My dad carried me (kicking and screaming, mostly) up Mt. Washington at age four. Just the intro I needed for a lifetime of high adventure. BY PETER MOORE, SPECIAL to BACKPACKER.COM
Your dad sounds like he was awesome, but if I were his daughter, I would have insisted on tagging along on those hikes, even under the threat of man farts! I miss the Old Man, too. 😥
It was just when I was very young that I got cut out. Soon I was a hiker in good standing, and ended up taking more hikes with my dad than my brothers ever did. I was the youngest, so I outlasted them! My dad and I were the only two from our family who made it into the 4,000 Footer Club.
When I was a sophomore in high school I was rather lackadaisical about my studies. My dad leveled me with his benevolent gaze and said, “Pete, you need to plan your work and work your plan.” And he was right.
And that’s the other thing about hiking: it’s companionable. Is there any nicer thing someone could ask you than: “Wanna go for a hike?” So generous. So engaging!
I learned to love hiking as an adult, on my own. My parent were not outdoorsy in the least. But they were also of the Greatest Generation, my dad a Navy veteran of WWII and Korea. So I recognize so much in this piece. Thank you!
We all find our way onto the trail by different routes. I was born into it, you discovered it. I think you deserve more credit. I didn’t know that hiking was a “thing” until my little classmates on the playground started asking me: “You went where? And why? To do what?” Because it’s there, for cripesakes!
Your dad sounds like he was awesome, but if I were his daughter, I would have insisted on tagging along on those hikes, even under the threat of man farts! I miss the Old Man, too. 😥
It was just when I was very young that I got cut out. Soon I was a hiker in good standing, and ended up taking more hikes with my dad than my brothers ever did. I was the youngest, so I outlasted them! My dad and I were the only two from our family who made it into the 4,000 Footer Club.
That is an impressive achievement - congratulations!
More like a dogged achievement. You kind just need to stick with it, and my dad was very stick-to-it-ive.
With all those whistles, hs must have been. "Stick-to-it-ive" - it's a good word and bears repeating.
When I was a sophomore in high school I was rather lackadaisical about my studies. My dad leveled me with his benevolent gaze and said, “Pete, you need to plan your work and work your plan.” And he was right.
You had a wise father.
Did I miss something, or did you skip Owl's Head?
Back off buster. I’ve climbed Owl’s Head twice! And what a major pain in the ass that is for so very little reward!
For that completely pointless second time, you deserve an Owl's Head hat. It's the 48er's version of 26.2.
I love this, hikers are a different breed! I am still hiking with much older women who ran past me up the mountains, they will live forever!
And that’s the other thing about hiking: it’s companionable. Is there any nicer thing someone could ask you than: “Wanna go for a hike?” So generous. So engaging!
I learned to love hiking as an adult, on my own. My parent were not outdoorsy in the least. But they were also of the Greatest Generation, my dad a Navy veteran of WWII and Korea. So I recognize so much in this piece. Thank you!
We all find our way onto the trail by different routes. I was born into it, you discovered it. I think you deserve more credit. I didn’t know that hiking was a “thing” until my little classmates on the playground started asking me: “You went where? And why? To do what?” Because it’s there, for cripesakes!
I’m not a hiker but I loved this essay. Thanks.
Hiking optional. Memory sacred.
Belated Happy Father’s Day 💐🥲💐