Leah: Dippikill August 2010

We spent a week away from home and headed upstate to unplug from technology and be one with nature. We went camping at the Dippikill Wilderness Retreat. Dippikill is a private 850 acre wilderness retreat facility owned by the Student Association of the University at Albany (Matt's Alma Mater). We haven't been up there since September 2007. Leah doesn't recall our last trip there but she had a blast. We hoped for the same this time around. Leah was about 6 months old the first we took her, Louis is a lil bit older. We knew he'd be just fine with the trip.

We stayed at one of their cabins called Twin Brooks. Twin Brooks is described as:

a rustic Adirondack style lodge nestled in a forested nook next to a babbling brook. The cabin has two bunk beds, a wood cook stove for both heat and cooking, small table and chairs, dinnerware for up to four people and splitting equipment to split the seasoned wood to stay toasty. This lodge has a pitcher pump for water, however we recommend you bring drinking water. (The pump no longer functions) The lodge is a pleasant 10 min. hike from the main parking lot and heated Bathhouse. There is also a nice skylight for natural light.

Porch

Kitchen Area

Wood Burning Stove & Firewood

Bunk beds

Dining Table

Propane Grill & Charcoal Grill

Firewood for chopping

Outhouse

The kids settled into our temporary home easily. Leah was immediately at home. She brought her stuffed animals, sheets and favorite pillow. She has no issues with transitioning from one place to another. Our children travel well. They both handled the car ride up to Warrensburg without any problems.

Matt received a huge tent for his birthday from his sister Lindsay. Matt set it up by the cabin. We wanted to camp out in it for at least a night or two.

Leah stood by and 'supervised'.

Almost there...

Actually it wasn't until the day Matt took the tent down that he realized it needed to be set up better. Not a big deal. It didn't fall on our heads while we slept.

The children slept well on the floor. You would think they slept on the floor all the time. They both went right to sleep and slept through the night. Leah slept better in the tent than she does most nights at home.

They both woke up not long after dawn and were wide awake. Leah kept Louis entertained most mornings. She is a great big sister.

Here are Matt, Leah and Louis spending some time together outside.

We built campfires and made smores. I like my marshmallows burnt on the outside, Leah likes her's slightly toasted. The smores were delicious.

Matt & the kids again. This trip was great for dad & kid time. Leah spent a lot of alone time with Matt. Their special daughter/father time will be remembered for a long time I think. One of the benefits of being out in the middle of the Adirondacks where we stay is how rustic it is. Your best company is whoever you are with. No electricity means no technology.

Spending time together in bed.

Some nights Leah spent time on her own. Off in her own thoughts.

When I asked her what she was doing she said to me "WHAT?!"

Wondering the grounds around the cabin.

Matt and Leah took a hike together to the Dippikill Pond and went out on a canoe. Leah said it was really fun to be out in the water with him.

We went on a hike up to Dippikill Mountain then hiked down to Dippikill Pond and back to the campgrounds. It was about 4-5 miles round trip.

You see where it says "DIPPIKILL MTN 1.3" yeah that is a big fat lie. You walk from here for about the 1.5 miles and you come to another sign that says "DIPPIKILL MTN 1.3". Then you go about another mile and what do you find? ANOTHER SIGN THAT SAYS "DIPPIKILL MTN 1.3". I was telling Leah that this reminded me of all the backpacking camping/hiking trips I used to take when I was a kid/teen with various people and groups. The signs were and guides were rarely accurate about the distances we would be hiking.

Leah handled it pretty well. About an hour into into the hike she complained and we explained to her that our options were turning around and heading back the way we came or finishing the hike. We reminded her that the only way out was by us walking out. That seemed to get the point across and she didn't complain much for the rest of the hike. She did however talk A LOT. Leah talked more than a lot this trip. I nicknamed her 'Motor Mouth'. She was nonstop. Whatever thought came into her head came out of her mouth. Fortunately Leah has some pretty amusing thoughts, many of them astute observations so it makes for interesting conversation.

Matt and Leah searched through the woods for bugs, animals and interesting plants.

Came across a lot of moss. Most of it very dry.

Stopped for break

Mini Summit

Finally made it to the top.

We then hiked down the rest of the Ridge trail to the Valley trail to the Dippikill Pond. Going back the way we came was out of the question. We went downhill for a good portion of the climb up the mountain. I remembered the Valley Trail was mostly downhill to the pond. It wasn' t wet so the steep downhill hikes weren't too bad. Leah made sure to take her time and take her steps carefully.

Matt and Leah looking for something to pick up in the pond.

Dippikill Pond

Leah was a bit annoyed. She wanted to go back in the canoes but we didn't have a proper lifejacket for Louis. Also it was going onto 3 hours and well into lunch time. We needed to get some food into Leah.