Family camping trip through parts of New England

We had been planning an impromptu get away to the great state of West Virginia to explore the wilds we haven't yet seen there.  However, since weather dictates almost every aspect of planning we changed directions, en-route, and pointed due north to try to outrun the weather.

Our new destination, Massachusetts and the Appalachian Trail.  I have never even stopped in MA for very long in the past and never stepped foot on the AT there so this was very exciting to me.  My kids were on the fence about it but my wife was equally excited so it sounded good.  We had no information as to where we were going so we picked a local outfitters in MA and made a stop.

What an awesome place!  The building, as many do in MA, was strong in history.  It was a heavy timber framed building built in the 1800's.  There was a very nice hiking trail in the back of the property as they backed up to a park.  After being stuck in the car for a few hours it was nice for the dog, wife and kids to get out and stretch/explore a little.

The name of the store is the Arcadian Shop.  Complete with about the most gentle black lab I've ever witnessed, the store was loaded with goods, knowledge, personality and coffee.  While my 6 year old daughter took over greeting the dog, I met one of the friendly staff who asked what I was looking for.  I explained our predicament and asked for the maps of the AT in the area and whether or not they had any suggestions on where to go.  He pointed out a place on the map that met our criteria and off we went.

At the trail head the rain threatened.  We had not outran it but more or less stayed in step with it.  My wife was watching the radar telling me we got to get moving or we're going to get soaked.  I hurriedly packed up the packs with the loose items I didn't pack before leaving and fought to hold back the inquisitive puppy from breaking out of the car and eating the roving chickens that were near by and clearly not afraid of people.

The rain started every so slightly but never developed and we got on our way.  Unfortunately my son had a meltdown somewhere between getting started and something his sister did and for the next hour and a half it was pure hell dealing with him and his ADHD.  The heat, bugs and humidity didn't help.  As a parent I struggle every time this sort of thing happens because he's just not the loving happy boy we know and love when he gets in these moods and it's hard to enjoy sharing him these places and moments.

Once at camp, he was back to being his special, wonderful self.  There were things to see and explore.  He was responsible and helpful.  I got the tent and hammocks set up and then made dinner.  It was late, well late for camping anyway.  There were multiple thru hikers there and I didn't want to bother them with our family barging into their world.  My wife quietly read to my children in the tent Harry Potter as a light rain started to dance on our rain flys.  I was in the hammock, for the first time, due to the kids being bigger and having a dog, the three person tent that once used to fit all of us now is tight with the three of them and a dog.

I never thought I'd get to sleep, since I didn't have a bug net and the bugs were still a concern of mine.  Not to mention it takes a little getting used to before you can get comfy and sleep in a hammock.  However, before long I was snoring (so my wife says) and then my son was next to me at 6:30 asking me if he could take the dog to the lake.  I said yes with the usual comments about safety and knowing where he was going, etc.  He went and came back a short time later, proud and happy as can be... and hungry for breakfast!

The sun was out and it was going to get hot and buggy fast.  With the threat of possibly more weather on the way, we packed up and went down to the lake to enjoy the sunshine will we could.  The water was perfect, clear, clean and smooth as glass.  We had a nice swim, filtered some water, and after a while it was time to go.  Hiking back to the car was a nice change of pace from the day prior. Everyone was in great spirits and not a complaint was uttered.  We fought off the bugs, climbed the hills and got back to the car dripping with sweat and relief (my pack this trip was about 50 pounds and my wife's about 30).

We ended up grabbing some lunch in town, heading to Mount Greylock.  Bright sunshine, big white puffy clouds encompassed the area while we visited the visitors center and then headed to the summit.  My wife and kids got out at the top to explore and take photos.  There was a $10 parking fee and we weren't going to be there long enough to make that purchase so we did our thing and headed out.

Next stop was somewhere to spend the night in the rain.  And camping was not an option.  We ended up finding the Gray Ghost Inn, what a gem!  Dog and kid friendly, pool, hot tub and game room.  Affordable and comfortable.  We got to unwind on the back porch while the rain poured down.  The kids enjoyed the wifi and the owners dogs.  We ate at a local restaurant and got a good nights sleep.

Next we were off to the Rip Van Winkle campground in NY.  It's a great campground, especially if you have children, there's tons of activities and the kids love it!  After spending a very relaxing day and a half there we made a brief stop at a familiar place, the Saugurties Lighthouse in NY.

The kids love this place and it's great to check out every time.  We met some very nice people, swam a bit and enjoyed a break from the car.  We were running low on time so we beat feet and started the journey home.  Stopped at an unlikely restaurant in a ritzy hotel on the way for a very late dinner and made home before midnight.

A bit of a whirlwind trip, with some very craziness thrown in, but a very good trip no matter what.

Sure it's cold, but getting out in nature is even more than worth it

My friend's and neighbors often think I'm nuts.  For various reasons, most of which are true and good reasons to think that of me.  One of them though I don't think they think as crazy, they might even think it's an awesome idea, but none of them would venture out even for a few moments to try it.  I'm talking about getting out in nature when it's nice and cold.

We have a few nice parks around us, some with lakes or streams and most have a pretty good population of deer and bird life that are worth seeing.  Some places wouldn't meet up on some hikers lists of places worth going but when you've only got limited time and it's painfully close, you do with what you have.

Closest to me is Peace Valley Park.  There is a nice sized lake, with several trails both around the lake and in the woods.  I ventured to the Nature Center area of the lake today, it was surprisingly empty considering the overcast, snowy weather with the temps dropping and the wind increasing.  I was one of three cars in the lot, just the way I like it.  Once out of my 4Runner I heard my favorite sound of the wind whipping through the pines, it's a comforting whooshing sound that really relaxes me.  I made me way towards a mud and snow covered trail, camera in hand, and off I went.

Alone in the woods, the only prints in the snow were from deer and rabbits.  There were a few small birds around, I tried in vein to get a photo of them but due to the contrasting clouds none came out.  But that's fine.  The walk couldn't have been nicer.  The trail soft and quiet.  The sounds and smells of nature were out in force.  I made it to the creek, which is significantly lower then I ever experience it because they drain the lake pretty low in the winter.  It really allows many features that you'd normally never notice to pop right out of the remaining water.

The experience as a whole is so different, the silence, the wind, the cold cheeks, the soft footing... all things that you don't get in the summer and you certainly don't get by sitting on your sofa at home.

So the next time it's cold outside, get out some extra layers, head to a local park that you'd never go to in the winter and experience it for everything that it's not in the summer.  You might very well be surprised to see what it's all about.