Ben Eaton!

2011-10-10T04:00:00.000-08:00

I love finding new blogs featuring parents continuing their outdoor lifestyles with their children. Ben Eaton has found a way to combine his outdoor pursuits with his role as a father. The pictures on his blog are amazing and the writing entertaining, educational and humorous! If you have time, poke around his blog to see the beautiful places he plays and how his children join him on amazing adventures.

I love his piece of advice, "Never use your kid as the excuse to not venture outside and into the wilderness!"

Here are three I suggest for starters -

Cross country skiing with two toddlers (He has a nordic cab, which is similar to the Chariot)

Living off the grid with the two kiddos

Hiking with Two Boys

Tips and Tricks for Camping

Thank you to Ben for answering the questions and sharing your fabulous blog with us! (All of the amazing photographs were borrowed from his blog!)

Name: Ben Eaton

Ages of children:

Indiana - male - 5 years and Fisher - male - 3 years

Current occupation:

Advertising Sales for Rock and Ice magazine

Outdoor endeavors:

Most of the time is spent rock climbing, running (road and trail), and camping. I also like to keep my talents tuned for snowboarding, kayaking, backpacking, and a little mountain biking.

What do you remember about your childhood with respects to the outdoors?

I grew up in a family of 7 children. My father grew up in L.A. but was a big-time boy scout. This made it so that he was a BSA troop leader for most of my childhood. While living in Idaho and up-state New York, my Dad and mom would lug us kids into the woods to camp. I remember taking my first solo hike with my dad at age 4. He woke me up realy early and told me to be quiet, as to not wake up any of my siblings...it was just going to be he and I. I collected rocks and bones. He introduced me to eating MREs that day. My father also got me excited to be a cub scout and a boy scout. Before I was old enough, he'd take me on the campouts that he'd take his troop of local boy scouts. My parents always made it a goal to teach us the skills needed for the outdoors. I remember going on a lot of low-key fishing adventures, I think I remember the mosquitoes more than the actual fishing.

What is your favorite way to enjoy nature with your children?

I love taking them rock climbing, but that is more for my enjoyment. My favorite way to enjoy nature with my boys is on the bank of a river or on the shore of a lake. They love to splash and explore. Taking a hike that is near water is always a treat for all of us. I really like to see them experience new things and test their limits with the water.
What hopes do you have for your children related to the outdoors?

I really hope that they get to find out what they love the most about the outdoors and are able to pursue it at a young age. Indy shows great excitement about mountain biking and running. He is also getting to become a great climber. Fisher lives up to his name. He loves to swim. I don't want my kids to feel like they can't try a certain outdoor sport because they are limited is someway. If they show interest, I'll try to make it happen for them.

What is one indispensable item for enjoying nature with your kids?

Hot Wheels cars and race tracks, as well as the portable DVD player. Some people ask how we are able to do as much as we do outdoors with our kids. On our 2.5 month camping climbing trip, our boys allowed my wife and I to climb almost every day. I credit the race tracks and Hot Wheels cars. The boys would set those tracks up to make jumps and bumps and would race their cars over and over again.
One piece of advice for parents related to getting their kiddos outside and into nature?

Never use your kid as the excuse to not venture outside and into the wilderness. Your kids are more likely to survive the outdoors than you. Your kids run off of insticts, you run off of knowledge. Your kids will be safe. You will actually learn from your kids when you take them outside. You may have to carry more weight, take a lot longer, not go as far, not go as high...but in the long run, the adventure will be a lot more memorable and fun with your kids.

Westchester Walk

2011-10-06T14:28:00.001-08:00

About 20 members of the AOFN and their families, let their children breathe in the wonderful fall air today. We started at Westchester Lagoon and meandered along the Coastal Trail South towards Lynn Ary Park.

It was wonderful that people brought parents and relatives for the walk. The visitors got to see the mud flats, amazing snow topped mountains and a few moose. Children were in carriers, strollers, walking and one even rode her bike.

Even though it is getting a bit more difficult to get out of the house with the added layers of clothing, I am never disappointed! The boys don't fight, have fun and seem to sleep better at night. It is a win-win!

Shady Birch

2011-10-04T12:57:00.003-08:00

It was a wonderful day to test run winter clothes. It was in the low 30s as the children pulled off hats and parents put on hats again and again. No one wanted to keep their mittens on at first, but it seemed the children didn't resist as they were out longer. It felt cold, but the sun was out shining through the golden leaves surround the park.

I loved seeing the non-walkers in head to toe buntings with only little rosy cheeks exposed. I think it is easier for the older kids to stay warm as they can run around and generate their own heat! Those kids were in layers, but not many came off in the chilly air.

The slides were quiet popular as they had a sheen of ice giving them a bit of luge ride feel. Parents caught their children in rain suits, but the fleece clad kiddos slowed a bit.

There were new faces again and I am sure I didn't introduce myself to everyone. I hope someone made them feel welcome in the group! I had to keep chasing my children who spent most of their time in the trees.

it was a wonderful day and the children don't mind the cold if dressed properly. We continue skedaddling through the winter with lots of sledding, snow angels and fun at the deserted playgrounds!I hope you join us next week at the new playground near Westchester Lagoon. We will be there snow or shine (or hopefully both). Feel free to email any questions or concerns!

Symphony Lake

2011-09-29T14:19:00.000-08:00

This is usually a great hike, but it is under construction and actually will be closed starting October 3rd. If you take the Hiland exit up quite a ways until you see a brown state park sign for South Creek Road. Take a right and then turn right onto West River road and you can see the parking lot on your left. Just head up the trail! The park service said they are rehabilitating and sodding the old trail. The boys loved seeing the equipment!

It was a muddy mud fest though. Both my sister and I slipped and fell - no children were injured, but the adults got quite muddy (thank goodness for wearing rain pants!). We did see four moose though. One large bull and then three cows (females). They just sat and watched us pass. I think they were amused at us slipping about laughing. Hold off until next season and then give this hike a go!

The Fishing Toddler

2011-09-28T13:41:00.000-08:00

Tips for Parents of Aspiring Toddler Fisherman

(Examining the fish caught while Dipnetting)

My son’s first word was fish. He has been categorically obsessed with all things related to fish since then. We fish on a river quite a bit during the summer and do some ice fishing in the winter. When inside, the boys fish off the bed or couch!

Here some hints for other parents with similarly obsessed children!

(Life jackets were off as the boat is on the shore, only inches of water)

Poles

Fishing pole break easily and the reels don’t last very long. I suggest getting a cheaper one for play around the house and a more durable set-up for fishing trips
High test line works well tied to the end of the pole. You can attach a swivel for easy lure changes.
The top half of an old pole works well for a young fisherman
Fisherman also enjoy nets and these are great items that actually allow kids to catch a minnow easily
This can all be used for ice fishing as well, but you can often use a stick with fishing line and a simple hook with bait as well. This allows the child to simply pull up on the stick and retrieve the fish

(On the banks of the Little Susitna River in Alaska)

Casting

If your child wants to cast, the push button reels are easiest for little hands. The adult type (hold line with finger and pull top over) take a great deal of coordination
They often need a bit of weight for casting and a small washer works well and isn’t as dangerous
Reels with lights that go when you reel can help teach kids the motion
They have tried fly fishing, but it seems to encourage them to wildly fling all poles around in the air

(He is helping restring the reels. An adult can hold the spool as the toddler reels in the line)

Gear

There are many fishing items without hooks such as spinners, weights, bobbers and even those that look like little fish
They also sell Pixies with detachable treble hooks, so if you keep them you actually could reattach them later. Rapala lures are a bit expensive but the lures can be taken off and then on again later. They also look like fish are rather appealing.
My children most like the lures that look like small rubberized fish, but these have embedded hooks. I have used wire cutters to remove them, but I just avoid that aisle at the store now!
The plastic hooks on clothing also attach to a swivel and give your child the look of a hook
Tackle boxes are reasonably priced and provide a place to house your child’s gear
Get a light weight fish (stuffed animal or rubberized) that you can attach with the swivel

(Casting into a puddle near the mouth of Peters Creek in Alaska)

Good Luck and feel free to ask any questions! akskedaddle@gmail.com

Alderwood Park

2011-09-27T13:04:00.001-08:00

Brrr! It was chilly this morning. While some kids stayed cozy inside their fleece buntings and adorable knit hats, other refused even the lightest coat! I can understand their unwillingness to yield to the oncoming winter weather. The sun was out and sky looked so beautifully blue against the yellow Birch leaves. It was cold though - tiny fingers were red and cheeks usually flushed due to running were nipped with the chill. Parents talked of the best boots for kids and where to buy long underwear.

There were groups of non-walkers crawling in the gravel (and not eating too much!). There were some older kids on the train, though it kept getting stuck in the mud apparently. Another wonderful young explorer kept leading her mother off into the trees. It did seem that there was a lot of crying this time, but I can understand some tears when someone takes your "bar" or you slip for the tenth time on the gravel covered path.

I hope you join us next week and let us know if you find a perfect winter boot for toddlers or want to share a great sale on outer wear!

Two in the Pool

2011-09-26T10:52:00.001-08:00

Tips for Taking Two Toddlers Swimming

I have two boys- one is almost 2 and the other is 3 years old. It is complicated and a bit difficult to take them both to the pool, but they enjoy it so much (and sleep so well afterwards!) that is worth it. A couple parents asked how I do it and I thought that I would share a few tips from getting ready to the car ride home. If you have any other questions, just let me know! Even though skedaddle is all about getting outside with kids, I think that it is important for outdoor children to be comfortable in the water. Alaska doesn't provide many outdoor swimming opportunities, so the pool is a great tool to get the kiddos learning about water safety (walking near water, wearing a "boat coat" (aka life jacket), learning to float, etc.).

Prep

-I only bring my punch card into the pool (not entire purse)

-my children wear re-useable swim diapers, but I bring two disposables and a small container of wipes - just in case

-they wear rain boots and no socks

-they wear as much of the swimming gear as possible (swim shirts, swim diaper)

-when packing the locker, put items in order they will be needed; towels on top, then diapers and then clothes.

-I bring a large Mommy Hook for easy carrying of the 2 life jackets

-I get a locker in the corner to corral the kiddos a bit easier.

In the Pool

-I put them both into life jackets, the tighter fitting ones most like jet skiing coats (not the big orange ones) they can move around, but not feel uncomfortable

-I get the thicker noodles so they can both hold it and keep afloat a bit if needed

-I put my older child in a wetsuit by Belly Warmer that keeps him warm and my younger wears a long sleeved rash guard

Locker Room

-I skip the showers to get out of these faster and do it at home

-I take a child out of their gear and wrap them in a towel and onto a chair; then then next; then I get totally dressed

-I then use my towel for them to stand on for dressing or diaper changing

-I shove all suits into a large wetbag (I love mine by Monkeyfoot)

-I use a large open top bag so I can just shove everything into it and take care of stuff at home

-I always have snacks and drinks in the front seat for the ride home. We live 6 minutes away, but the second they are buckled in it seems they are starved!

-Before I had two toddlers, I bought a used sling and carried the little guy while in the pool. He was easy to keep track of and he kept warm next to me.

Kincaid via Jodhpur Lot

2011-09-22T14:36:00.001-08:00

If you want to experience Kincaid, but want a bit shorter drive and less crowds, the Jodhpur Parking Lot is a better choice. Take Dimond West from the Highway until it curves to the right and becomes Jodhpur St. In about 2 miles, the park entrance is on the left. The first lot on the right is best for hiking, but if the gate is open you can drive to the Motorcross park and easy access to the sand dunes!

Without snow, the trails are for everyone. When the trails are groomed for skiing, the options for walkers decline. In the fall, the trails are perfect for kiddos. There are trees, hills, wide paths and make you feel like you are in the wilderness (but only a few minutes from you car!). I love this area in the Fall as the leaves cascade to the ground - the kids had great fun trying to catch them along the way. The colors are amazing with yellows, greens, reds and oranges.

There are maps along the way, but I think they are terribly difficult for navigation. Here is a link to the Kincaid Trail system if you want to plan out a bit of a route. A few of us got separated from the rest of the Taiga Trekkers, but we made our way back!

Whisper Faith Kovach Park

2011-09-20T12:32:00.005-08:00

I loved sleeping with the sound of rain and wind outside my window, but it didn't make me think it would be very pleasant at skedaddle. I was totally wrong! It was a bit overcast driving over, but the sun came out and the coats piled on the ground. I must say that the termination dust (snow on the peaks) was very prominently creeping down towards town!

This is a cute little park with one of the steepest slides I have ever seen outside of an amusement park. One child would have shot off about 6 feet if not for an adult with great reflexes at the bottom. Most kids ran on the soccer field or played in the rocks.

It was nice to have a small area so the adults could get in some talking while their kids stuck close. It seems we have an outbreak of pregnancy within the group and it was nice to see women in all the different stages coming to the group. One was early on while another's due date is tomorrow!

Some people wanted to know about the name of the park and here is what the Park Foundation's website said : In 1998, the park was renamed Whisper Faith Kovach Park as a memorial to a seven year old girl who was struck and killed by a car in front of the park while getting ice cream. Not uplifting, but there you have it.

Anchorage Park App

2011-09-19T07:26:00.000-08:00

Anchorage Parks has a new App that is currently FREE! Here is the link to the Itunes store.

Here is the description:

-Find addresses and directions to all 223 Anchorage parks
-Find out what park is closest to you and how to get there
-Fill out a Park Report Card for as many parks as you would like
-Give the city your feedback on our neighborhood parks
-Donate directly to the Anchorage Park Foundation

Beach Lake

2011-09-15T14:47:00.001-08:00

Thank you Harmony and the Taiga Trekkers! If you get off at the South Birchwood exit and go past Chugiak High School and then you pass the Beach Lake Chalet on your left, the next street is Beach Lake and go on that all the way until a large parking lot. If you head left and hug the lake after the cabin, it will take you around the lake. There are many ways to get to the inlet from here, but we veered off on a trail to the left before a culvert and uphill. It follows a tiny stream to the inlet.

It was a wonderful fall day with leaves falling and other clinging to the branches in bright oranges and yellows. This trail is great for little hikers as it was just under 2 miles round trip. You hike near the lake at first, then go into the woods on a wide trail and then hit the inlet. My kids ate a million high bush cranberries, which I thought were terrible sour. They enjoyed them though! They also got to do some fishing at the end of the hike. Great one Trekkers!

Oceanview Park

2011-09-13T12:42:00.002-08:00

Skedaddle filled up yet another of Anchorage's wonderful parks. Oceanview Park was wonderful for our large group. The two separate structures provided lots of room for the kids to roam. Many took at least one hike into the woods along the trails! I could see the inlet peeking through the trees, but as a parent told me it was across the railroad tracks I didn't mention it to the kiddos.

There were a few moments of rain, but nothing enough to dampen the kid's enjoyment. The used the bucket and tools (Thanks to Harmony) and did many runs down the slide.

The swings were also quite popular, but everyone needed help getting their children free from the small leg holes!

It was great to have such a wide range of ages here today. We had a tiny little babe tucked into her mom's Ergo and Peekaroo Vest. There were older children teaching the others how to climb up the rope ladders as well.

Everyone had fun and stayed dry (mostly at least!). I had to keep chasing my children who were running in the woods and didn't get a chance to talk with all the new people at skedaddle today. It was so wonderful to meet all the new parents and their children. I hope to talk with you next time, if I can corral my kiddos. Please join us next week and if you have questions, don't hesitate to ask.

-Tuesday night races are held tonight, rain or shine, at Cartee Fields near Russian Jack and the East Side Costco. We will be by the Red Munchkin Flag with an orange bandana. We might run, walk or come in last. Hope to see you!

Goose Lake Trek

2011-09-08T15:16:00.002-08:00

Thanks again to Harmony for brining the beautiful weather for our trek. The sun was shining and the breeze blew down leaves in yellows, oranges and reds. A massive group started off from the parking lot and we all wound up in smaller groups as some kids needed nursing, others rode along happily and others got out to sit in the dirt (yes, that was my dear boy).

I think Harmony said our round trip was just under 3 miles, it took us quite a while. I loved watching the kids run, walk, sit, throw rocks and just be totally oblivious to time and the wants of their parents. It is wonderful!

Little Dipper Park

2011-09-06T14:52:00.002-08:00

Fall was in the air, blowing leaves around and sprinkling rain drops on our heads. It did feel warm and no one got too wet, even though the little stream was speckled with drops. Little Dipper Park in Muldoon was wonderful for our children. The play area held their attention with slides, swings, stairs and a small intercom system. Of course, they soon ran across the grass and into the woods. The girls seem to play in the dirt and the boys tossed rocks into the water. They all walked together finding sticks and leaves as well.

It was a wonderful day and I love this time in the seasons when things are changing. A wind was blowing and I kept hoping to see snow dust the peaks. There is just so much energy this time of year. We talked of the hikes with the Taiga Trekkers and the Tuesday Night Races that start this evening. There are so many ways to start easing yourself into winter activities if you are not used to them.

I hope to see you at the next Skedaddle and don't hesitate to email me with questions or new parks you would like us to explore!

Alaska in 4+ hours

2011-09-01T20:23:00.004-08:00

We did the Alaska blitzkrieg today and it was perfect for little kids!

FIrst, we stopped by Bird Point to watch the Beluga Whales. The toddlers ran along the walk way, played on the beluga statues and climbed the stairs.

We grabbed a quick bite in Girdwood at the Bake Shop. The boys were asleep or we would have stopped by their most wonderful playground.

Our next stop was the fish viewing overlook on the road to Portage Glacier. The kids saw tons of spawned out salmon, ran along the little path next to the river and amused the tourists with their talk of fishing and salmon.

We then walked the one mile trail to the Byron Glacier. One child slept in the stroller the whole time and the older toddler ran along the trail and then played in the river at the Glacier.

We got home in under 5 hours with two kids who had the perfect combination of car travel and running in the fresh air!

I am not in a Mom's Group!!!

2011-08-29T05:00:00.000-08:00

It is not a “Mom’s Group”! That name makes me feel a bit claustrophobic and weak. My brain seems to think those groups only talk about dirty diapers and house cleaning. I know it is just a term that is actually quite descriptive of my group as we are mostly “moms”. Even though we were all brought together due to our role as a “mother”, it seems confining to me to continue to be labeled only as such.

My “group” is called the Anchorage Outdoor Family Network (AOFN) and that title seems to let me breathe a bit better and not say the name with as much cynicism in mixed company. It is a “network” of parents (not just mothers) who hike, play in the rain, fish and take their kiddos along. I can see that some people might see this group as rather homogenous and conjure images of the REI catalog, but it is amazingly diverse.The diversity is one of my favorite aspects of the AOFN. I seem to find pieces of what I strive to be as a person in the members.

I try to emulate the calm and positive energy of one member, the forthrightness of another and the amazingly adventurous spirit of another. When forced to go shopping, I channel one’s style. I think of another while cooking and another’s parenting style when faced with two unruly toddlers. This hodgepodge makes the group have so many lively discussions, be filled with such energy and be such a fabulous “network”.

We have vegans, gun-toting hunters, business women, same sex couples, teachers, republicans, single parents, gardeners and an alligator wrestler (such a great story!). It doesn’t take long for me to find out about a recipe or ideas for a cranky and teething toddler. I can quickly get a survey of methods for potty training and discipline. This “network” provides reviews of baby carriers and will tell me which winter boots to definitely avoid this year. I love that some advice I will take to heart and others I will accept with a nod and make a note to self not to do. Instead of just reinforcing my own ideas, I am constantly challenged and provided with alternative views.

I hope that by staying with the group, I can continue to learn, experience contrary attitudes and grow as a person. Instead of settling comfortably into my idea of the perfect “mom”, I can develop into the person I want to be for myself and my children.

The AOFN is a free group of parents wanting to share their love the outdoors with their children. For more information about the AOFN, please visit their site on meetup.com.

Slow Down!

2011-08-25T18:29:00.002-08:00

I am learning to slow down. I tried Yoga in college and had such a hard time during the meditation time that I usually spent the time making mental lists. My children are forcing me to stop trying to be first and go the fastest or push the hardest.

I am starting to appreciate a flat, mile hike (that is round trip) that takes two hours to complete. We splash in every puddle thoroughly, investigate (and smell) each flower and pick up every stick on the trail (or near to the trail) to toss into the trees.

They don't care if we are the last people in the group or if we don't move a few hundred feet from the trailhead. I am loosening up and learning to be present in the moment. They are helping me notice the red flowers hidden under the trees that I missed with my eyes on our destination. I also don't step in the bear scat or moose droppings as I used to, because they point it out with a yelp.

Instead of getting a rush from scrambling up to the top of the peak, I now rejoice in my kiddos running hand in hand down a path. It is different and I am starting to like it. It is relaxing and seems to energize me at the same time. I used to be exhausted after blasting up a trail, but now I can get back to my car and have my head not going in a million directions.

Thank you boys, for slowing down your Type A mother for a bit each day!

Loretta French Park

2011-08-23T13:43:00.002-08:00

(Link to the Anchorage Area Playground Specs for the park)

This is one of my favorite playgrounds with a wonderful, natural setting. Even though it is less than five minutes from the highway, you feel secluded next to the huge hill and treed surround. It was pouring rain in town, but held off while the kids romped and played. Nonetheless, there was a chill in the air. I think it might have gotten to 50 degrees.

We met some new families and got to visit with old friends. It is interesting to see how the children are beginning to interact and play. On the flip side, as the children develop their personalities are also emerging. I have discussed with many people how the "threes" seem to be more trying than the "twos".

Some children ventured up the mountain and others made "cookies" under the play structure. Parents spoke about getting the kiddo's wardrobes ready for winter. The never ending search for the perfect winter boot continues along with finding mittens that stay on and keep little hands warm.

If you have spare time on the way to the Valley, stop by this park and I am sure you won't be disappointed. I can't wait for winter to do some sledding here as well! Please join us next week for more fun. Everyone is welcome!

Bear Spray

2011-08-22T08:01:00.002-08:00

It seems that most hikers (especially those with little kiddos) can be seen on trails with bear spray. I read an article indicating that most of those people don't know how to use it. They know there is a safety to release, but you know how to do that? Pull or push the trigger?

Here are some tips (website has bear information and stories as well)

Buy only products that are clearly labeled "for deterring attacks by bears." The spray should have a concentration of 1.4 percent to 1.8 percent capsaicin and related capsaicinoids.
Bear Spray generally has a 3-4 year shelf life. Replace regularly.
Bear Spray should be carried on hip in a holster and not inside a backpack.
The canister should show a net weight of at least 225 grams or 7.9 ounces.
The spray should be released in a shotgun-cloud pattern, not a stream, and should be released at a minimum range of 25 feet. The cloud should last at least 6 seconds.
A hiker usually can get an initial shotgun-blast cloud of spray out ahead of them, both the sound and the sight of the cloud has caused many bears to retreat immediately.
If the bear continues to approach, even at a full charge, the first blast seems to deter many bears as soon as the bear feels the effects of the initial blast. Further spraying directly toward the face of the bear often deters even agitated and aggressive bears.
If a person has too small a can or insufficient spraying distance, he or she will have used most of the spray in the first blast.
The amount of spray becomes even more important on windy, rainy or cold days, or when encountering a highly protective sow with cubs or a bear on a carcass.

Kincaid Playdate

2011-08-19T12:36:00.001-08:00

It was raining for a playdate with our friends who are shipping out to California next month. As usual, the kiddos didn't mind the weather. I wonder at what age we start checking the forecast and deciding the weather isn't good enough to head out to play. The little kids went down the slide and the older children ran down the hill and up again. It was quite a nice time and we sure will miss J and his mama!

Kincaid Walk

2011-08-18T17:53:00.002-08:00

The Taiga Trekkers took us (and 30 others!) on a walk down the trail and back up to the playground. There were tons of raspberries along the way and lots of bikers (keep your kiddo to the side). The playground at the top is fine for little kids, but let the older ones run (or roll) down the hill as they are in eye sight the whole time.

(Picture from harmon of Taiga Trekkers - click here for her write up and other fabulous pictures)

Fish Creek Park

2011-08-16T13:17:00.001-08:00

It was sunny and hit 70 at the park this afternoon - amazing as a few days ago it was decidedly cooler and a few leaves fell to the ground. This park is off of Turnagain and is wonderful with lots of green grass, interesting equipment and a little creek at the back edge. The road was not that busy and float planes glided in the air to land at Lake Hood.

I couldn't get a good count of kiddos as they were running wild, picking wild raspberries at the edge of the creek, zooming down the slide, driving bull dozers and bouncing on a dinosaur.

It was wonderful to visit with so many different parents. There is an abundance of pregnant mamas right now and those of us who already have two shared stories and hints. One wonderful mother brought homemade cinnamon rolls that were so amazing, thank you A!

A purple dino for bouncing!

The bringer of cinnamon rolls!

It was wet when we first arrived and I sacrificed a diaper to remove the pool at the bottom of the slide.

This is a bull dozer. This is not a tractor.

One mother keeps a rubbermaid in the back of her truck with sand toys. We all appreciate it!

The bouncing dino rides again!

This little one had a cast on her arm, but ran around and jumped like a champ.

The benches were perfect for parent chats and corralling children.

Such a fun day and amazing weather.

Byron Glacier

2011-08-11T15:55:00.002-08:00

Thank you Harmony, from the Taiga Trekkers, for an amazing afternoon! We hiked the Byron Glacier Trail which is a great toddler hike. The wide and gravel covered path skims the river and is only about 2 miles round trip. It ends at a wonderful river and glacier! The kids waded in the glacial river, walked on the edge of the glacier and tossed rocks until they were exhausted. The weather was unusually warm and sunny. My boys had such a wonderful time that I had to carry them both back to the car, asleep!

Berry Recon Mission

2011-08-10T18:37:00.000-08:00

We did a recon mission up to Glen Alps and the Powerline Pass Trail. The crow berries were strong in patches and the blue berries need a bit more time. There were some bushes, but the best ones were under the alders for some reason. Our little group wanted to go to the German Bridge, but were turned around by word of a Grizzly Bear in the trail. While I wouldn't mind seeing it from a distance, I didn't want to meet one in the trail with two kiddos in the stroller. We only got enough Blueberries to eat, but had tons of fun as my kiddos wore rain gear and boots so they could splash (and wade) in all the puddles!

Worm Playgrounds (Carlson Park)

2011-08-09T12:54:00.001-08:00

First off, I would like to apologize to those of you who tried to find Carlson Park and were led astray by google maps. I can't imagine driving around with my two kiddos trying to find a place to play. I am going to remedy this situation and try to prevent it from happening in the future. This park was a new one to me as well.

From Northern Lights, turn right onto Lake Otis. Take a right onto Cornell and it ends at Stanford. (there is a paved path ahead of you between the houses). There is a dog clean up station, trash can and post awaiting a sign.

It was a rainy one so everyone was able to use boots, splash suits and rain boots. This park is not completed and lacks the rubbery, safety material. Our kids didn't mind as the exposed rock and mud let them find WORMS! Maria, our resident worm whisperer, picked them up and the kids loved touching them and seeing them pull back and inch away.

Some playgroups make fairy houses, but we made a worm playground. We dug a hole, put in some rocks and then added worms. It was fun to see them slide down the rocks and climb over the edge. Great rainy day fun!

The lovely rain also gave us puddles for splashing. It was wonderful to see them run in place to make huge waves of water. Some tossed rocks endlessly and others sat down for a rest in the puddles.

This equipment looks to be interesting for climbers with bars, walls and a strange slide that none of us were sure how to use. They have bouncers and a castle with sand dumpers as well.

A lovely field has a lake on the other end that a sign said was stocked with trout! I didn't mention this to my kiddo as our pole was at home.. Next time kiddo, next time.

Campbell Creek Trail!

2011-08-04T20:47:00.000-08:00

The green along this trail is stunning.

I really enjoy running on the Campbell Creek Trail trail from Albrecht Fields to Campbell Creek Park (just over a mile). It is lined with trees that are thinned from the trail for safety. It has gentle rises and hills with benches. There are bridges to cross over winding streams that hold salmon at the right time of year. I love all of the Sitka Roses and Fireweed while my kiddos like the turn offs leading to overlooks. This would be a great walk with your children (keep them on the right as many bikers and runner frequent this trail). The creek is a wonderful motivator on the way there and then just make sure you have a great treat in the car when you head back!

One of the wonderful bridges! (my kiddo fishing)

We met the Taiga Trekkers at Campbell Creek Park for our Thursday hike (every other week is stroller friendly!). I love seeing all the parents from all over the country. Kids were in back packs, front packs, fancy running strollers, bikes and umbrella strollers. Some people power walked, while others had kids running and went at their own pace. We all met back at the playground and the kids splashed in the water. Such a wonderful day in the sun!

Post walk swimming!

Fun in the water!

Sand Dunes!

2011-08-02T16:04:00.001-08:00

There is a hidden gem to keep in your back pocket to use as bribery when the kids are driving crazy. Tell them you are going to the sand dunes - yes, Alaska has a huge hill of sand. It is great fun in the summer with a cool breeze, the winter for sledding and in the rain too!

Three other parents joined us in the wind and rain for digging, running and puddle splashing. We walked through the motocross park which was wonderful with hills, dirt and muddy fun. It took us on a long route to the hill of sand where we made a huge hole, climbed in the trees and were naturally wild.

It was a wonderful day with the mountains looking gorgeous in shades of blues and greys with a misty covering. The inlet was being churned up from the wind and looked rather mean. After about a half hour, the wind died down and rain stopped. It was warm and we had so much fun.

We capped off the day with some puddle splashing. I had my rain paints and the kids had rain suits so nothing stopped us from jumping and making waves. Water was on my face and covered my son's glasses.

I hope to see you next time!

Dipnetting in Kasilof, AK

2011-07-28T23:16:00.000-08:00

Necessary Equipment

One Dipnet - The larger the better.

Waders - The taller the better.

Many people hesitate to bring their children onto a boat for fishing or even onto the bank with all the flying hooks. A safer alternative is dipnetting where you stand in the water with a huge (5 foot diameter), long handled (10 foot) net and wait for a fish to get caught and pull it onto shore.

I took my boys down to my cousin's "fish camp" (or their land near the mouth of the Kasilof River) so they could get up close and personal with lots of fish. I don't actually classify this as "fishing," but rather "harvesting" or "catching" to fill the freezer. If you are an Alaskan resident, the personal use (not to sell) limit is 25 for the permit holder and then 10 more for each additional household member. We could hypothetically "net" 65 fish this year. I don't want to even get into how long that could take to clean and package.

My children ate camp food, played in the dirt, ran in the grass, got sandy at the beach and slimy with the fish. I suggest full body rain suits for the children to keep the sand, mud and fish scales off of their clothes as much as possible. Rubber boots, a sun hat (or rain hat!) and a large container of baby wipes are also good items. It also is nice to have an umbrella for a wind break, copious snack options and fluids.

Basically, you wade out into the water with your net out as far as it will go and resting on the river bottom. You hold the handle and wait for something to get caught. My kids were so excited whenever someone started to wade out of the river towards shore as this was a sure sign they had a fish in their net. It would be wildly flopping around and make my sons squeal and jump.

I saw a man fishing with his son in a back pack and thought this was wonderful. I also saw a young boy holding a small net in about a foot of water excitedly pulling it up every other second looking for a fish. When the fish are really running, that boy could have caught a large salmon!

My sons could watch fish, dig in the sand and run down the beach. It is a wonderful place to give a child a little bit of freedom in an amazing, natural setting. I didn't worry about dirty pants from sliding down sand dunes or eating a s'more without washing their hands for the day. I don't even know if they brushed their teeth before bed. It was an escape from civilization and leap into a great world of dirt, slime and mud.

Some safety considerations:

Life vests are a good idea as you are near a river with a quick current and fast rising tide
If your child is fishing, anchor their net to something heavy on shore. This allows them to fish, but not get pulled off their feet if a large fish enters their net.
Have a non-fisher designated to watch the children as there are lots of people, ATVs and water.

Canyon Road

2011-07-28T16:46:00.001-08:00

It was an amazing day for a hike with the Taiga Trekkers. I suggest that if you have a truck (but an adventurous lady in a Prius made it) drive to the upper parking lot. This gets you on the actual trail sooner, which is important with kiddos. This is the trail at the end of Canyon Road towards Rabbit Lake.

The trail is straightforward and with the brush, it is easy to stay on the trail. I suggest a bear bell and spray as we saw fresh bear scat. There are many little "streams" crossing the path making fun for toddlers. The hike is a gradual uphill that didn't seem to terrible even toting a kiddo. A jogging stroller could do this, but it would be hard work. The trail has rocks, but is wide enough.

We turned around at the first clear area after a quick rest. The kids ran down the trail with a few stumbles and falls, but no terrible injuries. We saw many people and dogs on the trail, but that is not always the case so be prepared!

KFQD Park

2011-07-26T15:37:00.002-08:00

After a string of rainy days, the sun was out for our skedaddle. The kids ran wild on the huge expanse of green grass with small mounds. The small play structure was perfect for the young kiddos with low steps and slides. Parents were able to talk about their summer fun, potty training and growth spurts. I had missed skedaddle last week and it seemed that the children have grown so much in that short time. Children are on their tip toes getting ready to walk and others starting to talk. See the write up for more playground information.

I hope we see you next week at the sand dunes for some fun. I have heard that people bring sleds and slide down, but that might be just a rumor...