The Joy of Slow Going: a whole family all day walk to Mt. Carrigain

Signal Ridge from Mt. Carrigain

When working on a list of peaks we are tempted to go fast. Most folks inevitably get in a rush to reach as many summits as possible on a given day or route. Trail running on mountain paths has only increased our need for speed. Yet something can be lost in relentless drive to rush through the wilderness. The woods and hills are often filled with subtle features that get overlooked while charging up the trail. I find the best way to slow down and look for these hidden gems is to hike at a 8 year old's pace, usually by walking with an 8 year old.

If you've read these posts before you are aware that I typically hike with "my two little mountain goats". The truth is that only one is mine. The boy is my son, the girl is our neighbor and his best friend. The girl has a younger sister (age 8) and a younger brother (age 3). Her parents and I decided that Sunday would be a good day for all of us to go into the woods together. My wife then wanted to come along as well. So all of us, 4 adults and 4 kids loaded into their van early on Sunday for a trip to Mt. Carrigain.

heading up the middle of Signal Ridge Trail

Taking a group this large and of such wide range in age/ability requires extra packing and extra patience. Not everyone can bare their full load, especially when one adult carries a toddler most of the way. Not everyone needs a break or a snack at the same time, but ultimately the wisdom of the herd prevails. We all choose to go along to get along when it seems like time for a rest. I believe the key to enjoying the slow pace of a family hike is to appreciate both the company & the surroundings.

looking up to Mt. Carrigain from Signal Ridge

I was reminded this week of a John Muir quote. He disparaged the notion of traveling through the wilderness at speed at all. Reportedly he stated: “I don't like either the word [hike] or the thing. People ought to saunter in the mountains - not 'hike!' Do you know the origin of that word saunter? It's a beautiful word. Away back in the middle ages people used to go on pilgrimages to the Holy Land, and when people in the villages through which they passed asked where they were going they would reply, 'A la sainte terre', 'To the Holy Land.' And so they became known as sainte-terre-ers or saunterers. Now these mountains are our Holy Land, and we ought to saunter through them reverently, not 'hike' through them.”

first snow of the season

We do not know precisely how Muir came to this opinion. He may have been inspired by Henry David Thoreau's essay "Walking" where he stated "So we saunter toward the Holy Land, till one day the sun shall shine more brightly than ever he has done, shall perchance shine into our minds and hearts, and light up our whole lives with a great awakening light, as warm and serene and golden as on a bankside in autumn". Indeed the entire theme of "Walking" is that we are enriched by spending time in the wilderness without aim or objective. Simply to remove ourselves from society for a day, to surrender to our wildness, is to find a substantial peace & joy. Or as Thoreau says himself  "For I believe that climate does thus react on man- as there is something in the mountain- air that feds the spirit and inspires."

mountain top naps are the best naps

In truth the only way to teach children a reverence for nature, is to revere it with them. The best way to revere it is to go into the wild with our children & adopt their perspective. All eight of us spent our Sunday morning kicking through autumn leaves and spotting curiously shaped trees. We were thrilled to find the first snow of the season when we climbed above 3500 feet. We reveled in the spectacular views of the Presidential range and Webster Cliff at the open ridge line. We were amazed at the 360 degree view of the mountains on the fire tower. We lingered over lunch and enjoyed a nap on the mountain top. We met new friends on the trail. We feed the gray jays before heading down. On the long slow walk back to Sawyer River Road we sang songs and ate chocolate to keep our fatigue away.

hiking out the last mile together

We got home half an hour after dark. It was a wonderful day in the woods.