I remember talking to my grandfather a few months before he died. I was visiting him in the nursing home outside Hershey, PA and we were holding hands. His were shaking from Parkinson's. I squeezed them tight. I told him all the things I wanted to say but hadn't. But they all boiled down to something simple: You are a good man, I told him. And his reply seemed to put everything in perspective, something I've carried with me through all the highs and lows, confusion and inadequacies of fatherhood. "I've tried to be," he told me. So, I'm trying. And that feels like something.
Just added this to my backpacking list with my 11 year old daughter! I had the same reaction you did when she finally said ‘yes’ this summer. We’re going to Penner Lake near Donner Summit, not BLM but accessible!
Amazing! It's an awesome hike. Can't recommend enough. This is a Wilderness Area managed by the Forest Service. So not BLM land either. Not a lot of high altitude mountain lakes on BLM land. :)
This one really resonated! Took my 6yo daughter on her first backpacking trip this past May. Starting them young 🤩
Overnighter in the Sespe. Kept it local and easy. Low expectations at that age with a swimming hole as a reward 😋
Love this. And love that Wilderness, despite only a few brief excursions. Swimming holes are a great reward. And gummy bears.
Hell yeah!!! Where'd you go?
May this be the first of many more shared adventures in the wilderness to come! (Also, love your book.)
I sure hope so! Thanks for the kind words about my book. I'm so glad it's resonating.
Gold star for being the best dad ever.
I remember talking to my grandfather a few months before he died. I was visiting him in the nursing home outside Hershey, PA and we were holding hands. His were shaking from Parkinson's. I squeezed them tight. I told him all the things I wanted to say but hadn't. But they all boiled down to something simple: You are a good man, I told him. And his reply seemed to put everything in perspective, something I've carried with me through all the highs and lows, confusion and inadequacies of fatherhood. "I've tried to be," he told me. So, I'm trying. And that feels like something.
How exciting for a little girl to share this beautiful landscape with Dad.
Very grateful for these days!
Just added this to my backpacking list with my 11 year old daughter! I had the same reaction you did when she finally said ‘yes’ this summer. We’re going to Penner Lake near Donner Summit, not BLM but accessible!
Amazing! It's an awesome hike. Can't recommend enough. This is a Wilderness Area managed by the Forest Service. So not BLM land either. Not a lot of high altitude mountain lakes on BLM land. :)
Reading this a week late. Now on to Part 2!