Flat Mountain Pond (First Backpacking)

We took our first backpacking trip with Little Boy more than two weeks ago. We headed north about 2.5 hours to the Sandwich Range in New Hampshire, remembering the Flat Mountain Pond Shelter as an accessible and exciting hike, suitable for a 5-year old boy. Unfortunately, we got a late 3pm start; 2 miles into the flat 4.5-mile hike, when it became apparent that we would not reach the Shelter by sundown (because SOMEONE was not even TRYING to walk), I sent Mr. P ahead to set up the tent while I coaxed Little Boy along the trail.

That was BEFORE I remembered the four not-easy brook crossings on the way to the Shelter. So, the thing about crossing brooks with a 5-year olds: They have little legs. They cannot always use the entrenched rocks to cross, so you may have to carry them. And you may, by virtue of their unstable weight and the rush of the currents and the whole goshdarn stress of the situation… you may fall into the brook, clutching your 5-year old furiously to your chest, crying out in pain as your calf muscle inexplicably spasms in some running-induced side-effect as it hits the frigid brook in a strange, abrupt angle… causing your 5-year old to, in turn, shout “Mommy! Mommy!” as his feet dip into the water… and it’s a horrible moment but one that, ultimately, brings you closer together, because you make it across the brook and you’re both a little wet, but you’re out in the woods in the middle of nowhere, alone, together, and the man who convinced you this trip would be a good idea is miles away, and since you can’t punch him, you must hug each other.

Of course, when we were about 1 mile away from the shelter, and the light was fading, Mr. P showed up to help us the rest of the way to the Shelter in the dimming light. What a satisfying yet disgusting dinner that was! As was the sleep! At least when we woke up, we could see everything.