When Clara decided she no longer wanted to hike in the backpack I was crushed. For almost two years I could count on her to be ecstatic at the prospect of going up to see the waterfall or climbing Rattlensake Ledge or Little Mt. Si. Not to mention I got a heck of a workout carrying an extra 25 to 30 pounds of baby and gear...
But, alas, it is no more. (Of course, now I have two years with Lilly, right?)
Clara still wants to hike, though. Good? Yep. Bad? Yep. How far can two little legs carry her? As I've posted here before she's managed a 1.5 mile round trip up to the first overlook on the Twin Falls trail and she continues to do this. Some days are better than others and there have been a few trips that go no more than 100 yards up the trail.
To help encourage her continued effort we've introduced Special Hiking Bites (TM). They come in a variety of colors and convenient little bags marked with some strange symbols that look to be M&M, but I'm not 100% sure. Clara likes the blue ones, especially.
The trick, I've found, is not to be too liberal with the SHBs (pronounced "shibs" like "ships," but with a "b").
I say, "Just up here is the bridge. What happens at the bridge?"
She says, "Special BITES!" and takes off with her backpack flapping behind her (or dragging through the mud more likely).
Thank goodness for SHBs. Clara loves them and Tokul will pass them up for a tasty blade of grass. I can even knock back a couple myself. I just have to remember to keep the green ones for Amy.
