For the last few summers (and winters) we’ve collected our crew and headed to the Outdoor Retailer show in Salt Lake. The fun part is seeing all the friends you’ve made along the way. Think huge outdoor block party. The part I hate? So much stuff… for supposedly being a group of people who love…

It is about that time of year again, when we gather our wits, a whole bunch of gear… and head into the Colorado backcountry in search of summits.  This is my third year joining one of my favorite groups of ladies on a backpacking adventure and my mom joined me this year! Not many girls…

So last week I signed up for my first Olympic length triathlon. Then I looked at past race reports and freaked! Hills, a trail run, and a large number of elite athletes while I am just aiming to finish! So last weekend I took my fears head on, went up to the venue and did…

We are outdoors A LOT. And fair-skinned. At the end of the day, I really would like to limit the amount of chemical sunscreen we use as a family. And one very realistic way to do this is to keep our skin covered with quality sun wear. We’ve been testing out the Sunday Afternoons sun…

As our kids get older, we have gotten bolder. Our adventures have migrated from family car camping to multiple backpacking trips a summer. But always the gear… sleeping bags that are heavy and bulky. So we jumped at the opportunity to try out backcountry quilts by Enlightened Equipment. And I must say, we’ve been won…

There are so many great kid carriers on the market. But when it comes to cargo space, the Kelty Pathfinder 3.0 is one of our favorites. Tested in: Nearly everything; hiking with child 25-35 lbs, summer and winter conditions. Cost: $300 Best Use: A kid carrier for long distances and/or hikes where you need lots…

We’ve all heard people say, “Things just ain’t like they used to be.” Well, after two separate camping road trips in the last year, I feel I can wholeheartedly say that the “great american sleep over” known as camping does still exist, just like it used to. Kid’s playing outdoor games and sing-a-longs. (Even if…

It is Sunday morning and despite being early March, it feels like April. Temperatures are encouraging us out the door and even though I am operating as a single parent for a few days, I am still meeting some good friends for a hike in Mill Creek Canyon. But I’ll be honest: I am tempted…

A Kid Project reader recently asked:  How do you make your toddlers stay in their sleeping bags? My 21-month-old rolls all over the crib and she hates to wear any sleeping bag that covers her feet. She wears a Halo sleepsack at home but it won’t be warm enough for camping. Any suggestions? Ahhh! The…

A good kid carrier is a must-have for any outdoor family. And having one that suits your needs might not be as straight forward as you think. So we jumped on the chance to review the new Deuter Comfort Air. Deuter Kid Comfort Air Tested in: Hiking, snowshoeing with 35 lbs toddler. Cost: $239.00 Availability: Exclusively…

One last look at a year full of a LOT of first for us as a family. First snowshoe trips. First time on cross-country skis. First half and full marathons. First triathlons. First all-family backpacking trips. Even the first time trying Kipper Snacks (basically sardines….) And a ton of beautiful moments in-between. Here is a…

Who wouldn’t want a merino hoodie that combines all the classic traits of wool (odor resistant, heat regulating, warm when wet) but is sleek and stylish enough to wear all day? This hoodie has all the technical aspects for cyclists and outdoors lovers, including a rear pass-though pocket, thumb loops, and a wrist stash pocket….

“In The Open 2014” consists of the gear we choose, use and abuse every time we step out the door. It is the gear we love and need. The gear we’d recommend. This is by no means a comprehensive list, and we have by no means tested or tried every great piece of gear out…

Finding a good seat in the backcountry can be hard. (Pun intended.) I’ve tried sitting on 3 legged stools, the ‘convert a therm-a-rest to a chair’ thingamabops and have generally settled on using a tree. None of them are very comfortable. When Alyssa said we were going to be testing the Joey Chair by Travel…

Balancing kids and climbing can be quite the task. This is what a weekend at the crag looked like for 9 adults and 13 kids: After the fourth reading of “Big Girls Use the Potty” we get the: Mom, I am hungry. Can I have some chips? It is only 9am. They just had breakfast…Imagine…

As we walked through preparing for our first family backpacking trip I noticed something: there are a ton of articles on backpacking with kids in their teens. Even a few with middle schoolers. But I found only a couple posts on backpacking with young kids… seeing as our kids are ages six, five, and three, I just…

From Lake Tahoe we jumped down I-80 towards San Francisco and stayed just north of Bodega Bay. THE DRIVE WAS BEAUTIFUL! But when we arrived we were all a little shocked by how cold it was. Man, what a temperature difference! Doran Park Cost:$30-$32/ night. Day use fee of $7 per car if you aren’t…

It took five days. FIVE days to get my”chill” on. For good or bad, I would define my family as weekend warriors. What is a weekend warrior? Well, as a family we don’t want to squander or miss a moment of time we can be playing. Our weekends keep us recharged for the sometimes long…

As I type this, my kids are urgently digging for treasures in the sand around camp. Sea lions are ‘barking’ off a nearby island. Life is good. The blog has been quiet for awhile and will continue to be for the next few weeks as we wind our way up the coast. If you’d like…

Campfire roasting logs? If you in our same line of thinking a real fire has real wood. But Chris and I have a funny history with Duraflame and their distant cousin the Fireside Supreme. Long before we were dating, even before we were friends we ended up on the same ill-fated backpacking trip. After realizing…