Children!

But then, times changed. First, there was a new and demanding full time job. And then, death blow for our project: children! It is great to be with them. And it is great to spend time with them. Particularly outdoors, hiking, climbing and such! But it also means that there is not much spare time left all of a sudden.

There and back again

Some years later now, our beloved children start being able to play among themselves. Sometimes. Mainly, destroying furniture and stuff. The nice thing is that they do this quite enthusiastically. So I am able to work on those great live wallpapers again, now and then. Polish them to make them shine again even on todays top devices. And re-work the interior to make it function smoothly again with up to date hardware and android versions.

And so, back they are: our best and most loved Android Nature Live Wallpapers ever!

Please try them for yourself – highly sedative and reassuring. And, all these Wallpapers are great for children, too. In fact, our own children love playing around with them: raining flowers, jumping dolphins, gliding snowballs on the window and all that stuff!

Feedback

If you have any comments, requests, praise or review, please let us know below. This way you get in direct contact with us and with our community of users.

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The Hike to Ben Nevis

Top of Càrn Dearg

Our starting point was quite classically at Loch Ness, the big lake with the legendary monster in it. The transport there went quite unspectacular by plane, train and bus. Our goal from there on was to be as much in nature as possible and as little in civilization as possible. So we went on a meandering path southwestwards along the hills just south of Great Glen (the great divide splitting Scotland into two parts) for several days. The general direction was Fort William and, foremost, Ben Nevis.

Our girl with our only toy

Of Ben Nevis we had learned that it is the highest in all of nowadays Great Britain (1345 m). And that some quite interesting paths lead up there, even some sounding interestingly mountaineering-like. But we did not know if it is possible to climb one of those paths without climbing equipment and with a little baby girl around. So here are our experiences with magnificent Ben Nevis in family hiking mode.

Lochan Meall an t-Suidhe and Ben Nevis

We approached the mountain from the Northeast (“North Face Car Park”). There is a lake some way up the mountain (called Lochan Meall an t-Suidhe) on whose idyllic shoreline we pitched our tent. This way we were already nearly half up the mountain altitude wise (570 m, starting from near sea level) without even having begun the real climb. From here on the normal route leads uphill. This one is also called the “pony track” because it was used for supplying the observatory and a hotel on top of the mountain in former times. Even though the hotel project is long gone and the observatory abandoned the pony track still looked rather impressive to us. And rather too much like civilization for our taste.

Choosing Adventure

The ridge of CMD Arête and Ben Nevis to the right

But fortunately we already had found out at home that from the same starting point one can continue on to a beautiful round along an elegant ridge to the top. That one is called “Carn Mor Dearg Arête” and the description at walkhighlands sounded quite appealing to us: “For experienced, fit mountain walkers who do not mind easy scrambling but are not climbers, this is the finest way to climb Ben Nevis. This is a truly spectacular route incorporating two Munros. It will live long in the memory and does true justice to the mountain.” (Munros are the hills higher than 3000 feet, 914 m).

Our little lady, running around

So in the evening we tried out how to best get there. Surprisingly our little girl used this possibility to try her first steps on quite uneven ground. Her parents were anxious and proud at the same time, always seeing her stumbling and falling right at the next corner. But she did not fall (well, not very often) and instead seemed quite pleased with her adventure. Maybe a good sign for our planned climbing adventure?

Up we go: Child Carrier Scrambling

Preparing for the climb

Next morning, we put our little girl into her baby carrier (arguably the hip belt of this one is a bit flimsy?!) and began our hike along the foot of the mountain. It made for pleasurable walking, just the child and a little day pack on our backs. Below us, there were some clouds, above us the sunshine, this did look promising indeed!

This looks rather steep now!

We only had to walk a few minutes until reaching the beginning of the CMD Arête route. From there on began a steep climb up the side of the ridge. Quite probably there also is a trodden path somewhere nearby but we didn’t find it and fortunately also did not need it. The girl in the backpack did like the hike (while mostly sleeping) as did the pregnant mother and carrier animal (not so much today since the tent remained back at the lake) father.

View in direction of Fort William

Some way up the mountain site two things happened. First the pregnant mother needed a break for finding a little more energy. And as we succeeded at this task we were met by some fellow mountaineers. A couple just having completed the West Highland Way with their mountain guide, as it turned out. They were impressively well equipped and the guide just explained to them how to best use crampons and ice axes. We quietly hoped that we won’t be going to need such stuff since we only had some feeble excuses of crampons (“grödel”) with us that seemed not very trustworthy really.

On the Ridge of CMD Arête

Our mountaineering girls

But soon we forgot about this gloomy consideration. In particular when we reached the edge of the ridge with breathtaking views at the highland’s landscape on the opposite side. There we decided to have our first long break. Which indeed had been requested by the carried girl already some time before now (being calmed by little bits of cereal bar). Since apparently now our girl hat begun to like walking in the mountains we secured her with her children’s climbing harness and let her walk around where she liked. And she really seemed to like this mountain.

One of the narrower parts of the ridge

Now there was to come the more interesting and maybe even a little bit challenging part of the ridge. We were happy and excited. On images and video clips from action cams this part sometimes looked quite narrow and steep. But, well, those cameras tend to exaggerate a bit when it comes to exciting views due to their fish eye perspective on the world. Still, this felt like a very nice and pleasant alpine walk with great scenic views and not too much taste of adrenaline. Which felt quite fitting considering that we had a little girl in a child carrier (now again, and once more quite content) with us. And, arguably, there were one or two places where it seemed advantageous to touch the warm rock with one’s hands. Which felt great.

Still some snow along our ridge

Interestingly, there was still plenty of snow left on the northern slopes everywhere around in mid April. But the ridge itself – as nice ridges are supposed to – already was entirely free of snow.

To the Top

Mildly steep ascent to the top

Snow we met in earnest at the foot of the last steep ascent up the Ben Nevis mountain itself. There it was where the other group stopped and put on their crampons. We, too, stopped and had a break, with food and drink and views for girl and parents again. Surprisingly, it still was quite warm up here with near to no wind. So the place made for one more quite cosy picnic area on todays family scrambling tour.

Last chance to enjoy the view

The first few meters up this final hill went quite well, with magnificient view over the surrounding mountain ridges. To the south we could see the valley we would decide on crossing some days later on. Quite nice!

On the way further uphill we then again made two discoveries. First, fortunately crampons were not needed here. It was easy enough to put good steps into the snow.

There comes the Fog

And second, it started to get cloudy. Meaning, we really started being in the middle of a cloud. Which seemed quite fitting for the top of that mountain since it is said that this mountain is in clouds really most of the time. Luckily, by now we already had seen lots of the gorgeous view on the way up. So we were not overly disappointed about our cloud when finally arriving at the top of Great Britain.

Top of the Clouds

Father and child on the top of nowhere

There were also several advantages to this setting. This way the mountaintop with the old observatory and hotel did look quite enchanted and so very natural and impressive. And we did not see most of the other tourists up with us on the mountaintop. So we had our very private spot of flat snow with a range of vision of about 50 meters in the middle of nowhere at Ben Nevis mountaintop. We enjoyed another extensive picnic up there while our little girl more liked to explore the snow and try out her newly found cross-country mobility.

Rare view from the top of Ben Nevis

For about one hour we stayed on the top of Ben Nevis. Despite the clouds it still was neither cold nor windy up there. Or, at least wearing our warm down jackets it feeled quite comfortable. And we even got some little windows of sight here and there to see spots of mountain landscape here and there.

Down we go

Walking and sliding down the Pony Track

Finally, we started the descent over the pony track. With the effect of the clouds almost immediately going away. Again our girl had quite some walking meters down the path. It was there that we first learned how persistent this child of us can be in walking. She really showed a will to walk, slide, jump down this mountain on herself. And she did it, almost up to our tent (still quite far away at the far end of the lake in the snow-gliding picture). And it was no problem to her, that the path was as boring as could be expected of something called pony trail. She seemed just happy with her new found capabilities. Besides, we parents were happy, too, and went out there walking with her time and again (e.g. in Norway on the Fjordruta, just a little over one year later, she already walked really impressively long distances on her own).

Highlander!

Of course there was another comfortable break before we arrived at our tent. There our girl discovered that with a trekking pole you really can do the funniest of things. She even did some posing for picturesque spear throwing. Maybe another Highlander, some day? Be that as it may, some time later we safely arrived back (home) at our tent. What a great family adventure experience!

On goes the Trekking

Beautiful nature along the path

After a good nights sleep at the lake we continued to Fort William and our next camping site. After resupplying in the “big city” we walked a little bit along the famous West Highland Way. Then we had some more very nice days hiking along an alternative path to the West Highland Way southwards (Glen Nevis, where Highlander, Braveheart and Harry Potter have been filmed!). It has been a very good idea to come to Scotland for our family hiking trip!

One word about Nature

This is what most forest here around looks like.

The Scottish countryside and particularly the Highlands are great and magnificent. But they are by no means untouched. In times long gone, there has been forest on all those hills. Where there is forest now it to the most part is heavily cultivated (event though the Scottish try to change this as of late, encouragingly). And the tundra-like Grassland that covers these high lands now is just the result of centuries of logging (building mostly ships with the wood, it is said). Even though, these hills can be gorgeous. And those sheep that roam the lower hills, while being called curse of the land by some, are really rather cute to watch (see e.g. the picture here on the top).

Der Beitrag Of Hiking with Child and Climbing Ben Nevis erschien zuerst auf Outdoorfamily.

Now follows the description of one stage of our hike from hut to hut, then as a family of four. The day begins at a hut with the pithy name Grytbakksetra somewhere in the middle of the Fjordruta. We plan to reach Hermannhytta at the end of the day, which is about 16 kilometers away. This distance marks the maximum of the possibilities of our self-walking (almost) four-year-old hiking girl at that time. And even the (almost) two-year old hiking-boy will eventually push for arrival at the next hut. So we try to get away early in the morning. After changing diapers, breakfast, brushing our teeth, cleaning up the hut, of course.

First, we unsuspectingly follow the sign pointing out “Hermannhytta” directly at our hut. This immediately leads us to a river. And a smiley who laughs at us from the other side from a rock. Aha, so one is supposed to wade through here. Crossing rivers is sometimes an adventure even without children. With children it quickly becomes an expedition. Either the children walk through the cold water themselves, then the river must be very shallow and clear. Or they are carried. Then the carrying parents want the shallow and clear ford. Potentially exhausting operation, this one.

But: didn’t we just walk over a bridge at this same river a a few hundred meters upstream the day before? That sounds much more relaxed, for starters! So, off through the bushes, a bit along the shore, to the bridge. Although it has no railing, it seems quite trustworthy and comfortable. Over with us!

A few meters further down the other side of the river, we find some impressive giant cairns. Our hiking girl is highly interested and explores them from all sides. Since we do not have a guide, we have no idea what particular kind of attraction presents itself here. No matter, it’s nice to look at! Back on the actual path, there follows a bit of easy hilly terrain. According to the map, the remaining trip today should be quite straightforward now: we cross one, two, three more or less extensive valleys. And then we are at the next hut.

The first valley turns out to be wetland. Fortunately there is an easy crosses on one end of it. The children are still running and exploring the path enthusiastically, even uphill. On the next hill it is very idyllic (see cover picture), and from there on we quite soon reach valley number two. Now with only one walking child left – our little one got himself a place in the child carrier and fell asleep by now.

From above you can already see that this next valley is “decorated” by the second river of the day. Very picturesque to look at. Only this time without a bridge. Somehow we will have to go through there. Fortunately, in this valley (despite abundant rain in recent days) there does not semme to be much water right now. And the waymarking reliably leads to a quite clear and shallow ford. So wading through feels just a bit cold on the feet, and for the dad a little heavier on the shoulders. Carrying two children at once provides the advantage that you do not have to go through the water three times. And that one child does not have to wait alone on a riverbank. Especially since the smaller one right now still seems to be sleeping. This time the wading goes quite well.

After the river the scenery becomes even more idyllic. If the Fjordruta overall is more of a modern hiking path, well-worn and provided with plenty of red markings, it is now rather lonely regarding the pathfinding. With a few small detours (“could the path possibly go there?”), we walk through this great landscape. A deserted farmhouse only emphasizes the wildness of nature. And so we soon climb the second ridge of the day. This one is signficantly broader than the first one, and so despite the beautiful lakes on the way, this walk soon starts feeling long.

So it is obviously time for a nice break now. Which anyway is already being urgently urgently requested by the children. On the picture you can see how the freshly sated hikers move on again (very small, back left). And leave the leftovers for the father. Also noteworthy: a little later we meet another hiker. The first one for several days! In fact, he passes us by quite quickly. Trekking without little kids is a bit faster.

The scenery is characterized by beautiful lakes, wide landscape, and the occational hill to cross. Those lakes are nice for parents as children, for the kids especially so because they can throw things in there. Also the hills feel mostly nice, and all hikers are still motivated at crossing them (see below) …

And we (finally) see the next plain. It seems huge! Meaning, of course: it looks beautiful! But right now we are indeed more impressed by the distance – and that we still want to move through there today. Behind it there is an exciting mountain panorama: the mountains of Trollhemen (“home of the Trolls”)! Just as we descend into the big valley we see that more civilization can be found here. So we pass a veritable hamlet and even cross (after another break in the valley) a proper (gravel) road. Numerous small Norwegian holiday homes are scattered in the lake landscape.

Our little boy, who is currently walking on his own feed again, is making acquaintance with a particularly insidious mud hole that he first discovers when he stumbles into it. His whole food fits in there. And his reaction clearly indicates he does not find this funny. And that he wants the resulting mess to be cleaned up immediately now! In the meantime we are all becoming increasingly goal-oriented and remain only moderately interested in the attractive landscape. A cave well worth visiting (which was praised in our travel guide at home) we skip unceremonially.

After crossing below a not so attractive power line, we approach the last mountain ridge of the day. Or just the second to last? Or that before? In fact, our forecast of the last hill turns out to be wrong several times before we finally get to it.

But from there it is really not far any more: actually we quite soon reach the goal of the day, the Hermannhytta. And we also need to reach it badly! The motivation for going on among our children had already gone far downhill one or two hills before. And even the prospect of rest, food, games at the hut does not motivate them very much any more. Luckily we are arriving now. And fortunately, there is plenty of food in the hut. We immediately start eating enthusiastically.

After having managed this (for our team) long distance, we use the contemplative and cozy hut for a well deserved rest day. The cabin is just wonderfully comfortable, the sun is shining, there is no one around but us. And even a working radio is here for our two party kids! Welcome time to relax, to indulge in landscape and hiking and to plan for our next hiking day. And there will be quite some more still in this holiday. We have regained quite some freedom in comparison to our family’s humble hiking beginnings. What a wonderful family experience!

In summary, the Fjordruta is well suited for first trekking experiences with children (or even daily hikes from the next parking lot). Suitability and easiness for families result from the good infrastructure with plenty of mountain huts, the almost always excellently marked trails and the usually tranquil ambience. And the distances from hut to hut are relatively short. And, finally, there is an airport (Kristiansund) and a regular bus connection directly at the hiking trail. Civilization is usually only a few hours away and yet invisible. Quite a good compromise for families with small children.

Der Beitrag Trekking with Kids in Norway erschien zuerst auf Outdoorfamily.

We chose a rather short and low hike in the foothills of the Swiss Alps (Alpstein) for the beginning, the “Ofenrohr” (stovepipe) hike. The first ascent felt still a bit strange, after several months break. And we immediately found out about a disadvantage of the sling, which is usually an advantage: you are very close to your child with this technique. Meaning also that both carrier and baby share a lot of body heat between each other. Which sometimes feels less than comfortable during sports. Anyway, our little girl was peaceful and apparently satisfied in the sling. And even a practical cuddle cloth and a mobile sunscreen came along this time (later on we also started to handle this a little more pragmatic).

On the big picture here at the top you can see that when we arrived at the top of the mountain we had quite a successful picnic. And we parents were very happy with the tour, and with the baby sling. Whereby it is of course pleasant, when two “carrier animals” are available. On the one hand you can take turns with the occasionally somewhat warm baby and carrier. And on the other hand, it feels nicer when the backpack with change things, diapers, food etc. is worn by someone else.

besides: the area around the Ofenloch, with its surprisingly mighty rocks, is really wonderfully beautiful! And for us it is a beautiful (re-)entry into the world of hiking. On the small narrow and hidden hiking trails we prefer!

We also tried other great carrying options later on like the child carrier. And also many great hikes. But for the start into a fulfilling outdoor life with baby and toddler we can fully recommend the sling!

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On trails, the use of a pram quickly becomes a treacherous problem

But then the trail began. And we learned. Above all, that such a stroller can be quite a big and heavy obstacle, even on easy footpaths. And that it really can get quite exhausting to push this thing uphill on a narrow path. But hat we not bought a special outdoor stroller (here a successor model)? Or did we rather let ourselves be dazzled by clever advertising? In the course of the almost 200 vertical meters we went uphill that day, we realized that this vehicle is incompatible with our idea of ​​hiking. It simply does not make any sense to move a 20-30 kilogram stroller up a mountain. And also the repeatedly mentioned advantage of strollers, that you can load a lot of luggage, becomes a disadvantage. You will have to push that up the mountain, too. Also the safety for driver and passenger is a problem. Many a harmless way becomes an adventure with a stroller. And a difficult balancing act, acute danger of falling included. So, our clear judgment: hiking and strollers do not fit together for us!

If you want to try it anyway, we at least have a tip for you: if the way becomes too difficult, turn the stroller around. Pulling backwards over difficult terrain often works better than pushing forward. And: pay attention to get wide tires, and not too much load.

Or you just consistently avoid everything that looks like a hiking trail. Anyway, we were happy that day when we finally arrived at the top. There was another fine aand tidy dirt road! Actually quite boring, but just welcome to us! The pushing went smooth again, the stress level slowly dropped to zero, we enjoyed the evening sun. And thought about what we could improve next time. Usually we love those little romantic pathways, and avoid boring gravel roads as much as possible. There had to be a more fitting alternative for us! Thoughtfully, we made our way down the hill to the car. On the dirt road!

Maybe there are more funny stories about prams in the mountains? We are always happy about comments! And how did our story go on? Luckily we soon found a more pragmatic transport solution for our baby. And by now, we also undertake real trekking-like children-long-distance-hiking!

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We like to be outdoors together. Even more so since we became a small family of our own. With now three children, who simply function much better outdoors in nature than at home. Outdoor you can live out your desire to move, beyond cars and houses, there are far fewer dangers than in the city, prohibitions can be rare. And we are all much more relaxed! Reason enough to go out there into nature at any opportunity together, hiking, trekking, climbing, skiing, swimming, everything fun out there! To be successful and happy as a family outdoors there are some prerequisites. This concerns planning, clever execution and especially the equipment of the small family. We introduce here in loose sequence our experiences with three toddlers in the outdoor world. Especially what has proven useful for us and what not.

Have fun out there together as a family!

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