Physical Fitness:

This is HUGE for both of us. A lot of this trip’s odds for success can only be achieved if Bobby and I are in the best physical shape of our lives. During the trip we will be either pedaling 30-40 miles a day, backpacking 6-13 miles, or paddling 6-8 miles a day, for 20 days (We will have rest days interspersed throughout the trip).

In the last four years my body has been through a lot. I have been in full on baby-making mode. I have gained and lost close to 50 pounds, twice, I went from a B-cup to a D, to a C, back to a D, and finally seem to have resettled into a B, my rump grew a pant-size after Jack was born and has yet to get any smaller, and while my arms are super-toned from hauling close to 50 pounds of kids around on a daily basis my legs are weak and need lots of work. Also, my once solid abs are now a mushy mess that need some serious toning.

Our plan is to hike, bike, or paddle every day until our departure date. Often times we are getting a hike done in the morning and a bike ride in the afternoon. Paddling is trickier as it is a little more weather-dependent and involves more prep and travel time. But, we are doing our best to sneak in some practice there.

Hiking

For hiking we have both kids in an Osprey Poco carrier. I carry Rowan in the Osprey Poco Plus while Bobby has Jack in an Osprey Poco Premium.

During the week our practice “hikes” are currently 1-3 mile walks through our neighborhood.

On the weekends we get in longer, more rugged hikes when we have the time to drive or are on other adventures.

As my strength and stamina (not to mention our ability to get out the door in a timely manner) increases, so too, will our mileage. We currently have empty packs, aside from our kiddos so we will also begin to add gear and weight as our training continues. It is my goal to be hiking/walking 5 miles a day with 35-40 pounds on my back. While Bobby will be aiming for 50 pounds on his back.

Biking

Biking has become my favorite activity when it comes to training and I love trying to get a 7-10 mile ride in every day if I can manage it. I will sometimes go after Bobby is off work or, if I can sneak away during afternoon nap time for a quick ride, I do (one of the benefits of Bobby working from home is that he can listen to a monitor just as easily as I can!).

We also got to spend last weekend in a camper cabin at True North Basecamp in Crosby, MN which is in the heart of the Cuyuna Lakes area, known for it’s mountain biking trails and many lakes. We were able to cycle almost 12 miles on the Cuyuna Lakes State Bike Trail. We recently got new bikes for ourselves and a new Burley Cub Trailer for the kids.  So it was definitely a fun ride as we began getting used to our new setups.

Jack will undoubtedly insist on biking sections of the Mesabi trail with us, so he got some great practice in, not only on the paved trail, but also an awesome run on a mountain bike trail in this outdoor recreation mecca!

It will be my goal to be riding 15-20 miles a day as the trip draws closer.

Canoeing

As I stated previously training ourselves for the canoe portion will be tricky. I am hopeful that the stamina we build up from our hiking and biking will increase our ab strength and allow us to be stronger, smoother paddlers. Also, training in-home with canoeing-specific exercises is part of our regiment. That being said, we do also hope to hit the water on at least a weekly basis. We are thankful to live in the Minnetonka area where lakes and public boat access aren’t difficult to find!

We just got out on a lake for the first time with our new Northstar Northwind 20 canoe with both kids and it was so fun! The cabins at True North Basecamp are steps from a rocky beach with access to the small lake, Armour Mine No. 2. It was windy, slightly drizzling, and cold (45 degrees) but Jack has been asking almost daily since winter began if the ice was off the lakes yet and can we please “new” (ergo: canoe). The whole drive up he excitedly watched the canoe through the sun roof and when I told him we could only canoe if he took a really good nap in the car his eyes immediately shut and he actually fell asleep! So, there was no way we weren’t going to go canoeing despite whatever weather we were going to encounter. Rowan thoroughly enjoyed her time in the boat until it was time for her to eat and then we learned just how fast we can paddle the large 20 foot canoe back to shore!

It is our hope to be completely comfortable and confident in the boat with both kiddos. We still need to figure out logistics and seating arrangements with the two kids so finding a solution that works for all four of us is key.

Relationship Goals

We recently went to a presentation by the women, Alyce, Lisa, and Vicki, from Source of Confidence who were the first all-female expedition crew to successful canoe the longest river system in North America. It was a grueling 4,000 mile, 7 month journey but they learned a lot about how to stay friends and how to deal with the “uncomfortables” while on their trek. We are taking their sage advice to heart and are doing our best to have an open line of communication with one another about our fears, worries, excitements, opinions, and needs.

The last major trek we undertook was 4 years ago when we hiked the 122 mile Kerry Way in Ireland. We didn’t have children yet and still tempers often ran short but, we learned how to pick each other up and improve bad situations so hopefully those skills will serve us well on this adventure!

I know that for me, especially, this trip is going to be challenging because I value and cherish alone time during the day. Not having that time to myself, not getting any sort of a break from the kids, and being in potentially high-stress, physically demanding situations is sure to test our relationship and my own mental stability. We will be physically exhausted and yet will need to continue to parent, be spouses, and care for our own needs. Talking with those who have gone before and getting their insight has been huge. I’ve also been toying with the idea of reaching out to my therapist and possibly getting in a few sessions before the trip just so I know how to deal with my postpartum depression and anxiety during the trip.

Skill-Set Improvement

We are very confident about certain aspects of the trip but know that there are other areas where we are more uncertain. We also know that there is always room for improvement and more to learn.

First off we have talked for years about taking the National Outdoor Leadership School’s First Aid Wilderness Course and decided to finally take the plunge, spend the ridiculous amount of money, and enroll at the course offered at our local REI. Going into the backcountry for an extended period of time with a baby and a toddler it seems like the responsible and smart thing to do. We want to be sure we are knowledgable and know what to do should an injury or illness hit any of us while out exploring. We probably should’ve taken the class long ago but I’m glad we’re doing it now.

I would like to take a Map and Compass course, as I generally rely on Bobby and/or GPS for that and I would like to be knowledgable and prepared should anything terrible happen.

We are also going to be taking some paddling lessons from the wonderful Alyce from Source of Confidence. Having paddled two major river systems in North America we know we chose wisely for someone to help us with our, somewhat, lacking paddling skills. We are anxious to become more efficient and less snippety with each other when out on the water.

Overall, we have a lot of training to do, a lot of talking to do, and a whole lot of learning to do. We definitely have our work cut out for ourselves over the next couple of months before go-time but we are so excited for all the adventures we have planned until we set out. Camping, backpacking, and canoeing trips with friends and family are quickly filling up our calendar and we couldn’t be happier as we know each trip and experience will bring with it new lessons learned and more experience gained!

So, as we are beginning to realize the scope of this undertaking we are taking stock of our gear. What do we have? What do we need? What would we like? The list is lengthy and the costs associated our sometimes eye-bulgingly steep. But, while this is the first trip of it’s ilk, we know it won’t be the last. We know that the gear we invest in for this trip will be with our family for years to come. Some of the gear we need to buy includes, but is not limited to, a backpacking tent large enough for the four of us, ultra light sleeping pads, an additional portage bag, a cooler portage bag, lightweight camp chairs, ultra lightweight backpacking stove, personal locator beacon (PLB), a new, easier to use water purifier, and lastly new bike rigs for the whole family.

Thus far we have only done one quick overnight of backpacking as a family of four. It went exceedingly well, but our 8lb, bulky tent weighed heavily in Bobby’s pack. Our backpacking tent research has been extensive and almost a year in the making. Our trusty spreadsheet has every little detail of every family-sized ultralight tent option out there. Bobby has laid awake at night thinking, reconsidering, questioning, and always coming up with what we know what would be the most ideal tent, but the cost is so exorbitant we couldn’t possibly justify it. In the end I found a great deal in Backcountry.com’s recent sale on the Big Agnes Copper Spur 3. It isn’t the roomiest or lightest tent we considered, but considering the price and the fact that it has two big vestibules for extra storage we think it’s a good compromise. We’ll post a full review once we put it through its paces.

We had invested in 3 Exped Symat HL Medium Wide sleeping pads over the winter during one of REI’s sales. Sadly, on that first quick overnight one was punctured and we are now faced with the option of buying another or opting for a double wide mat that would probably be more conducive to co-sleeping with two kiddos. We found that rolling up 3 separate sleeping pads in the morning took a lot of extra time so a double wide mat should speed up that chore.

Latigo laying on the popped pad

We have one behemoth of a portage bag from Granite Gear but know that with a trip of this length (planning 6 days of paddling) we are going to need additional packing space. The portage cooler bag is also high on my list of priorities. This is a long stretch of time to have two kiddos on a rehydration diet so if I can spoil them on the canoe portion with more fresh meal options I would really really like to. We are looking to either Kondos Outdoors, Cooke Custom Sewing or Granite Gear for those options.

Lightweight camp chairs will be our luxury item during the backpacking section. Six days of backpacking 8-13 miles a day with 50+ pounds of gear and kids draped on your body in some fashion is going to be grueling work. A backrest at the end of a long day on the trail will be worth the extra pound! Thankfully, REI’s anniversary sale is coming up and their brand of ultralight chairs will be 25% off!

We decided early on that a PLB should become a staple in our packing list. We have a lot of anxious family members who are dubious of our safety when off on big treks with the kids. Bobby has been known to go out at night, climb the nearest mountain in the hopes of finding cell service, and sending out messages letting Grandmas back home know we’re safe. Having a way to communicate our location and status (even one-way communication) will help to ease a lot of the fear of our family. Also, we will be able to receive weather reports, and heaven forbid something did happen, we can call for help regardless of location. All in all a hefty but worthwhile investment for our adventure-loving family. We’ll likely spring for the Garmin inReach Explorer as it offers two-way communication, shares our location to family back home, and doubles as a GPS device.

I bought my MSR ceramic water filter when I was 19 years old and headed out for my first adventure in the Bob Marshall Wilderness in Montana. Twelve years later and we’ve finally decided that it’s time for an upgrade! Don’t get me wrong, it’s still going strong, but we’ve found that in the lakes in the Boundary Waters we have to clean the filter after every single use. In the mountain streams in the Sierras and Cascades where we used it before it could pump dozens of liters before needing to be cleaned. We’re still investigating our options here. We do also have a Sawyer Mini and Steripen that we’ve used in the past, but at least for the canoeing section of the trip we’d like something that can filter large quantities of water faster.

19 year old self on the Great Wall

We have never done much biking and, I admit it, I have always been a debbie-downer when it comes to said activity. I grew up with a father who loves to bike and even braved biking from St Paul, MN to Duluth, MN (160 miles) with two of his teenage daughters along (I was not one of them.). I have never been a person who likes to go fast. I don’t tend to speed too badly while driving, on the rare occasion that I snowboard I am one of the slowest on the slopes (seriously three year olds zip by me), I’ll take a lazy day on a calm lake versus white water rapids when canoeing, and when hiking I generally bring up the rear. I like to mosey. I like to get caught up in my own day dreams. I love to watch the world around me.

My new bike!

Knowing that I will need to bike 30-40 miles a day for two consecutive days on this trip had me anxious. It also had me asking Bobby if maybe we could invest in a new bike for me. I love the sparkly, purple Diamondback bike my parents bought for me back when I was 16, but 15 years later and I decided it might be time for an upgrade. We met a very knowledgeable and enthusiastic REI employee who found the perfect bike for me. It’s a 2017 Co-op Cycles ADV 1.1 Bike and I am seriously in love. I have taken to heading out solo after long days with the kids and burn off all my anxiety. I have gone faster on this bike then I have ever gone before! It’s so much fun! Bobby has some serious bike-envy so we will be upgrading his bike as well. I lovingly bought him his current bike when we were first married and it was as much as we could afford at the time, he’s due for an upgrade!

Rowans learning to love bike rides!

We bought a bike trailer for the kids at a garage sale last summer for $8. Needless to say it’s pretty old, fairly well used, and not the most conducive to long distance riding. So, we are dealing with the agonizingly steep cost and investing in a Burley D’lite Bike Trailer. We plan on having both kids in the trailer, Rowan will be in the infant sling. We are fully aware that many Americans don’t believe in children under one year of age being in trailers, but it is common practice in Europe, and it seems to be the perfect solution for our family especially with a trailer that has a suspension like the Burley.

Jack and his balance bike

Jack loves to ride his balance bike and we know he’ll want to ride some of the Mesabi Trail on his own. He’s just about ready for a pedal bike so we’ll be getting him a Woom 2 for his birthday. The Woom 2 looks to be the perfect step up from a balance bike so we’re really excited to see what he’s capable of on it. When he’s too tired to bike we’ll put the bike on the back of the Burley trailer which will mean we’ll be carrying some extra weight, but it’ll be worth it to keep him interested and engaged on those big mileage days.

We are in intense prep and train mode. It is our goal to get outside every day whether by foot, bike, or canoe as we prepare for our 20 day adventure that is sure to test our limits in every respect. Stay tuned for more posts on prep!

Jack on the trail at 6 weeks!

Again, we spent a long time debating the addition of another baby. After we decided to give it a go we had a miscarriage in October, 2015 while visiting Acadia National Park. I was beyond devastated. I wasn’t sure if I would ever be willing to go through with trying for another baby ever again. Bobby’s words following our miscarriage really solidified in me a desire for another child. He said, “It feels like there’s a hole in our family. We don’t feel complete.” That was the moment I realized he was right and that I was willing to risk it and try again.

In February, 2016 we found out we were pregnant again!

White Sands National Monument the day we found out we were pregnant!

The pregnancy was harder then I had expected and while I was able to do some adventuring along the way, I wasn’t nearly as active as I had been when pregnant with Jack.

38 weeks pregnant with Jack and hiking at Mt Rainier National Park.

7 months pregnant with Rowan in the BWCA

Being an adventurous person and being an unhappy pregnant person is an unfortunate combination. When Rowan’s Due Date began approaching I was filled with fear and dread. Jack’s birth had been 2 days long with 2.5 hours of pushing with 2 codes being called. Our birth plan was thrown out the window and in the end I was able to deliver him vaginally, but it was an incredibly stressful experience. I feared Rowan’s birth would be just as difficult. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Part of why I began this blog was to create a virtual journal to help me remember the monumental moments in our life. I have a notoriously bad memory so writing out our adventures is a great help!

While we have done some pretty amazing things in our lives, the birth of our two children remain my biggest adventures ever. So, here goes, Rowan’s birth story!

At 4:30 in the morning on October 25th I awoke and experienced a small gush of fluid. Not thinking much of it, since I wasn’t having any contractions I fell back asleep. An hour later and I awoke to a slightly larger gush of fluid. Huh… Weird… Maybe my water was breaking!

I have an “irritable uterus” and had been having Braxton Hicks contractions every 10 minutes or so since 17 weeks pregnant with Rowan. But, all that had come to a stop. I had GroupB strep so I called our midwife and headed to the hospital in order to receive the antibiotics that would protect Rowan.

By the time we arrived at the hospital a little after 6:00 a.m. I still was having no contractions but my water was definitely broken! We got checked into triage, put on the monitors, and hooked up with my first round of antibiotics.

The midwife on call told me that from this point on things were up to me. They would wait up to 12 hours after my water broke before interfering. But, if I wanted to sooner I could.

As we prepared for the labor and delivery of Rowan we knew she would be our last baby. I also knew that I wanted Bobby to be completely present at the birth with me and not need to worry about capturing the moments on camera. So, I enlisted the help of birth photographer extraordinaire, Alicia, from Alicia Faye Photography. All these gorgeous photos during the birth are thanks to her remarkable talents!

We opted to walk the grounds of the hospital to see if we could get things moving along. Alicia met up with us along the way.

Nothing was happening and we were both running on a full nights sleep so we decided that if there was still no action by noon that we would opt to be induced. The thought of receiving pitocin terrified me. My history of an overactive uterus and Jack struggling to survive as my body pushed him through a difficult labor had me extremely apprehensive. I called my mom, knowing I would need the extra support as I navigated this birth.

My mom was also with us during Jack’s labor and delivery. She is a calming, reassuring presence to have in the room. During contractions she would place her hand on me, sending me the energy, the strength, the courage, and whatever else I needed to make it through.

Three hours after receiving pitocin labor finally started.

We had toyed with the idea of a water birth so were placed in a room with a large tub. While we were prohibited from delivering in the tub due to the pitocin, I was allowed to labor in it. The tub was so big it was actually a little difficult to find a comfortable position, but once I did, the warm water helped as my labor progressed and intensified.

The contractions came strongly and swiftly with minimal breaks in between. I struggled to keep up and lost the rhythm of the labor.

Bobby became my rock. I clung to him needing him close. Needing to feel his strong steady breath. He was my anchor trying desperately to keep me calm and focused as panic attacks threatened.

Rowan was in a slightly odd position so my amazing midwife, Suzanne, had me labor in various, uncomfortable positions in an attempt to get Rowan to move to a more desirable spot. It was agony to labor in these positions but with Suzanne’s steady guidance, a nurse, my mom, and Bobby all supporting me, both physically and mentally I made it through and we got Rowan moved.

I had hoped for a drug-free labor but it wasn’t to be as I sobbed out that I wanted the epidural. The time between contractions was too short. I couldn’t recover. I needed help. The anesthesiologist was soon there and I received a bit of relief.

My labor had been back labor. Rowan’s head was pressed up against my tailbone so the epidural didn’t do much for that pain, as it was bone on bone. My midwives encouraged me to rest. The lights were turned out and we all settled in for a nap. Alicia finally took a break to get some food. Minutes later the pressure intensified and wouldn’t stop. The midwifes were called back. I was fully dilated and ready to push. Alicia came running back. Rowan would soon be with us.

It was our hope that Bobby would be able to catch Rowan, with the help of our midwife, and we weren’t disappointed.  Everything was going well and he got into position and was taking directions from the midwife. He was mildly terrified after being told she would be slippery and not to drop her!

Soon enough, at 11:14 pm, there she was. On my chest. Screaming. And enormous.

I couldn’t believe she was here. So much waiting. So much hope. So many prayers. Here she was.

At all my prenatal appointments, I always measured about a week behind so the midwives assumed she would be a smaller baby. Nope! She was huge! Weighing in at 8 pounds, 15 ounces and 21.5 inches! My midwife proclaimed, “You were ALL baby!” We couldn’t get over the size of her biceps!

Bobby’s love for his little girl was instantaneous. The bond made quickly. The love shared.

It felt amazing to have our family complete.

Rowan showed us her strength by raising her head moments after being born. “She may be small, but she is mighty!” had been my mantra through labor and she has most definitely lived up to it; rolling over at 7 weeks, at 3 months she already has full neck control and wants to sit up. She loves being on the move, she loves being sung to, she loves making her opinion heard loud and clear, and she loves her brother.

The last 16 weeks have been a crazy rollercoaster ride full of emotions, firsts, struggles, love, smiles, tears, and so much more.

Welcome to the world Rowan Margaret. There is so much to see and learn. We can’t wait to watch you on the remarkable journey you are sure to take through life.

While living in Washington we completely immersed ourselves into the outdoor recreation scene that flourishes so vibrantly in the Pacific Northwest. With a plethora of ecosystems, a variety of recreational opportunities, and an ever-growing group of remarkable like-minded friends we adored living there. Our weeks were spent in the heart of downtown Seattle, both living and working, while our weekends were spent adventure-seeking in the mountains. We tried everything from rock climbing to white water rafting to mountain biking to backpacking, camping, and hiking.

Mt Pilchuck, WA

After we welcomed our son, Jack, in 2014, we immediately began to long for the deep roots that having family close by offers. We had developed amazing and deep friendships with an extraordinary group of people in WA and I still refer to them as my, “Friend Family”.

Jack and Wendy at Garabaldi Lake, BC

However, not even those relationships could fill in the gap left by the lack of nearby Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, and cousins.

When Jack was 7 months old we packed everything up again and made the journey back to MN and our newly purchased home in the western suburbs of Minneapolis. We are steadily approaching our two year anniversary of being back here in the land of 10,000 lakes. We moved in the dead of winter but our house was lit, warm, and filled with our large immediate family ready and waiting to help us unload our massive moving truck.

Over the last two years we have continued to live as adventurous of a lifestyle as we had grown accustomed to while living in Washington. But, it’s different. Different in almost every way possible. Mountains are scarce. We have a toddler and a newborn baby along with us now. We are discovering the remarkable and beautiful opportunities for outdoor recreation that the Midwest has to offer. AND, often times our family is along with us on our adventures.

When we decided to take the plunge and head into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCA) for the first time we called my sister, Katie, who immediately jumped at the chance to join us and help us.

Jack and Aunt Katie in the BWCA

When we wanted to tour the southern shore of Lake Superior in a camper my parents happily came along, giving us a ton of help and even a kid-free hiking date along the way.

Jack and Grandpa Bud on Madeline Island in the Apostle Islands, WI

Bobby’s parents joined us, too. It was his Mom’s first camping trip in 20 years and her first trip to the BWCA.

Three Generations of Paddlers

Jack and Rowan will grow up adventuring on multi-generational trips, something I find incredibly remarkable. They are growing up with cousins by their side and aunts, uncles, and grandparents coming over for a visit, a party, a playdate. The childhood they will have amongst this truly incredible family we have is beyond blessed.

This last week has been…hard, just doesn’t seem to cover all of it in all honesty. A stomach virus made it’s way through our house and it was a doozy. Long-lasting and butt-kicking. But, our family was there. There to help. There to talk to. There to listen. Bobby’s parents spent a day with us helping. My parents took the kids and I in when it hit Bobby over the weekend. They were just there. No questions asked. No thanks needed. No strings attached. No guilt. Just there.

Jack and Grandpa Bud in Duluth

It’s easy to question why do we live in Minnesota? It’s cold. The winter is long. The summers are hot, humid, and mosquito and tick infested. And then we remember. We remember the support, the love, the free babysitting, the magical childhood Jack and Rowan are getting. And so, we endure the cold. We sweat through the humidity. We scratch our way through mosquito-filled air. We check for ticks. And we enjoy the remarkable beauty that abounds in this state through all four seasons. The beauty found in the distant Northwoods, in the nearby Nature Centers, in the city parks around the corner. We have learned over the last two years that adventure can be found wherever you look for it. We are so grateful we are here.

Jack and Grandpa Mike in the BWCA

After suffering a miscarriage I felt the darkness taking over. I felt that fear was beginning to control my life. It was rewriting who I was and what I was capable of. I didn’t want to let that fear, the fear of losing everybody close to me, rule my life. So, I stepped outside. I felt the sunshine, the rain, the snow, whatever Mother Nature was throwing at me, I felt it. I let that fill me up. I watched birds soar, deer graze, and squirrels dart. I heard the wind in the trees, felt the patter of rain on my hood, and smelled the scent of winter creeping in. I found a quote that became my mantra as I was hiking my way back to happiness, back to the light. “Nature is always lovely, invincible, glad, whatever is done and suffered by her creatures. All scars she heals, whether in rocks or water or sky or hearts.” -John Muir

It is remarkable how healing a walk on a trail can be. The still, quiet air of a forest listens and hears all my fears and sorrows. It takes the burden of them off of my shoulders. People often ask why I love hiking so much. Why is it such a huge part of my life? For me, it’s the simple fact that I found myself in the wilderness. I entered wilderness for the first time when I was a confused 19 year old girl. I didn’t know who I was or where I was going in life. Seven days of solitude, in the quiet of the woods I found the answers. I listened to my heart in a way I never had before, in a way I didn’t know existed. Going to the wilderness rejuvenates my spirit in a way that nothing else can. When we lead busy lives with family, children, jobs, friends, pets, and so much else depending on us it can often feel like we’re drowning. In the quiet of the wilderness you can take some much needed time to quiet your mind and listen and feel and be aware of yourself. Mother Nature gives us the amazing gift of being the best listener and friend.

Wilderness isn’t always easy to access. It can be a challenge to find the quiet needed to truly hear your heart. But, walking in a neighborhood with friends, with children, or with family presents it’s own unique healing qualities. The laughter and chatter of friends can be a welcome distraction. The conversations that occur while hiking are often deeply rooted within us and I have found myself speaking more openly to hiking companions on a trail then I ever would elsewhere. Watching a child explore and discover is a truly magical experience. It reminds you of the hope and wonder that envelops a child.

Finding a path back to happiness and light isn’t always easy. There are often bumps along the way, raging rivers to cross, turbulent weather patterns to make your way through but the journey is a huge part of the process. In the journey you will learn new things, discover new strengths and weaknesses, and find who in your life will help you on your way.

When tragedy strikes near your heart, remember that you aren’t alone. Remember that others have walked the same or similar path. Remember that with time will come new perspective, understanding, and grace. Remember not to let the darkness win. Remember that happiness, light, and love are worth the effort.