On the nature trail at Kensington

We hiked a little at Kensington...

...with the kids today. It was the first day this year that the temperature approached 50 degrees, and it was muddy, messy, and beautiful! Maria especially was eating it up ... my heart leaps when I see her strutting down a trail, all confident and bossy-like. She was in the lead most of the time. I must get her out this summer for a backpacking weekend.

Speaking of Maria, I went into her classroom last week to talk about the Appalachian Trail. They are finishing up a unit called "Seeing the USA" and the AT seemed to fit right in. I let them try all of my equipment, made them some backpacker food, taught them a little about maps, and stuff like that.

Two months from today....

....I will be starting the next section of "Appalachiapalooza," or my Appalachian Trail odyssey. Ever looked up the definition of odyssey? "An extended wandering or journey." That about sums it up. With an emphasis on "extended."

Note to self: start working out, in a punishing fashion, to prepare for many hours of upward climbing.