Scotchmans' Peak, September 10th

 Hiking is one thing we love to do with the kids. It may take a bit of cajoling and preparation, but over time it is getting much easier. Candy bribes sometimes make it easier, if I remember to bring them along. For some reason the hardest hikes are some of the easiest, bribes or no bribes, as I think the kids feel so much more satisfaction than a simple hike nearby. This was one that heard a lot of complaints on the way up, but was rated 5 stars on the way home.

Early last fall we took the kids up Scotchman's Peak, just above Clark Fork, Idaho. It's the tallest peak in the Lake Pend Oreille area, so gives some fantastic views. The four miles up and 3,700 feet elevation gain makes for a grueling climb, and an increasingly painful descent on my knees each year.

Clint had just interviewed for his Michigan job a few weeks earlier, so we knew this could be our last chance for awhile, if forever. September is great for fitting in as many outdoor activities as possible, few tourists, usually good weather, after the summer hubub and before ski season hits. We even opted out of soccer last fall to squeeze as much of our nice September weekends as possible.

We waited for a day we knew would be a little cooler, and it was, maybe a little too chilly, or we were just underprepared. Some days I'm just happy we all have shoes that fit, let alone ones that are appropriate for the conditions. Despite the chill at the top, we were happily rewarded with this goat also enjoying the views from the peak. If I had to pick a favorite animal, it just might be a mountain goat. I can just relate. Looked like he also found us a little amusing, or he was just chewing his cud.

Mia was especially happy to try out her new camera. That girl's got talent. I love seeing her light up when she is inspired by something. All the kiddos had a fantastic look of awe and pride of having made it up there. Those grins on their faces are just about as satisfying as the vistas around us, maybe even more so.

Kenna was especially proud to sign the mountain log at the top. She may have been the youngest to climb on her own 2 legs, and if not, surely the smallest! That girl's got more endurance than the rest of us combined. Not that she didn't voice some complaints on the way up AND down, but she was the first one later on to say it was her favorite hike!
  

Hikes down a mountain are always fun with our crew, hearing the kids barrel down the mountain, feeling so free as they see how fast that they can make it. I usually want to do the same thing, I just have to keep my mom hat on and help Clint keep any stragglers in tow (he's much more patient at that, something I love about him). This day we all sprinted when we could, just to keep warm and to avoid the pending storm.

I felt so liberated on the way down, knowing we can all tackle something like that together AND enjoy it. Not having a baby carrier on my back was also a new, bittersweet experience (Clint will tell you, that Kelty was awfully hard for me to give up...he never got it, it was my only ticket to freedom some days). My knees still hurt, this time from age, but the view and sound of giggles and chatter took care of the pain.

I hope that somewhere along the line we all make it back for another climb, if not soon maybe even a decade or so later with a few of our kids with kids in tow or on back. I'll be sure to bring candy bribes. If I can catch some of those smiles at the top, too, I know my mothering will have had another little success.                                                        For more info on hiking Scotchman Peak and other Sandpoint, Idaho area hikes, see the Friends of Scotchman Peaks website.

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