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Hiking Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often on hiking trails.

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Old 08-28-2012, 11:04 AM   #1
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Default Hiking with granddaughter

My 8 yr old granddaughter is here for a couple of days because she wanted to go hiking with grandpa. So, at five o'clock this morning I'm suddenly startled into wakefulness by a little face 3 inches from mine whispering "Grandpa, wake up". (she didn't want to disturb grandma) After a quick breakfast, we headed up the canyon in my old beater car, dodging deer all the way. Tank was all eyes with his back feet on the back seat and his front feet on the center console and his head under the rear view mirror. He just loves to see where we are going and to watch the deer running around.

We hiked about 3 miles up the canyon climbing steadily gaining about 1000 feet. Unfortunately, our beaver dams were quiet and the aspen trees showed no new signs of beaver activity. Last year, she had quite the treat watching the beaver working on their dams and taking the smaller branches to their lodge. She did notice a yellow spot high on the hill above us in the rock ledges. At first, I thought it was just an aspen starting to turn, then it moved. Just a quick glimpse but definately a cougar sneaking away to a better hiding place. For some reason, she said she was getting tired right after that, so we turned around and came back. (I'm sure those tired legs had nothing to do with that cougar sighting)

Once in the car and heading back down the canyon, several young ruffed grouse were in the road. I told her "fool hens" and she hurridly got the window down. The birds moved off the side of the road and I drove by slowly so she could look down and see them up close. She asked "why do you call them fool hens?" just as three of them came flying right over the car and landed in front of us again. She then said, "Oh, silly birds". Ahhh life is good.


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Old 08-28-2012, 11:35 AM   #2
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I love it. It's a lucky kid who has a grandparent to hike with (as I know from experience). Nice luck with the cougar sighting; I've never seen more than tracks, even though I spend plenty of time in their neck of the woods (and canyons).


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Old 08-28-2012, 11:47 AM   #3
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This was my first ever sighting in the wild. I've seen tracks aplenty but I've never been in the right place before. And I might not have seen this one if it weren't for Taytum.


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Old 08-28-2012, 04:35 PM   #4
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Your granddaughter is one lucky little girl to have a grandpa who will spent time with her like that and you are one lucky grandpa to have a granddaughter who wants to spent time with you like this. Cherish each and every moment that you can spent with her.


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Old 08-28-2012, 07:50 PM   #5
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Definitely cherish your time as a grandpa.

Growing up I never had a grandfather. One passed from leukemia before I was born, the other lived in another state and only visited once a year at best, and then he didn't have much time to visit. He too passed away not really knowing any of his grand kids.

I do wish that I had got to meet my grandfather that passed before his birth. All I have are stories from my Granny about how I turned out so much like him, even though I never knew him.


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Old 08-28-2012, 09:27 PM   #6
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Grandpa,
Thanks for a sweet story. I can't tell who is the luckiest, you or your g-daughter.
I have tried to have similar experiences with my niece and nephew, but they are city kids and don't get it. I have had two kids in Big Brothers/Big Sisters. They both proported to be interested in the outdoors, but trips watching wild horses, deer, pelicans, herons, hawks, and eagles didn't really interest them, so we don't hang together anymore. I think you realize what you have with your family and were generous enough to share it.


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Old 08-29-2012, 11:19 AM   #7
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Priceless memories...


In this decayed hole among the mountains
In the faint moonlight, the grass is singing
Over the tumbled graves
--T. S. Eliot
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Old 08-29-2012, 12:53 PM   #8
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Awesome and so true. My parents hike with my kids too. I know a lot of kids that don't get to do these fun things with their grandparents (too old). I bet she will remember this forever.


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Old 08-30-2012, 10:02 AM   #9
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So nice! Thanks!


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Old 09-01-2012, 03:33 AM   #10
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Sweet story, your grandkid sounds like a real sweetheart with a good head on her shoulders. I can tell because she knew to back up as soon as she spotted that mountain lion. Of course now I imagine her cheerfully staring at people in their sleep come Christmas morning 'round 3 am.


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