Category Archives: Backpacking with Kids

Squirrel on Mt. Magazine (part 3)

Posted on May 12, 2017 by Ozark Hiker

<– part 2 Woke up on Sunday morning around six to the sound of blackbirds.  I heard the nylon shushing sound of Squirrel shuffling awake.  He said something derogatory about birds and I unzipped the hammock. While he was sitting … Continue reading →

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Squirrel on Mt. Magazine (part 2)

Posted on May 9, 2017 by Ozark Hiker

<– (part 1) Easing into the overflow primitive campsites on Saturday afternoon, I couldn’t help but notice the motley array taking up the far south end of the area.  A huge transport van hauling a trailer.  An old Ranger with … Continue reading →

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Squirrel on Mt. Magazine (part 1)

Posted on May 8, 2017 by Ozark Hiker

Thursday, driving Squirrel to school, he laid his criteria down upon me.   When I pitched the initial idea of a daddy-date, I really was thinking I’d be on the hook for some animatronic pizza and maybe seeing a new Marvel … Continue reading →

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Paternal Epiphany

Posted on May 8, 2017 by Ozark Hiker

My greatest paternal epiphany to date begins, not unusually, with Kat.  He’s been putzing out on me lately.  After two weeks of frigid monsoon April mayhem, May finally arrived like your first sane adult girlfriend and the weekend was going … Continue reading →

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2015 – Bear Bait & Squirrel make a resolution

Posted on December 8, 2014 by Ozark Hiker

Isn’t even New Years yet, but this is worth blogging about.   I’ve written over the past few years about me ‘n the boys.  Momma for the most part has been content to let us go do our wilderness thing. But … Continue reading →

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Learning from tragedy

Posted on March 6, 2013 by Ozark Hiker

Around mid-January, a news story caught my attention.  A dad and his two sons, out on the Ozark Trail in Missouri.  Just a day hike, on a day that started out in the 60’s.   Rain comes in, gets colder.  Dark … Continue reading →

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“. . it’s a wonder I can think at all.”

Posted on February 17, 2013 by Ozark Hiker

I have some leave coming up that I have to take, about three days.  The last three of the week.   February is one of my favorite times to hike and we’ve had such mild weather lately that it has been … Continue reading →

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Raising boys

Posted on February 11, 2013 by Ozark Hiker

  I’ll admit, I don’t always feel like I have a handle on fatherhood.  That initial shock I felt as I drove Bear Bait home from the hospital – you know, that terrifying realization that they just gave an infant … Continue reading →

Posted in Backpacking with Kids, Devil's Eyebrow, Random Off-Trail Musings | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Devil’s Eyebrow

Posted on February 10, 2013 by Ozark Hiker

Started out as a cold morning and I trusted the weather report a bit too much.  Dressed the boys in track pants and long sleeves.  Bear Bait was excited to wear some of his Christmas present gear, particularly an under-armor … Continue reading →

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Exploring Devil’s Eyebrow

Posted on February 10, 2013 by Ozark Hiker

We’ve had a long run of beautiful, Spring-like days this Winter.   Momma had signed up to jump in Beaver Lake for the Polar Bear Plunge and there was no way I was going to hang out lake-side in the cold … Continue reading →

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