Snowshoeing with The Kid

As I mentioned in the last post, I picked up Big Niece on Friday evening. Our first stop was REI to pick out new boots and snow clothes. REI is just about the only store, other than bookstores, that Big Niece actually likes to visit. Most stores are sources of terrible torment for her because she HATES shopping for almost anything. However, REI is cool enough to overcome her aversion.

First we had to rent the snowshoes that she would use the next day. She found this interesting, and she became very excited when they brought out the kid shoes because they were orange! I wish I could get that excited about my favorite color. Next we headed upstairs to the hiking boots (you need good ones for snowshoeing), and we found a pair of lace-up, ankle-high ones in, get this, blue and orange! The thrill continues! Next came a pair of fleece socks (doggie print), a hat (blue), gloves (she was very offended that they were toddler-sized, but they fit so well she couldn't argue), convertible hiking pants (how cool is that! They zip off and become SHORTS!), and lastly a pair of gaiters to keep the snow out of her boots. Luckily most of the pieces were on sale, so we got the whole ensemble for less than the price of a coat. I offered to take it all to the car before we went on, but she wanted to carry the shoe box with her.

The next morning she was up at 7:30 (surprising because she's not usually a morning person at all) and raring to go. We kitted her out, tried to feed her some breakfast, and set off with a few of our friends towards the pass. We arrived there around 11am, and after a quick bathroom break we were on the trail. Then we hit our snag. About 3/4 of the way up the hill Big Niece was "Not having a fun time!"

She was hot, coughing a little, and even sort of tearful. I took off her hat and coat (she had many layers) and told her that we could go back to the car and wait for everyone else if she wanted. "No! I do not want to go back!" she said, so we continued on the trail at a slower pace. Soon after, we turned off the main road and onto a side trail that ran along the hillside. We also stopped and had a brief chocolate break. The combination did wonders for her spirits, and she informed me that "I'm having more fun now." After that we were golden.

She led the way for much of the rest of the trip. The pace she set was quite a good one, and I am still not sure what made her so unhappy at the beginning. Scrambling to the tops of little hills became a game with her. We at lunch on top of a tall snow drift, and made jokes about our bottoms freezing to the ground. We finished up with a little saucering near the car. When I asked her if she wanted to go again another time she said 'yes, but next time we should do a new trail so we can see new scenery." By the time we got back to town she was too tired to talk or even eat much dinner, but I can hardly blame her after having worked so hard. She really is a trooper, and we'll certainly take her again. After all, when you have that much cool orange snow gear you just have to make use of it.