Why Having Outdoor Pursuits without your Wee Ones is Still Important

Okay, I want to talk about something that I have been so fortunate to do recently: taking time for yourself to get outdoors again without your children. Yepp, I said it. And yes, this is a blog focused on outdoor pursuits in the Maritimes with your kids, however, for those of you who were adventurous and outdoorsy folks before having kids, I think it is important to continue to pursue your own adventures when you can. I like to call these "Mommy's and/or Daddy's mental health break trips". 

It is less about "ditching the kids" and more about not ditching your own identity and needs for enjoyment in life. 

Here are some reasons to make time for your own hiking/paddling/cycling trips (sans enfants):
*You can go faster.
*You can go farther.
*You can take more risks. 
*You can find much-needed quiet time! And/or social time.
*You can scope out a route that may be do-able with your wee one in the future (as mentioned here).
*You can have time to be YOU!
(In twenty years' time when your children have their own lives and you have an empty nest, you need to still know how to be you!)

Being able to take such a trip requires a web of support for sure! I am incredibly fortunate that my partner stayed home with our baby girl while I went away to hike Cape Chignecto with some great friends. In my 4 days of hiking the 53 km of the Coastal Trail, I was also able to scope out future day hikes and backcountry overnight trips that we will do with our wee one in the coming years!  

I returned feeling happier about the life I choose for myself and having more energy to hike and camp on smaller trips with my wee one! Not to mention feeling tremendously grateful!  I worked my body and mind in ways I wouldn't have if I had been hiking with my wee one. Parents are still people underneath all of their devotion to those little lives, and I encourage parents to not forget the 'you' inside, regardless of what that may be!

Sometimes, you just need to get away and have a nap in a brook!

The Highest Point in HRM: Blue Mountain (Hammonds Plains, NS)

Blue Mountain, while by no means an actual mountain, is the highest point in the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM). And as it turns out, it is also a great little day hike, especially for hiking families! It is in the ballpark of 5 km long (linear), and the terrain is old logging roads at first and then the actual trail is moderate in difficulty. It does not feel particularly challenging, but there are various log bridge crossings, steep areas, and a wee bit of climbing up boulders. It is not stroller-friendly (except for the log roads if you wanted to use a stroller for the first part and leave it at the trailhead). I did a blend of babywearing (in a kid carrier backpack with trekking poles) and of letting my daughter, now 3, explore on her own. 

There is a small amount of navigation required just to find the actual trailhead off the logging roads. I would recommend taking a map, though keep in mind that not all of the logging roads appear on the map. We did get a bit turned around initially trying to find the unmarked trailhead, but we used the opportunity to have our picnic lunch and to enjoy running free with my wee one! 

Once on the trail, it is wonderfully shaded, easy to follow, and fun for kids to overcome small obstacles such as stream crossings and mounting boulders! We counted five different types of flowers on the trail (in June) and saw a rabbit hop around within meters of us without a care in the world!

Just be cautious of rot in the bridge crossings! 

Navigating fun! Just look for the pink marker tape. 

Also: good to be cautious of little feet slipping between logs on the bridges! 

Life is great if you're the one in the backpack, eh?

When you get to the top, you will find a rope to help you mount the last boulder. Don't be too intimidated by this! It is really not too tricky at all, and kids enjoy getting to jump into your arms when descending. 

When you reach HRM's highest point, you will be able to see Halifax and Dartmouth, including one of the bridges. Lay a rock and enjoy the view together!

* * *

Please note:

There is a proposed expansion of the NS-103, which would be completely detrimental to this wilderness area. See below.