Mile Stones

Most trips you will never forget but some will be ingrained into your memory as something special.  Taking my daughter to Chain-o-Lakes State Park this summer was that sort of trip, mile stones and memories were made.

When I was around 10 my dad started a tradition with me of doing something special for my birthday, just the two of us.  For several years we took a canoe trip, we would leave in the morning on the canoe trip and then camp that night.  The trip was through a local outfitter and we camped at the outfitters campground; that was my introduction to wilderness travel, which has become a life long love and passion.  This wasn’t a trip to the Boundary Waters but it was special to me all the same.  It has become important for my wife and me to start this tradition with our children.  Since my wife and I both love to do things outside we decided that it would be a trip with just that child and the other child would stay with grandma and grandpa.

Our daughter has been saving any money for about a year and a half to buy a kayak. So my wife and I decided it was time to “recycle” the birthday trip my dad had started 30 years ago.  She had saved about half of what she needed for a kayak and met our requirement that she start to learn how to swim so we paid for the rest of the boat and planed our trip.  I also made her a Greenland paddle in just her size.  I’d like to think that she wanted the paddle because dad uses a Greenland paddle or the since of tradition and history it represents but no she wanted it because I could stain it purple.  I’ll take what I can get and teach her about the rich history of traditional paddling later in life.

After making multiple trips to Nurpu River and Mountain supply and discussion with the Kevin, and Garry about what kayak was right for her she had her boat, PFD and a custom purple Greenland paddle.  I also bought a tow rope so when she got tried we could get her back safely and she would still enjoy the trip.

We packed our camper and headed to Chain-o-Lakes.  Our first day out we told her after we paddled a little we would go to the beach and she could play around.  That was all that was on her mind so not much paddling happened.  At the beach we let her play and swim; also we worked in a few wet exits.  I think this a skill that is essential for kayaking, knowing how far your boat will go before it goes over and having the confidence that you can remain calm and get out are as important as knowing which end of the paddle goes in the water.  We started by holding the boat and letting her jump out, by the end of the two days we were there she was flipping the boat completely over and swimming out.  We also attached both of our paddle floats to her paddle and let her play around with them.  She started to learn what it takes to climb over the paddle which will translate into self rescue later.

Over the coarse of a couple of days of paddling she got to see a muskrat swim by her boat, a beaver lodge, and slides created by river otters.  Knowing the kind of kid she is this just translates into a deeper love and appreciation of the outdoor world.  It also meant she wanted a kayak themed birthday party complete with a kayak themed cake but that is a whole other story in what a parent will do for their children.

While at camp she reached another mile stone.  She decided she wanted to ride her bike without training wheels.  We had attempted this several times before with disastrous results.  So after a long day of paddling she decided to try.  The training wheels came off and we started our first attempt.  Within three steps she was out of my hands and flying through the grass around the campground on two wheels!  I think it was an hour later before we actually got her to stop riding and take a break.  It all just came together.  I guess this trip was one of those times that you see your child grow up right before your eyes.  Since I was in Afghanistan the first year of her life I missed all of the first year mile stones.  I’m glad I’m able to reach these mile stones with her and I won’t forget them.

Now my youngest son’s birthday is in February and we are trying to figure out what special trip we should do for him, maybe climb Mt. Washington?  Ok maybe I’ll wait a few years for that since he’s only 4.

Kayaking in Indiana

For years when I worked in the outdoor industry customers would see the "sea kayaks" up on the wall and ask "where can you use that?"  It was always a tough sell to people that thought kayaks are cool but thought where would I use one in Indiana?  My first question would always be how many rivers did you drive over to get here?  Indiana may not be Alaska or Washington but we do have plenty of paddling and Lake Michigan does touch Northern Indiana.  What we do have is tons of reservoirs that are a pleasure to paddle even though you aren't in the wilds of Alaska.  Most of our reservoirs offer great day paddling and Lake Monroe is big enough to do over night camping trips to get that much needed experience for bigger and better water.  Winter paddling with wind and high water can be quite sporting and build your experience base of foul weather paddling with out taking your life in your own hands.  Our rivers are easy and access to the White River in central Indiana has increased greatly in the past 10 years.  A great day of paddling can be had on many of our rivers with any size boat and most don't require that much experience.  I think one of the jems  of our state is Chain-o-Lakes State Park (CLSP).  This small park near Ft. Wayne is truly a paddlers paradise, that is for Indiana.  The multiply small lake are linked together by canals left by the last ice age that create about 6 miles of water ways from one end to the other.  Starting at one end and paddling to the other and back is a nice way to spend the day.  Only one or two of the lakes allow motorized water craft and then only trolley motors so you won't be buzzed by a speed boat or mad fisherman.  There is even a canoe camp so you can make it a night if you would like.  One of the great things about this park is the wildlife.  On multiple trips we've seen most of what Indiana has to offer.  Of course dear are there but you will also see beaver and river otters, you might even see an osprey if your lucky.  My wife and I spent one afternoon watching a family of otters after one almost hit my boat.
While we don't have the great expanse of water our coastal or Great Lake states have Indiana can offer fun for the day trip paddler.  Experience gained on these more mild water ways can launch you to that big trip you've been dreaming about.  Remember to keep your mind open to what we have around us because as our life gets busy close to home is still getting out!

Review of Clik Elite Lagre SLR Chest Pack

I have always had a love hate relationship with chest camera bags for back country use. Your camera is always right there and protected, but most of the carrying harnesses just plain sucked, or the bags were too boxy or the flap opened towards your body. I should know, I’ve owned four of them two from Lowepro, one Mountainsmith, and now one Clik Elite. Despite it’s minor shortcomings the Large SLR Chest Pack from Clik Elite may be the last one I ever own. That is saying a lot from a guy that swears by Lowepro, yes the Mountainsmith buy was a serious short term laps in judgment. Clik Elite is a new company that only makes camera bags for adventure travel. The designer is the same guy that started Ultimate Direction, which is well known for their well made hydration systems.

It took some time for me to decide to buy the Clik Elite since the retail is $20 ($100 MSRP) more than the Lowepro Toploader Pro 70 AW ($80 MSRP) and I already owned the Lowepro. The company’s philosophy of designing bags specifically for outdoor use and the fact they "dock" together with larger packs in their line got me and I had to have one. I bought mine from Adorama for $89.99 since Clik Elite’s dealer system is pretty limited and not offered in the Midwest. My first impression of this bag when I took it out of the box was that I could probably shot it with my Glock and not damage the bag it is that beefy. Don’t take that as a bad thing, I want my camera bags to be beefy, more protection the better. The zippers are heavy duty and are going to last for years with out fail. All of the stitching seems to be excellent.

There are just two sections of the bag, one main compartment for your camera and an accessory pocket on top of the flap to access the main compartment. The main compartment is simple, lined with a soft material and tapered to hold the camera tight and opens away from you. I’ve had no problem fitting my D300 with a battery pack and a Nikkor 18-70 attached, hood backwards. The accessory pouch holds the essentials for a DLSR very well and doesn’t add bulk to the camera bag. I even have enough room to fit the cables to connect my GPS to my camera without them being in the way of other things in the pouch. The one major over site in the bags design is the lack of a rain cover. Are you serious, no rain cover? Any bag that is meant to be carried in the backcountry should have a rain cover. Since this bag does cost close to $100 I think this is the most serious design flaw and lack of forethought. I know your think enough beating them up over this but since the bag is so well thought out this just really sticks out.

The carrying harness is a well designed and just enough padding that you don’t notice it even under the straps of a larger backpack. The yoke does tend to ride up some in the back which cause the top of the bag to lean out but it would be hard to have a yoke that fits everyone perfectly. One problem I’ve had with all chest mount camera bags is the strap that goes around your body and this bag is no exception. When you are breathing hard you have to compromise in loosening up the strap so you can breath and having it tight so it doesn’t move around. Previously I’ve used a bungee strap around my back or pack to hold the bottom of the pack in and still be able to breathe when I’m working hard. The way the straps are designed on this bag it will be difficult to do that but the way the bag is designed it would be easy for them to add some elastic. The “D” rings that attach to the bag and the webbing could easily be attached to the bag the same way Blackhawk Tactical does with their military chest rigs. They use a heavy duty elastic webbing to attach the “D” rings instead of nylon webbing. Just a suggestion if you’re reading this Clik Elite.

I only have two other complaints about the bag and they are very minor. First this bag has really nice nylon cord pulls attached to metal zipper pulls. Get rid of those damn noisy metal zipper pulls and just use the really nice cord ones you already have on the bag. I did cut the metal ones off they bugged me so much. I know it is OCD but I’m comfortable with my problem. The last is there isn’t just a plain old shoulder strap so you can carry this bag over the shoulder. I like to have a small bag when I'm at family events and my large commercial bag would just be inconvenient. Their buckles that connect the shoulder harness are their own design so really can’t make your own to connect to these buckles. I will probably email them and see if I can buy a shoulder strap like the one they have on their smaller bags. So this is really a minor complaint.

In conclusion the Clik Elite Large SLR Chest Pack is an excellent choice if you like spending time outside and want your camera well protected and close at hand. Despite it’s minor flaws I think it is the best chest pack I’ve ever owned. So my Lowepro Toploader Pro 70 AW is on eBay. I will also be buying Clik Elite’s Medium Nature pack before the summer so look for a full report in how the two mate together.

Still Making It Outside

So you’re the former adventurer still trying to make it happen but you have kids in tow. How do you still make it happen? It’s pretty easy but requires you to have a shift in your expectations, getting a mile down the trail may be a cause for celebration where your use to doing 10 or 15 in a day

Make sure you take a pack with diapers, snacks, and sippy cups. It will make life a lot easier. Remember you are responsible for their safety so have the proper gear for your self also, and have your camera. Getting your kids out on adventures will be something you will want to remember. Don’t worry it is normal for it to take longer to get you, the gear and the kids ready than you will actually spend outside, but it’s worth it.

You might also want to think about the adventures you do. I have been a cyclist for 20 plus years but really didn’t get back into it heavily until I had kids. I load up the bike trailer just after lunch when it is hitting nap time and we can go for an hour or two. My kids get their nap in the trailer and I get some exercise and time outside. Probably not the use Cannondale had in mine when they designed the Six13 racing bike but it works for me. The same thing works for me when the snow is flying. I enjoy dog sledding and a car seat fits perfectly into my sled bag. My son rides in the car seat, and sleeps, his sister rides the runners with me. She knows to grab on tight when we are making turns, other than that she has made up her own games that keeps her busy for the hour plus we are out with the dogs. Hand and toe warmers keep her comfortable but I have cut the runs short when it has just been to cold for her.

When we are hiking I always have my camera. Stopping to take photos gives both my kids some rest and a chance to just play. Planning lunch while we’re out gives them something special to do on the trip.

One thing I’ve noticed is how new a place is when seeing it through your children’s eyes. My wife and I have been to Kentucky’s Red River Gorge thousands of times. With our kids it is always new. It doesn’t matter if we are hiking or climbing they are seeing things for the first time and it is so exciting for them. It also helps me get over the fact that I can no longer climb 5.12 when I’m encouraging my children to climb. They may only get 5 feet off the ground but we all have a good time. On hikes we plan a destination, someplace with water they can play in is the best.

The last tip is to go no kids from time to time. My wife and I plan 1 or 2 “Mommy/Daddy” trips a year. They are only for a couple of days but they are refreshing. It usually involves kayaking, mountain biking or a winter backcountry trip something that is hard to do with kids.

I want to leave you with one last thought. A few years ago we were hiking in the Wind River Range, Wyoming. I was well ahead of my pregnant wife and our daughter who was jumping from rock to rock on the trail. A man and his older teenage daughter passed us coming down the trail with backpacks on. The man commented to wife how he remembers being in the same situation as we were then. He said to sick with it gets better and he and his daughter headed off down the trail.
So as they say on the TV show Dinosaur Train “Get out there and make your own discovery”.

To see more of my photography please visit my web site, Sean Underhill Photography, or become a fan of my Facebook page.

Welcome to Indiana Adventure Dad

Keller and Underhill Photography Blog has changed to Indiana Adventure Dad Blog. Why the change? Well there is enough stuff out there written about photography and to be honest I’m having trouble coming up with new material.
The new title shows where I’m at in my life and maybe share my experiences with others who struggle to fit everything in. There will still be plenty about photography since my camera is always with me but the focus will be more on getting out and enjoy the adventure.
When I was in my twenties I thought by the time I was forty I would have been to the Himalayas and climbed Denali. Back then I climbed every weekend I didn’t have drill or backpacked when it was to cold to climb and there wasn’t any ice to climb. I’m not forty yet, I still have a few months, but neither the Himalayas or Denali are going to happen any time soon; and I’m ok with that. What has gotten in the way? Life has gotten in the way. More specifically an all expense paid trip to Afghanistan, two kids and a real job. Now I’m a retired 1st Sergeant, Firefighter and most important stay at home dad when I’m not working. I still kayak, dog sled, backpack and once in a great while climb. All not as much as before kids and a real job.
So in my blog I will write about how I still get out and do things and how I manage with kids. My adventures now are scaled down but I have a couple of kids tagging along now. With that I am off to get the kids up so we can go dog sledding before the snow melts tomorrow.